Archives for January 3, 2005

‘"There’s no reason we shouldn’t be still playing," Teague said. "It’s just frustrating. I couldn’t have fathomed that today would turn out like it did."’

‘Utter devastation.’

‘Parker gained 101 yards in the second half Sunday and helped the Steelers to a 29-24 victory over the Bills. He had a 58-yard run in the third quarter that set up a field goal, giving the Steelers the lead for good. He had 11 carries during a critical 14-play drive that consumed 8 minutes and 53 seconds of the fourth quarter, leaving the Bills with almost no time to come back from a 29-17 deficit.’

‘Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher was like a Las Vegas magician, each item pulled from his hat more impressive than the last. The grand finale came when he made the Bills, one of the league’s hotter teams, vanish from the NFL playoff picture, an unfathomable feat considering no opposing team had ever won at The Ralph in January.’

‘"I thought, "We’re rolling now. Here we go,’ " said Tucker, the Bills’ left guard. "I even recall looking up at the scoreboard and seeing that the Jets were losing, and I was thinking, "This is our year. It’s our time.’ "’

‘"The wind was going right to left, and I missed it right," he said. "My aim was a smidge over to the right. But I didn’t hit my target."’

‘"I still don’t know who that is. Who’s that Willie Parker?" – Bills cornerback Terrence McGee.’

‘Lindell opened year with miss, ended with miss. Clements fumbled first punt. That’s 6 points. Bad end to great year.’

‘"I’m tired of hearing people say we’re going to be better next year," responded her sister. "I’m tired of waiting."’

‘Offense: C+. McGahee and WR Lee Evans were difference-makers. QB Drew Bledsoe might have earned another year as a starter.’

‘"Probably no one gave us a chance to win this game with all our backups playing," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "But it just goes to show you that we have a lot of depth on this team. Those guys went out there and competed."

‘”The bottom line is if we can’t beat them with their backups on the field, then we probably don’t deserve to be in.”‘

‘Instead of treating the game like a glorified practice, which would have been easy to do considering they had accomplished pretty much everything they could in the regular season, the Steelers came out and took the game to the Bills. They won a game they had no business winning.’

Afterward, Bledsoe spoke quietly to reporters, saying he was stunned to watch the Bills’ playoff chances die in a home loss against a team resting many of its top players. “Early this week, someone asked a question, ‘What if you don’t get in?’ ” Bledsoe said. “The honest truth is that I didn’t prepare myself for this. … To be honest with you, I’m in a little bit of shock right now because I didn’t really anticipate this would be the case.”‘

‘Rian Lindell missing a 28-yard field goal? Drew Bledsoe again proving he cannot win the big game? A loss in a game that meant everything to the Bills against a team comprised of second, third and fourth stringers? BRIAN ST. PIERRE? Ugh.