Archives for November 2004

‘“Coming in here, we knew we had a tremendous challenge,” Bledsoe said. “Playing against the world champs, they played like it.”’

‘After reviewing the play when Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey challenged the call, it was determined that only one of McGee’s feet was outside the end zone when he caught the ball. That gave the Bills a touchback and the ball at the 20.’

‘"They really didn’t do anything different than what we expected," Bills coach Mike Mularkey said. "We did not play well enough to beat anybody tonight, especially against a team that does not make mistakes."’

‘"We were certainly hitting on all cylinders," said Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick. "They are a very good team which had been playing very good football. It’s a good win."’

‘It’s too bad you can’t play every game at home during the regular season.’

‘Right tackle Mike Williams returned to the starting lineup Sunday night just a week after he suffered a scary collision in the win over the New York Jets.’

‘The Pats held a 273-77 yards advantage after the first half and 428 to 125 on the game. Buffalo was 0-for-7 on third down and only had the football for 18:38.’

‘Buffalo’s offense was stymied all night. They were outgained 428-125, time of possession was in New England’s favor 41:22-18:32.’

The Bills rolled into New England winners of three of their last four. They left knowing that they are not ready for prime time players, especially on the road. The defense gave up 273 yards in the first half, that is around their average for a whole game.

The offense only had 125 total yards, the defense gave up 428 total yards. Those two stats added up to a 29-6 blowout loss. Both units played as close to total failure as you can. The special teams put up the only points of the game for the Bills and save these grades a bit. Here are our position by position grades..’.

‘"The thing that kind of has been their trademark for years is that when somebody gets hurt, somebody else goes in and they find a way with their personnel and their scheme to make it work," Bledsoe said of his former team. "We have to prepare for what we’re seen and expect a few surprises along the way."’

‘In fact, Buffalo’s defense has not allowed a running back to rush for over 100 yards all season, the only team in the league to have accomplished that feat. And, as Belichick says, “You can’t keep calling running plays that don’t gain yardage.”‘

‘The Bills only have defeated a defending Super Bowl champion on the road twice in their history (1975 at Pittsburgh, 1993 at Dallas). So a win over the AFC East’s colossus would make their season, even if it doesn’t catapult them to a great stretch run.’

‘Run and stop the run. It’s a simple game. That’s the game the Bills wanted to play when Mularkey became the coach. They’ve begun to establish their identity over the last month. But the true character of a team is revealed away from home. Tonight, the football world will be looking to see if that identity is genuine, or just a mask.’

‘"He’s definitely a study," left tackle Jonas Jennings said with a laugh. "I mean, he’s a damn brainiac. He knows every guy on the film, his name, where’s he from, even in the preseason when it’s a fourth-string guy."’