Two Bills Drive

The more you watch Tedy Bruschi, the more you realize how important he is to the Patriots defense. In the Kansas City game that he missed, the Chiefs were able to score at will and part of the reason is because the Patriots were lacking Bruschi’s fire in the middle of the field.

Bruschi was scheduled to be out of this weekend’s Buffalo game, and this is a huge loss for the Patriots. Bruschi makes up in pure desire and adrenaline wheat he lacks in physical size. That adrenaline is contagious to the rest of his defensive teammates. It will be interesting to see whether the Patriots defense struggles without that presence in the middle.

”’I’d hoped all along that when we got to these games that they’d be important games from the standpoint of the playoff race,” Bledsoe said. ”That’s really turned out to be the case.”’

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Tyrone Robertson, who earlier this year served a four-game suspension for a repeat violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, has tested positive again and now will be banned for a year from the league.

”’The intensity goes up in December,” said linebacker Roman Phifer, who played in his first playoff series last year after 13 years in the NFL. ”There are so many teams in contention in our conference it’s going to be like a playoff atmosphere. We must step up like we did a year ago.”’

‘"We’re two competitive guys, competitive on the field but friends off the field," Law said. "We’re both looking to push our teams to the next level. Every time we compete, hey, it’s war out there but afterward, all said and done, may the best man and best team win."’

‘CBS’ top play-by-play man and analyst Phil Simms will be calling their fifth Bills game of the season Sunday when they do the Bledsoe Bowl rematch with the New England Patriots for 65 percent of the country.’

‘The Patriots have won four straight games against the Bills and in those games, Moulds has averaged just four catches for 38 yards and no TDs.’

‘Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Tyrone Robertson has been suspended for a second time for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.’

‘”Canadians are nice to a fault. Very cordial, very hospitable. They say, `Pardon me?’ Instead of, `What’d you say,'” he says, curling his lip into a snarl. “Compared to Americans, who are kind of crass, they’re polite and proper. I like that. It’s nice.”‘

‘Or do the Patriots, as another example, continue playing their ”Dollar” (no down linemen) defense in an attempt to surprise the Bills because they might think Buffalo is probably thinking there’s no way New England will try to confuse their inexperienced offensive line again with linebackers and defensive backs walking and talking amongst each other near the line of scrimmage, then seemingly improvising in their pass rushes/coverages?’

”’Oh, yeah, he’s good. He’s not as big as Moulds or as physical, but he’s fast and a really smooth athlete,” Bill Belichick said of rising star Peerless Price, the Bills’ fourth-year receiver who has the numbers (72 receptions, 1,020 yards, 9 touchdowns) but perhaps not yet the reputation to join his teammate in the Pro Bowl. ”He’s a glider. He’s a tremendous athlete who makes route-running look easy, effortless. ”He’s a real polished receiver in addition to a real talented receiver.”’

‘The defensive keys to winning, according to Johnson: Stop the Bills on third down and stop their running game on every down.’

‘The top 17 quarterbacks in the AFC have combined to throw 5,728 passes. Of those, 3,619 were completed — 63 percent. Of the 2,109 that weren’t caught, only 163 fell in the arms of the opposition.’

‘The first time the Patriots faced the Bills this season and won, 38-7, they exploited backup corner Chris Watson. He was playing in place of starter Antoine Winfield . Now Winfield’s back and he’s covered everyone from Wayne Chrebet to Santana Moss to Tony Gonzalez. He’s better than Watson. He and fellow corner Nate Clements are a pretty good pair.’

‘Bruschi’s injury is considered significant because Bledsoe has completed 75 passes to his primary backs, Travis Henry and Larry Centers.’