Archives for October 2004

‘It was fourth-and-3, and a failed play would likely end the contest and perhaps the season, too. So, 17 yards removed from the end zone, the Bills turned to Drew Bledsoe, the quarterback once believed to be in possession of a $100-million right arm, and invited him … to run.’

‘”We had a good drive going,” said Henry, who rushed for 96 yards. “Little things are killing us, man. We played great. I guess when it comes to the little things, I guess that’s why they’ve won two of the last three Super Bowls.”‘

‘Colvin, who missed all but two games last year because of a hip injury, was given credit for the sack after Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe tripped over one of his own linemen and fell down.’

‘Even if it hadn’t happened, the Bills might have figured out another way to lose.’

‘It never had a chance. Running back Travis Henry whiffed on a blitzing Tedy Bruschi, who stripped the ball before Seymour went all the way.’

‘Bledsoe on a bootleg?’

‘It was a classic case of giving the Patriots too many extra chances to win the game, and the Patriots made good on all the gifts that were given them.’

18-wheeler (Boston Globe)

Stung by one that got away (Boston Globe)

Offenses veer in 4th quarter (Boston Globe)

Another opponent is left smarting (Boston Globe)

Already 3-0, they are hard to contend with (Boston Globe)

Neal is paying attention in class (Boston Globe)

Pats wobble, don’t fall (Boston Herald)

Brady blows off blitz (Boston Herald)

Mistakes, penalties a two-sided story (Boston Herald)

Win cushions Dillon’s loss (Boston Herald)

Nothing special about this win (Boston Herald)

Mistakes baffle Bledsoe (Boston Herald)

Pats pull one out of hat (Boston Herald)

Pats receiving corps on march (Boston Herald)

Seymour cashes in on Drew fumble (Boston Herald)

Pats squarely on the mark (Providence Journal)

New England defense keeps Bills bumbling (Providence Journal)

Even on a bad day, Pats good enough to win (Providence Journal)

Despite injuries, Pats potent because of offensive depth (Providence Journal)

Bruschi’s sleight of hand fills the bill for Patriots (Providence Journal)

The Drill (Providence Journal)

Special teams’ performance earns some ugly reviews (Providence Journal)

One to go (Providence Journal)

He’s number three (Providence Journal)

18 in a row (Providence Journal)

Patriots poised to set new NFL victory mark (Woonsocket Call)

Minus three key players, Patriots’ depth plugs holes (Woonsocket Call)

Pats Pick It Up In Second Half (Hartford Courant)

He Can Dish It Out (Hartford Courant)

Patriots evade Bills, tie record for victories (Springfield Republican)

Once again, Bruschi delivers defining play (Springfield Republican)

Familiar formula continues to pay (Manchester Union Leader)

Pats streak up to 18 (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bootleg doesn’t pay off (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Equal to the task (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Buffalo blitz proves big bust (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Neal tough as nails; Light shines on line (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Patriots-Bills Game Notes (Patriots.com)

A Great Bills Effort Ruined By Mistakes (PatsFans.com)

‘”We figured the last thing they would be expecting at that point would be to fake the run and boot it around the edge,” said Bledsoe, who was sacked seven times. The play crumbled when linebacker Tedy Bruschi came through the middle of the line, forcing Bledsoe to fumble. Defensive end Richard Seymour picked up the ball and lumbered 68 yards for a touchdown.’

‘New England’s Bruschi, a 6-1, 247-pound linebacker who always stands tall, had stormed into the backfield untouched. “They had been faking play-action. I had seen it a couple of times,” Bruschi said. “I just wasn’t going to bite on it this time. I thought they would keep it in Drew’s hands to make a big play.”‘

‘And in the end, the bottom line read the same as it has each time the Patriots have played a meaningful game in the past year: New England, enough, Other Guys, too little. The Patriots haven’t lost since Sept. 28, 2003, at Washington, and what’s more is they’ll tell you they should have won that game (and they’d be right). The Patriots don’t lose because they never seem to lose control of the game or themselves. The guess is that they don’t commit as many mental errors as their opponents, and the fact is that when they do, they pick the right time to do it.’

‘Funny, I never saw New England pick up a back after an incomplete pass and throw him to the turf, I didn’t see the Pats jumping offsides on a field goal attempt that wound up being the game winning touchdown. I didn’t see Corey Dillon fall with a gapping hole on third and one. I didn’t see Dillon go the wrong way on fourth and three. I didn’t see Tom Brady get sacked five times the final two times New England touched the ball.’

‘It was a costly loss for Buffalo. Safety Troy Vincent left the game after hurting a knee in the first quarter. Center Trey Teague also suffered a knee injury in the second quarter. Offensive tackle Jonas Jennings was knocked cold after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Vince Wilfork.’

‘While Bledsoe isn’t always the positive you’d like him to be, like Brady for instance, he isn’t the main reason the Bills find themselves 0-3. The Bills also have no real alternatives at this point.’

‘They gave up a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. They allowed punter Brian Moorman to run 34 yards for a first down after he dropped a snap. They gave up big plays on defense. They had miscues on offense. They had too many penalties. Yet, they always seemed to keep their collective cool. At least, they do so when they need to.’