Archives for December 2013

‘Instead, the Bills coughed up their already faint playoff hopes with a pair of hilariously foreseeable fumbles. When Matt Bryant’s field goal sailed through the uprights, none of the other stories mattered, and for good reason. The only stories anyone will want to read will feature the same three quotes from Doug Marrone, Stevie Johnson and Scott Chandler, simply because of the magnitude of the loss.’

‘The Buffalo locker room — really, the Toronto Blue Jays’ locker room — was achingly sad. Some players could barely lift their heads they were so upset, no one more than Toronto native Stefan Charles.’

‘Manuel is too much of a class act to play the blame game. Thus, it was no surprise that he refused to wag an accusing finger after the Bills gut-wrenching 34-31 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons in what easily was the most exciting display of football in the six games that have been played in the Bills In Toronto series.’

‘”This feels great,” said Ryan, who believes he has learned more in this losing campaign than he has in any of his winning seasons. Introspection can do that for you.’

‘Then they made like the opposite of NHL playoff referees and called everything in sight as the game reached a climax, after the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter on Sunday at the Rogers Centre.’

‘Ford wore a Buffalo Bills jersey, that of running back Fred Jackson, No. 22. From his aisle seat he shook hands and accepted back-pats from fans walking up and down the aisle, with his personal security guard sitting with him, a stadium security man stationed next to him in the aisle, and two Toronto police constables at the top of the aisle.’

‘At the Bills game, Ford was treated like a rock star.’

‘Ford did many mundane things that, because he’s him, seemed full of significance. He drank from a cup (“What’s in the cup?”). He ate chicken wings (“This is an odd sort of diet.”). He asked people who stopped for photos if they were voting for him (“If I lie to you, Mr. Mayor, it’s because I’m only human.”). ‘

‘Despite a 149-rushing-yard day by Buffalo running back C.J. Spiller, and a six-sack day by the team’s defence, the Bills couldn’t put away a Falcons squad coming in with just two wins this season (none on the road), a team already eliminated from the playoffs. Instead it was quarterback Matt Ryan’s Atlanta team overcoming the odds for the win, finishing with 28-of47 passing for 311 yards and a touchdown.’

‘And he was very much at home on Sunday, wearing a Bills jersey with running back Fred Jackson’s name and number on the back, posing for pictures until leaving at halftime and getting pats on the shoulders from fans parading by his seat, many of whom were young males wearing the standard-issue NFL fan uniform.’

‘Fourteen years have passed since the Bills last qualified for the National Football League playoffs, the longest active drought in the league. In many of those seasons, the team has found new and more agonizing ways to torment their fans, with new and innovative ways to break their hearts.’

‘It is theoretically possible that Toronto will be forced to really care about this team one day – the news this week that Jon Bon Jovi, an NFL favourite, is talking about a partnership with MLSE minority owner Larry Tanenbaum and possibly telecommunications heir Edward Rogers got the Bills watch revved up for a brief moment before the NHL broadcasting deal swamped the nation. One day Toronto may have to care about the running back rotation, the continuing search for a QB, the fatalistic mistakes, whatever. It would probably be different if the Bills belonged to Toronto, and the building weren’t so bad.’

‘Fans lined up to have their picture taken with him. A stadium security guard took a seat on the armrest of a seat in front of the mayor, trying to usher fans along – to varying degrees of success.’

Falcons persevere, win in overtime (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

McClain fought through tough day to come up with big play (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Falcons safety William Moore could face sixth fine (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

The Falcons actually run the ball – and win, too! (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Falcons quoteboard: What they had to say after the 34-31 victory (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at Falcons-Bills game (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Falcons show some pride (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Photo gallery (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Desperate for a win, Falcons rally to top Bills in Toronto (Fox Sports South)

Falcons Fight Back For Win Over Buffalo (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Falcons Show Toughness in Gritty Win (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Game Recap: Falcons at Bills (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Transcripts: Falcons at Bills (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Photo gallery (AtlantaFalcons.com)

Photo gallery (BuffaloBills.com)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

Photo gallery (WGRZ-TV)

‘Falcons safety William Moore set up the decisive score in a back-and-fourth game by forcing a fumble on Buffalo’s second play from scrimmage. He punched the ball out of the arms of Bills tight end Scott Chandler.’