Archives for December 2004

‘Spikes said don’t count this team out if it does get into the playoffs. "We think we can take it all the way," he said. "When we get there, all of the stats are thrown out. I don’t care if you’ve been scoring 40 points a game. I don’t care how good your defense is. I think we can beat anybody."’

‘Buffalo held Chad Johnson, Cincinnati’s top receiver and biggest mouth, to 10 yards on two receptions. Bills came up with four turnovers, highlighted by Takeo Spikes’ 62-yard interception return for a TD. Bills never let Kitna feel comfortable.’

‘””We had some struggles on offense,” admitted rookie wide receiver Lee Evans, whose fumble helped the Bengals to a 7-0 lead before his 5-yard touchdown reception, tied the game. “My teammates stood behind me through the whole thing … they just said (after the fumble), ‘Keep going, keep going, you’re all right,” he recalled. "One thing I learned, it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond and I was able to respond in a good way.”‘

‘”We think we could go all the way,” said Spikes. “Everything is thrown out (In the post-season). God willing, we want to make the playoffs … and when we get there, all the stats – I don’t care if you’ve been putting up 40 points a game or if your defense has been doing this or that. If we show up in the playoffs, we don’t care about that. (Other teams) put their pants on one leg at a time, just like we do and we’re coming to get it. We feel like this is our fate. We hated that we had to go through what we went through the first four games, but it was all part of the plan to get where we are right now.”‘

‘Of the 22-year-old, 6-foot-4, 328-pound Peters, special teams coach Bobby April noted, “He could be a heckuva a tight end and he could be a heckuva tackle in this league … and we got him as a free agent."’

‘After the demolishing in New England, which brought Buffalo’s record to 3-6, I said that, barring the Bills running the table, the season was officially over. Well, look at where we stand today.’

‘The good news is the injury is not to McGahee’s left knee, the one he tore up in his final college outing for Miami in the Hurricanes’ loss to Ohio State in the 2003 national championship game. That injury forced the first-round pick to miss his entire rookie season last year.’

‘”In order for us to have a chance we have to go out and handle our business this week,” Bledsoe said. “We have to be focused and step up to the challenge of going across the country. We’re going to spend time with our families this week, but we have to keep our minds on football.”‘

‘"I was thinking, ‘Get up, Willis,’" Bledsoe said. "He’s been so pivotal in us turning this thing around, and it’s a testament to him to get to where he is, with what he’s gone through. Hopefully he’ll be all right."’

‘They need to take care of business and get some help. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s not impossible.’

‘Coaching: A. Mularkey has team flying high. Gray’s plan to attack Kitna worked great. April using personnel to perfection.’

‘The Bills’ defense extended its amazing streak of not allowing a touchdown in the third quarter all season.’

‘"Let’s not get it twisted. We are an 8-6 team just giving ourselves a chance to line up in postseason," Vincent said. "We’re definitely not what we were in September, but we’re 8-6, trying to get in."’

‘Can you say hot? Never before have the Bills scored 30 or more points in five straight games.’

‘"This time, I looked up and said, "Man, I hope nobody’s behind me,’ " Spikes said after the Bills’ 33-17 win. "But I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let anybody catch me."’