Archives for October 21, 2002

‘The Dolphins and Bills both tried fakes in Buffalo’s 23-10 victory on Sunday, and both teams wished they hadn’t.’

‘The Dolphins entered Sunday’s game down key players — and it showed.’

‘”We contained them, we wanted to contain them,” Madison said. “We gave up some big plays. That’s just not the way our defense likes to play. We like give up short routes and try to contain them but they hit us on some big plays and that hurt us.”‘

‘Clements became the first Bill in a decade to get three interceptions in a game, the last time coming in December 1992 when Mark Kelso did it against Denver.’

‘Not the worst in NFL history, maybe, but bad enough.’

‘”I just wanted to be smart about it and be safe,” Chambers said. “There was no reason to take a risk.”‘

‘Cris Carter was about the only topic to bring a smile to Zach Thomas’ face Sunday.’

‘Following Sunday’s four-interception outing by Ray Lucas, Bills counterpart and former New England teammate Drew Bledsoe gave words of encouragement. “Ray is a good guy, he’s a good player and I just told him to keep his head up, keep his confidence up,” said Bledsoe, who was Lucas’ teammate in 1996.’

‘”As high as I was before the game, that’s how low I am now,” Lucas said in an emotional news conference following the loss.’

‘The Bills reached a point where they attempted to kick short and force a less-threatening player to handle the ball rather than Minor. It only worked once when Jed Weaver, a tight end, handled the ball.’

‘“I was going to run,” Lucas said of the second. “Then I stopped myself from running and I threw it. As soon as I let go I knew he was going to pick it. Then I got hit in the mouth. I deserved to get hit in the mouth on that play.”’

‘The Dolphins had an opportunity to be 6-1, and more importantly 3-0 in the division, heading into the bye week. Instead, they’re 5-2 and 2-1, and face road games at Green Bay on a Monday night and at the Jets with Lucas still at the helm.’

‘”He had a tough day,” Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt would say later, “and he knows it.”‘

‘Ray Lucas did the impossible Sunday. He actually made Miami Dolphins fans yearn for Jay Fiedler.’

‘”I don’t think there’s ever been a case where one guy lost a game for his teammates — except today,” he said.’