Archives for October 2014

‘Early in the third quarter, Brady put a dagger in the Bills with a 43-yard touchdown pass to second-year receiver Brian Tyms. It was a first-and-10 play. Perfect time for play action. Stephon Gilmore was close, but the coverage needed to be great, because the pass was perfect.’

‘Why was Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore playing off coverage with 6 seconds left in the half? That allowed Brady to complete a 7-yard pass to Edelman that set up a 53-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski on the final play of the quarter.’

‘Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz honored his rotation and kept top defensive ends Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes on the sideline with 5:58 left in a one-score game.’

‘The roar from the crowd was so loud they could probably hear it in Toronto, Los Angeles and every other city that covets an NFL franchise. It also signaled relief from years of suspense over what would happen to the team after the death of Ralph C. Wilson Jr., the only owner the Bills had until now.’

‘Choosing Rzeznik to tackle the National Anthem was a master stroke on the part of the Bills, for no other public figure so ably encapsulates our Buffalonian love of “working-class-hero-makes-good” stories. Rzeznik came from tough circumstances, and he and Goos mate Robby Takac faced an uphill battle in their quest for national stardom. People like Rzeznik are not supposed to make it to the big time, just as the Sabres and Bills are never supposed to take top honors in their respective leagues and Buffalo is never going to shed its status as an economic train-wreck.’

‘The Bills can look at the Patriots and think anything they want, but as it was proven once again Sunday, nothing has changed in this one-sided rivalry. They still can’t play with them, still can’t get to their level, still can’t beat them.’

‘Buffalo has a few constants, too: Its coaches can’t beat Belichick, its quarterbacks can’t carry Brady’s travel bag full of terrific hair care products, and its players collectively have an uncanny knack for not answering the door when opportunity knocks.’

‘Orton is the Bills’ starter. He’s better than Manuel right now, but he wasn’t up to a shootout with Brady. He threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw a brutal pick, and at least three of the five sacks he suffered were on him for not getting rid of the ball.’

‘”I must say that there aren’t many times in life that I’m happy with being second at anything, but to follow up Ralph Wilson, I’ll accept that,” Terry Pegula said, addressing the crowd. “I know you guys love us. You’ve shown that. I’ve heard it, witnessed it. But you need take all that heart and emotion and give it to your football team today!”‘

‘There was no joy in Pegulaville. All the pre-game hype, Terry Pegula’s speech, the card stunt in the crowd, that was all great. And then the game started, and it was just a case of the same old, same old against the Patriots. The better team won, as usual. Some things never change.’

‘But the doubts about Brady persisted … until Sunday afternoon at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘What could possibly go wrong for Buffalo with all of those seeming edges? Well, how about the same thing that always seems to happen?’

‘The Patriots capitalized on all three Buffalo turnovers in the second quarter.’

‘”They had nine for 60, we had eight for 107,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said after the game. “Untimely penalties and things like that, it’s tough. When penalties lead to scores for the opponent, it’s difficult. When penalties take away scores or take away great field goal range, it hurts. It’s difficult. We’ll look at them. … I saw the plays. It was clear as day. We all saw them. We’ll turn them in and go about the normal protocol without me getting myself fined or saying anything publicly about it.”‘