Two Bills Drive

‘How often has an allegedly professional football team have a first down on its opponent’s 1-yard line three times on the same possession and fail to score? It happened to the Patriots in the third quarter Sunday.’

‘It was not," Friesz said, "the first time I was booed." It was the first time Friesz was booed as a Patriots quarterback.’

‘Bledsoe, who had no cast or bandage on his hand afterward and said he hoped to play next week at Cleveland, was aggravated himself. Aggravated by the loss and perhaps by his own misplaced inference that his toughness was being questioned.’

‘Doug Flutie almost never loses in Foxboro. The New England Patriots almost never win there anymore, either.’

‘It’s pretty sad when you predict exactly how your team will lose a game with 2:08 to play, and you turn out right on the button.’

‘The Patriots’ inability to finish off teams in close games continued Sunday afternoon, as Steve Christie kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to give the Buffalo Bills a 16-13 win over New England.’

‘Steve Christie did it again, only this time he saved the Buffalo Bills twice in one game.’

‘The rain and wind at Foxboro Stadium were the perfect backdrop for another Doug Flutie miracle.’

‘The New England defense needs to return to form and match the performance of Buffalo’s outstanding unit.’

‘So the Patriots figure to rely heavily on their biggest gun – Drew Bledsoe. That should be good news for the Bills’ front seven.’

‘The more pressing business is assuring that John Butler stays with the Bills as their general manager. Butler, whose contract with Buffalo expires after this season, will be pursued with as much passion by rival teams as any free-agent player.’

‘Bills, 17-13.’

‘Blue Cross/Blue Shield is out with its new Buffalo Bills pets calendar and, as always, Phillips is pictured with his 12-year-old bulldog, Coach. This year, there’s a twist – Coach is wearing a headset.’

‘”I’m worried that the dime defense has given up some big plays … and we pride ourselves on not giving up big plays. With the nickel, it gives us a little different look.”‘

‘"We’ve got an eight-game season now and we’ll see how we react," said strong safety Henry Jones, who has gone to the playoffs seven of his previous 10 seasons as a Bill. "We need to continue to work hard and stay focused and take it one day at a time. We’ve got some things we need to clean up . . . but we’re going to go out and fix them."’