Archives for January 3, 2005

‘Coach Bill Cowher preached all last week that, even with home-field advantage and a first-round bye clinched, he expected to win in Buffalo.’

‘The Steelers outran the Bills 157-92 and hassled Bledsoe into two crucial turnovers and only two third-down conversions in 12 chances, disabusing the fanciful notion that Buffalo’s defense belongs in the same conversation with Pittsburgh’s.’

”’I’m a starter. I’ve been starting since I’ve been in this league,” Henry said. ”I know the role that I was given this year. I didn’t like it, but I dealt with it.” Asked whether he considered himself as good as gone, Henry said: ”Yeah, most definitely.”’

‘"I want to go somewhere where I can be a starter, and play, and a be a big contributor — that’s where my mind is at,” Henry said today as the Bills cleaned out their lockers after Sunday’s season-ending 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. "Like I said at the beginning of the year, I’m not a backup. Whatever they decide to do, wherever their mind is at, I don’t know. I already know where my mind is at.”’

‘The Bills looked nothing like the team that had outscored its previous six opponents 228-89. Buffalo managed just 267 total yards and the defense couldn’t get the Steelers off the field, losing the time-of-possession battle by more than 11 minutes.’

‘At one point, the Bills were trying to stop Brian St. Pierre, Willie Parker, Lee Mays, Walter Rasby and Sean Morey. And the Bills couldn’t do it.’

‘And strong safety Lawyer Milloy conceded, “It was obviously the turning point of the game. We were up at that point and we let them get the momentum back.” But he quickly added, “It wasn’t just the missed kick … every one of us had a hand in this loss."’

‘From the middle of the second period on, the only defensive starters who played an appreciable amount of time were inside linebacker Larry Foote and cornerback Chad Foote. And still the Bills, who had everything to play for, struggled on both sides of the ball.’

‘”I guess (Buffalo) thought we were go to lay down and give it to them,” Colclough said. “We didn’t do that today.”‘

‘Before Sunday, the Bills were 9-0 in January home games.’

‘The Bills have made some remarkable progress this season but they still have a lot of work left, especially on the offensive side of the ball, if they’re going to get back even some of their past glory. You have to wonder if all those points they scored against inferior opponents the past few weeks are not a bit of a smokescreen, masking many of the same ills that have plagued the team the past few years.’

‘And as fate would have it, it seemed as though the Bills would get exactly what they needed … that is until the games ended and the Bills got their help but couldn’t complete their own part of the task.’

‘The coaching staff is in place, most of the players are there, but the most important piece is a new leader. And if the coaches don’t have the confidence in Bledsoe, it’s time to let Losman help this franchise turn the corner once again.’

‘Then Willie Parker got the ball-carrying chores, and shredded the Buff defense for 102 yards on19 carries. Parker hit a hole up LG and bolted 58 yards in the 4Q, and also helped salt the game away on the long, nearly 9-minute march with strong runs of 5, 9, 6, 4, 9, and 6.’

‘I guess Bledsoe will never get that ‘QB clock’ that is so important, especially when you are as much of a statue as he is. Anyhow, how about showing some emotion to try and motivate your teammates?! The Bills had just put a great winning streak together, their entire season is on the line, and this guy looked and acted like he was playing a scrimmage game.’