Archives for November 2002

‘Running back Priest Holmes leads the NFL in yards gained from scrimmage (1,353, including 908 rushing), Tony Gonzalez is the best tight end in the game, quarterback Trent Green is an efficient passer, Johnnie Morton and Eddie Kennison are productive receivers, and Will Shields, John Tait and Willie Roaf lead one of the finest offensive lines in the league.’

‘New England used a zone to cut off downfield opportunities to Moulds and Price and forced Bledsoe to take the short stuff. The Bills ended up with 331 yards of offense but scored only seven points because they couldn’t hit any big passing plays, then bogged down in the red zone.’

‘By beating the Bills, the Chiefs would have a victory, and therefore the tie-breaking edge, against three of the four AFC East teams. The East and West divisions could easily supply both of the AFC’s wild-card teams.’

Buffalo at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Two high-scoring offenses. Their defenses are pretty offensive, too.

Hulk: The crowd will dictate this one. The better team doesn’t win. Chiefs 31-30.

Since bye weeks were introduced in 1990, the Bills are 10-3 in games following the open date. Only Minnesota (11-3) has more post-bye week wins than the Bills.

Expect offensive fireworks from two of the NFL's highest scoring clubs. The Chiefs are coming off a disappointing road loss to San Francisco. The Bills had the week off and used the extra time to get healthy on the defensive side of the ball, which will serve as a blessing against Kansas City.

The Bills hold a 20-15-1 overall lead (18-14-1 in the regular season) against the Chiefs in a series that dates back to 1960. These two teams were members of the original six-team American Football League, with the Chiefs franchise originally located in Dallas.

The Bills return from last week's open date to find themselves tied atop the AFC East with Miami and New England and a game in front of the 4-5 Jets. Buffalo (5-4) watched the Dolphins drop to 5-4 with a 13-10 loss at the Jets while the Patriots moved to 5-4 with a dramatic 33-30 comeback win at Chicago.

The Bills would like to wish a Happy Birthday to the following Buffalo Bills Kids Club members: Stephen Meagher (Nov. 15), Jake Caplan (Nov. 15), Kiley Shannon (Nov. 16), Philip Limbeck (Nov. 17), Jake Lawton (Nov. 17), Douglas Tay (Nov. 18), Stewart Bovi (Nov. 18)…

‘The Chiefs have the lowest-ranked defense in the NFL.’

‘Despite a 5-4 record and a piece of first place in the AFC East, the Bills’ 2-4 conference record is the worst of the 14 contenders, matched only by Jacksonville.’

‘Like tackling a running back at full speed, it is Gray who feels every one. And like other players who traded in their pads for a coach’s whistle, he has discovered that doing it yourself on the field is a lot easier than getting others to do it for you.’

‘”Some people just have a way with people,” Fletcher said. “He’s compassionate. He’s loyal. He’s a guy who’s tough but fair. We had tough practices. We’d be out there 3 1/2 hours sometimes, but he was also a fair person. Once you were one of his guys it was tough to fall out of his favor. He would go to bat for you. He was a guy players had a special relationship with.”‘

‘”It has been inconsistent, very inconsistent,” Vermeil said. “I treat the punter like I have in the past with a kicker, and that’s you stay with him until he punts himself out of a slump. Otherwise, you get somebody else and you don’t know what you’re going to get.”‘

‘For the season, opponents have converted 51 of 116 (44 percent) of third downs. That ranks 26th in the NFL.’