Archives for September 28, 2004

‘Nov. 22, 1981: Maybe former New York Yankees star Yogi Berra was on to something when he said, ‘It ain’t over til it’s over.’ Fortunately, the Bills believed the same thing when they hosted New England that Sunday afternoon and came away with a 20-17 victory.’

‘"Their record is deceiving," Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour said. "They could easily be 2-0. They’re probably the best 0-2 team in the league."’

‘I think it’s going to be a very intense game this week at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The rivalry between the Bills and the Patriots has really heated up over the past few seasons. It’s always a grudge match when these guys get together. The crowd will play a big part in the game. With the Patriots coming here it may be a better game than most people think. The Bills will have to play mistake free for the first time this season to beat New England, but it is possible. They need to come out and have a good opening drive to get their confidence back on offense.’

‘Coach Jerry Smith of St. Francis High School has been named the Buffalo Bills high school football "Coach of the Week" for the fourth weekend of the 2004 season (Sept. 24-25).’

‘It doesn’t appear, however, that Bledsoe will be leading the Bills to a championship any time soon.’

‘Think of the Patriots of 2001-03 and a pair of Lombardi trophies spring to mind. Think of the Bills of 2002 and 2003, and it’s their run-ins with the Pats – both on and off the field – that tell you all you need to know. If Pedro Martinez can declare the Yankees to be his daddy, the Bills might have to admit the same about the Patriots.’

‘Would it be too much to ask an offense that features Bledsoe at quarterback, Travis Henry and Willis McGahee in the backfield and Eric Moulds and Josh Reed at wide receiver to exceed the point production one would expect from an NBA sixth man?’

‘And yet, as difficult as it’s been in Buffalo, a city who’s population has dropped by about 35,000 over the last 15 years, Bills fans are proving resilient.’

‘”You can’t help but to look at this game as a great opportunity,” said Bills safety Coy Wire. “There would be no better way for us to turn it around than against a team like New England.”‘

‘That’s the most discouraging thing about the Bills, that in a league where fortunes change so rapidly, they’re one team that seems to be standing still.’

‘He knows what makes coach Bill Belichick tick, why quarterback Tom Brady is so successful, how defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel schemes a blitz. Heck, he knows how the Patriots take their coffee. But just how important is his input this week?’

‘“We are not as familiar with them as before with them having a new coach,” Pats linebacker Roman Phifer said. “They are going to do some things different but they do have a lot of the same players. We know that they are good players and they are capable of being a good team. The couple of games they lost, they could have won. It could have gone either way, so we are not taking anything for granted.”’

‘”Every starting QB in the NFL is dangerous. All of them can beat you,” said Pats safety Rodney Harrison. “It’s just a matter of which Drew shows up. I don’t think it’s about him. It’s about us. It’s about us going out there and playing good, tight coverage against the receivers. When they catch it, we hit them and be fundamentally sound.”‘

‘The Patriots are 13-6 against the Bills in their last 19 meetings.’

Phifer still has that old touch (Boston Globe)

Patriots respect Bledsoe, 0-2 Bills (Boston Herald)

Dillon gives Pats a decisive leg up (Boston Herald)

Pats anxious to get the ball rolling again (Providence Journal)

Drew is the biggest draw when it comes to Bills (Providence Journal)

Graham moves to head of classs (Metro West Daily News)

Patriots Still Could Be Run Over (Hartford Courant)

Phifer sticks to routine (Springfield Republican)

Pats shift attention to Bills (Woonsocket Call)

Catching up with Bledsoe (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bledsoe still looks lost (Quincy Patriot Ledger)

Struggling Bledsoe has fallen on tough times with the Bills (Brockton Enterprise)

One year after last loss, Patriots focus on next game (AP)

Patriots exit bye week with anxious feeling (Patriots.com)

Patriots return from bye to battle the Bills in Buffalo (Patriots.com)

Grogan’s Grade: Bye Week (PatsFans.com)

Patriots fight a losing battle in Beantown (Philadelphia Inquirer)