Archives for November 2005

‘With the Bills leading 9-6, Delhomme hit tight end Michael Gaines in the end zone from three yards out to give the Panthers a 13-9 lead with 2:16 remaining. The drive took 14 plays and 68 yards and nearly eight minutes off the clock. The Bills had a chance late, but J.P. Losman’s pass that was intended for rookie wide receiver Roscoe Parrish was picked off by Chris Gamble at the Carolina 34-yard line.’

‘Williams was hurt earlier in the quarter while pass blocking on tight Ryan Neufeld’s 9-yard reception deep in Bills territory. He made his way off the field on his own, and was immediately attended to on the Buffalo sideline.’

‘Buffalo DT Sam Adams (knee), TE Mark Campbell (hamstring) and CB/KR Terrence McGee (hamstring) were also inactive after all three didn’t practice this week.’

‘The Bills rank last in the league in stopping foes inside the 20-yard line. Buffalo has allowed touchdowns on 68 percent of the opposition’s trips into the red zone (19 of 28).’

‘The line’s problem is its lack of talent.’

‘Panthers 21, Bills 16.’

‘”People probably think guys just run out there and whatever happens, happens,” April said. “But it’s designed like an offensive running play, just guys have to run backwards to set the formation. Then the spacing between the back, the wedge and the front guys has to be pretty precise in order for it to work.”‘

‘So far this year, tight ends have accounted for 19.6 percent of all pass receptions in the NFL, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The percentage has gone up each of the last four seasons. Last year, tight ends accounted for 19 percent of catches through the first 11 weeks. In 2003, it was 17.7 percent. In 2002, it was 15.3 percent. Unfortunately for the Bills, this convenient outlet for the quarterback has not been nearly as much of a factor.’

’13: The average number of points Buffalo has allowed in five home games.

29: The average number of points Buffalo has allowed in five road games.’

‘This should have been a matchup for the ages if all things had gone according to plan. Peppers, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2002 draft, going against Mike Williams, the No. 4 overall pick by Buffalo that year. Peppers has proven his lofty draft status and is one of the biggest stars in the NFL. Williams? Well, he’ll be watching from the sidelines as street free agent signee Jason Peters tries to block Peppers. It’ll be a tall order for Peters.’

‘Still, with a win today at The Ralph, the Bills could keep their flimsy playoff hopes alive. And as their 4-1 record at home (against 0-5 away) suggests, they are a dramatically different outfit at Orchard Park. “We’ve been going back and forth, back and forth,” Bills safety Troy Vincent told Carolina media on a conference call this week. “Now we are sitting at 4-6 and it’s not what we had planned. We’re still in it. We just haven’t played sound, good defence week in and week out.”‘

‘The Bills, who fired Williams after three seasons and a 17-31 record, are 4-6 this year under his replacement, Mike Mularkey, their rebuilding project under Donahoe seemingly years behind schedule. Fox and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, the other finalist for the Bills’ job back in 2001 whose team is also 7-3, are two coaches Buffalo fans cry in their beer over.’

‘Playing the strong side, some fans may not understand your role and get on you for lack of sacks. Does that bother you?

“One thing I don’t do is judge my play by what fans think. I know how productive I am in this defense. I know from the coaches how this defense is set up. I know what the deal is. I don’t let any critics get to me, because they may not know a lot about our scheme.”‘

‘Buffalo had its punter warming up on the sideline during the game, kicking into a net as usual. Then he missed the net completely. The ball sailed into the stands behind Buffalo’s bench. And that was the team that won the game.’

‘Which Bills will the Panthers get today, the patsies who are 0-5 on the road or the respectable group that has won four of five at home? Given the game is at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Carolina players are expecting the latter.’