Archives for November 2, 2004

‘I don’t know what got into Sam Adams, but that was the best game I have ever seen him play. He looked like a man amongst boys out there. He was all over the field making plays, stuffing the run and getting to the quarterback. He did a great job of anticipating the snap count. It seemed as if he was always the first person to fire off the ball. He showed how dominant he can be in this league and I expect his play to continue throughout the rest of the season.’

‘Voting is open to the fans each week from Tuesday at Noon ET until Thursday at Noon ET, exclusively on NFL.com.’

‘Even though Buffalo has won two of its last three games, the Bills still have to prove they can win on the road. Yet, if the running game is here to stay, at least the offense will be more interesting.’

‘Coach Frank Payne of Iroquois Central School has been named the Buffalo Bills high school football “Coach of the Week” for the ninth weekend of the 2004 season (October 29-30).’

‘”You have guys punting who aren’t real pros. They’re like the guys who win the punt, pass and kick contest. They do just one thing,” April said. “Brian has a real concern as to how his punts affect the football team. He does the things that help our team win. He has a football instinct.”‘

‘"A lot of people think I guess (on the snap), but I watch the ball," said Adams, who finished with six tackles and created opportunities for others to make plays. "That’s one of my blessings as a football player. I have good reaction. I’m explosive."’

‘"I’m thinking that way just because of how he felt (Sunday) after the game," Mularkey said. "I know he was pretty sore walking around."’

‘"I’ve probably done a poor job of emphasizing how well the special teams have played all year and what a huge factor they are," Mularkey said. He probably won’t be guilty of too many future oversights if the Bills’ kicking game units keep playing the way they did against the Cardinals.’

‘I’m not ready to anoint Buffalo a playoff contender on the basis of its 38-14 romp over hapless Arizona, but beating a good Jets team would catapult the Bills out of the NFL’s dungeon and it could be the kind of victory that turns their season around.’

‘Moorman averaged 44.1 yards on seven punts, six of them into a 20-30 mph wind that was gusting to 40 mph. Despite Buffalo’s offense starting seven drives against the wind and four of them inside its 15-yard line, Buffalo’s defense was never put in overwhelmingly bad field position because of Moorman’s leg. Of those six punts into the wind, four traveled more than 40 yards with no return. "He absolutely controlled the field position," said coach Mike Mularkey, who said Moorman may have been the MVP of the game. "How he does it, I have no idea and I’m not going to ask. He’s done it in the two games that the weather has been bad here. When you have a weapon like Brian, sometimes punting is not bad on days like this."’

‘The Bills had a well-crafted game plan on both sides of the ball for the conditions and sent the Cardinals to their 17th consecutive road loss. It was a significant step for Mike Mularkey, who was able to deny veteran peer Dennis Green his 100th coaching win. Coordinator Tom Clements wisely stuck with the run, even with McGahee averaging around 2.0 yards per rush over the final three quarters, protecting a lead while protecting the ball. After scoring four red-zone touchdowns all year, the Bills scored four against Arizona, which had the NFL’s No. 1 red zone defense.’

‘The Bills defense is on a serious roll. After holding the Cardinals to 213 yards, Buffalo has gone three consecutive games without allowing its opponent 300 yards offense. The team record is eight games set between Dec. 19, 1999 and Oct. 8, 2000.’

‘Four of Buffalo’s 13 possessions began in Arizona territory. “We had such great field position,” Bledsoe said, “we didn’t have to drive the length of the field in adverse conditions. We took the ball over several times in plus (Cardinals) territory and in great scoring position.”‘

‘”You just don’t throw the ball well in conditions like this,” Green said. “It’s not going to happen. I don’t think any body can.”‘

‘Of his kickoff return for the TD, McGee knew where credit was due. “It’s like a proven point for them to get me in the end zone,” he said of his blockers. “That’s all they talk about is getting me to the Pro Bowl.” And that’s a reasonable goal as he leads the American Football Conference with a 28-yard average.’