New England head coach Bill Belichick is considered a defensive mastermind, one of the most creative and unpredictable coaches football has seen in decades. Preparing to face is defense is a crapshoot. You can never be sure what you’ll be seeing, so you have to be ready to make changes on the fly. How the Bills’ offense handles those in-game changes will likely determine the outcome of the game.
BillsBeat - November 2, 2002
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Williams learns, adjusts, wins
‘You live and you learn, and one year after a disastrous NFL head coaching debut, Williams has transformed the Bills from laughable losers to wild and wacky winners.’
Fletcher's memories of the Pats not so sweet
‘"Last year is last year," said Fletcher, who signed with the Bills as an unrestricted free agent a month after the Super Bowl. "I can’t do anything about that. It’s water under the bridge. I’m on a new team now, and I’m trying to do everything I can to help the Buffalo Bills win this game. This game is important to our team. It’s a big division game. It’s important because it’s the only one we’ll be playing on Sunday."’
A tale of two QBs
‘What adds the most juice to tomorrow’s clash at Ralph Wilson Stadium has been the recent struggles endured by the man that replaced Bledsoe.’
Getting reacquainted
‘But there were still problems against the run, where they rank 29th in the NFL.’
There's no debate; game is about them
‘The Massachusetts gubernatorial election is Tuesday, but New England’s big day is tomorrow, when the staggering Patriots go to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., in an effort to get their season back on track and defend the football judgment of their once-infallible head coach.’
Brown set to expand his roles
‘Brown, the Patriots’ top offensive weapon, wears a protective brace on the knee while playing. Asked if he thought he might need to wear the device all season, he said, ”I hope not.”’
Van Pelt at ease as reservist
”’I was disappointed at first,” Van Pelt acknowledged yesterday. ”I was looking forward to starting. But after that wore off, I realized what a great opportunity it was to have him in here. It was a great chance to work with another great QB, another great mind to pick. So after the initial disappointment, I was excited.”’
Pats zone in on Bills
‘“Any time Centers is on the field, that’s certainly one option,” said Belichick. “I think Buffalo does a good job using all their receivers down there in the red area. Riemersma is a good red-area receiver. Centers is a good red-area receiver. Moulds and Price are guys who, if they get single coverage, can beat you on different option routes. They run fades, slants underthrown fades and fades in the back of the end zone."’
Patten moves past poor effort
‘In last Sunday’s 24-16 loss to the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium, Patten did not record a single reception – and let a sure touchdown pass from Tom Brady sail through his hands in the end zone. Patten plans to turn things around in tomorrow’s big AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.’
Brady now has bunch to prove
‘This is the toughest week of the Patriot quarterback’s fledgling career.’
Bledsoe has found his niche in Bills' spread-out offense
‘"They’ve changed offenses," Belichick said of the Bills. "(Gilbride’s) brought in a whole new system, which is what Kevin has run pretty much everywhere he’s been, whether it was at Houston, Jacksonville or San Diego. In Pittsburgh it was more adapted to the Pittsburgh style."’
Buffalo's Price having big year
‘"I think the sky’s the limit," Price said recently. "All the pieces have to be in place for a receiver to be successful. He’s got to be in an offense that gives him opportunities. He needs a quarterback who believes in him. I believe I can be a top five receiver in this league. It’s just the way I think, and the way I should think."’
Centers: Buffalo's bull with soft hands
‘Centers — a 13-year veteran — is the kind of player who can quietly kill you while you mistakenly devote all your attention to the more notable skill players.’