Archives for December 2002

‘After he caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady with 3:14 remaining in the first quarter on a well-designed fade pattern, Donald Hayes threw the ball way up into the end zone stands.’

‘Middle linebacker Ted Johnson was quite successful in stuffing the center of the field and turning Henry toward the outside. The Patriots were able to keep Henry in check with their outside linebackers and safeties, but as the game progressed and the Bills needed to throw, Henry wasn’t used as often.’

‘A sign of the times: Several cars were spotted on Route 95 bearing both Patriots and Bills flags.’

‘”Maybe he wanted it too bad.”‘

‘Another terrific game plan in yesterday’s emphatic 27-17 victory over Drew Bledsoe and the Bills: innovative and complex but not confusing to the players.’

‘“But (Bledsoe) wasn’t pressing. He was just following their game plan, and we came out good, and we were able to stop it,” Jones said. “I played with him for four years, and other guys have played with him for more than that. So we had a little edge. We relied on the guys up front to put pressure on him, and wherever he turned, we went.”’

‘“We knew that Drew would hold the ball, and because of that we could put pressure on him,” said Seymour. “A lot of that was due to the fact that our defensive backs did a good job. No quarterback likes you in their face.”’

‘“You kind of get up a little bit, maybe, against your old team,” said Smith, who played four seasons with the Bills before signing with the Pats last year. “But this is an important time of the year. We’re making a push to get into the playoffs, and I think I’m going to be an important part of that.”’

‘The Patriots defense forced five turnovers and Smith was responsible for one of them. Smith noticed on a sideline route that Price was acting careless with the football, then put the knowledge to use.’

‘That’s because there was no comparison. It was Brady in a landslide. Once again.’

‘“It makes life a whole lot easier,” said cornerback Otis Smith, who created the game’s killer turnover when he ripped a ball from Peerless Price’s hands in the fourth quarter, a literal takeaway.’

‘Statistically it might have been the worst performance of Bledsoe’s Buffalo tenure, but practically speaking it was even worse: Not only did the Bills continue a season-long habit of shooting themselves in the foot, but yesterday it was the veteran quarterback who did most of the shooting.’

‘“Ty Law looks like he’s having another spectacular year,” said Bledsoe.’

‘One interception, two, three interceptions, four.’

‘The Pats had three touchdowns taken off the board because of penalties in their 27-17 win over Buffalo yesterday at Gillette Stadium.’