Archives for September 16, 2002

‘Through their first two games of the season – both of which have gone to overtime – ratings for the Bills are up 23 percent from a season ago, 36.1 this year versus a 29.4 in 2001.’

‘Those last-second field goals … I think the kicker has to concentrate on what he has to do. I think Mike Hollis has kicked them that far before. The pluses are: He’s indoors, there’s no wind, it’s off a smooth artificial turf … but it’s still a long shot. As a coach, not much goes through my mind. It would be something you would have to do; you have no other choice. A 54-yarder is potentially makeable; it’s certainly more of a percentage play than trying to go for a touchdown — it would have had to have been a “Hail Mary.”‘

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has requested and will receive a football from Sunday's thrilling Bills-Vikings game in Minnesota. More…

Photos from Sunday's win over the Vikings.

‘The Broncos probably would accept being 13-0 this season. Or even 6-0. A 3-0 record is quite possible, with a home game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills won Sunday afternoon, but the victory was in overtime and in Minnesota, and the Bills had to fly all the way back to Niagara Falls, then will turn around in a few days and fly all the way back to the Rocky. Pity the poor Bills their fate.’

Buffalo Bills Geography is an educational program that integrates geography, language arts and math using the excitement of the NFL and the Buffalo Bills.

‘Since the Bills acquired kick-returner Charlie Rogers from the Houston Texans for linebacker Jay Foreman, you had to wonder what the fuss was about. Rogers’ performance of kickoffs and punts had been decidedly underwhelming early this season. But when the Bills needed it most, Rogers made what may be remembered as a season-saving play.’

Let's cut straight to the point: How much does this win mean for the Buffalo Bills? London Fletcher thinks he knows.

Mike Hollis' 54-yard field goal forced overtime and Peerless Price's 48-yard touchdown catch in the extended period won it.

‘It has been a long time since the Bills’ locker room was so wildly jubilant.’

‘Yet when the game was on the line in overtime, the Bills’ defenders found enough reserves in the tank to stop the Vikings’ dynamic duos.’

‘"He comes back to the huddle with a staple in his neck," Centers said after the Bills’ 45-39 triumph in the Metrodome. "A staple! A piece of metal holding a cut together. His lip is bleeding. I think he got hit and it bent his helmet somehow. But he comes back to the huddle, and he’s standing in front of 10 guys, bleeding, with a staple in his neck, and he’s calling the plays, saying, "Let’s go,’ and trying to get everybody else going."’

‘"That was hard to accept," Hollis said. "I think I got a little lazy on the kick. I tried to take a little off. I didn’t want to hit it real hard, I just wanted to make sure I made it and I ended up hooking it."’

Fourth-year wide receiver Peerless Price hauled in a 48-yard touchdown from quarterback Drew Bledsoe with 4:48 left in overtime as the Bills rallied for a 45-39 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

‘Player of the Game: Bledsoe. Now you know why you were so pumped when they signed the guy. He completed 35 of 49 passes for 463 yards, breaking the franchise record.’