Archives for November 28, 2005

‘”I think it went OK,” Peters said. “It was a big challenge, as he is a veteran Pro Bowler and I’m new at the position. You have to respect his speed around the end, and what he’ll do is push you upfield and then give you an inside move. He got a sack on me that if we had to do all over again he wouldn’t have. It was kind of like a busted play for me. I thought I had help from the guard and he beat me inside. But overall, I think I handled him pretty well.”‘

‘Moulds on the Bills trying to make the playoffs: “It’s tough for me because this is my 10th year and I would like to go to the playoffs and win. At the same time, I would like to see the younger players get a taste of what it feels like to win a lot of games and get a chance to go to the playoffs. By no means do I think anyone on this team is going to give up.”‘

‘Coaching: B – Loved Gray’s game plan. He changed up, played coverage. No-huddle was good idea. But red zone still is dead zone.’

‘Coaching: B+ – Fox felt he could win grind-it-out game. It worked.’

‘Collectively, the Bills were awful for the third straight week at converting third downs and controlling the clock. They finished 5-for-13 on third downs after going 3-for-13 in each of their previous two games. They held the ball for only 24:16, the third straight week their time of possession has been below 26 minutes. And, most damaging of all, three trips inside Carolina’s 20-yard-line produced only nine points, giving the Bills only one touchdown over the past eight quarters.’

‘The offense is treating third down as an opportunity to position itself for a punt, going a combined 11-for-39 in such situations the past three games.’

‘As tedious as this struggle was at times, it had one entertaining sideshow. Buffalo’s Nate Clements, who describes himself as a “lock-down corner” and Smith traded verbal jabs after almost every play.’

‘The Bills were saying all the right things following their 13-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. But to the 71,440 frustrated spectators who showed up at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and the legion of fans elsewhere, it’s all irritating noise because what the Bills couldn’t say is how they pulled out this game that at times seemed so winnable.’

‘”This guy doesn’t like Sam Adams and that’s fine,” Wright said. “You don’t have to like him to play him. Sam wants to play. He likes Buffalo. But you got a coach there who doesn’t like him personally and he’s doing everything he can to make it look like it’s the player. He’s making Sam the distraction.”‘

‘The play symbolized the season. Buffalo’s offense seems in worse shape than at any time under Mularkey, who was hired for his offensive expertise. Buffalo failed to crack 300 yards for the eighth time. The Bills haven’t scored more than 17 points in five consecutive games.’

‘This time, the defense actually played pretty solid for most of the day, but it was all for naught when it caved in when the game was on the line.’

‘”I think J.P. and me developed a little more trust in one another today,” he said. “I think there’s a lot more chemistry between us. We’re making strides.” That they are, but perhaps not fast enough for Moulds, whose hefty contract most likely will make him a salary cap casualty following this season.’

‘Ever since Willis McGahee proclaimed himself to be the best back in the league, he’s been one of the most ordinary.’

‘J.P. Losman had just eight turns with the ball and put up nine points, going 0-for-3 in the red zone. He threw some big-league passes and showed a lot of poise under constant pressure. But unfortunately for him and the Bills, his Jim Kelly moment – ball in his hands with 2:10 to play and needing a touchdown to win – resulted in an interception. Talk about letting the air out of the balloon.’

‘Coach Mike Mularkey said Losman made some throws that were typical of a young quarterback, but played well for the third week in a row. “He’s given us a chance,” he said. “I think his progress will continue. In some adverse situations, he has performed really well.”‘