Archives for October 2012

‘But what was particularly galling for the Bills was that they actually led 21-7 four minutes into the third quarter and had wasted another potential touchdown when running back C.J. Spiller fumbled at the Patriots’ 1-yard line just before intermission. Instead, after Buffalo took that two TD lead, the Patriots scored six touchdowns on as many possessions in a span of 19:08 that created an unexpectedly early traffic jam in the stadium parking lots.’

‘The Pats churned out a numbing 247 yards on 40 carries … over six yards per try.’

‘”You just gotta execute those plays,” he said of his first-half miscues. “We can’t be having that. It hurts the team a lot. (But) it’s awesome that Tom came back to me, trust in my abilities, trust in me throughout the whole game running-wise, still running behind me; still throwing me passes. Overall, it was a great team win.”‘

‘One year and two blowout losses later, it’s clear that victory was nothing more than a wrinkle in time, not the kairotic moment in the Bills-Patriots rivalry it seemed to be at the time.’

‘To pin this all on Mario Williams just because he makes the most money isn’t right or fair. It also let’s a bunch of players off the hook who are collecting big old paychecks too and should also be hiding their heads when the lights go out and the projector goes on in the film room. But in the 2 most important games so far (Jets, Patriots) Mario Williams has a total of 3 tackles, no sacks and to be generous one quarterback pressure. Those are Aaron Maybin numbers.’

‘The Bills chose to stay in their nickel defense almost the whole game, with Scott and Nick Barnett at linebacker and five defensive backs in the secondary. New England countered by using its two-tight end formation almost 40 percent of its plays.’

‘”I mean, you have to tip your hat off [to the Patriots],” Spiller said. “Those guys are a top 10 run defense. . We knew coming into this game that we were going to have to get north and south, so it was not a surprise to anybody. They just did a good job of putting all their hats around the football.”‘

‘But where do you begin after such a wretched defensive performance? The Bills gave up 580 total yards, the most in franchise history in a home game. They allowed 45 points in the second half, the most in a half in team history and fourth all-time in the NFL. The Pats scored those 45 points in a span of 21:12. The Celtics don’t score 45 points that quickly these days.’

‘”Yeah, that was really embarrassing,” Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “We have a lot of pride in this locker room, and right now we have our tails between our legs. We got our butts kicked. Unfortunately, we’ve been in this situation before.”’

‘”Cordy’s got an ankle that’s going to be a while, and so does Urbik,” coach Chan Gailey said after the game.’

‘The Pats scored on all five fourth-quarter possessions and their last seven second-half possessions.’

‘Defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt had no answers for the Patriots’ offense, which ran as it pleased and threw as it pleased, scoring touchdowns on six consecutive possessions in the second half.’

‘”We’re going to have to let this eat at us,” Bills linebacker Nick Barnett said. “That was no where near where we want to be and nowhere near what we expect out of ourselves.”‘

‘Their performance was downright deplorable, and it once again cast enormous doubt on their viability as a true playoff contender – something they claim they are.’

‘While I enjoy chuckling at Belichick’s glowing synopsis of teams he’s just embarrassed, I also appreciate the blunt honesty of Bills coach Chan Gailey after opponents have whipped him. And boy was Gailey blunt after watching his defense, remodeled to the tune of $58 million guaranteed for free agents Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, collapse like a card table under the weight of raised expectations.’