Archives for September 2002

‘For the third straight week, the Broncos face one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks on Sunday when they go up against Bledsoe and the Buffalo Bills. In wins over St. Louis and San Francisco – two of the NFL’s top offenses – the Broncos’ defense has more than been up to the challenge, allowing just one passing touchdown and 30 points.’

Power Poll Ratings from major sources.

ESPN (20 was 19) – This team sure is a lot of fun to watch. Although we’re guessing Gregg Williams would take a “boring” win.

CNNSI (13 was 18) – Here’s the inside word on Mike Hollis’ 54-yard field goal that doinked over the crossbar to send the Vikings game into OT. NFL Films told him they’d pay him big bucks if he could get the ball to do that for one of their highlight shows. He practiced all off-season, until he got it down. He’s also working on kicks that will scrape either upright and drop in, but that’s for later in the year.

CBS (17 was 22) – As long as Drew Bledsoe can win it like he did against the Vikings, they will be in a lot of games.

Sporting News (20)

Josh Reed apparently has no problem playing the same position as a perennial Pro Bowler and emerging league star. Instead of being lost in the shadows of Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, Reed pulled in eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown as the Bills defeated the Vikings 45-39 in overtime on Sunday. Reed, a second-round draft pick from LSU, is the first rookie this season to have 100 receiving yards in a game.

Bills players got two of three weekly citations by PFW.

[WR Peerless Price] Beating out Rich Gannon and teammate Drew Bledsoe was no easy task in Week Two, but Price’s 13 catches for 185 yards and two TDs, including a game-winning 48-yard clincher in overtime, put him on top.

[PK Mike Hollis] Hollis connected on 4-of-5 FG attempts (52, 20, 20, 54) in a thrilling win over the Vikings, including a 54-yarder that bounced on and over the crossbar to send the game into overtime.

$15 per calendar + $2.50 per calendar for shipping

Best team spirit: In the Buffalo-Minnesota game, the Vikings were doubling on Bills star receiver Eric Moulds. According to the Buffalo News, Moulds went to Bills coaches, declared “Forget about me” and offered to run decoy routes for fellow WRs Peerless Price and Josh Reed, who responded with 21 receptions for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Bledsoe’s lip was cut; he went the sideline and had the cut stapled together without anesthesia, immediately returning to the game. Remember, this is a gentleman whom most of the league’s general managers did not want when he was placed on the trading block last winter, questioning his arm strength and spirit

‘No one gives Williams a better chance to stick than Bledsoe. On Sunday Bledsoe helped Williams avoid some serious coaching questions.’

‘As I see it, Bills fans can simply enjoy the ups and downs this season will bring, without being shocked at some unexpected losses or unexpected wins. They will amaze you in both positive and negative ways, but they will continue to improve. That includes Williams and his coaching staff, which deserves more credit than blame after the Bills 1-1 start.’

‘To be sure, Buffalo made a laundry list of mistakes against Minnesota. But the difference is, the Bills overcame them all.’

Buffalo's Josh Reed scored his first career touchdown and recorded his first career 100-yard receiving day in the Bills' 45-39 overtime win at Minnesota, finishing with 8 catches for 110 yards. His 110 yards receiving were the most by a Bills rookie since Chris Burkett's 127 on Dec. 8, 1985 (against the N.Y. Jets). Vote for Josh Reed Today!

At the two minute warning, Vikings D-tackle Chris Hovan was blowing lunch into a trash can and begging the Vikings offense to score and run out the clock so that their D didn’t have to go back on the field again.

Stud: Drew Bledsoe, Dud: Doug Brien

‘”Not all quarterbacks can handle it, but I threw it in his lap,” Gilbride said yesterday from the Bills’ practice facility in Orchard Park, N.Y. “I told him, `We’re going to win the game with you throwing the ball, win it with our two-minute drill, using our tempo.’ “We took that approach and he accepted the challenge.”‘

This week buffalobills.com visitors selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe as the Tops Game Ball of the Week winner for his performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 17. Bledsoe's 463 yards passing set a new Bills record, surpassing the old mark of 419 by Joe Ferguson in 1983. Ask Bledsoe a question

‘Buffalo has scored 76 points in its first two games, putting the Bills on pace for 608 points this season. They didn’t score 76 points until their fifth game last season, when they improved to 1-4.’