Archives for December 2002

‘With Green rushing for all but 3 of the Packers’ 119 rushing yards, Green Bay exploited a woeful Bills’ run defense that ranks 31st of 32 teams in rushing yards allowed per game (135.9) and a per-carry average of 4.5.’

‘To illustrate just how badly the elements hampered the passing game on both sides, Favre, who was intercepted twice, finished with a shockingly low passer rating of 39.2 – just a tad behind the 41.3 rating compiled by Buffalo’s Drew Bledsoe.’

‘”There’s no hindsight on that; he shouldn’t have brought the ball out,” Sherman lamented. “We never practice bringing the ball out that deep. It looked like he should have taken a knee. There’s no hindsight there.”‘

‘”We had opportunities to make plays and we didn’t make them. They had opportunities and made more plays than we did. It’s not more complicated than that.”‘

’20: Combined points the Packers have allowed in their three games thus far against AFC East foes.’

‘Nobody may circle the wagons like the Buffalo Bills, but perhaps nobody circles the rabbits’ feet like the Green Bay Packers.’

‘It was unclear, even on television replays, whether Green managed to get control and complete the catch before the ball popped out. The play was whistled dead a few seconds after the ball hit the ground, meaning the Bills couldn’t challenge the call.’

‘”We were in the red zone and I saw that (wide receiver Eric) Moulds lined up on my side, so I stayed backside to help out the corner,” Sharper said though a spokesperson. “We had great coverage on the crossing route and Antuan was able to hit the ball as he came across. I turned back when I took my eyes of Moulds and I saw the ball coming right to me. I thought, ‘Man, this is a gift,’ and caught it. Then after that … I don’t remember what happened.”‘

‘The Bills, their cup runneth over with individual talent on offense and still in the AFC playoff hunt, turned the ball over six times and could muster merely 185 yards, including 60 yards at the end.’

‘How else do you explain fumbles being ruled incomplete passes, long passes being handled like molten rock and place-kicks bending in unthinkable angles inches away from becoming field goals?’

‘After watching Moses’ erratic play, Bills general manager Tom Donahoe was asked if he’d be petrified entering the playoffs with him as a dual returner. “A little bit, but it’s not my problem,” Donahoe said. “He’s got to make better decisions.”‘

‘”Our DBs had great coverage going all day on those receivers,” Hunt said. “I heard a lot talking from those (Buffalo) receivers, too, and they ignored it, stepped up, shut them down and made them eat these words.”‘

‘Sharper sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee after returning an interception from 5 yards deep in the end zone. Instead of kneeling down and taking a touchback, Sharper took the ball out and paid the price when Buffalo fullback Larry Centers drove into the side of the safety’s legs at the Packers’ 14.’

‘Price dropped one pass that could have been a game-breaker. It occurred in the third quarter with the Bills facing third and 12 on the Packers’ 42-yard line. Bledsoe put it right in Price’s hands, but he dropped it.’

‘3.9 — Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s quarterback rating after the first half.’