Archives for September 22, 2008

‘”When you go in the slot you usually get a safety covering you or a third or fourth cornerback,” Reed said. “When you’ve got a guy like Lee [Evans] and James [Hardy] on the outside, and if they don’t draw double coverage, they’re going to kill you. So when they [draw double coverage], the coaches expect you to work the inside. That’s what we did today. They called our number a few times.”‘

‘Welcome to www.billsinbuffalo4ever.com , a slightly tongue-in-cheek Web site with an oh-so-serious mission: To keep the Bills in Buffalo.’

‘Lindell won the game, but overall another ordinary performance from Bobby April’s guys. Parrish made bad decision to field punt at goal line.’

‘”Having New England lose today and Miami being the one to beat them makes things more exciting,” said linebacker Kawika Mitchell. “Hopefully we get more respect in the division and hopefully we keep earning it.”‘

‘"You go down and miss that kick and you look at the scoreboard and you’re thinking, ‘It sure would be nice to have those three points up there,’" Lindell said. "But that’s how this game goes. Sometimes you get another chance and believe you can make the next one. The guys pick you up."’

‘As long as Lynch did his talking with his play on the field, I was fine with him pressing the mute button any time someone stuck a microphone or recording device in his face. Hey, it was one less guy spitting tired, useless clichés, an art he perfected last year as an NFL rookie.’

‘The Raiders gave Kiffin a solid effort Sunday in Buffalo, but the offense was too conservative in the second half while attempting to protect a lead and he inexplicably failed to call timeouts in the final minute to give his team at least a long-shot chance to win.’

‘Bills WR Josh Reed: He often gets overlooked in the Buffalo offense, but the seventh-year player was clutch in the fourth quarter when he caught five passes for 66 yards and two of the receptions converted critical drive-saving third downs.’

‘The Bills weren’t a very smart team on Sunday and three turnovers, four penalties, three sacks and a critical defensive breakdown had them in a 23-14 hole with 6:23 to play. To coach Dick Jauron’s credit, he, his staff and his players kept their composure and pulled out an important, if not pretty, victory. The Bills, who have missed the playoffs eight consecutive years, sit atop the AFC East at 3-0, proving there is light at the end of every tunnel.’

‘"You just don’t go as hard on Friday and Saturday nights," he said before Sunday’s thrilling 24-23 victory over the Oakland Raiders at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where thousands of fans ate and drank and didn’t seem to mind a gray morning with skies that threatened of rain but never produced it.’

‘Sunday was a hidden minefield waiting to be trampled through – the Raiders’ front office might be in chaos, but nobody on the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf was wearing a jumpsuit. Lane Kiffen sure looked the part of veteran coach and the Raiders’ lines, both on offense and defense, hardly looked like those of cellar dwellers. Oakland has talent, as the JaMarcus Russell-to-Johnnie Lee Higgins punch to the gut proved.’

‘Things bottomed out for the special teams on Oakland’s next punt. Shane Lechler sent a booming punt 56 yards to the Buffalo goal line, where returner Roscoe Parrish fielded it instead of simply letting it go into the end zone for a touchback. Parrish got the ball out to the Bills 17, but a holding flag on Copeland Bryan set the ball inside the Buffalo 1.’

‘The Good: There’s plenty to pick from, including the final play of the game, which gave the Bills the win. But we thought the pitch and catch from Edwards to Roscoe Parrish that made the score 23-21 was exactly how Parrish should be used.’

‘With Edwards behind center, it’s not that Buffalo is 3-0, it is how Buffalo got to 3-0. Last week against Jacksonville, Edwards looked like a seasoned veteran marching the Bills down the field. He then capped off the drive by throwing a jump ball touchdown lob to rookie James Hardy late in the fourth quarter for the win. And if you thought that was impressive, what he did Sunday at Ralph Wilson must seem next to incredible.’

‘”This means a lot,” said Edwards, the second-year quarterback from Stanford who led a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives and moved the Bills into position for Lindell’s winning kick. “We’re going to grow up a lot from this win.”‘