Archives for December 2002

‘No matter what his critics say, there’s no denying one thing. The guy’s a legend.’

”’When Flutie came in, I knew we had to stay in our lanes because he can make things happen,” said Bills linebacker London Fletcher. ”He’s been a terrific player in this league for a number of years. It forced us to be disciplined on the back end.”’

‘Dropped passes, missed tackles and nine penalties for 121 yards, including four for 86 yards for pass interference, better explain why the Chargers continued yet another late-season tailspin. They are a combined 1-11 in December since 1999.’

"Each and every week that is a big part of our game plan. We did a good job pressuring, disrupted their rhythm on some of those plays and we did a nice job of challenging their receivers when they tried to catch the ball."

"It was fun. It really was. It was fun to hear it from the crowd a little bit and step into a situation where we were behind and have the opportunity to go and try to win the ball game. We made a couple plays and got ourselves into position and didn't follow thru on it. For me personally, it was fun to step onto the field. As a team, this puts our backs against the wall now."

‘Henry had five rushes on the drive for 53 yards including a touchdown run from 26 yards out and the final margin, 20-13.’

‘It’s not that Brees was playing poorly. He had completed 13 of 24 passes for 148 yards and on a frigid, windy day in Buffalo that saw his counterpart, Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, complete just 11 of 33 passes for 107 yards. It’s just that Schottenheimer was looking for a way to bring the Chargers back into the game, who reiterated after the game that Brees will be San Diego’s starter at Kansas City next week.’

Travis Henry: "Before the game we knew that we had to come in with a balanced attack. We knew that we had to run the ball on them because they play cover two at times and we knew when they gave us that look on defense we would be able to run the ball. We did well. The offensive line blocked well and when we had opportunities to run, we ran well."

‘The Chargers, who have lost five of their last seven, began the day a game behind the Raiders, who lost in Miami. Buffalo climbed to 7-7, two games out of the lead in the AFC East with two to play.’

‘Gametime temperature was 36 degrees, making it the 11th coldest game in Chargers history. San Diego, which hadn’t played a game in conditions 57 degrees or colder this season, is 3-8 when the temperature is 40 degrees or colder.’

‘Bledsoe completed only 11-of-33 passes…’.

Updated throughout the game — On his first completion, a 7-yard pass to Dave Moore, Drew Bledsoe set a new franchise record for passing yards in a season, surpassing Jim Kelly's mark of 3,840 yards (1991).

‘"Seriously, (Butler) was about 80 percent of the reason I came here, because he believed in me,” Wiley said. "He first understood what kind of player I was and what I could become in this league."’

‘"The fans live and die with the Bills. On Wednesday night, trailers and campers start showing up in the parking lot. They stake their claim, go to work —- but instead of going back home, they return to the parking lot. They will tailgate every evening. There will be bonfires in the parking lot to keep warm. It is probably the loudest outdoor stadium there is. As you get late in the season, when fans get bundled up a little bit, the warm gloves muffles the sound. That might help us out a bit."’

‘Pick: BILLS 23, CHARGERS 13.’