Archives for November 22, 2004

‘So while Sunday was a day to remember, I’ll hesitate to attach any great significance to it. The Bills are not a bad team, as they appeared to be in the first month of the season. But until they can win on the road, they’re counterfeit Bills, the biggest frontrunners in the NFL. Really, how can the team that put on that display be winless on the road at Thanksgiving?’

‘"Absolutely they’re doing it intentionally," Martz said. "They’re trying to blow somebody’s knee out. There’s no question about it. . . . That stuff comes around eventually."’

‘"I didn’t get a ball in three weeks, and that’s frustrating," said Campbell, who has 14 catches for 172 yards and a team-high five touchdowns for the season. "But winning cures all that. When you’re winning, it’s easy to deal with. If you’re losing, you feel like you’ve got to be able to do something to help. I feel like I’m the kind of guy who can do both block and catch. While I feel like I’ve blocked well the last three weeks, I haven’t been able to make plays. What happened today confirms to me that when you get the opportunities you have capitalize on them."’

‘The Bills and Miami remain the only teams in the league that are winless on the road.’

‘Bills return game is amazing. Clements & Smith are two-headed monster on punts. Hooray for Bobby April.’

‘I laughed, I cried, I wet my pants.’

‘"When you get big plays on special teams, more often than not you’re going to win the football game," said linebacker and occasional special teamer London Fletcher.’

‘"In a few ways I’m feeling guilty because there’s so many guys I can think of who should go up there before me," said the ever-modest Ritcher. "Guys who mentored me in the early years when I was so terrible and they brought me along and had confidence in me, both players and coaches."’

‘After all, here’s a player who caught seven passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns during a three-game span in October, then didn’t catch a pass in the last three.’

‘Kelly recounted how he had endured similar calls for his benching during the final seasons of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career. He told the latest in a long line of successors to keep his chin up and things would get better.’

‘"We love to play at home, we love our fans, they give us a lot of energy and we feel good about it."’

‘The Buffalo Bills have won four straight home games but they’re one of only four winless road teams this season (with Cleveland, Miami and San Francisco) and can’t be considered an above-average team until they win a game or two outside of Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘WR Torry Holt on Bills’ dirty play: "I don’t know what they were told before the game, but they came out and took some shots at us that I think were unnecessary."’

‘Special teams: They just keep getting better for the Bills with rookie Jonathan Smith setting up a TD with a 53-yard punt return and Nate Clements scoring on an 86-yard punt return the very next time up. Jason Peters recovered a muffed Rams’ kickoff return by ex-Bill Erik Flowers that led to a field goal and Rian Lindell hit all three of his field-goal attempts. A+’

‘”You always like to win, but it’s even better when you win back in your old neighbourhood, so to speak,” April said.’