Archives for November 22, 2005

‘With the injury-depleted Patriots staggering in the AFC East, and Buffalo just a game back of New England in the early stages of the season’s second half, the notion of the team making its first postseason appearance since 1999 didn’t seem all that laughable. Then came Week 11.’

‘The Buffalo Bills posted their most prolific day returning kickoffs last Sunday. Rookie Roscoe Parrish and third-year returnman Terrence McGee helped combine for a team record 239 kickoff return yards.’

‘Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich will receive the 2005 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Distinguished Service Award this weekend, presented by the Monday Quarterback Club. He will honored this Sunday in pre-game ceremonies on the field before the Bills-Panthers game at Ralph Wilson Stadium and again on Monday, November 28 at the Quarterback Club luncheon at the HSBC Arena Harbour Club Restaurant in downtown Buffalo.’

Andre Reed – WR -1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins

Thurman Thomas – RB – 1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins

Ralph Wilson, Jr. – Owner – 1959-current Buffalo Bills

The list of 15 finalists for the Class of 2006 will be announced in mid-January.

‘Is Mike Mularkey the worst head coach in the NFL? He very well might be.’

‘Regardless of their record, the Bills seemed to take two steps backward after their loss to the Chargers. The Bills are 4-6, giving them the same record through 10 games they had last year en route to a 9-7 finish. Last season, they were winless on the road going into their final six contests. Same results, entirely different perspective about the Bills’ playoff hopes.’

So how can any Bills fan, much less a nattering nabob of negativity such as me be even somewhat happy about the Bills being hung, drawn and quartered in San Diego? Is it because it now allows me to dance on the graves of those who said the playoffs were within reach while doing my “I told you so” jig? Not quite.

‘I’m flabbergasted by what has happened to this defense, a unit that finished No. 2 in yards allowed in the NFL two years in a row. It’s crumbling like taco chips.’

‘Based on this performance, there is no reason for coach Mike Mularkey, who refused to name his starter on Monday, to consider going back to Kelly Holcomb if Holcomb is physically fit to play this week when the Bills host the Carolina Panthers.’

‘A Ch2 viewer e-mailed me, saying she was sitting on the 50-yard line six rows behind the Bills bench, which was impressive in itself because those are great seats, but her point was the noticeable lack of team chemistry from where she was sitting.’

‘The Bills can’t stop the run, and now, apparently, they can’t stop the pass either.’

‘This was a watershed game for Mike Mularkey and his staff, and they got swamped.’

‘The 38-point margin of defeat is the worst in GM Tom Donahoe’s tenure which began in 2001. In fact, it’s the worst Bills loss in a non-strike game in 20 years: 39 points (42-3) to the New York Jets in 1985. In 1987, the Bills lost a strike game by 41 points to the Colts, 47-6.’

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

‘We are not happy with the performance of our team yesterday. We had a very good week of practice and were well prepared to play. San Diego has to be given credit for a very good offensive game plan, which kept us off balance the entire first half. The game, unfortunately, got away from us and we could not rally to get back into it. We will put the game behind us and regroup and try to take the negative of yesterday’s performance and turn it into a positive next Sunday at home against Carolina.’