Archives for September 2005

‘The Buffalo Bills were 29th in the NFL in touchdown scoring percentage in the red zone last season. Not much has changed this year.’

‘”He addressed the team and he was emotional,” recalled fellow linebacker London Fletcher. “It hurt to have him tell you he’s done for the year. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice, his voice was cracking, but he was still focused on the team. In spite of his situation he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself, he was more concerned about the team and that says a lot about him as a person and a teammate.”‘

‘So where do they go from here? It looks gloomy, even though the season is only three games old. The Bills made a big effort on Sunday to point that out. But here’s the catch: the Bills are 1-2 and face a daunting schedule that won’t make Losman’s life any easier and defensively, the best player in recent Bills history will be leaning on crutches on the sidelines for the rest of the year. So where are they going? In my view, not very far.’

‘So much has changed since the 1960’s when sprinting out of the backfield was so easy for Bass. Preaching has become his mission. He did it from the pulpit of Tallahassee’s Faith Presbyterian Church for 20 years before retiring 17 months ago. “Now you look at life and I’m happiest when I help somebody,” he said. “That’s better than a touchdown.”‘

‘Having said that, and despite all those compelling stats I just gave you, it still isn’t obvious the Bills made a mistake, at least on the quarterback decision. It is just as obvious after three games, and this was even before the season-ending injury to Takeo Spikes, the Bills are not made of playoff stuff.’

‘The Buffalo Bills’ worst fears have been realized.’

‘After giving up 191 yards to Tampa Bay a week earlier, the Bills gave up 236 on 36 carries (6.6 yards per rush) to the Falcons. Vick, whose 27-yard scramble to convert a third-and-10 play set up Atlanta’s clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter, finished with nine runs for 64 yards. Few teams can contain Vick, but the Bills made it worse on themselves by also allowing running backs Warrick Dunn (15 for 97) and T.J. Duckett (12 for 75) to run wild.’

‘RB Willis McGahee, who gained 140 yards against Atlanta, now has nine 100-yard games in 14 career NFL starts. Buffalo had been 8-0 when McGahee topped the century mark until Sunday’s 24-16 loss.’

Falcons get back to full strength (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Mora says Hall is making most of his skills (AP)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Jim Mora Press Conference (AtlantaFalcons.com)

‘Losman’s passer rating for the game was 33.8.’

‘Spikes is in his third season with Buffalo and has evolved into the team’s emotional leader. He has never missed a start since signing with the Bills in 2002. Angelo Crowell will assume Spikes’ starting role.’

‘Meanwhile the Bills certainly offer the championship talk…. they sound like at team that believes they are one of the league’s best. But the proof comes from performance, and when the chips were down on Sunday, the Bills did not step up. They can talk the talk, but they have not yet walked the walk. The difference between the Bills and Patriots; the Bills think they are a good team; while the Patriots know they are a good team.’

‘Mike, why on 4th-and-1 would you have called a QB sneak with J.P. instead of running Willis as well as he had been running? Do you not think he is capable of attaining 1 yard?’

‘For the better part of a decade, the Bills fans have been told to have faith and stay the course, your organization was building a winning team. Well, how much longer will the loyal fans have to endure failure and frustration before the Bills beat good teams and make the playoffs?’

‘Spikes was chasing down QB Michael Vick when he tore his tendon. The injury didn’t appear disasterous when it happened but Spikes knew it was most likely a worst-case scenario as he slammed his helmet to the ground after he rolling over and grimacing in pain.’