Archives for September 26, 2011

‘”We were confident all week,” Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman said. “We knew what type of team we were coming out to play. We knew we had to come out and play our best, and to come back from a 21-0 first half (deficit) just shows the type of guys we’ve got in this locker room.”‘

‘Backing into the shotgun, Fitzpatrick countered the New England blitz with a short pass into the middle to a slanting Jackson at the 35. Once he turned to see daylight, Jackson beat the grasp of Josh Barrett and Gary Guyton before (as was later determined by an official review) being hauled down at the half-yard line with 1:43 left in the game.’

‘”We didn’t put any more emphasis on this game. You guys did because you focused on the streak,” he said. “This is a new year, a new team, a new opportunity. We’re not going to treat this victory or savor it any longer than we did the previous two weeks. We’re going to enjoy it, (but) we have to see these guys again later in the season.”‘

‘”The way they play, the way they blitz to empty [formations], it was something [Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick] and I saw. Anytime we line up out there and we point away from a linebacker, this one over here blitzes and leaves that gap open.”‘

‘We’re excited. It’s been 15 games. I’m sure everybody is aware of that and we’re all aware of it. But right now it’s 3-0. I think that’s what a lot of guys are focusing on. We know we just took a huge monkey off our backs. Right now the most important thing coming out of that locker room is we’re 1-0 in the division. We have to play these guys again. We can put this one under our belt, but we’ve got to continue to work this season.’

Brady, Patriots are shocked by the Bills (Boston Globe)

Brady surveys things (Boston Globe)

Banner day for Wes Welker ends in letdown (Boston Globe)

Pressure on – to improve defense (Boston Globe)

Distressing day, that’s for sure (Boston Globe)

Winning ways all coming back to Bills (Boston Globe)

A few hits, but a big miss for Ochocinco (Boston Globe)

Photo gallery (Boston Globe)

Pats bubble bursts (Boston Herald)

Indefensible afternoon (Boston Herald)

Bills pick great time to turn tables (Boston Herald)

Catch-22 for Welker (Boston Herald)

Bumblin’ and stumblin’ (Boston Herald)

Fred Jackson turns big hole into a big play (Boston Herald)

Bills 34, Patriots 31: Problem of the game (Boston Herald)

Chad Ochocinco’s grasp limited (Boston Herald)

The best and the worst of yesterdays game (Boston Herald)

Bills erase 21-point deficit to shock turnover-prone Patriots (Providence Journal)

Bills proving that AFC East is a three-team race (Providence Journal)

Welker does all he can do in record-setting performance (Providence Journal)

Patriots take a page from Red Sox’ playbook (Providence Journal)

Pats play ‘passive defense,’ says Buffalo’s Nelson (Providence Journal)

Bills pick on Brady, rally from 21-0 deficit (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Sweet performance by Welker (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Pats bungled by Buffalo (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

OG Waters has calmed fluid situation (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

Bills beat Patriots for first time since 2003 (Springfield Republican)

What’s up with Devin McCourty and the Patriots’ secondary? (Springfield Republican)

Wes Welker’s record lost in defeat to Bills (Springfield Republican)

Tom Brady talks about throwing four interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the Bills (Springfield Republican)

Wes Welker is flying high while Tom Brady is in the doghouse following loss to Bills (Springfield Republican)

The defense rests … again (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Two Minute Drill (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)

Supporting cast missing in action (Manchester Union Leader)

Patriots’ Collapse Just Add To Boston’s Woes (Hartford Courant)

Patriots can’t pick Brady up (ESPN)

Pats D fails to get the big stop vs. Bills (ESPN)

Brady can make mistakes, too (AP)

Chad Ochocinco’s Key Drop Changes Direction of Fourth Quarter of Patriots’ Loss to Bills (NESN)

Fred Jackson, Bills Exploit Hole in Patriots’ Defense During Game-Deciding Play (NESN)

Wes Welker’s Historic Performance Goes for Naught After Patriots’ Meltdown in Buffalo (NESN)

Tom Brady’s Four Interceptions Help Bills Pull Off Huge Comeback (NESN)

Patriots’ True Test Begins by Showing Ability to Bounce Back From Loss to Bills (NESN)

Bills snap 15-game losing streak vs. Patriots, 34-31 (CSN New England)

Welker’s records go to waste in loss (CSN New England)

Man-to-man? Pats pass ‘D’ is coming up short (CSN New England)

True to form, Patriots consider loss quietly (CSN New England)

Ochocinco woes mount and wideout goes mum (CSN New England)

Referee clarifies Belichick’s second timeout (CSN New England)

Brady sets three-week mark for most yards (CSN New England)

Best & Worst: Bills 34, Patriots 31 (CSN New England)

No defense for this outcome (WEEI-AM)

Analysis/reaction: Patriots-Bills (Patriots.com)

Game Notes: Patriots at Bills (Patriots.com)

Bill Belichick Postgame Press Conference Transcript (Patriots.com)

Patriots Postgame Quotes – 9/25/2011 (Patriots.com)

Bills Postgame Quotes – 9/25/2011 (Patriots.com)

Photo gallery (Patriots.com)

Photo gallery (AP)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

Photo gallery (Canandaigua Daily Messenger)

Photo gallery (WIVB-TV)

‘We understand the Army rescinded its own Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell last week. But it’s our guess Bills fans will be silent no more. Except Monday morning, while they’re stinkin’ hung over.’

‘Before the New England Patriots played at the Buffalo Bills, ESPN’s Bill Parcells on Sunday said he didn’t see “how anybody in their right mind could decide to get in a shootout with Tom Brady. … That’s a recipe for disaster.”‘

‘Players like Donald Jones, David Nelson — both college free agents — and waiver pick up Scott Chandler all impressed me on tape. We are seeing now what Buddy Nix and Chan Gaily saw in them when they traded Evans.’

‘The next challenge for Buffalo, coach Chan Gailey said, is “how do we handle prosperity?” He’s right about that. The 2008 Bills started 5-1, then lost seven of their next eight and eight of their last 10. Five of their next eight are on the road, including games at the New York Giants, Dallas and the New York Jets.’

‘But forget Fitzpatrick. Buffalo’s running game with Fred Jackson has been one of the biggest surprises. The Raiders are a very physical team, but the way they beat the Raiders last week was with their ability to pound them in the second half. That surprised me.’

‘No way, no how would the Buffalo Bills have ever won this game last season. But because of last season, when the heartbreaking, narrow loss was the Bills’ specialty, Buffalo learned the kind of resiliency in the face of adversity that proved to be essential to its corner-turning 34-31 comeback win over New England Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The chances of the Bills coming all the way back again (they trailed 21-3 against Oakland) were, you know, somewhere between slim and in need of hallucinogens. I mean, what’s next, Tom Brady throwing four interceptions?’

‘Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady completed 30 of his 45 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns, but he threw four interceptions in the loss.’