Archives for November 22, 2003

‘The Bills and Colts played twice a season from 1970-2001, when both teams were members of the AFC East. The Bills lead the series, 34-28, and the Colts have won the last four meetings between the teams. That’s one game shy of Indianapolis’ longest winning streak in the series, a streak that was achieved twice (1970-72 and 1975-77).’

‘The Colts this season have played five teams that entered the game with losing records. They are 4-1 in those games, with the lone loss coming at Jacksonville, 28-23, two weeks ago.’

‘Under Manning, the Colts are a 3-1 when playing without either leading rusher Edgerrin James or leading receiver Marvin Harrison. And they’re 4-2 in games in which Indianapolis allows 21 or more points, including last week’s 38-31 win over the New York Jets.’

‘”Maybe in a lot of systems he would not be, but for what we do he was an ideal fit,” said Colts coach Tony Dungy. “We liked his energy and his speed. We liked everything about him. So it was a matter of the right type of talent coming to the right type of system to flourish.”‘

‘”I felt great as far as making my cuts and showing burst,” Henry said. “I was accelerating. I didn’t favor it today. I’ve got to give it another day of rest, and I’ll go early to the game on Sunday and try it out.”‘

‘Unfortunately, neither Criqui nor Tasker spent much time on the controversy at the end of the game when a Bills player accepted a Texans penalty that enabled Houston to run out the clock. You could hear Bills defensive captain London Fletcher wail in protest in front of referee Johnny Grier and see Grier point to some player who accepted the penalty. But it would have been nice to have been given an explanation of how many seconds that mistake cost the Bills.’

‘The Bills’ 4.69-yard average on first down ranks 27th, the shaky foundation of their 30th-place third-down conversion rate (31.8 percent, 42 of 132). Last season, Buffalo averaged 5.44 yards and converted 42.5 percent on third down, ranking it ninth in each category.’

‘As long as Harrison doesn’t experience a setback with his right hamstring, the Indianapolis Colts’ four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver will be available for work against the Bills.’

‘That’s how much it would take for the city to bring the football team’s 2002 season revenues up to the National Football League’s median income, according to an affidavit released by the league Friday.’

‘”Performing has never made me nervous, but when the first game came, I was terrified,” Buda said. “There were 75,000 people there, and you feel so little.” Buda said she will try out for the squad next year if she’s living near Western New York.’

‘The duo has accounted for 10 of the team’s 17 offensive touchdowns this year and has combined for 1,427 yards — more than half the Bills’ total offense. Buffalo’s offense has been held out of the end zone for the last three games.’

Since the Bills have just six games left on their schedule and only mathematics on their side, this is what the coaches should consider doing for the rest of the year:

Don’t call a timeout to ponder whether you should go for it on fourth and goal from the 1.5-yard line or kick a field goal. The time for conservatism is past. You’re now a 500-1 shot to make the playoffs. You have no choices. You have to live a little.