Archives for December 2, 2002

”’Man, we talk about it all the time,” linebacker Zach Thomas said. “You get tired of saying it. I’m sure people are tired of hearing it, but we keep doing it. It’s frustrating.”’

”’The way the Dolphins play is that they try to challenge you a bit,” Bledsoe said. “They try to get their safeties up involved in the running game a little bit. They play man coverage outside, and that allows us to have more of an opportunity to work the ball down the field."’

‘In particular, two passes thrown toward Madison — both intended for Moulds — stand out.’

”’Everyday I’d come in and talk about how cold it was going to be,” Williams said. “I’d check on my phone to see the forecast up here and look on the computer every chance I had. I was a little nervous about it. It was cold and miserable but we did a good job up front and it made my job easy.”’

‘Buffalo must wish it played Miami every week.’

‘But Madison isn’t quite as good as he thinks he is.’

‘Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw underneath to Moulds for a seemingly harmless 4-yard gain. Surtain stopped Moulds, and the two pushed at each other on the ground as they untangled. They exchanged words and Surtain said Moulds spit on him. Surtain responded by hitting Moulds in the head, and the officials pulled the flags.’

‘Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly was all over the Bills’ sidelines, firing up fans and players. He was the first one to hug Peerless Price in the back of the end zone after Price’s 73-yard TD catch.’

‘Overall: You squander a 14-3 lead. You waste a 228-yard rushing performance. You take what looked like an exhilarating division victory on the road and turn it into a bitter loss that scrambles the playoff chase. Three turnovers made the Dolphins their own worst enemy. Disappointing. Grade: D’

‘"We had a chance to separate ourselves from the pack," Wannstedt said, after his team passed for just 55 yards and allowed 306 to Drew Bledsoe. "And now we’re right back in it, fighting for our lives again."’

‘Bills receivers Peerless Price and Eric Moulds, who each eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiver mark Sunday, took advantage of the Dolphins’ well-respected secondary by exploiting the deep ball, beating cornerback Sam Madison twice and safety Arturo Freeman once on three long pass receptions that collectively taxed the Dolphins for 177 passing yards, 122 more yards than the Dolphins threw for the entire game.’

‘Moulds loves playing against the Dolphins because they are one of the few teams willing to try single coverage against him. The operative word here is "try."’

‘ The last time Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler was playing in such snowy weather, he led his Dartmouth team to a come-from-behind victory over Princeton.’

‘A thigh bruise took him out for a couple plays late in the third quarter. But it was the Bills stretching their lead that really took the ball out of Williams’ hand in the fourth quarter. He carried just once in the fourth quarter for four yards.’

‘The snow god must have a sense of humor. How else to explain that Williams gains a franchise-record 228 yards on a day he also broke the team’s rushing record for a season — and it’s relegated to a footnote?’