Two Bills Drive

‘Yesterday, in his first visit to Foxboro as a member of the Buffalo Bills, former franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe fell flat. He threw interceptions early. He threw them late. He threw four altogether and did nothing to diminish the perception earned in New England of being a quarterback that gags when stakes are raised and expectations peak.’

‘While he completed 32 passes and threw for two touchdowns, Bledsoe’s errant tosses were the story of the day. He flipped four interceptions, one coming at the Pats’ 1-yard line and two others ending any hope of a fourth-quarter rally.’

‘”I wanted to make a play on it, but I didn’t think the ball was going to come down,” said Seymour of his reaction to seeing the ball headed his way. “But I got it. I’ve been hanging around the receivers,” he said with a grin.’

‘The play that changed the game for good, the end-zone interception by Tebucky Jones in the second quarter, was just like they drew it up.’

‘Brady misfired a few times in the first half, but still wound up completing 11-of-16 passes for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns.’

‘It was a dumb throw. Which made the Patriots look smart.’

‘This was the first time in four games against his former team that Smith hasn’t topped 100 yards. But he still knows he made his carries count.’

‘The Patriots picked off four Drew Bledsoe passes but the biggest turnover they forced was the fumble by Peerless Price early in the fourth quarter, when the Bills had already scored twice and were embarking on their third drive of the second half. The Pats recovered on the Buffalo 28, and their subsequent touchdown put them back in charge at 27-10.’

‘Bledsoe? He was alone to stew in his frustration, and maybe even a bit of self-doubt, after throwing four interceptions, three of them into the jagged teeth of a Patriots defense that repeatedly shredded his overeager bid to rescue his team from a 17-0 second-quarter deficit. Just the way coach Bill Belichick planned it when he traded Bledsoe to the Bills in April for a No.1 draft choice.’

‘Seymour caught the deflection on the Bills 15, and was tackled at the 9. Two plays later, the Patriots scored to take a 17-0 lead on their way to a 27-17 victory over Bledsoe’s Bills.’

‘”Every game I’ve ever played, I’ve taken personally,” Bledsoe said. “And this one, more than most. The turnovers I had fall heavily on my shoulders.” We’ve heard that one before, and the solace for Patriots fans is to be found in two words. Tom Brady.’

‘ If Drew Bledsoe was frustrated by how Bill Belichick treated him last season, then he must really be beside himself over the way he has been treated this season.’

‘”They had a couple of runs to the outside, but I think we did a good job, controlling their inside running game,” said Patriots defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had four tackles, shared a sack and had an interception. “And if you can’t get your inside running game started, it’s usually a long day.”‘

‘New England won the opening coin toss and took the ball, but Buffalo still wound up going against the wind. Apparently no one picked a direction, so referee Jeff Triplette figured the Bills wanted to attack the goal they were facing. When Drew Bledsoe tried to change that, it was too late.’

‘Belichick’s plan was simple. Much like the Nov. 3 game against the Bills in Orchard Park – a 38-7 Patriots’ win – New England utilized its pass rush to force Bledsoe into quick throws. By taking him out of his element, they eliminated his ability to hurt them with big plays and they were opportunistic when he made mistakes.’