Two Bills Drive

‘Running back Kevin Faulk made the Pats’ first big play of the game (a 19-yard reception on third-and-10) and another one that put it out of reach in the third quarter (a 45-yard swing pass for a touchdown that was ultimately ruled a run). In all, he was a key part of the Pats’ short passing attack that completely befuddled the Bills.’

‘In 2001, the Pats were 5-2 when Brady passed for less than 200 yards, again including the Super Bowl. In 2002, they’re 0-3.’

‘Many of the Pats know that the key to stopping Drew Bledsoe on Sunday will be getting to running back Travis Henry first.’

‘This is Miller’s 36th season calling Bills’ fortunes, Santos’ 26th with the Pats…’.

‘Besides, Smith knows if he is running the ball well, it means the offensive line is controlling the line of scimmage, which means the Patriots offense will be able to keep the ball out of the hands of Bledsoe and the Bills’ explosive offense. Getting the ball to Smith is likely to be a big part of New England’s game plan, as it was in Buffalo, when he carried a season-high 29 times.’

‘The Patriots had huge success with screen passes against the Bills in the first meeting. But Antowain Smith expects Buffalo to make adjustments. "They know what plays we ran hurt them," said Smith. "We’ll just have to study them and see what things might work well against them this week."’

‘Unless the Patriots choose to deploy six or seven defensive backs, a risky strategy that could leave them more vulnerable to the runs of Travis Henry (4.7 yards a carry), a linebacker will have to shadow Centers. And with his teammates facing the pressing problem of keeping Moulds and Price in check, that linebacker won’t be getting much help.’

‘What Belichick did wasn’t ground-breaking. He didn’t exactly invent a defense. In fact, the scheme was similar to what his current defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel used when the two were in Cleveland in the mid-90s. It just caught Bledsoe off guard.’

‘Drew Bledsoe is one of only two players along with Lawyer Milloy to sign the final steel beam put in place during the construction for Gillette Stadium last year, but Sunday will be his first appearance in the new venue.’

‘”There is such a thing as getting a little bit too hyped. You don’t want to go out there and try and do too much. You want to play within yourself,” Smith said. “(Drew’s) going to be on an emotional high. He’s going to be geared up to come in here and do what he can to put his team in a position to win.”‘

‘According to The Buffalo News, Covington survived a drive-by shooting last year in Buffalo, N.Y.’

‘Authorities say they are investigating whether drugs played a role in the Friday night shooting death of Damien Covington, a star football player at Overbrook High School in Pine Hill whose professional football career was cut short by a knee injury.’

‘"It’s a homecoming and I get to come back and play against my old team, and play in front of my old fans, and it’ll be an interesting game," Bledsoe said. "The big deal for us is that we’ve got to play a lot better than we did last time, that was really a disappointment to us, and a big setback for us to come out and play as poorly as we did in that game."’

‘The Patriots had their second-best running game of the season in their 38-7 win at Buffalo on Nov. 3 with 159 yards on 36 carries. Antowain Smith rushed 29 times for 111 yards, both season highs and the only time he has surpassed 100 this year.’

‘"I know he definitely has a lot of supporters among the fans," said Seymour, the defensive tackle. "He’s a guy with a lot of character and a class act. The fans have always recognized that."’