Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Chicago 27 at Buffalo 33 (OT) WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Chicago Bears: The Bears were slow to implement the three wide receiver set. Once they did, they were more effective. Quarterback Jim Miller threw away a lot of balls in order not to make a mistake. A number of times he threw short of the line-to-gain on third and medium yardage. RB Anthony Thomas was held to 48 yards on 23 carries because they only ran him straight ahead against Pat Williams and the Bills' run-stuff. Rarely ran outside the tackles. It was power vs power and Buffalo won that battle. Watch WR Marcus Robinson. # 2 WR Dez White continues to be less than effective and Robinson could see a much bigger role. The Bills took advantage of Bear injuries on defense. Chicago continued their penchant for stripping the football. They're clearly an opportunistic group. Buffalo Bills: This game wasn't that close. Penalties and fumbles forced this game into overtime. The Bears gained only 26 yards in the first 25 minutes of the game, but only trailed 17-14 at the half. The Bills out gained Chicago 410-240. Chicago safety Mike Brown returned a Travis Henry fumble for a touchdown. Three of the Bears' 15 first downs were from Buffalo penalties. Chicago blocked a 39-yard potential game winning field goal for the Bills at the end of regulation. Drew Bledsoe showed relatively good mobility, a quick release, and heady play avoiding pressure, and while recovering from a bad shotgun snap in his own end zone. Bledsoe put up another game of huge numbers, hitting eight different receivers. The CBS studio crew joked about Bledsoe breaking Dan Marino's single season yardage record. Henry split time with Shawn Bryson in the second and third quarters, after his fumble. Henry recovered well, keying fourth quarter drives and scoring the overtime touchdown on a 26-yard dump and run. Henry nearly scored on a 14 yard run where he was stopped at the 1. The Bills' defense played the run tough, but the secondary looks vulnerable. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Chicago Bears QB: Jim Miller - Threw away a lot of balls in order not to make a mistake. Does not appear to be a guy that can carry your FF team. A number of times he threw short of the line-to-gain on third and medium yardage. Took a while to open up to three-receiver sets, thereby attacking the Bills' nickel backs. Spreading the offense produced an effective passing game. RB: Anthony Thomas - Held to 48 yards on 23 carries because they only ran him straight ahead against Pat Williams and the Bills' run-stuff. Rarely ran outside the tackles. Thomas is a "know what you're going to get" type RB. It's no secret that Chicago will line up and throw Thomas right at the middle of the line. It was a power vs power game and Buffalo won that battle. Nice bobbling catch on a poorly thrown swing pass. Missed by Miller on short outs. WR: Marty Booker - Still the Bears' number one target, despite only four catches. Was targeted 12 times. Averaged over 20 yards a catch. Drew an illegal contact infraction from a Bill nickel back on a 20-yard, third and six, pass. Nicely scooped an under thrown 26-yard seam route pass, originally ruled incomplete. Dropped a fade pass in the end zone. Dez White - Continued his problem of dropping passes with a drop of a quick screen. Only two catches on the day. Not a primary target. Marcus Robinson is right on his heels and could replace White as the # 2 WR. Marcus Robinson - After a quiet three quarters, was a "go-to" guy in the fourth from the three-receiver set. All of his five catches were screens and quick-outs. Could get an increased role if Dez White continues to struggle. David Terrell - Seems to be a primary red zone target. Three of his first four catches this season went for touchdowns including 1 in this game. Drew a 31-yard pass interference penalty. Also scored an apparent 2nd touchdown, but further review showed he did not get both feet in on a fade route. TE: Fred Baxter - Out with an ankle injury. Replaced by John Davis. Davis caught a bootleg touchdown with a nice awkward catch and cutback to the end zone. Pass Defense: Reggie Austin replaced injured corner back R.W. McQuarters. Austin was out-fought for the ball on touchdown by Price. The Bills later took advantage by isolating Austin on Moulds. Front line pressured Bledsoe throughout the game. Rush Defense: Injuries to defensive tackle Ted Washington and end Phillip Daniels allowed the Bills to open up quick holes for Henry. Linebacker Warrick Holdman stripped the ball from Henry allowing Mike Brown to return it for the touchdown. Holden left the game in the second quarter with sprained knee, Mike Caldwell replaced him for the rest of the game. Bears stripped the ball a second time later, this time from Bryson. Special Teams: A short 31-yard punt by Brad Maynard set up the winning touchdown by the Bills. The Bears do not have a return threat as Leon Johnson and Rabih Abdullah refuse to make moves outside the numbers. Paul Edinger was solid with 46- and 24-yard field goals. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Buffalo Bills QB: Drew Bledsoe - Showed relatively good mobility, a quick release, and heady play avoiding pressure, and while recovering from a bad shotgun snap in his own end zone. Faced constant pressure and took some hits from Bear blitzes. Had success when running game was a threat. After the Henry fumble, the Bill running game was nonexistent until Henry got it going again late. Completed passes to eight different receivers. RB: Travis Henry - Started and ran well with big holes in opening drive. Was shaken up in 1st quarter and went to locker room, returned the next series only to commit the fumble resulting in the Mike Brown return for touchdown. Split time with Bryson until the fourth quarter. Bears seemed to respect Henry as a threat more than Bryson, setting up the play action. Henry hits the holes quicker than Bryson. Henry recovered well after the fumble, keying fourth quarter drives and scoring the overtime touchdown on a 26-yard dump and run. He nearly scored on a 14 yard run where he was stopped at the 1. TE Dave Moore scored on the next play. Shawn Bryson - Bills went to Bryson after the Henry fumble. Showed some moves and stiff arm to get outside. Effective pass blocking that was needed against Bear blitzes. Fumbled inside the Bear five, recovered by the Bills. Split time with Henry in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Interesting, as these RBs shared the backfield in college with Henry the tailback and Bryson a fullback at Tennessee. Larry Centers - Still a solid receiving target coming out of the backfield. Key reception for a first down late in fourth quarter with Brian Urlacher hanging on him. WR: Eric Moulds - Buffalo leading receiver with eight catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Made a spectacular catch in overtime over Todd McMillon for 32 yards. Peerless Price - Numbers suffered from Bledsoe spreading the ball so well. Bobbled a 20-yard pass over the middle in traffic. Would have been a great catch if he held on. Josh Reed - Nice third receiver in the stable. Bledsoe forced one incompletion to a double-covered Reed. TE: Jay Riemersma - Was a key target on play action. Dave Moore - Makes the two-tight end set an effective formation. Was a Bledsoe favorite late in the game. Caught a 1 yard TD. Pass Defense: Aaron Schobel provided the pressure on Miller. Buffalo nickel backs, Chris Watson and Jason Bostic, were exploited big time. The Bills were lucky it took three quarters for the Bears to catch on their weakness. Rush Defense: Pat Williams stuffed the middle. On the rare occurrence when Bears went outside, cornerback Antoine Winfield did a beautiful job avoiding the block and cutting out Thomas' legs. Special Teams: Mike Hollis hit from 48 and 49, but had a 39-yarder partially blocked at the end of regulation. Charlie Rogers had a 29-yard punt return called back from two penalties. The infractions put the Bills in such a hole inside their own five, that it lead to a Bear field goal. Rogers added a 38-yard kick return.