Two Bills Drive

‘Today will be a homecoming of sorts for the Patriots’ former prodigal son, but outside of the obvious subplot, this game will have a significant impact on the division standings, which makes it even that much more interesting.’

‘The boos and cat-calls will be divided today. This one is bound to break up a few households. Brother vs. Sister. Husband vs. Wife. Father vs. Son. Brady-backers vs. Drew’s Disciples.’

‘”It’s the same old thing as when I was there, though,” said Bledsoe. “You never know whether they’re saying ‘Drew’ or they’re booing.”‘

‘”It’s a lot different,” Donahoe said. “It’s certainly more challenging. I’m fortunate here in Buffalo where we have a very good structure. I have a series of vice presidents who handle a lot of different areas for me. I sort of oversee it. I’ve gotten much more involved in the ticket area of the business, the marketing, overseeing public relations and overseeing the business aspect of it. Really the frustrating thing for me is I seem to get less and less time to do football.”‘

‘Dave Wannstedt’s game-altering, go-for-it decision last weekend at Buffalo was the wrong one, period. Why? Because we know how it turned out.’

‘You say Wannstedt gift-wrapped the game’s turning point for Buffalo? No, he didn’t. Buffalo took the lead into halftime, but Miami immediately took it back in the third quarter. Wannstedt’s decision briefly swung momentum, giving Buffalo a field-goal lead, but Miami was playing for an 11-point lead there. Question the play call if you like, especially on a day Ricky Williams was rushing for more yards than any Dolphin ever, but not the decision to go for it.’

‘”I do know I have a lot of fans there and a lot of people who appreciate what I did while I was there,” said Bledsoe, dealt to the Bills in the off-season. “So it will probably be a mixed reaction.”‘

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.’