In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, there’s a scene where Kevin – played by Macaulay Culkin – wanders the streets by himself at night where he encounters crazy people, prostitutes, and a weird pigeon lady in Central Park.
Fearing for his safety, Kevin hails a taxi, and upon getting in declares, “Boy, it’s scary out there.” The taxi driver then turns around and is revealed to be a tough, middle-aged man who tells Kevin, “It ain’t much better in here, kid.”
Currently, the Buffalo Bills are finding themselves in a similar predicament. Last week, after jumping up 21-7 on Tom Brady, they gave up 7 straight scores – 6 TDs and a field goal. In the 4th quarter, the Bills had 2 backbreaking turnovers in a row that resulted in Brady piling on the points, which he didn’t have to do.
Very disappointing, especially defensively, to say the least. But it’s still a team game, as Bills head coach Chan Gailey pointed out.
“We all depend on each other,” Gailey said. “You cannot turn it over and expect them to hold it out every time.”
However, like the taxi driver said, it doesn’t get much better.
This week, the Bills (2-2) fly out to San Francisco (3-1) to face a team coming off a 34-0 flogging of the New York Jets, and a defense that absolutely takes pleasure in creating turnovers. And that might be putting it lightly.
Through four weeks, Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is, impressively, leading all QBs with 12 TD passes. But he’s also tied for second in interceptions with 7 (Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel). Only Tony Romo has more (8), and 5 of them came during his Rich Gannon imitation last week. In comparison, 49ers QB Alex Smith has just 1.
Turnovers will be the most critical stat of the game for the Bills. Against an “opportunistic” San Francisco defense (as Jim Harbaugh called it), any carelessness from Fitzpatrick will almost guarantee a second straight loss.
To make matters worse, Buffalo will be without two starters on the offensive line – LT Cordy Glenn and RG Kraig Urbik. The patched up line will have their hands full against a relentless 49ers pass rush that has already dispatched elite QBs Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford this season.
Despite these apparent advantages, the 49ers aren’t exactly going to have it easy. Their offensive line will likewise have their hands full with a ruthless Bills defensive line that features DE Mario Williams and DTs Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams.
Both Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman realize that this potent group can wreak havoc just as much as their own can.
“This will be the best defensive line we’ve played so far this year,” Harbaugh said. “You’ll see the equivalent of [49ers DT] Justin Smith on their side. [Kyle Williams] is maybe the most powerful, athletic tackle in the game. And he doesn’t come out ever. He’s a big powerful man that can run.”
This could be a big factor if the Bills secondary can hold it down. Alex Smith, while significantly improved from a few years ago, is still somewhat of a conservative passer who is willing to take a sack rather than risk an interception. If Smith can’t find his targets downfield, this could turn into a defensive game very quickly.
As it stands, the Bills are giving up 269.5 passing yards per game, ranking as the 27th overall defense. The 49ers 277.3 total yards given up per game ranks them as the 3rd best defense in the league.
