Two Bills Drive

‘Williams was happy with the way defensive end Kendrick Office and cornerback Jason Bostic played against the Dolphins and said both would be used in similar fashion Sunday against New England.’

‘Because of their poor record head-to-head versus conference opponents (3-6) the Bills are not in good standing for a wild-card playoff spot, which means their best shot at the post-season is by winning the division title.’

‘This is no time to downplay the Bledsoe-Brady matchup – more than ever, the hype is truly warranted.’

‘Middle linebacker Tedy Bruschi is listed as doubtful on the injury report. Bruschi does have strong recuperative powers, though he may not have enough time to return from a sprained right knee suffered in the first quarter of the Lions game on Thanksgiving. Drew Bledsoe said of Bruschi, ”From a personal standpoint, I feel bad for Tedy, but professionally, I’d be real happy to see him in street clothes.”’

‘Bledsoe still has a score to settle against his former coach and point to prove to his critics in New England. The Pats’ 38-7 drubbing of Bledsoe and the Bills Nov. 3 only reinforced the notion that Belichick has Bledsoe’s number. And Tom Brady’s huge statistical performance that day only piled more evidence on the still-simmering Bledsoe-Brady debate.’

‘As for Brady, he’s still the same guy who started last season as Bledsoe’s backup. In between all the so-called jet-setting and celebrity parties, we still hear stories that remind everyone what a good guy he is. Only now, the legend just keeps growing.’

‘Bledsoe doesn’t expect the Patriots to use as much one-on-one coverage as the Dolphins did. “I just don’t think they will take that chance very often,” he said.’

‘Since the season-opening win over Pittsburgh, Gillette Stadium has had disappointingly few moments of noise and bedlam. Part of the problem has been some poor performances at home (where the Pats are 3-2), part of it has to do with the distant location of many seats and part of it has to do with the coziness of the indoor club areas.’

‘”I don’t want to give away our game-plan, but we have something unique for them,” promised linebacker Roman Phifer. “We try to keep it mixed up, try to keep the guys off balance and show them a different look.”‘

‘With middle linebacker Tedy Bruschi listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the explosive Bills, Johnson will be featured prominently in the middle of the Patriots defense. He’ll be there to squish the run, as he’s always done. And he’ll be there in pass coverage, a supposed weak spot in his game that he’s been actively debunking with his play in recent weeks. He’ll be there on blitzes, as he was during the first Bills game when he helped set the tone with a key 14-yard sack of Drew Bledsoe in the first quarter. He’ll be there. Even though three months ago, it was easy to wonder if he’d even be around.’

‘”Really early (in the planning stages) Robert Kraft asked me if we should do something indoors or outdoors,” Bledsoe recalled. “I told him I thought it was an advantage in the northern climate to play outdoors, especially with Miami and (Indianapolis) in the division since they play in a warm climate or indoors.”‘

‘”I’m fully a Buffalo Bill now,” Bledsoe said. “I’m proud of being part of that [2001 Patriots Super Bowl] team. But I feel at home here. This is where I belong.”‘

‘Now, New England (7-5) and Buffalo (6-6) both desperately need a victory to stay hot on the playoff trail. The Bills, who are 3-6 in conference play, probably need it even more than the Patriots.’

‘The Bills never seem to have much trouble matching up Centers against a linebacker because teams are so concerned with wide receivers Peerless Price and Eric Moulds. “You can’t double everyone,” New England coach Bill Belichick said.’

‘Drew Bledsoe and the Bills represent phase one of the Patriots’ four-step march to the playoffs. This is the first game of a favorable stretch for the Patriots in which three of their final four games are at home. It will also be Bledsoe’s first game at brand-new Gillette Stadium, but considering the important of this game in the standings, his homecoming shouldn’t feature as much fanfare. The real story behind this game is that it could help decide who comes out on top in one of the closest AFC East races ever.’