2008 Buffalo Bills season

"at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri"
* Game time: 4:05 PM EDT
* Game weather: None (Domed Stadium)
* Game attendance: 61,017
* Referee: Tony Corrente
* TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle & Solomon Wilcots

Coming off their last-second home win over the Raiders, the Bills flew to the Edward Jones Dome for a Week 4 interconference duel with the winless St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, Buffalo drew first blood as kicker Rian Lindell got a 45-yard field goal. The Rams would respond with WR Donnie Avery getting a 37-yard TD run. The Bills would answer with Lindell's 35-yard field goal. In the second quarter, St. Louis increased its lead with RB Steven Jackson getting a 29-yard TD run.

In the third quarter, Buffalo began to rally as RB Fred Jackson got a 22-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Bills completed their comeback with CB Jabari Greer returning an interception 33 yards for a touchdown, QB Trent Edwards completing a 39-yard TD pass to WR Lee Evans, and Lindell nailing a 45-yard field goal.

With the win, Buffalo got its first 4-0 start since 1992.

Week 5: at Arizona Cardinals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bills
R1=0
R2=14
R3=3
R4=0
RT=17
Home=Cardinals
H1=7
H2=17
H3=7
H4=10
HT=41"at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona"
* Game time: 4:15 PM EST/2:15 PM MST
* Game weather: None (Dome Closed)
* Game attendance: 63,830
* Referee: Jerome Boger
* TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee & Steve Beuerlein

Coming off their road win over the Rams, the Bills flew to the University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Arizona Cardinals. In the first quarter, Buffalo trailed early as Cardinals QB Kurt Warner completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald. In the second quarter, Arizona increased its lead as RB Tim Hightower got a 17-yard TD run. The Bills would respond as QB J.P. Losman completing an 87-yard TD pass to WR Lee Evans, yet the Cardinals replied with RB Edgerrin James getting a 1-yard TD run. Buffalo would answer right back with Losman getting a 1-yard TD run, yet Arizona closed out the half with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 47-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the Bills tried to catch up as kicker Rian Lindell got a 48-yard field goal, but the Cardinals answered with Warner completing a 2-yard TD pass to Fitzgerald. In the fourth quarter, Arizona pulled away as Rackers nailed a 38-yard field goal, along with Hightower getting a 2-yard TD run,

With the loss, Buffalo went into their bye week at 4-1.

QB Trent Edwards (3/3 for 18 yards), who originally started, was knocked out the game on the Bills' third offensive play by Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson with a concussion.

Division standings

Notable Roster Additions

* DT Marcus Stroud- Acquired via trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for 2008 3rd and 5th round selections.
* LB Kawika Mitchell- Signed as a free agent from the New York Giants.
* DT Spencer Johnson- Signed as a free agent from the Minnesota Vikings.
* TE Courtney Anderson- Signed as a free agent from the Oakland Raiders. Released on August 30.
* CB William James - Signed as a free agent from the Philadelphia Eagles. Was released on August 30, after being beaten out in training camp.

Notable Roster Losses

* DT Anthony Hargrove- Suspended by league for one year January 24th
* RB Anthony Thomas- Released on February 27th
* DT Larry Tripplett- Released on February 29th
* LB Coy Wire- Released on February 27th, failed physical
* WR Peerless Price- Released on February 14th
*WR Sam Aiken- Signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent
* CB Jason Webster- Signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent
* TE Michael Gaines- Signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent

NFL Draft

Going into the 2008 NFL Draft the teams biggest needs are at wide receiver, cornerback, and tight end. Specifically, the team's top three wide receivers were all under 5'11" in height, and a large wide receiver was a high priority for the team. The Bills had a large number of selections in the 2008 draft and addressed these needs by selecting Leodis McKelvin, considered by many to be the top cornerback in the draft, in round 1, and James Hardy, a 6'5" playmaking receiver also considered to be among the best in the class, in round 2. Tight end, however, was not addressed until Round 4, with the selection of Derek Fine. Depth picks filled out the rest of the draft order.

Draft Results

*Round 1(11)- Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
*Round 2(41)- James Hardy, WR, Indiana
*Round 3(72)-Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech
*Round 4(114)-Reggie Corner, CB, Akron
*Round 4(132)-Derek Fine, TE, Kansas
*Round 5(147)-Alvin Bowen, OLB, Iowa State
*Round 6(179)-Xavier Omon, RB, Northwest Missouri State University
*Round 7(219)-Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State University
*Round 7(224)-Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky
*Round 7(251)-Kennard Cox, DB, Pittsburgh

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Buffalo Bills a C+ grade for their 2008 NFL Draft, praising the selections of McKelvin and Hardy but criticising the selections of Corner and Fine as reaches in the 4th round.

References

External links

* [http://www.buffalobills.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.nfl.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF Buffalo Bills Team Page]