Two Bills Drive

‘If there was one other undeniable fact about the Bills, it was that their revamped defense seems like it may be special.’

‘This was a day when Sam Adams had Patriots fans reaching for Jack Daniels.’

‘Huffin’ and puffin’, his legs the size of pistons on an oceanliner, Sam Adams cruised — literary license employed liberally — 37 yards with an interception yesterday and provided the backbreaking score in Buffalo’s 31-0 thumping of the Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘To have so miscalculated not only Milloy’s market value but also his value to the team both on and off the field is bad enough. To continue to profess no understanding of what he had done, even after Milloy played such a central role in stuffing his offense, gives one cause to wonder if this man has the slightest clue how human beings operate.’

‘Once again, we were reminded that there simply is no substitute for experience. Ty Law (No. 24) and Antwan Harris (No. 23) may be locker room neighbors, but the veteran corner and new (five days, and counting) starting safety seemed worlds apart yesterday on the field. And there were times that youngsters Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson looked a little lost.’

‘An NFL spokesman said the league was “looking into” the matter, but it didn’t appear there was an all-out investigation. Milloy told the Globe and SI.com last week that Poston had sought deals for him even before the Patriots released him. After yesterday’s game, Milloy told reporters there was no contact with other teams prior to his release by New England.’

‘The Bills’ other defensive tackle, Sam Adams (95), didn’t pass rush but shuffled to his right down the line of scrimmage. That put him in the direct line of Brady’s pass, which Adams intercepted and, amazingly, returned down the right sideline 37 yards for a touchdown.’

‘Second-guessers unite. Bill Belichick bashers, today is your day. Prepare to feast.’

‘“It was important for us to come out and start fast,” Bledsoe said. “We didn’t last year. Last year we came out, moved the ball, and then kind of bogged down on third-and-1 in the first drive of both games and the next thing you knew, we were down. “It was important for us to come out and have a good first drive, convert two big third downs, and take it down there and put points on the board. That was definitely important for us – to just kind of set the tone offensively. And then for our defense to come out and play like they did was tremendous.”’

‘Law can certainly do more than he did yesterday. So can every other Pat. They hope.’

‘As for Law, his blood was still boiling in the locker room when he berated a reporter for trying to read something into his actions. “Look, you just assumed what I said,” Law told the reporter. “I was yelling, but this is not about attacking (Harris). We play together. Antwan is part of the team. What difference does it make if I’m talking to Lawyer or Antwan after a play?”’

‘To be sure, Faulk was not spectacular, but with the Bills rolling up 35 offensive plays to the Pats’ measly eight (two four-and-out series) as the gap reached 21-0 some 4:46 into the second quarter, concentration was hardly on him.’

‘But the problem began with Belichick. It’s a coach’s responsibility to put his players in a position to win games. His decision to waive Lawyer Milloy five days earlier deprived the team of its defensive captain and quarterback at the worst possible time and created an all too predictable predicament.’

‘“He gave us the reasons `why’ behind some of the things they do to us. We didn’t change our game plan or anything, but he definitely gave us some insight.”’

‘How bad was it? At one point, a defensive tackle named Sam Adams returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown. That a man who bears the name of a Boston patriot helped bring down the Patriots is bad enough; that he’s 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds, and plays defense, simply epitomized what type of day it was for New England. The result marked the first time the Patriots were shut out since 1993 and is the worst season-opening loss in franchise history, dating back to 1960.’