Two Bills Drive

‘Givens caught seven passes for 80 yards and a touchdown to lead the Patriots corps of receivers in the 31-0 trouncing of Buffalo.’

‘He was supposed to be their savior.’

‘"During the week, I really didn’t think about it too much, but on the way here just driving down the highway, seeing some familiar sites and stuff, it really did start to get weird for me," the safety said following the Bills’ 31-0 loss to New England. "I had to hold back the emotions a little bit. I didn’t want my teammates to see that. It was just a surreal experience."’

‘Yet, in the midst of what has been a stunning and dazzling run, New England fans have been more fixated on whether A-Rod would be coming to Boston than whether the Pats would be going to Houston for the Super Bowl.’

‘After two Travis Henry runs, the Bills had a first down at its 33. Henry motioned out of the backfield, leaving Drew Bledsoe alone. Obviously, he would throw.’

‘ The first-team defense held the Bills to 102 yards through the first three quarters.’

‘"You saw the energy," said linebacker Matt Chatham. "In the stadium. On the field. You looked around and 11 guys were jacked. It could have been the first play of the game or the last play of the Super Bowl. It was pride. You had 53 guys who bought into the team thing and the number 31-0 was symbolic. Sticking it to them the way they stuck it to us was important."’

‘"I couldn’t imagine, especially after the start of the season (wins over New England 31-0 and Jacksonville 38-17), I absolutely couldn’t imagine us being in this situation," said Bledsoe. "Yes, it’s been a very, very, very tough season."’

‘"People talk about Peyton Manning," says fullback Larry Centers, "but it’s not even close."’

‘"Very ironic," said Harrision. Game 1, game 16, same two teams, 62-point turnaround. No irony, just two very different teams over 111 days. "Shows that it’s a long season," said Harrison.’

‘Tom Donahoe has spoken highly of the Patriots’ coaching this season, and thus, could target Crennel or Weis should he fire Gregg Williams.’

‘"It was payback, because they humiliated us in Buffalo," safety Rodney Harrison said. "We let it all loose today. We wanted to go out here and make a statement and prove a point. We wanted to return the favor."’

‘Brady threw touchdown passes to four different receivers, and when he connected with David Givens on a 10-yard TD pass with 3:55 left in the first half, Adam Vinatieri’s extra point made it 28-0.’

‘The Patriots did worse than demolish the Bills. They toyed with them. They picked a score and made it happen. It was the same score the Bills had beaten the Patriots by in the opener. The payback was rich. Remember how everybody was calling for lawyers, guns and money after the Patriots cut Lawyer Milloy and he landed in Buffalo? Well, the only lawyer needed 16 weeks later is one to negotiate the deal on a new Bills coach. Gregg Williams is so g-gone and so is offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.’

‘The Patriots took the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards in nine plays for a 7-0 lead. Three plays later, Drew Bledsoe’s first pass, a rainbow thrown with blitzing linebacker Tedy Bruschi in his face, was intercepted by linebacker Mike Vrabel, who returned it 14 yards to the Bills 34-yard line.’