Two Bills Drive

‘The Patriots can honestly say they beat themselves that day. “I think almost half of our plays in the first 40 plays were negative plays: sacks, turnovers, penalties, some version of all of those,” Belichick said. “Almost half the time we were going in reverse instead of going forward. That’s not what we’re looking for. We gave up 50-yard completions, pass-interference penalties, penalties in the kicking game, you name it. You can take your pick.”‘

‘And the current (hapless) state of the Bills? Forget about it. “Look, I don’t care about that. I don’t care what happened last week,” said Belichick, referring to the Bills’ 20-3 defeat to Miami. “The (Bills) took the Titans right down to the wire (in a 28-26 loss two weeks ago). It came down to the last play. They had several other big wins this year, none bigger than ours. It’s not how they match up against somebody else – it’s how they match up against us. The last time they matched up pretty well. We’re going to have to play them more competitively than we did the last time – that’s where it starts.”’

‘”I’m delighted there will be somebody there,” said Selectman Ann Thompson, who was appreciative of Bledsoe’s devotion to helping local schools with fund-raising during his three-year stay in Medfield. “He’d go to local restaurants around town, and I hope Curt Schilling brings the same kind of friendliness.”‘

‘Bills president and general manager Tom Donahoe (a.k.a. The Teflon Donahoe) has carved a swath of miscalculation and mediocrity in his three years in Buffalo.’

‘However, regardless of what Donahoe says on the record, there seems to be little doubt that Williams’ swan song will come at Gillette Stadium.’

‘In a season that has been filled with bad performances, this ranks as one of Drew Bledsoe’s worst, not only this year but of his career.’

‘WR Eric Moulds continues to be a non-factor for the Bills passing game. Hampered by a painful groin injury since Week 5, Moulds hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving games since and he has scored just one TD all year. The Dolphins held him to three catches for 20 yards.’

‘Q: What was it that made it a 31-point difference between the two teams in the last game?

BB: A lot good plays by one team and turnovers by another. Penalties, turnovers, negative plays. I think almost half of our plays in the first 40 plays almost half of them were negative plays, sacks, turnovers, penalties, some version of all of those. Almost half the time we were going in reverse instead of going forward. That is not what we are looking for. We gave up 50-yard completions, pass interference penalties, penalties in the kicking game, you name it, you can take your pick.’

‘4:15 p.m. – Van begins to sign autographs for anyone who wants one. He stays and signs nearly an hour, with a smile on his face the entire time. Shortly after, Van left Ralph Wilson Stadium and rode home for the last time as the “Voice of the Bills.” He probably left with a heavy heart but probably not as heavy as those of the fans that will forever cherish his voice, his commitment, and his dedication.’

‘BILLS MVP: Let’s be honest here. No one wearing white, blue and red came close to earning this against Miami. But it would belong to Van Miller under any circumstances.’

‘The property has been on the market since August 2002, after Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills. It was originally listed for nearly $9 million, but by the fall the price had dropped to $6.5 million. Schilling said he paid “much less” than $6.5 million but declined to give the final sale price.’

”’When you start the season and have high expectations and then things don’t turn out the way you’d hoped, you have a sinking feeling,” Wilson said, following Buffalo’s dreadful performance in closing out its home schedule with a 20-3 loss to Miami on Sunday.’

‘Even Williams, normally defensive of his players, wouldn’t make excuses for Bledsoe’s struggling performance. “Ask him,” he said, “I don’t know … it was a tough day.”‘

‘This has been a maddening season for the Dolphins. On one hand, they won a remarkable six of eight road games and had one of the NFL’s top defenses. On the other hand, they’ve lost four of their seven home games – including an opening-day loss to Houston that looms more devastating each week.’

‘Mounting a comeback from a 17-point deficit is not unattainable in the NFL, but when you look at the Bills’ offensive statistics, one could see that after the Buckley gift, it was all over in Buffalo. And possibly even for Bledsoe’s time here, too.’