Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell set a team record by kicking his 18th straight field goal yesterday. And he did it in style, booting a 51-yarder just as a light snow began falling on Ralph Wilson Stadium (note: the previous record of 17 consecutive FGs was held by Steve Christie). At the time, the kick gave the Bills a 24-7 lead and they went on to beat the Miami Dolphins 38-17 to keep their AFC Wild Card playoff hopes alive. Rian has been one of the NFL’s best kickers this season, hitting on …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell should be on the AFC’s Pro Bowl team this season. After 13 weeks of this 2007 NFL regular season, he’s made 91% of his kicks (that leads the NFL) and is a perfect 16-16 on extra point tries. He has two game-winning kicks, including last weekend’s 5-for-5 performance. You also have to take into consideration the environment where he kicks. Half of his games are outdoors at typically windy Ralph Wilson Stadium. If Rian makes his next field goal attempt, he’ll pass former Bills kicker Steve Christie for …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
I didn’t know what to expect from the Washington Redskins today. After a tumultuous week in which they lost one of their own (safety Sean Taylor was tragically killed earlier this week), it was anyone’s guess what the team’s performance would be like today against the Buffalo Bills.
The Redskins honored Sean before the game (as did every NFL stadium this weekend) and even left his starting safety spot vacant on the first defensive play. But at the end of a hard fought contest, the Skins would lose 17-16 after a double-time out …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
One thing’s for sure in the National Football League. There is no such thing as an ugly win. The Buffalo Bills can attest to that after a frustrating but eventually exhilarating afternoon in South Florida today, beating the (still) winless Miami Dolphins 13-10 on kicker Rian Lindell’s late 34-yard field goal. There’s also no such thing as a sure thing. On paper, even at 4-4 the Bills looked like decided favorites over an 0-8 team. Not so fast. The Dolphins might be one of the best 0-9 teams in the history of the …read more