Archives for October 2008

‘”We communicated with our NFL supervisor here on the game site. He talked with (officials in) New York (location of the league offices). The decision was that once we knew that it was going to be awhile for the power to come back, we would keep the game clock and the play clock on the field and we have procedures for that,” referee Jeff Triplette said. “We just proceeded with the game. We notified both coaches and they were both fine and ready to go.”‘

‘”But I thought we did a great job of not using that as an excuse. We sat in the dark before the game, we sat in the dark at halftime, and it got pretty hot in there and you’re not used to that type of environment. We could have gone out there and laid an egg, but we didn’t.”‘

‘”I wouldn’t say it was one of the best throws of my career, but Lee Evans sure made it look like one of the best throws of my career,” Edwards said.’

‘”This was just one more stepping stone,” said center Duke Preston, who filled in for injured starter Melvin Fowler as part of an offensive line that didn’t allow a sack. “To get caught up in this and say it was a milestone win, yes and no.”‘

‘”He’s a warrior,” Jackson said of Edwards. “He leads us where we want to go, and we’re going to be behind him 100 percent.”‘

‘”Early this afternoon after helium balloons with metallic tails were released near the stadium, the balloons ended up tangled in NYSEG power lines that serve the stadium, causing a power interruption,” NYSEG Regional public relations manager Randy Edwards said in a statement. “Service to the stadium was quickly switched to a second available service line. Several minutes after the power outage, the second line was affected by the same balloons and service had to be switched back to the original. In the midst of dealing with the balloons, about a mile from the stadium, there was a pole fire which caused an additional interruption.”‘

‘”The Bills are a legitimate 5-1,” Tomlinson said. “They will be a team to be reckoned with late in the season.”‘

‘”At first it felt like a scrimmage without having the music and lights,” Bills safety Donte Whitner said. “But you still have your fans.”‘

‘Still, they are the first to admit they’ve enjoyed a relatively soft schedule, with home games up next versus decent opposition in Indianapolis and Green Bay. For their part, the Bills are about to embark on a three-game stretch vs. their AFC East opponents, starting at Miami, followed by a home game vs. the Jets and finishing in New England. Those three games, obviously, will go a long way to deciding divisional dominance and a possible playoff berth.’

‘The best team in the NFL nearing the halfway point of the wild, topsy-turvy 2008 season? It is at least possible that it is the Buffalo Bills.’

‘”I thought we did a good job of not using (the power outage) as an excuse,” said Edwards. “We sat in the dark before the game, we sat in the dark at halftime and it got pretty hot in there and you are not used to that type of environment. We could have gone out there and laid an egg, but we didn’t.”‘

‘”I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and it was unbelievable that it came like this, against Jamal Williams, a Pro Bowler,” said Preston, who helped the Bills offensive line hold the Chargers defense without a sack or quarterback hurry.’

‘After Sunday’s game, Edwards now has won 10 times in 15 starts, a .667 winning percentage that ranks fifth among active quarterbacks and puts him in the company of New England’s Tom Brady (.784), Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (.721), Dallas’ Tony Romo (.719) and the Chargers’ Philip Rivers (.718).’

‘”I’ve waited for an opportunity (to start) for a long time and it’s unbelievable it came like this, playing against a great player like Jamal (Williams),” Preston said. “I was excited. I’ve been so blessed in my life. God has put opportunities in front of me. Going against a Pro Bowler like Jamal, I didn’t have a whole lot to lose. I was just going to go out and scrap. I don’t remember a whole lot of plays. I said I was going to put my head down and battle and when it was over, look up and see how we fared.”‘

Bolts suffer power outage versus Bills in Buffalo (San Diego Union Tribune)

Power outages play games with clock, Chargers defensive timing (San Diego Union Tribune)

Defense lacking pressure on QB, big plays from secondary (San Diego Union Tribune)

Chargers offense lacking consistent attack on the ground (San Diego Union Tribune)

Rivers’ fumbles, interception hurt Chargers chances in Buffalo (San Diego Union Tribune)

Turner’s decision to punt soars over second-guesses (San Diego Union Tribune)

Balloons wreak havoc with stadium power, TV feed (San Diego Union Tribune)

Mt. Carmel High alum gets his shot with Bills (San Diego Union Tribune)

Chargers by the numbers (San Diego Union Tribune)

Chargers-Bills voice of the fans (San Diego Union Tribune)

Photo gallery (San Diego Union Tribune)

Rivers runs dry (North County Times)

Tomlinson no longer Bolts go-to guy (North County Times)

Offense in good hands with Floyd, Jackson (North County Times)

Bills’ line doesn’t skip a beat with Preston (North County Times)

Power outage hits stadium, hinders TV broadcast (North County Times)

Bolts can’t rattle young gun Edwards (North County Times)

Report card (North County Times)

Photo gallery (Riverside Press Enterprise)

Costly blunders doom Bolts (Chargers.com)

Rivers rides ebbs and flows (Chargers.com)

Photo gallery (Chargers.com)

Photo gallery (Niagara Gazette)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)