Archives for September 2013

‘Defense may or may not win championships, but the Bills defense was a major reason why they won Sunday. And that’s why they get an A- on this week’s report card.’

‘For once, the Bills were the team making winning plays. The defense was stingy, and while mistakes were made, the unit buckled down in the red zone, where it limited the Panthers to 13 points in four trips. Late in the fourth, with Carolina in the middle of an 11-play, clock-killing drive that sent fans to Ralph Wilson Stadium’s exits, Arthur Moats stepped up and stopped big running back Mike Tolbert 1 yard short of a first down that would’ve ended the game.’

‘On the day Mario Williams broke a Bills team record, Manuel worked his way into the hearts of 72,000 euphoric fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘These 0-2 Carolina Panthers are a mess. Just ask Smith, who compared this gut-wrenching defeat to having a drill bore a hole into one of your choppers.’

‘Williams terrorized the Panthers’ offense Sunday en route to not only a career-high sack total but also a Buffalo team record. His career day came 18 games into his career in Buffalo after he spent his first six seasons in Houston.’

Late touchdown gives Bills 24-23 win over Panthers (Charlotte Observer)

Continued red-zone inefficiency costly for Carolina Panthers (Charlotte Observer)

Bills’ Mario Williams feels ‘great’ after big sack day vs. Panthers (Charlotte Observer)

Only thing that could have happened to Carolina Panthers, did (Charlotte Observer)

Panthers safety Charles Godfrey likely done for season (Charlotte Observer)

Panthers at Bills: 5 Plays That Mattered (Charlotte Observer)

Symbolic of a season: Panthers DBs on crutches (Charlotte Observer)

Report card (Charlotte Observer)

Photo gallery (Charlotte Observer)

Bills 24, Panthers 23 (Panthers.com)

Injuries take toll on secondary (Panthers.com)

Settling for field goals proves costly (Panthers.com)

Panthers down but not out (Panthers.com)

Photo gallery (Panthers.com)

Photo gallery (BuffaloBills.com)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

Photo gallery (WGRZ-TV)

‘The real key play of the drive, though? A pass interference call on Carolina’s Luke Kuechly. That penalty came on a 3rd-and-6 with just 21 seconds left and the Bills still 31 yards from the end zone. The Panthers appeared to have the game iced, as Colin Jones picked off a Manuel pass. But Kuechly was flagged for pass interference, which moved the ball all the way to the Carolina 11 and gave possession back to the Bills.’

‘The touchdown capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive in which the first-round draft pick completed 6 of 8 attempts for 51 yards. Manuel also got help on third-and-6 from Carolina’s 29, when Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was penalized for pass interference with 14 seconds left.’

”’It boosts our morale,” Williams said of a team that was still stinging a week after giving up a last-second field goal in a 23-21 season-opening loss to New England. ”It shows that we can believe in each other, take care of our business.”’

‘Thomas was hurt early in the second quarter when he went up the left sideline and led with his helmet in tackling Woods. Thomas was on the field for a few moments, but was able to get up on his own. He went to the Panthers sideline before being escorted to the locker room.’

‘Ferguson said before the Bills’ game against the Carolina Panthers that ”this young quarterback has a good head on his shoulders and seems to me he has a natural talent to throw the football.” He adds: ”I’m expecting a lot of good things from him.”’

‘For the Bills, Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd was inactive for the second straight game. Byrd is bothered by plantar fasciitis in both feet.’

‘Manuel hit a wide-open Stevie Johnson for the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining, lifting the Buffalo Bills to a 24-23 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘Manuel was 27 of 39 for 296 yards and one touchdown. Bills running back C.J. Spiller rushed 16 times for 103 yards, while Johnson caught eight passes for 111 yards. Buffalo defensive end Mario Williams established a team record with 4.5 sacks.’

‘Pettine has made a huge difference in a Bills defense that was historically bad in recent years.’