Archives for September 30, 2004

‘Chris Villarrial did return to individual drills on Thursday. Mike Pucillo was still watching from the side with a sore back.’

‘"This game is a great opportunity for us to gain back some confidence," wide receiver Eric Moulds said. "If we can beat the Super Bowl champions than we can prove to ourselves that we can play with anybody. This is a big game for us this week. It’s a division opponent and we want to be able to make a statement in our division."’

‘This week’s game is the 10th straight sellout for the Bills.’

”’You never know which identity they’re going to come with,” Bills safety Coy Wire said of New England, the team Buffalo hosts on Sunday. ”They have their no-back offense, two-back running game. They have multiple identities. It’s just a matter of preparing for all of them.”’

‘”He never ceases to amaze us as far as motivational techniques are concerned,” Law said of Belichick, who took his team to see the movie “Antarctica” a few years back. “He hasn’t done anything yet this year, but I know he’ll do something special.”‘

‘"We get a good mix of all fans, but the Bills section probably has the biggest fan base," he said. "Everybody knows we’re the place to watch Bills games at."’

‘"The only streak we’re concerned with is our wins and losses," Bills center Trey Teague said. "We can’t be worrying about anybody but ourselves. We need to play a tough game this week and get a win."’

‘However, New England coach Bill Belichick offers a simpler version.

“If the Patriots win the game,” he said, “it’s because the players have gone out and made a few more plays than the team they’re playing against. All of the games we’ve won, that’s been the case."

‘"Some of the things that we’re doing are preventing us from being continuously successful," Bledsoe continued. "We’re trying to establish ourselves as a power-running football team. In order to do that, we have to convert our first downs. In order to convert our first downs, we can’t be in third-and-10, third-and-12 all the time because your percentages go way down, particularly against the Patriots because that’s where they’re most effective."’

‘Turnovers. Put simply, the Patriots force ’em and the Bills don’t.’

‘Drew knew.’

The Cold, Hard Football Facts admire the respect accorded Bledsoe in Boston. But they’re not slaves to misty-eyed public sentiment, and they certainly don’t attempt to swim against a torrent of historical data buoyed only by a skimpy life vest called respect.

‘"They just don’t make a lot of mistakes, which allows you to win the close games," Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey said Wednesday. "That’s the difference with where we are. We’ve been in a couple close games and not overcome the mistakes we’ve created ourselves. You don’t see them doing that."’

‘A plate was inserted on Losman’s fractured fibula in order to speed up the recovery process. X-rays this week on the broken bone showed he was progressing faster than what was predicted.’

‘The book is not written in his own words, of course. Belichick is too shrewd for that. But it’s a reflection of his true feelings. It’s his way of rubbing it in people’s faces. It’s no laughing matter for Bills fans, I’d imagine, knowing he’s basically right.’