Two Bills Drive

‘”They had a couple of runs to the outside, but I think we did a good job, controlling their inside running game,” said Patriots defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had four tackles, shared a sack and had an interception. “And if you can’t get your inside running game started, it’s usually a long day.”‘

‘New England won the opening coin toss and took the ball, but Buffalo still wound up going against the wind. Apparently no one picked a direction, so referee Jeff Triplette figured the Bills wanted to attack the goal they were facing. When Drew Bledsoe tried to change that, it was too late.’

‘Belichick’s plan was simple. Much like the Nov. 3 game against the Bills in Orchard Park – a 38-7 Patriots’ win – New England utilized its pass rush to force Bledsoe into quick throws. By taking him out of his element, they eliminated his ability to hurt them with big plays and they were opportunistic when he made mistakes.’

‘It was the defense. That goes for both sides. One team showed up to play. The other team just got out-played.’

‘New England scored on its first four drives against the Bills.’

‘”We figured we could put pressure on him, get pressure in his face off the edges and that would help us a lot defensively,” said Pats cornerback Otis Smith, who forced a fumble for a fifth Bills turnover. “Guys did a good job of putting pressure on him and making him hold the ball longer than he wanted to.”‘

‘”There is no question that every game I’ve ever played in I’ve taken personally,” said Bledsoe, now in his 10th season. “This one, even more than most. I have to be more precise for this offense to be more precise.”‘

‘From the time Bledsoe and the Bills lost the coin toss – and his Bills called the wrong direction to defend – to the last of his four interceptions, it was a nightmare.’

‘”I think a few of those throws (Drew) would like to get back,” Bills coach Gregg Williams said. “We shot ourselves in the foot. We weren’t able to overcome our mistakes.”‘

‘Jones said the Patriots noted a Buffalo tendency to pass on second down when close to the goal line. “It was one of the plays they ran in practice,” Jones said of New England’s coaching staff. “Practice makes perfect.”‘

‘In winning their third straight contest and fifth of the last six games, the Patriots utilized the formula that brought them success in 2001: spread the ball around on offense and confuse the opposing quarterback into making mistakes.’

‘If you were watching the Patriots beat the Bills 27-17 on Dec. 8, you may have thought you were watching a repeat of the teams’ first game from five weeks earlier.’

The Buffalo Bills have had many memorable battles over the course of their 42 year history. One that stands out is a game on December 8, 1963 versus the New York Jets when Bills' running back Cookie Gilchrist ran for five touchdowns and racked up 243 yards on the ground at War Memorial Stadium.

‘New England has taken the last five meetings between the teams.’

‘New England jumped out to a 20-0 lead and cruised from there, winning its eighth game of the season against five losses, 27-17.’