It’s simple really – a logic proof that would make Aristotle proud. The New Orleans Saints beat the Bills 7 – 27 in Week 3 and the Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts 30 – 7 in Week 17. Ipso facto, the Saints will beat the Colts. Forget the Vegas lines, forget the fact that Peyton Manning has a Super Bowl ring, forget the fact that the Saints have never been here before … this is science people. Cold, hard science. It doesn’t get more objective than this. And don’t bother commenting on this telling me my logic is flawed – you’re flawed. I don’t want to hear it. Not a word.

Now that I’ve proven beyond all reasonable doubt that the Saints will win, allow me to list a few reasons why – as Bills fans – we WANT New Orleans to win:

1. If the Saints win there will only be 13 other teams in the NFL that haven’t won a Super Bowl, not including Buffalo. My thinking is the fewer teams that haven’t won, the more pity other teams in the league will have on the Bills. The more pity other teams have on us, the more likely they are to throw a few wins our direction. Again, science. Just trust it.
2. Perhaps when Brees beats Manning he will take over some of Peyton’s ad spots – possibly the number one reason to root for New Orleans.
3. You have to feel for a city that has weather worse than ours.
4. Did I mention already how obnoxious Peyton Manning is?
5. What does Indianapolis do for this country? I mean really, have you been to Indianapolis? At least New Orleans gave us Mardi Gras and Southern Comfort.
6. Jeremy Shockey is a stand-up individual, a real class-act, you have to feel for him. Right?
7. If you don’t hate the Mannings – you will by the end of this game. I promise. Over-under on the number of times one of the announcers kisses the ass of a Manning versus number of total points scored? That’s actually a really good question.

In all seriousness though, good luck to both teams tonight. Here’s to a great game that doesn’t disappoint and comes right down to the wire. And Bills fans, don’t despair. Just enjoy the fact that our team isn’t here. Enjoy the fact that because who knows when (if ever) we will ever get back here,  our lives are that much more stress free, our ulcers are that much smaller, and our hair is that much thicker. Happy Super Bowl Sunday.

The Buffalo Bills may just have saved the best for last as they defeated the Indianapolis Colts, the team with the best record in football, 30 – 7 despite blustery conditions at the Ralph. Temperatures hovered around zero degrees thanks to a stiff wind blowing in off Lake Erie and snow fell steadily throughout.

Though Indianapolis rested key players as the game wore on, the Bills looked solid throughout, even against the Colts’ starters in the first quarter. In spite of the near whiteout conditions, Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for three touchdowns – including a 41 yard completion to his favorite target Terrell Owens. Fred Jackson was phenomenal racking up 212 yards on the ground and eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the first time in his career.

With the final game in the books, the season’s statistical leaders look quite a bit different from what most of us might have predicted at the year’s start:

• Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 1422 yards, 9 TDs, 10 interceptions, 55% completion rating, and a QB rating of 63.3 ( Trent Edwards – 1169/6/7/60.1%/73.8 )
• Fred Jackson led all rushers with 1,062 yards for an average of 4.48 yards per carry and 2 TDs. ( Marshawn Lynch – 450/3.8/2 )
• Terrell Owens was the primary target with 829 yards on 55 catches for an average of 15.1 yards per catch and 5 TDs  ( Lee Evans 612/44/13.9/7 )
• Paul Posluszny led with 99 total tackles, Aaron Schobel led with 10 sacks, and Jairus Byrd led with 9 interceptions.

Although the game was meaningless on paper, the occasion should give Bills fans some hope that next year can be better as the Bills move into the off-season. After missing the playoffs for the tenth consecutive year, frustrations have begun to peak among a traditionally patient and optimistic fan base. The biggest question is who will coach the Bills next season; Mike Shannahan and Bill Cowher will both be courted heavily and Perry Fewell will likely be considered as well. Of course, there are many needs that the Bills will look to address both offensively and defensively through the draft and free agency.

Be sure to stay tuned to BLD throughout the playoffs and the off-season for the latest news and rumors surrounding the Buffalo Bills headed into next season. There was a lot that we, as Americans would like to forget in the first decade of the new millennium and there was a lot we, as Bills fans, would like to forget too. Here’s to a new decade and a chance to start fresh. Cheers!

After the long holiday BLD is back in action; I hope it was merry for you and yours.

The Bills are back in action today after a tough loss to the Patriots at home last weekend. Buffalo squares off against two teams in the final weeks whose playoff picture, much like the Bills’, have already decided.

The Falcons are 7-7 and virtually out of the NFC Wild Card hunt; they trail Dallas at 9-5, the hot Giants at 8-6, and the Packers at 9-5. The Colts at 14-0, have obviously secured a spot, as well as home-field advantage in the AFC.

The Bills, meanwhile, are currently tied for the 7th place pick in next year’s NFL Draft. To be frank, the prospect of them finishing with a lower draft pick than that look’s pretty unlikely. Even if the Colts rest almost everyone and are willing to take a chance with the perfect season, they are still a better team. Atlanta has sputtered throughout the season and collapsed late when it counted, but there is no denying the offensive flurry that QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner are capable of creating.

The Bills offensive will be in even bigger trouble than usual with Ryan Fitzpatrick being a game-time decision and WR Josh Reed out with an ankle injury. If Fitzpatrick doesn’t play we will see Brian Brohm, the second-year quarterback out of Louisville. At this juncture I don’t see why the Bills should feel the need to keep from giving the kid a chance; Fitzpatrick certainly isn’t going to be a franchise quarterback with any team.

It is back by popular demand; BLD will be tweeting live from Orchard Park today as the Bills play host to the Patriots.

We’ll have to see if my phone can survive frozen beer and unruly Pats fans. All in a day’s work.

Visit us on Twitter.com/buffalowdown starting soon with tailgating highlights.

GO BILLS!

It sure is a crappy week to be Cliff Lee. Thinking that perhaps Roy Halliday would be joining him in Philadelphia for another run at a Phillies World Championship, Cliff got a call hunting for deer in Arkansas that he was being dealt to the Seattle Mariners. Lucky for the deer I guess.

It is faster to row across an ocean naked rather than closed. Fact or Fiction? Apparently the Brits know the answer. Two British women will attempt to break a world record rowing across the Atlantic in the buff. Sounds ridiculous, but true.

If it’s a crappy week to be Cliff Lee, it has been the month from hell for Tiger Woods. The latest report from CNN has indicated that Tiger and his wife, Elin Nordegren, have already begun the divorce process. Can’t say this comes as a huge surprise.

Probably wayyyyyy to soon to make a joke about Elin Nordegren chasing Chris Henry with a 7-iron, so I won’t. If Chad Ochocinco can be a real person about the passing of Bengals WR Chris Henry, then it has to be too soon. Tragic loss for the NFL and West Virginia.

For the handful of you who enjoy soccer, you’ll love this. For those of you who don’t … get over yourself. Jose Mourinho will return to Chelsea with Inter as the two world powers have been drawn to meet in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

For those of you lucky enough to have stood alongside me and 71,281 other die-hards on December 28, 2008 as the Bills fell to the Patriots 0-13, you certainly remember this moment. The conditions were so bad that the goal posts had to be centered three times before game time, and again in the second quarter before Gostkowski missed a 26-yard attempt. Another stoppage came in the third quarter, when referee Gene Steratore had his hat blown off and was forced to chase it 20 yards down-field in front of a cheering crowd. I’ll be there this weekend too, so here’s to another Buffalo classic!