Archives for October 2009

‘Byrd has five interceptions on the season and is the first Buffalo rookie since Butch Byrd in 1969 to have picks in three straight games. George Wilson had a clinching interception, giving Buffalo nine in the last two games.’

‘”I think he played well,” wide receiver Lee Evans said. “He did a good job of just running the ship.”‘

‘I’ll resist the temptation to get giddy about it. Winning is nice. But this looks to me like another heroic run at 7-9 for Dick Jauron and the fellas. One thing you can never forget when judging the Bills is the utter mediocrity of the NFL, where the unremarkable quality of half the league is always your best friend.’

‘”Lee’s been my guy when I’ve been in there,” Fitzpatrick said. “I enjoy throwing to Terrell [Owens] and Lee and Josh [Reed] as well. Lee’s done a good job.”‘

‘A signature Jauron win. No turnovers, four takeaways, defense gives up huge yardage but doesn’t break. Fewell, who grew up nearby, had a fine game plan. Grade: A.’

‘Rookie Jairus Byrd is on a roll.’

‘”I don’t care how ugly it is, as long as we win,” Kelsay said after the Bills defeated the Carolina Panthers 20-9 Sunday afternoon in front of 73,497 fans at Bank of America Stadium. “It hasn’t been pretty the last few weeks, but anyway you can win in this league, we’ll take it.”‘

‘Are you thinking playoffs for the Bills after Sunday’s 20-9 upset win at Carolina? Here’s the schedule for the second half of the season: at Tennessee, at Jacksonville, home against Miami, vs. the New York Jets in Toronto, at Kansas City, home against New England, at Atlanta, and home against Indianapolis in a game the Colts probably won’t need to make the playoffs. Are you thinking playoffs? Or a fourth straight 7-9?’

‘Can Ryan Fitzpatrick lead a second straight victory and perhaps make a bid to take Trent Edwards’ job? Fitzpatrick wasn’t great, but he managed the game pretty well and delivered a victory. When the Buffalo defense gave him field position with interceptions, he capitalized with a pair of TDs. He definitely deserves another start.’

‘For just the second time in his tenure, Dick Jauron has seen his team win back-to-back road games, and despite all the second-tier players he’s being forced to use because of his injuries, the effort has been noteworthy. On defense, Perry Fewell’s guys are giving up gobs of yardage, but they’ve allowed just 28 points the last three weeks. On offense, Alex Van Pelt still has plenty of work to do because this offense is not clicking, no matter who is at quarterback.’

Crushing Panthers’ loss leaves Jake ‘almost numb’ (Charlotte Observer)

A tough end to Smith’s rough week (Charlotte Observer)

Slow, painful and void of hope (Charlotte Observer)

Moore’s fumble ‘worst moment of my life’ (Charlotte Observer)

Key Moments (Charlotte Observer)

Kasay’s rare off day hurts Panthers (Charlotte Observer)

Taking blame not a problem (Charlotte Observer)

Panthers Report Card (Charlotte Observer)

Photo gallery (Charlotte Observer)

Down and out? Delhomme’s picks prove decisive in 20-9 loss to Bills (Gaston Gazette)

Plenty of blame to go around for Panthers (Gaston Gazette)

Smith saddened by loss of father figure (Gaston Gazette)

Fox will evaluate Delhomme before making decision on next week’s starter (Gaston Gazette)

Gastonia’s Fewell helps shut down Panthers (Gaston Gazette)

Grading the Panthers (Gaston Gazette)

Delhomme left to wonder about job as Panthers fall to 2-4 (Rock Hill Herald)

Dismal day for Jake leads to Panthers loss (Rock Hill Herald)

Moore goes from fantastic to fumbling (Rock Hill Herald)

Defense not happy despite solid performance (Rock Hill Herald)

Panthers looking up from ditch (Greenville News)

Panthers fall flat in loss to Bills (Raleigh News and Observer)

All hope has been abandoned here (Greensboro News Record)

Panthers run — and pass — into more trouble (Burlington Times News)

Photo gallery (AP)

Panthers give it away (Panthers.com)

Greater loss hits Smith (Panthers.com)

Panthers-Bills Postgame Notes (Panthers.com)

Photo gallery (Panthers.com)

‘Buffalo won despite being outgained 425-167. Carolina led in first downs 20-9 and held the ball for nearly 35 minutes. But Jake Delhomme was intercepted three times, Kenny Moore fumbled a punt, John Kasay missed two field goal attempts, and the Panthers (2-4) saw their two-game winning streak snapped.’

‘Fitzpatrick, who was making his first start in a Buffalo uniform in place of an injured Trent Edwards, connected on 11-of-22 passes for 123 yards for the Bills (3-4), who were coming off a 16-13 overtime win against the Jets last Sunday. Lee Evans caught five passes for 75 yards and a score. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 40 yards and a TD on 17 carries.’

‘The Panther defense held Buffalo on the next possession, but failed to get the abll back thanks to a special teams blunder. Derek Fine recovered a muffed punt return by the Kenny Moore to give the Bills the ball at the Carolina 20-yard line. With two-minutes to go in the game Lindell added the capper, a -yard field goal to up the lead to 20-9. That is how the game would end.’