Chan Gailey vs. Mike Shanahan.

To me, there names will be edged in the history of the Buffalo Bills. As I wrote last week, one guy used us to get a better job while the other took a chance that not a whole lot of coaches would. The results: 23-0, Bills.

Yes, this was a complete game for the Bills. The offense could have scored over 35 points yesterday. Even if they were playing on the CFL 120-yard field, I don't the Redskins would have scored on us with Rocket Ismail or Pinball Clemons. To me, this game is about going back 20 months ago. No, not about Shanahan telling us that we blow. That was last week's point of view. Flashback to that time period and look at what the rosters look like today. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson and Erik Pears take on the trio of John Beck, a retread Denver running back (Torain) and a WR who I didn't know was still in the league (Stallworth).

Go back to January of 2010, which coach would you pick to get the most out of these no-names?  You'd probably be inclined to say Shanhan would work his genius. I mean, he was the savior. The guy who took Elway to two SB titles. Made Jay Cutler, before he went to Chicago. Head of the class. Gailey...Jay Fiedler and Kordell Stewart.

Instead, Shanahan is the one with the dunce cap.

Gailey has taken a bunch of no-names and made them into NFL calliber players. Right now, he looks like the better coach. Anyone could have won with fricken Elway. How many coaches in the NFL could win with Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson? Not many. Thank goodness Mike Shanahan hated the weather in Buffalo. For Bills fans, we weathered the storm of 11 years and found a coach we can count on.

Random thoughts:

--- Finally! I get to write glowingly about a defensive player on the front seven. Marcell Dareus was an absolute stud. He was the best player on the field today. Yes, better than Freddie and Fitzpatrick. For the first 6 weeks of the season, I wasn't exactly blown away by Dareus, but against the Redskins, we saw why he was picked 3rd overall. It goes beyond his 2.5 sacks (Most by a Bills player since Schobel had 3 against the Falcons in 2009) and 4 tackles. The penetration he got up the middle were shades of Warren Sapp or Ted Washington. That penetration made other players better. Let me put on my Chan Gailey sleeveless vest and tell you that when the pocket collapses like that, it frees up a lot of defensive players. It also makes the QB have to run for his life and panic. Dareus made a lot of those sacks yesterday. For the first time all year, future offensive coaches will have to gameplan for a defensive player.

---I have no clue what the Bills will do IF Kyle Williams gets healthy, but I'm all for playing a 4-3 defense and moving both guys inside. The only reason why I lived with the 3-4 defense had to do with Shawne Merriman. That pipe dream is dead. The other option is moving Williams to defensive end, which would help because he wouldn't have as much pressure on his banged up ankle with rushing from the outside. However, the thought of Kyle Williams on the outside doesn't do much for me.

---The sack on Beck when Dareus was chasing after him towards the sideline was incredible. Fat guys don't run like that.

--- I'm telling you, this is the best Bills safety tandem since Henry Jones and Kurt Schultz. Byrd and Wilson had interceptions, both were key in blitzing the QB and both helped out in run support. For all those counting, George Wilson's 5 interceptions this season is one shy of Donte Whitner's career total. Yes, I will continue to rib on #20.

---Fred Jackson..um, what else can I say? Pay him. Pay him. Pay him. And Pay Erik Pears. Dating back to the season finale in 2008, Jackson has started 31 games and has accounted for over 100-yards in total offense in 20 of those contests. This year, he's surpassed over 100 yards rushing in 5 games, which is the most by a Bills back since Willis McGahee shared the same number in 2005. Yeah, I think he'll be breaking that soon. Fred is also on pace for exactly 900 yards receiving on the season. That would be more than Thurman Thomas ever got receiving in a season. In fact, he only needs to get to 669 yards to surpass Thruman's best receiving season. Jackson is currently at 353 yards. If he surpasses #34's receiving total, it will be a team record for receiving yards by a back.

---Fitzpatrick was efficient yesterday, only missing six passes and throwing for two touchdowns. I'll echo the sentiments of everyone else in being impressed with Fitz's completion percentage. Against three teams that were ranked in the top three in sacks, #14 has completed over 70% of his passes. He's a worth the money, folks.

---In Fitzpatrick's last 20 starts, he's only been sacked 32 times. How many different line combinations has there been? Does it really matter if Andy Levitre is playing left tackle? Chris Hairston? D. Bell? It doesn't seem like it. Next week will be a huge test against the Jets, who know a thing or two about blitzing the QB.

--The Redskins are a disaster. I think Shane Flaco and the rest of the cast from the Washington Sentinels are rolling over in their graves. Watching John Beck try and play QB made me think of yesteryears, with the likes of JP and Trent. Thank goodness we found a QB.

--9 SACKS!? 9 SACKS!? The Bills went from ranked 32nd in the NFL in sacks to being tied for 25th.

---Scott Chandler is starting to remind me of Butch Role. 6 of his 14 catches this season have gone for touchdowns.

---Now that we are almost at the half way point, I think we can look back at the Bills schedule and be pretty impressed with their 5-2 start. Besides, the comeback victories against the Pats and Raiders, the two wins against the Chiefs and Skins, have really impressed me. I don't care about the Chiefs recent surge, they played some awful teams and I think they still stink. The Bills buried these crappy teams. That's what you want from your team. You want them to kick the crap out of the bad teams. 64-7 in two games against the Indian teams. Not bad.