Archives for October 2004

‘The Bills, who like the Dolphins, are winless mostly because of a struggling offense, yet has a tough defense that has kept them in games. The Bills are allowing just 85 rushing yards per game due to heavyweight defensive tackles Sam Adams (340 pounds) and Pat Williams (330). They’ve also been ferocious with the blitz; unofficially rushing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady over 40 times last week. While it didn’t work against the apparently unflappable Brady – he threw for almost 300 yards without an interception and without getting sacked – Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is still wary of the challenge.’

‘Hey, if you were lining up against Drew Bledsoe, you’d need something to soak up all the drool too.’

Jets Are Coming Up Shorter on Third-Down Plays (New York Times)

Johnny be good (New York Daily News)

Jets’ task: Whoa, Henry! (New York Post)

Statistics say Bills overdue for first win (New York Post)

Serby’s Sunday Q&A with … Curtis Martin (New York Post)

Robertson’s head in game (Newsday)

A passing fancy (White Plains Journal News)

Jets nose tackle Ferguson makes jokes as well as plays (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets vs. Bills (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets focused on turnovers (Bergen Record)

Jets vs. Bills (Bergen Record)

Unbeaten Jets wary of Bills (New Haven Register)

Jets hope to exploit Bills’ line (Middletown Times Herald Record)

‘Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey has the reputation as an offensive whiz, but so far, that’s been nothing but malarkey.’

‘Q: Are Buffalo fans much less patient with kickers given Scott Norwood’s infamous Super Bowl miss against the Giants? A: Not really. They’re awfully fanatical, but I don’t think that really has any bearing on how they think of me. They’re awfully anxious to get some wins.’

‘Martin and Henry will battle it out on the ground in the Meadowlands on Sunday. The back that leaves the field with more rushing yards will most likely leave with the win as well.’

‘They also will have a better chance at getting to Drew Bledsoe, who has been sacked 15 times. Making matters worse for the Bills, center Trey Teague is out with a left knee injury, while tackle Jonas Jennings is recovering from a concussion. That doesn’t help a bumbling offensive unit that has been incapable of producing consistently in the clutch.’

‘Despite the early success of the Jets secondary, the Bills plan to stick with their style of offense. "We’ve still got to do the things that we do best and we’ve got to find their weaknesses and exploit them," said rookie wide receiver Lee Evans. "I think that’s the basic game plan when you go in against any team. Regardless of what they do, you’ve got to be able to execute the things that you know how to do."’

‘"He’s running about as well as he’s run in his career," Bills coach Mike Mularkey said. "He’s a man on a mission. He’s a true professional. Some guys, you can keep putting hits on them and tattooing them all game and eventually shut them down. This guy, you cannot."’

‘”We’ve got to stop Travis before we do anything,” nose tackle Jason Ferguson said.’

‘Joe Namath he’s not. But Jets fans may grow to love him just as much as the man who guaranteed a Super Bowl victory over the Baltimore Colts in January of 1969 and then delivered, forever making him the quarterback that all other Jets quarterbacks must answer to.’

‘"He’s a good back, it’s a good opportunity for us," said Hobson. "We are going to have to try and tackle him and stop him."’

‘Mike Mularkey expects Jennings to play Sunday against the Jets if there are no setbacks.’

‘Jets 24, Bills 21.’