‘Carolina is so good at being bad.’
BillsBeat - December 10, 2001
Game Analysis
‘Worst hospitality: Bills fans – One unidentified Panthers’ fan got a faceful of milk from a Bills fan, and then the move was replayed on the scoreboard.’
Former Tar Heels LB keys comeback
‘He [Marv Levy] said it was only the second time he’d seen a game in Ralph Wilson Stadium since he retired following the 1997 season.’
Panthers lose another one
‘”We gave them life when we should have just finished them off,” Buckner said. “So now they’re over in their locker room all happy, and we’re here left here in our locker room to try and explain the same thing that we’ve been trying to explain for the last 12 weeks in a row.”‘
Second-quarter failure haunts Panthers
‘That was ridiculous to let a team go 70 yards in 30-something seconds. That’s uncalled for. We are too good for that. I don’t care what anybody says. An NFL team is too good to let another team do that. He should have been mad. He should have slapped all of us to get us right.”‘
Panthers Notebook
‘Brandon Spoon, the rookie linebacker with the Bills who played in college at North Carolina and is a native of Burlington, made one of the key plays of the game yesterday when he intercepted a Weinke pass in the third quarter and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. It was the first interception of Spoon’s young NFL career and he made sort of a nifty move to dive into the end zone for the touchdown, avoiding a would-be Carolina tackler.’
Panthers can't find a way to win
‘The Carolina Panthers proved Sunday that no lead is too big for their defense.’
Defense isn't getting it done
‘But the momentum of the game turned when Alex Van Pelt led his team 70 yards on four plays to cut Carolina’s lead to 24-13. Bills third-year wide receiver Peerless Price beat double coverage by cornerback Doug Evans and free safety Deon Grant to score with one second left in the half.’
Bills 25, Panthers 24
‘”We could have laid down and said, ‘We can’t come back from this.’ It’s the Bills’ tradition to circle the wagons and come back.”‘
Buffalo 25, Carolina 24
‘The Bills (2-10) won for the first time in seven home games this season and snapped a six-game losing streak overall.’
BillsBeat - December 9, 2001
Panthers, Bills see a golden opportunity
‘The last time the Bills lost all eight home games was back in 1984, when they were 1-12 en route to a 2-14 finish under coach Kay Stephenson.’
A positive air
‘The 43-year-old Williams had only streaks of gray when he was hired in February. Now his head is all shades of gray.’
Now it's time to grade the staff
‘What the remaining six games will involve is the judging of Williams’ staff.’
Williams could learn plenty about coaching from Marv's tenure
‘Williams has been Captain Bligh, head-strong and, judging by the running critical commentary of his players, imperiled by the threat of mutiny.’
Decision 2002
‘Talk about the draft is getting louder with every Buffalo loss.’