Archives for September 2011

‘”It definitely factored in,” running back Fred Jackson said of the Bills’ motivation to beat the Chiefs. “Nobody talked about it, but it was one of those underlying things. We wanted to come out and get a win for him. He’s a great coach and we like playing for him.”‘

‘Good for Chan Gailey to stick it to the Chiefs. K.C. coach Todd Haley fired Gailey right before the 2009 opener and took over play-calling duties. Well, Gailey sure called a better game Sunday. And as he usually does, Gailey told it like it is and said of beating his old team, “It feels good. You’re lying if you say it doesn’t. It does.”‘

‘Is Ryan Fitzpatrick ready to be the undeniable starting quarterback? He sure looked it.’

‘Fans in Kansas City probably weren’t among the Buffalo detractors entering Sunday’s game. In a scheduling quirk, the Bills have played in Kansas City the last four seasons. Buffalo is 3-1 (the only loss was 13-10 in overtime last year) and outscored the Chiefs 121-61.’

‘Chan Gailey was pumped to win against the team that fired him in 2009, and he was rewarded with a great effort from his fired-up team. His offensive plan took advantage of some obvious mismatches, the product of good scouting. On defense, George Edwards and his crew did a great job containing the Chiefs ground game, and Matt Cassel isn’t good enough to win a game with his arm alone.’

‘Sunday’s win didn’t seem like a fluke. That’s not to say the Bills are all of the sudden a dominant team. But for the first time in a while, the Bills resembled a complete team. With Marcell Dareus being one of those true difference-makers, they stopped one of the more formidable running games in the league. The secondary played like it was 2009. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson led a balanced offense that scored five touchdowns. The special teams were solid.’

‘Fred Jackson has been vocal about wanting to be the starter. The Bills treated him like a No. 1 back Sunday giving him 20 carries. He made them look smart picking up 112 yards (5.6 average). He isn’t a flashy runner, but he finds the hole, hits it hard and is tough to bring down.’

‘Yes, it was just one game and until the Bills show they can compete against their AFC East rivals, it won’t mean that much. But for a team winning by 34 points on the road against a team that went to the playoffs and suffered their worst opening-game home loss in franchise history, it was certainly impressive.’

‘”The truth is, I might have gone that way, myself. I might have become a sportswriter if I wasn’t coaching because I love the game and I like to write and I would have enjoyed the associations.”‘

‘Langston said he bonded with several of the players, especially the rookies. “Those guys were more apt to go out and be more social,” Langston said. “Half the interns actually went out with three or four of the players. We got a limo bus on our first Tuesday off. We toured Rochester, even though it was a Tuesday night and there wasn’t really anywhere to go.”‘

Open and shut (Kansas City Star)

Chiefs lose Berry, struggle on defense (Kansas City Star)

Offense lacks identity against Buffalo (Kansas City Star)

Bills’ domination silences Arrowhead crowd (Kansas City Star)

It’s a red, white and blue day at Arrowhead (Kansas City Star)

The Chiefs’ epic failure could linger (Kansas City Star)

Chiefs blitz (Kansas City Star)

Chiefs Buzz (Kansas City Star)

Chiefs-Bills game report (Kansas City Star)

Photo gallery 1 (Kansas City Star)

Photo gallery 2 (Kansas City Star)

Chiefs not prepared for opener (Topeka Capital Journal)

Team remembers 9/11 (St. Joseph News Press)

Bills embarrass Chiefs with 41-7 manhandling (Great Bend Tribune)

Buffalo QB Fitzpatrick tosses four touchdown passes to lead Bills over Chiefs, 41-7 (Kirksville Daily Express)

Chiefs look flat in embarrassing opener (Fox Sports Kansas City)

Chiefs Fall to Bills 41-7 in Season Opener (KCChiefs.com)

Todd Haley Postgame Comments (KCChiefs.com)

Matt Cassel Postgame Comments (KCChiefs.com)

Chiefs Postgame Comments (KCChiefs.com)

The Morning After: Buffalo (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery 1 (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery 2 (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery 3 (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery 4 (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery 5 (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery 6 (KCChiefs.com)

Photo gallery (AP)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

‘Fitzpatrick finished with 208 yards passing for the Bills, who who hadn’t score 40 points in an opener since a 40-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 6, 1992.’

‘McGee was slow to get up after helping bring down Chiefs tight end Leonard Pope after a pass completion early in the first quarter Sunday. McGee was helped to the sideline by trainers and was not expected to return.’

‘Wide receiver Marcus Easley is inactive for the Bills after coming down with an illness Friday. That leaves Roscoe Parrish and David Nelson to back up Steve Johnson and Donald Jones. Buffalo nose tackle Torell Troup is out with a lower back injury.’

‘Scott Chandler made five catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns.’