‘You think the Bills will win their six remaining games? You’re not dreaming, so long as you understand they might lose all six.’
BillsBeat - November 20, 2002
'Tough guy' linebacker Favors signed
‘"He’s a strong, physical, tough guy," Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said Tuesday. "That’s really what attracted us to him. He knows the defense. It shouldn’t take long for him to make the transition."’
Chad-to-Chrebet needs some work
‘The Jets are favored by three points to assemble the first two-game home winning streak of the Herman Edwards era. They are 6-3 overall and 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games against the Bills. And in their last nine games vs. teams for which Drew Bledsoe was the starting QB, they are 8-1 straight up and 7-2 vs. the spread.’
Jets (5-5) Hope Mediocrity Rises to Top
‘In Buffalo, they will face the first team since their winning streak began that has an effective quarterback and an effective running back.’
Tossing the sweep
‘”If you’re going to win in November and December,” Pennington said, “you have to run the football.”‘
Herm has Jets fighting back
‘It was Edwards who boldly pushed the button to sit Vinny Testaverde and start Chad Pennington. He made the change decisively, making it clear the move was permanent, not some desperate, grasping-at-straws search for a one-week answer.’
Chad a Case Study In Being Prepared
‘His ability to step right in and become the AFC’s top-rated passer in his first stab at the job hints that there’s more than just talent at work. Pennington’s success is also about how well Pennington used all those months he never got to play.’
Offensive Rescue
‘Suddenly, the Jets’ West Coast offense is a smooth operation, churning out yardage and first downs, finding the end zone and limiting turnovers and penalties. Incredibly, Pennington’s interception Sunday in Detroit – off a deflection, no less – was the Jets’ first turnover in three games. They committed exactly one offensive penalty against the Lions. The offense appears, for lack of a better word, coordinated.’
As Pennington excels, Hackett gets his due
‘The Bills have scored just two TDs in the past two games. Teams are playing a soft zone against Drew Bledsoe, taking away the deep ball.’
Jets' Pennington stays cool, focused
‘”He has prepared himself to do this,” said Edwards, who said he’s not surprised by Pennington’s fast start. “When you prepare yourself and you surround yourself with players who are fulfilling their roles, it makes your role a lot easier. This is how he has gone about his business and how he is running the football team right now.”‘
Bills sign LB Favors
‘Kansas City’s fourth-round pick in the 1998 draft, Favors enjoyed his best seasons from 1999-01 at Tennessee, the first two under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, now the Bills’ head coach.’
Bills sign LB Greg Favors
Also today, the team announced that it has released WR Reggie Germany, who had spent the entire 2002 season on the Reserve Injured list.
BillsBeat - November 19, 2002
5th Down: It's All About the Second Half
Kansas City's victory evens the Chiefs at 5-5, which puts them in last place in the AFC West. Across the map in the AFC East, where parity reigns like a thunderstorm, Buffalo drops to 5-5 in a three-way tie for second place.
"This is a big win for the Chiefs," Williams said. "They had to have it. So did we. This is important going down the stretch."
Bills Fourth Down Trivia
New week of Trivia questions/answers posted from last week.
Bills coach sees red over flurry of yellow flags
‘The Bills are the most-penalized team in the league in terms of yardage (771) through 10 games. They’ve had the fourth-most penalties called on them (83).’