Archives for December 20, 2004

‘With his team 8-2 since a 0-4 start, Mike Mularkey deserves some coach of the year votes.’

‘”We notice it,” said Spikes when asked if the Bills have started scoreboard watching. “We said ‘Okay, that happened, let’s go take care of what we need to.’ “‘

‘If there was ever a doubt as to why Takeo Spikes wanted to leave Cincinnati, it was played out in front of him yesterday. As the Bengals were guaranteeing a 14th consecutive season without a playoff berth, one of their old warriors played a big part in making it happen.’

‘Team of destiny, you say? Hard to believe that this is the same bunch that started winless in four. Can that really be the same Drew Bledsoe the Buffaloons were trying to run out of town, or worse, a few weeks ago?’

‘He is about the most unlikely-looking special teams player in the NFL, a 6-feet-4 and 328-pound behemoth who caught the attention of league scouts at the annual combine workouts, clocking an eye-opening 40-yard time of under five seconds.’

The blueprint was to use a ball control style of offense to win games. During the Bills feverish rise in the standings they have found other ways to win. The 33-17 win over Cincinnati was similar to last week’s win against Cleveland. The offense didn’t do that much, but they didn’t have to. All three units scored touchdowns while the Bills forced four turnovers and made a couple of big plays on offense to pull off their fifth straight win, seventh in their last eight, and eighth in their last 10 after an 0-4 start.

‘The offense didn’t have an explosion but they did enough to win. The defense struggled against the run but made big plays when they had to. Special teams made one big play, a few smaller ones, and flirted with disaster on a few other plays. Here are our position by position grades…’.

‘The fact the Bengals were so repulsive, though, should not diminish the resourcefulness of the Bills, who won for the fifth straight time.’

‘Rookie Jason Peters blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Defensive end Chris Kelsay recorded his first career pick.’

‘Rudi Johnson opened the scoring with a three yard TD run and had 130 yards on the afternoon. Despite that, I think the Bills defense really arrived. Cincinnati had been a scoring machine lately picking up 113 points in three games. The Bills held them to just ten more points after falling behind.’

‘“I was thinking, ‘Get up, Willis,”’ Bledsoe said. “He’s been so pivotal in us turning this thing around, and it’s a testament to him to get to where he is, with what he’s gone through. Hopefully he’ll be all right.”’

‘Mike Mularkey on the destiny of the Bills:

“I don’t know if it’s destiny or just a team that’s made up of good character – guys that have never given in … not once. Even again, in this game, being down early and not blinking.”‘