From: mrn3@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (MATTHEW R. NARBY)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Dallas/Buffalo
Date: 22 Jan 93 17:54:40 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <wfLUwRK00aw3AAN0hs@andrew.cmu.edu>, mg5c+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael D.
 Goettsche) writes:
>What's going on with most of these posters?  I've noticed a trend toward
>the same BS being said about the upcoming Super Bowl as was said about
>the NFC Championship. So, first and foremost, Dallas is not going to
>crumble and fold underneath the Super Bowl hype.  They said that Dallas
>would crumble against Philly, and then they said Dallas would fold
>against SF.  It seems to me that Dallas turned in two of the best games
>a team has played this year -- against two tough opponents they were
>clearly superior.  The SF game was close, but just given the fact that
>they were able to drive at will against the Niners, and then limit the
>Niners to yards, not points, is significant.  Once more, the Cowboys are
>too talented to allow the hype to affect them.  I have yet to see Emmitt
>Smith have a poor game in the last 2-3 years, and I sincerely doubt that
>Aikman, one of the coolest quarterbacks around under pressure, will play
>so poorly that Dallas' other weapons cannot save them.
>
>That said, one person wrote earlier regarding matchups, giving just
>about all matchups to the Bills.  Here goes:
>
>QB -  Edge to Buffalo?  Jim Kelly has been too erratic the past two
>years to really know what type of game he will have.  If he's on, Dallas
>will have some problems, BUT they won't be in trouble.  Aikman has not
>had a bad game since the first Philadelphia loss in week 4 of the season
>-- he has not turned the ball over and directed the offense with great
>poise.  When Aikman is on, he is every much if not more than the equal
>of Kelly.  Edge to Dallas (slight).
Agreed.
>

>RB - Edge to Buffalo?  Not!  Emmitt Smith is the best RB in the game
>now, without a doubt.  Thurman Thomas is a close second.  The other
>poster mentions that the Bills have Kenneth Davis, but I don't see this
>as a factor -- one or the other of them play, and they both play so
>similar styles of games
Wrong! they are very diffenrt running backs with different styles all
together. Thomas is a runner who waits for the holes to open up, then charges
through them. Davis is more of a slant runner who can hit the holes faster
than any back in the game today. The offensive line is strong, and makes holes
big enough for your grandmother to run through (condolences if she has passed
on). Also, Don't discount Gardner as a power back.
 that they can be treated as one RB.  Buffalo
>would have the edge if Smith were the type of running back that wears
>down as the game goes on, but if you've seen any Cowboys games this
>year, you'd know that Emmitt Smith only gets stronger as the game goes
>on.  Edge to Dallas.
>
>WR -  Edge to Dallas!!!!  Is there a doubt after last weeks game in SF?
>Buffalo has slightly better DBs than SF, but they still face the problem
>of being out-sized by Irvin and Harper.  Right now, Irvin, Harper, and
>Martin are the most dangerous wide receivers in the league.  Reed and
>Lofton are very good, and Beebe can hold his own, but they are not in
>the same class as the Cowboy trio RIGHT NOW. (Don't reply that Lofton is
>one of the best ever because I know that -- but right now he isn't
>better than the Cowboy's #2 man, Harper.)
>
>TE - Edge to Dallas!  Novacek is the best TE in the game, no questions
>asked.  Metzelaars and McKeller are fine, but they are no match for
>Novacek.

Really? But can he block like an offensive lineman?
>
>FB - Again, edge to Dallas!  Darryl Johnston can do it all - he is one
>of the top three FB's in the league, IMO, and I believe other people
>would realize this if Dallas used him in their scheme more.  If you saw
>the NFC Championship game, you would see his value.
 Again, Gardner & Mitch Ferotte-Power Backs, even if one of them is an
 offensive lineman.
>
>OL - Even.  Buffalo has an outstanding OL, naming several players to the
>Pro Bowl over the last few seasons.  Dallas' OL RIGHT NOW is just as
>good, having 2 PB players, and in many people's opinions another couple.
> Dallas' OL dominates opposing DLs in the second half through their
>size, whereas Buffalo plays an even keel game throughout.
Nope. They get better as the game progresses. If you watched the Bills playoff
games, you would see how they control the line.
>
>DEFENSE
>
>Dallas -  There's a reason they are number one - their DB coverage is
>outstanding and their tackling is impeccable.  They rarely miss tackles,
>thus preventing opposing wide receivers from breaking open short passes
>for long gains.  Since this is one of the keys to the Buffalo passing
>attack is the run after the reception,
not necessarily. They do have the deep threat in Beebe, who dashes a 4.125 40.
 I don't foresee Buffalo gaining
>much through the air.  Dallas' DL is one of the best in the game - they
>generate a lot of pressure on the opposing QB and are also quite
>excellent at stopping the run. Dallas' team speed on defense is
>everything.  Their linebacker corps is solid.  Their one weak spot which
>has proven to be exploited is the zone between the LBs and the DBs -- I
>feel SF could have won the game if they exploited this more.  Instead,
>Dallas proved susceptible to the short dump pass to the RBs, which makes
>them extremely susceptible to Thurman Thomas out of the backfield.  If
>Buffalo is going to remain competitive, they must make their mark in the
>first quarter (score at least two touchdowns), because Dallas' defense
>has proved to be very stingy after the first quarter.  They make
>defensive adjustments that grind the opposing offenses down to very
>short drives.  Dallas' strength, going into this game, will be their
>nickel defense.  If they can get Buffalo into second and long, the Bills
>will be out of the game by the middle of the third quarter.  Conversely,
>if Buffalo can avoid 3rd and >3 situations, it will be competitive.
I heard that Dallas like to Substitute liberally. Can they do this against the
K-Gun, the likes of which they have never faced?
>
>Buffalo - They have a slightly better defense than the Niners, but only
>slightly.  I really don't foresee Dallas having any problems with it.
>The key once again will be the offensive line - they must open up holes
>for Smith.  Bruce Smith will be the x-factor - he has had an
>inconsistant year - at times he has looked unstoppable, at other times,
>he has looked very ordinary.
Don't forget B. Smith has been playing hurt lately, but will be 100% for the
SB, as he's had time to heal.
  If he can get into situations where he is
>double teamed, things will look very good for the Bills.  I think a lot
>also depends on the play of Bennett and Conlan -- Dallas really hasn't
>faced outstanding LBs with the exception of the Eagles.  If Buffalo can
>stop Smith with their front seven, Dallas' offense will rely on Aikman
>getting the ball to Novacek, Irvin, and Harper.  There is no way on
>earth that Buffalo will be able to stop these three if the ball is
>thrown somewhat well to them, thus for Buffalo to stand a chance to win,
>they must pressure Aikman into throwing bad passes.  Once more, they
>must stop both Smith and Aikman to win. (Limit Smith to <80 yards,
>Aikman to <200 yards and 2-4 INTs.
>
Don't forget that the Bills are sending a CB to the pro-bowl, and have
underrated backs in JD Williams, a 1st round pick, and Nate Oodemes.
>Dallas' task is much simpler in this game -- they merely need to get one
>facet of their offense in gear to win.  Their defense will limit the
>Bills to about 350 yards total offense, with about 14-17 points.
>I believe the final score will be Cowboys 27, Bills 17.
If dallas holds Buffalo to 17, then the Bills can hold Dallas to 14-21.
>
>DA FLAV
>
-- 
-Matthew Narby-
Buffalo BILLS
One Bills Drive
Orchard Park, N.Y.
Colors: Red, Blue and White
Rich Stadium
(80,020) NFL
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro