Archives for November 2004

‘The Buffalo Bills could not have scheduled a more accommodating homecoming opponent for Drew Bledsoe, Sam Adams, Rian Lindell and Lawyer Milloy. The Northwest-based foursome feasted on the Seattle Seahawks’ unending hospitality, leaving Qwest Field with a 38-9 victory and scrapbooks filled with memories.’

‘It was the Bills playing the bully to Seattle’s sissy act. Maybe the Hawks weren’t wearing heels, but they certainly were on theirs all day long against a deceptively tough AFC foe.’

‘If only Drew Bledsoe’s New England homecomings all turned out this well, the Buffalo Bills would be in the thick of the playoff chase.’

‘Talk about a cheeseburger in paradise.’

‘There is honest-to-goodness optimism resonating from One Bills Drive because after a disastrous 0-4 start that will ultimately ruin this season, the Bills have begun to play like the team many of us thought they were back in the summer at St. John Fisher College.’

‘Bills RB Willis McGahee: He had his finest day as a pro with 116 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Many of his runs were stopped for short gains or no gains, but great backs keep plugging and eventually they break out, and McGahee did.’

‘Mike Mularkey and Tom Clements came to Buffalo with a reputation for creative play-calling and it was on display in Seattle. The reverse to Evans out of that formation was nifty, the pitch back to McGahee on fourth down that resulted in a TD was brilliant, and the onside kick – Bobby April’s brainchild – was a well-timed gamble that worked.’

‘On the Bills’ first five scoring drives, Bledsoe was 20 of 26 for 222 yards. On third downs, he was 9 of 11 for 95 yards, including completions of 24 and 16 yards. “He’s a big-time quarterback,” said Hamlin, who had two interceptions. “He’s been in the league for a while and he knows how to read defenses and that type of stuff. So he did a good job.”‘

‘The on-side kick to start the second half took nearly everyone but kicker Rian Lindell and the Bills’ special teams unit by surprise. The former Seahawks and Washington State kicker lightly nudged the ball forward, following its every bounce until it went the required 10 yards and Lindell pounced on it, the first time he had ever recovered one of his own. “We practice a bunch of those type kicks in the offseason and in training camp, so we always have it in the back of our minds,” Lindell said.’

‘Apparently some people think he’s fading, that, at 32, Bledsoe is not as capable as he was before. I know this because John Clayton said as much before the game.’

‘Game balls: Offense – Drew Bledsoe.’

‘The Bills moved the ball at will out of a no-huddle offense that the Seahawks swore was not a surprise, and had outgained the Seahawks 154 to 24 in total yardage after one quarter.’

‘The defining play of this game (for the Bills) and this day (for Bledsoe) came with 10 seconds left in the first half. The Bills were out of timeouts and facing a third-and-three at the Seahawks’ 3-yard line.’

‘Adams the former Seahawk didn’t place any emphasis on throttling Seattle 38-9 yesterday afternoon. “It’s not about me,” he said, after recording one tackle. “It’s about the team.”‘

‘Buffalo opened the game with a no-huddle offense that drove 60 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. The key third-down conversion on that drive came on a roll-right, throw-back-left screen play that looked like it had been plucked straight from the playbooks of nearby Lackawanna High.’