Archives for October 2002

Sunday’s win at Miami upped the Bills 2002 record to 4-3. They are over .500 for the first time since November of 2000 when their win at Kansas City (11/19/00) made them 7-4. That was also the last time the Bills won two straight games. The last time Buffalo played two consecutive games on the road and won them both was December of 1999 when they posted victories in consecutive weeks at Arizona and at New England.

Peter King’s MMQB: “DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK –Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements. The Bills had four takeaways in their first six games of the year. Clements had three interceptions in the 23-10 Buffalo win Sunday — one he returned 29 yards for the clinching touchdown — as well as four solo tackles and four passes broken up. The picks were also the first three interceptions of the Bills’ season. What a tour de force of a game, even though, if I give Clements a trophy for this, he’s going to have to saw it in half and give half to Ray Lucas. Clements said after the game that Lucas “threw it right” to him on the pick returned for touchdown. There wasn’t much sugarcoating the Lucas factor after the game.”

Buffalo's 23-10 victory is more than a win over an old rival. It's a game that, when we look back at the 2002 season, elevated the Bills to a place where it became okay to hope. It's doesn't guarantee a playoff spot, or even a winning final record. But it does put the Bills one step closer.

Check out some photos of Buffalo's win over Miami.

Travis Henry rushed for 132 yards and Nate Clements intercepted three passes as the Bills defeated the Dolphins, 23-10, and closed within a game of Miami in the AFC East.

Rookie safety Coy Wire was the latest player to share some secrets about his teammates during the Two Minute Drill with buffalobills.com. Wire says Ryan Denney drives the fastest and Grant Irons is the most underrated.

Head coach Erie Jantzi of North Tonawanda High School has been named the Buffalo Bills' high school football "Coach of the Week" for the seventh weekend of the 2002 season (Oct. 18-19).

Watch the plays of the week for Week 7.

‘Maybe all you true believers who have predicted since the day of the Drew Bledsoe trade that the Bills could make the playoffs weren’t so crazy after all.’

‘However, Chris Watson had perhaps his best game of the year and Jason Bostic held his own in the slot when the Bills went to their nickel (five defensive backs) package. "They did an excellent job stepping up," Clements said.’

‘It’s hard to say what was more remarkable – going four straight games without a takeaway, or getting six in one game against Miami.’

‘Score this battle for Jennings, who held Taylor to only three tackles (one solo) and no sacks.’

‘Who would have thought that after going four weeks without a single takeaway, the Bills would go plus-six at Miami? The answer is, "Nobody."’

‘As they steam toward the midway point of the season, the Bills are now 4-3 and in second place in the AFC East, one game behind Miami.’

‘”Hey, this is the NFL, we don’t care how we get the victories,” said an animated Fletcher, his words acting as an umbrella to those trying to rain on Buffalo’s big win. “Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us if we go into a game with injuries. Someone goes out, the next guy’s supposed to get the job done. You’re one play away in this league from being the guy.”‘