Archives for September 16, 2013

‘"We knew the situation," Manuel said. "I didn’t feel nervous or anything like that. We’ve practiced it time and time again and I’ve been in too many situations (like this) before, not just in the NFL or in practice, but also in college. We’ve won games like that before and you’ve just got to go out there and operate the offense."’

‘Of the victory, Marrone added, “It was an outstanding game. You don’t have a lot of opportunities to win in this league because it’s so close. I’m proud of the team … proud of the coaches for hanging in there.”‘

‘”Close wins dictate the type of team that you have … you have to win the close games. That’s going to happen further on down the line. Being able to overcome this, especially with the young guys, it’s going to instill confidence in them and more belief in everybody else. We already know that we can do it, and this proves it.”‘

‘”I can’t even tell you how it felt,” Manuel said of the touchdown pass. “I think I started crying right then. I’m not usually an emotional guy. But I’m going to enjoy these type of things.”‘

‘The final march was mostly a combination of check-down passes and ball-carriers doing a good job of getting out of bounds to stop the clock.’

‘”We had our times that we made plays,” he said after the Bills’ 24-23 win in Ralph Wilson Stadium. “With us in so many tight games, you would think we would know by now, but it’s still a learning and maturation thing for us. In tight situations, we have to somehow make a play.”‘

‘”I just had fun,” Spiller said. “Last week I was very frustrated, and they just took me out of my game.”‘

‘This one feels a little different, though. I’m not saying they’re going to make a playoff run. The Bills still have plenty of issues. But we might look back on this as the day when the EJ Manuel era began, when he truly began to arrive as an NFL franchise quarterback.’

‘EJ Manuel posted some wonderful numbers. He was 27 of 39 for 296 yards. He completed six of his eight throws for 51 yards and the winning touchdown on that clutch drive. But he did throw an interception, had another one wiped out by a penalty and fumbled while back to pass.’

‘The Bills wouldn’t have even been in the game without Williams, who was in Cam Newton’s face all day. He found his way into more pockets than a street beggar. He sacked Newton for a 6-yard loss on the first series and dumped him for a 5-yard loss on the second series. He had three sacks before halftime.’

‘Dan Carpenter kicked a 55-yard field goal to give the Bills the lead with 10:41 left in the half. Carpenter made a 60-yarder for Miami in 2010 and had a 58-yarder last season. It was the longest field goal at The Ralph since a 56-yarder by Rian Lindell in 2009.’

‘Manuel then darted down the right sideline nine yards to the 2, and on the next play – with just :06 showing on the clock at the snap – found Johnson wide open.’

‘The guy was a one-man soap opera. Sunday, he was a one-man wrecking crew, looking like Smith once looked in this stadium – a runaway freight train hellbent on destruction.’

‘”I’m having a difficult time, it’s a personal situation,” said Marrone, tears welling up in his eyes and his voice breaking. “It’s difficult for me because Rob, when I was at Syracuse, he’d always come in after the games and kind of cheer me up and pick me up and keep things in perspective.”‘