‘"I know we aren’t going to the playoffs this year," Pats coach Bill Belichick said. "But when you walk in the locker room, you can see this game meant a lot to these players."’
BillsBeat - December 18, 2000
Bills QB Johnson knocked out again
‘Rob Johnson once again couldn’t finish what he started.’
New England 13, Buffalo 10 (OT)
‘Drew Bledsoe is not known as a running quarterback, but he used his legs on an icy field to set up the game-winning kick by Adam Vinatieri.’
Expectations were too high for stumbling Bills
‘Phillips came across as too optimistic in believing a team that had been to the playoffs (there’s that word again) in his first two years — but one that entered this season in a state of transformation — could stay in the thick of the chase.’
BILLS STUMBLE IN WINTER BLUNDERLAND
‘”I’ve played in some cold games, some snowy games, some windy games, but this was a combination of all three,” Bills safety Henry Jones said. “We had sleet and snow coming down sideways today. It was just a brutal day. . . . It was miserable. To lose a game in those type of conditions makes it even worse.”‘
ANOTHER TALE OF TWO QUARTERBACKS
‘Quarterback Rob Johnson has been criticized by media and fans for holding onto the ball longer than he should at times. It’s a knock he doesn’t appreciate. He’ll dislike the criticism even more now that it’s coming from his coach.’
WEATHER PRODUCES A BITTER END
‘They arguably were the worst conditions ever for a Bills home game.’
SANTA MAY CALL AN AUDIBLE AT BILLS' CHIMNEYS
‘It looked like the same-old same-old to me. Those game plans could have been used during the second weekend in September.’
MOULDS CLAIMS TEAM RECORD; WILEY JOINS EXCLUSIVE CLUB
‘With two receptions, Moulds tied Andre Reed’s team record of 90 catches in a season, set in 1994. It took Moulds longer than expected to reach the mark. He had 84 catches through 12 games, but only had six in the last three. In each game, he was held without a catch until the second half.’
MONDAY BILLBOARD
‘Player of the Game: – Quarterback Doug Flutie, in what might have been his final home Bills game. The Bills moved the ball with Flutie at the helm. Despite the ad verse conditions, he went 15 of 25 for 193 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 50 yards.’
BillsBeat - December 17, 2000
Flutie Wins Yet Sits
‘In the case of Flutie v. Johnson, watching Flutie sitting on the bench is at the very least puzzling and dumbfounding. One can only wonder how Bills Nation feels.’
Bills, Pats play on as playoff outsiders
‘"We still have a chance to be successful as far as the season is concerned."’
Wilson might have to rethink vote on Phillips
‘Phillips says his staff will all be back. I say, maybe.’
Wiley and Kraft Columbia grads
‘Is Bills’ defensive end Marcellus Wiley coming soon to a team near you? It could happen. After all, he’s already played in Worcester. Why not Foxboro?’
Inconsistent defense befuddles Belichick
‘"I don’t think this team has played up to the expectations that we’ve had, or that everybody else had for us this year," Belichick said. "I didn’t expect to be 4-10 this year. I don’t think anybody else did either."’