Archives for September 2002

‘”The guys came together, they stood up as a team. They lose as a team and they win as a team and today we won because everybody contributed.”‘

‘If you’re wondering just how good Drew was at crunch time, he completed 19 of 24 passes for 266 yards and 2 scores in the fourth quarter and overtime.’

‘While the blizzard of offensive statistics — led by Drew Bledsoe’s team-record 463 passing yards — were certainly impressive, this game ultimately came down to the two Minnesota possessions in overtime when the high-powered Vikings failed to make a first down. Six plays, 13 yards, two punts.’

‘Drew Bledsoe’s etched his name in the record books with a 463-yard, 3-TD passing day, but his biggest play may have been falling on Travis Henry’s fumble at the Vikings’ 1-yard-line on a key TD drive in the fourth quarter. The freon was running through his veins at crunch time and completely torched Vikings’ secondary. A+’

‘In any event, that means Brien, who had missed only three PATs in 228 attempts in his eight-plus seasons before this, would leave the team having missed two of his last five.’

‘But this loss was the result of a kicker named Mike Hollis doing his job and winning the game for Buffalo and a kicker named Doug Brien losing the game for the Vikings by missing two extra points.’

‘The Vikings allowed the Bills to gain 260 yards in the fourth quarter and in overtime.’

‘Vikings coach Mike Tice has vowed to throw to Randy Moss on 40 percent of the Vikings’ passes this season. A look at how the plan played out in Game 2…’.

‘Drew Bledsoe, darn that Bill.’

‘The game had so many highlights, twists and turns that even the players had difficulty keeping up.’

‘"He gave a special performance," Buffalo coach Gregg Williams said of Bledsoe. "He was really cool all game. The other guys were feeding off him."’

‘"They had their moments and made the plays when they had to,” Vikings cornerback Corey Chavous said. "It was one of those games that you play in when both teams are in desperate need of a victory. We battled for five quarters, but they made the plays that made the difference."’

‘Lost in the misery was that for the second consecutive week the Vikings ran the ball effectively. Williams led the way with 102 of the team’s 213 yards on the ground.’

‘Culpepper fumbled four times, losing the ball three times and costing his team 13 points.’

‘While the blame for the loss starts with Brien, there was plenty to spread around.’