Archives for September 26, 2011

‘While that doesn’t exactly signal a complete arrival, it’s certainly an indicator that the Bills are headed on an upswing following years of being stuck in neutral.’

‘”We’re excited,” running back Fred Jackson said of the win. “I’m sure everybody is aware of (the losing streak) we’re all aware of it. But right now (we’re) 3-0. That’s what a lot of guys are focusing on. We know we just took a huge monkey off our backs.”‘

‘Troopers ticketed 19 people for speeding and 24 for other traffic violations. The DWI arrests were spread out, in Orchard Park, Elma and the city of Buffalo.’

‘”If you saw us in the meeting room last Monday it was a funeral,” said George Wilson. “Guys had a sour and bitter taste in their mouths. We knew throughout this week in practice and preparing that we had to redeem ourselves and we had to make plays when we got the opportunity to win (Sunday).”‘

‘"It was awesome to run up the tunnel, looking up at the fans," said defensive end Chris Kelsay. "Ruben Brown was in the tunnel. I played with Ruben the first time that we beat them my rookie year [in 2003] and the last time we beat them until today. … I went up to Chan and Buddy [Nix] after the game and said, ‘I’m not one to ask for much, but your 24-hour rule [on celebrating wins]? I might ask for a couple more hours to enjoy this one — 26, 28 hours — because it’s been a long time.’"’

‘”We knew Brady was going to get his passing yards, we knew it,” said Bills strong safety Bryan Scott. “Our game plan coming into this game was to make them kick field goals instead of score touchdowns and there were a few times they came into the red zone and came away with nothing.”‘

‘Wilson watched it at his home in Detroit, still too weak to make the trip. He would have loved to have seen the happy expression on the face of veteran Chris Kelsay, who had been here for all 15 straight losses to New England. Or Brian Moorman, who had beaten them just once in 10 years. Or George Wilson, who arrived in 2004 and had never experienced the feeling.’

‘”They made some good plays in the pass game, took advantage of some opportunities they got,” Brady said. “They made some good plays on the ball. You don’t expect that. Some days the balls get batted up in the air and go your way and some days it doesn’t.”‘

‘”They’re all big to me because you’re trying to keep a job,” Lindell said. “Once I get out there and I look at [Brian Moorman’s] fingers, it’s kind of calming.”‘

‘”We did talk about with the short balls, if we get our hands up we can deflect them,” said linebacker Nick Barnett. “They’re content in dinking, and that makes plays if you can complete ’em and it’s just as good as a run game. That’s what we expressed early in the week. They’re going to make plays. We had to keep fighting until the opportunity presents itself and we can make a play on the ball.”‘

‘Gailey has instilled genuine belief in his team. Going with deep pass on first play of winning drive was genius. Defense had enough answers for Brady.’

‘It may be hard for this most recent generation of fans to believe this, but once upon a time, the Bills were the dominant team in the AFC East, and the New England Patriots were their patsies.’

‘There was no one I felt better for in the locker room than Chris Kelsay. He’s one of four guys who has been here for all 15 defeats, and you could see in his face what this victory meant. Great to see.’

‘But I will say this: the confidence that Gailey and Fitzpatrick have instilled in this locker room as the most promising coach-QB combination since Wade Phillips-Doug Flutie is for real.’