Two Bills Drive

‘Brady capped off that year with four first-half touchdown passes in a game we really have no choice but to label the Payback Bowl. Who among us was unaware that when the Patriots traveled to Buffalo Sept. 7 for the season opener, that the Bills had manhandled them by — is this coincidence, or what? — a score of 31-0? There really was no need for Belichick to go into his Rockne mode, whatever that might be (Actually, I’d pay pretty good money to hear that speech). "I don’t think anybody was particularly proud of that opening game," Belichick said.’

‘Here is the unvarnished truth: Your Patriots are the best team in football.’

‘We are the joke no more. We are the Detroit Red Wings. We are the Los Angeles Lakers. We are the (gulp) New York Yankees.’

‘Drew Bledsoe was sacked 49 times for the season, five fewer than last season and 17 more than the Patriots’ Tom Brady.’

‘Drew Bledsoe completed just 12 of 29 passes for 83 yards with 1 interception for the Bills.’

‘“The road to the Super Bowl goes through Foxboro,” defensive lineman Richard Seymour [news] said. “Everyone knows that.”’

‘“It was fluttering up there kind of like a Christmas gift from him,” Vrabel said. “But it was a big play.”’

‘“When we are spread out like that with four or five guys to throw to, that puts the defense back on its heels a little bit. It makes the offense more effective in the fact that guys are out there getting open and any pass play can go to a different guy.”’

‘“(Offensive coordinator) Charlie Weis decided early on that he wanted to spread (the receivers) out and see if they could cover all our guys. . . . We took advantage of the fact that we saw their coverages, our guys knew the coverages, and our guys knew how they were going to get open in those routes.”’

‘“The irony is crazy,” Milloy said. “We got them and they came right back and got us the same way. There was no doubt they beat us pretty badly.”’

‘And what a play, Larry Izzo! The ace special teamer, in as a sub on Buffalo’s final drive, intercepted a pass in the end zone with 13 seconds to play to give under bettors a very extra, and financially beneficial, Christmas gift.’

‘ It wasn’t a trap game after all. Not even close. Actually, it was more like a statement game.’

‘The pair could also draw interest from Buffalo general manager Tom Donahoe, who is expected to fire Gregg Williams this week. While Donahoe is thought to be seeking a candidate with head coaching experience (Jim Haslett?), he has also shown a penchant for picking off Patriots personnel (Drew Bledsoe, Lawyer Milloy, Sam Gash).’

‘Truth be told, yesterday’s game was over in the first five minutes.’

‘Brady completed 21 of 32 passes for 204 yards, setting a season-high and matching a career-high with his four TD’s.’