Archives for December 2005

‘Way too many mistakes, from silly penalties to lining up wrong. Coaches lack confidence in run game.’

‘”That’s been the story of our season,” Bills quarterback Kelly Holcomb said. “We move the ball, then at crucial times we do something that’s not smart. Those guys are division leaders over there. It’s enough just to beat those guys, but when we beat ourselves, we give ourselves no chance.”‘

‘It’s come down to rooting against them, just so they clean house and get a higher pick. I guess that is OK, though, I’d rather them go down in flames than wallow in mediocrity like the Dolphins and end up with a middle first round pick. And with the way this ship is going down, which is fast and furiously, Buffalo is going to end up with at least a top seven pick. 4-12. Wow.’

Broncos are close to scratching 7-year itch (Denver Rocky Mountain News)

Smith shows he’s still a lightning Rod (Denver Rocky Mountain News)

Playoff bye is the biggest selling point for Broncos (Denver Rocky Mountain News)

Secondary step toward primary goal (Denver Post)

Running game gets back in high gear (Denver Post)

Broncos still one win from AFC West title (Boulder Daily Camera)

Williams may be ready for playoffs (Boulder Daily Camera)

Broncos’ goals near realization (Longmont Daily Times Call)

Smith unsatisfied even after Broncos clinch playoff berth (AP)

Broncos Can’t Clinch Yet (KCNC-TV)

Ordinary Surname, Extraordinary Game (DenverBroncos.com)

Return to Glory (DenverBroncos.com)

A First Time for Everything (DenverBroncos.com)

‘"A lot of fans were screaming, `Don’t go,’ and `Stay,’ and it was tough," Moulds said. "I said before the game that I was going to play hard and let the chips fall where they may. And that’s what I did."’

Kelly Holcomb is back at QB and, not coincidentally, he and Eric Moulds, who is back from a suspension, have connected on a big play, for 27 yards, to help set up a short touchdown run by Willis McGahee. It is no secret that Moulds has been one of Holcomb’s favorite targets, and that J.P. Losman has not looked to him nearly as often. The Bills did what a 4-9 team should do in going for the first down on fourth-and-one deep in Denver territory, and getting it.

‘Penalties and turnovers have plagued the Bills all season, and this night was no different. Buffalo was penalized 12 times for 82 yards. They were also only 4 of 12 on third down conversions.’

‘"When we beat ourselves, we give ourselves no chance," Bills quarterback Kelly Holcomb said. "It’s frustrating. We move the ball and then something happens. . . . It’s kind of killing us. We gotta be focused. I think our effort’s there. We played hard but you gotta play smarter."’

‘”We come out because we’re with friends, and we’re going to enjoy this event. But this season is taking on the feel of those 2-14 seasons.”‘

‘Moulds obviously didn’t develop much rust during his short time off. He seemed to be the primary target of quarterback Kelly Holcomb on virtually every pass play. The Bills ran more crossing routes to free Moulds of double coverage and he was able to find soft spots in the Broncos’ secondary all night.’

‘Monday’s paper will include several stories on the Bills as well as the Report Card and the complete statistical package.’

‘”We started out strong and played good football for a spot here and a spot there, but at times we played undisciplined, too,” said Bills second-year coach Mike Mularkey, who has endured weeks of speculation about his job security. “It sounds like a broken record.”‘

‘What the Bills are, what they have been for the better part of a decade, and what they will continue to be for the foreseeable future, is a whole not equal to the sum of its parts. There are playmakers on offense (Moulds, Evans, McGahee) and stars on defense (London Fletcher, Nate Clements and Troy Vincent), and they all add up to a won-loss record, before Saturday, of 38-55 that is only nine wins better than the Arizona Cardinals’ since 2000.’

‘For most of the first half Saturday night at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Buffalo Bills managed to drag the Denver Broncos down to their level of ineptness.’

‘It was sad to see Mularkey take a page from Gregg Williams’ playbook and punt from Denver’s 32-yard line in the second quarter. No guts, but very much in keeping with the disappointing season it has been.’