September 30, 2004

Buffalo hopes to continue its post-bye success

The Buffalo Bills own one of the best records in the NFL when coming out of their bye. The only problem, though, is that this week they are hosting the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, who will be shooting to tie an NFL-record with their 18th consecutive victory.

"The only streak we're concerned with is our wins and losses," Bills center Trey Teague said. "We can't be worrying about anybody but ourselves. We need to play a tough game this week and get a win."

Bills defense faces unpredictable Patriots offense

Preparing to face the Patriots offense is as challenging as forecasting the weather in Buffalo for the next three months. Everyone knows there's going to be snow, rain, wind and sun, but it's a matter of predicting which will happen on what day. "You never know which identity they're going to come with," safety Coy Wire said of New England, the team Buffalo hosts on Sunday. "They have their no-back offense, two-back running game. They have multiple identities. It's just a matter of preparing for all of them."

Pats on a Roll, Head to Orchard Park

The New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills have developed into one of the NFL's most intense rivalries. Many of their players have switched teams and when these two teams meet twice a year, you can always count on a lot of hype. Last season the Bills and Patriots book-ended each other on the schedule. Buffalo sprinted out of the starting gate in 2003, soundly beating the Pats 31-0 while picking off quarterback Tom Brady four times. But 16 weeks later, it was the Patriots on the end of a 31-0 victory on a day when the Bills offense just couldn't seem to get anything going. Weeks later, the Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three years.

Bills vs. Patriots Sold Out

The Bills-Patriots game at Ralph Wilson Stadium is sold out and will be televised locally. This week's game is the 10th straight sellout for the Bills. Radio listeners can tune into the game in Buffalo on three different stations - 97 Rock (96.9 FM), 103.3 The Edge (103.3 FM) and WHTT/Oldies 104.1 FM - and in Rochester on WCMF (96.5 FM) in Rochester. It can also be heard throughout the region on the Bills radio network.

Bills Games a Priority at Billy Bean's

Ten years ago, John Strom was looking for a friendly place where he could watch Bills games every week in his hometown of Danbury, Connecticut. Unable to find such a location, the Syracuse native had an idea. Why not start a sports bar of his own? And that's exactly what he did.

A quick return? Losman feels it in his bones

J.P. Losman's recovery from his left leg injury has been going quicker than expected, even to the point where he's taken dropbacks and done some jogging. He indicated Wednesday that he might return following the Bills' game against the New York Jets on Oct. 10.

"It was really exciting," Losman said of his workouts. "There's no other way to say it. You can't play it cool. It was fun." Bills coach Mike Mularkey acknowledged Losman is coming along well but hesitated to be as optimistic about a return following the Jets game

Bills nothing but a joke to Belichick

Stop the new presses. Bill Belichick actually said something funny. Ten minutes into an otherwise dull and unrevealing conference call with the Buffalo media Wednesday, the Patriots' head coach was asked how he felt about being named one of the world's 100 most powerful and influential people by Time Magazine.

"It was flattering to be on that list when I can't even get my dog to come when I call him," Belichick said. "I'm not able to influence things in my own household, like what show we're going to watch on TV. I take out the trash like everybody else."

Fear's no factor for Patriots

It's amazing the New England Patriots' winning streak did not end in their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts gained more yards - 448 - than any team has managed against the Pats in 2¹/2 seasons. Yet the reigning Super Bowl champions made the two biggest plays near the end - forcing a Colts fumble at the 1-yard line with 3:51 left and sacking Peyton Manning out of easy field-goal range with 49 seconds left.

Final score: Patriots 27, Colts 24.

Making things interesting-Belichick provides fighting words

 

He surely thought of it dozens of times and apparently said it at least once. Given the chance yesterday, though, Bill Belichick wasn't going to repeat out loud his opinion of Drew Bledsoe. By now, the football world knows what the New England Patriots coach thinks of his former quarterback anyway. And if he was ever worried about it, Belichick has two Super Bowl rings as peace of mind over bailing on Bledsoe in 2001 in favour of Tom Brady.

Belichick turns up the heat

 ORCHARD PARK — The Buffalo Bills-New England Patriots rivalry was already the equivalent of a triple order of atomic hot chicken wings, so what's a little more sauce?

A new book by former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley titled Patriot Reign (Morrow, $23.95) that chronicles the team's success over the past three years and coach Bill Belichick's complex management style, is filled with disparaging material about the rival Bills.

Losman making quick recovery

ORCHARD PARK — The news on Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback J.P. Losman keeps getting better.

X-rays Tuesday showed that his broken left fibula is healing faster than doctors first thought and Losman said he could be cleared to play in as little as three weeks. If it turns out that way, Losman will have missed only four or five games, not the eight that was originally feared.

Patriots all business with Bills

So what is left of the emotions that have run so deep the last two seasons? Drew Bledsoe is now in his third season with the Buffalo Bills, long since removed from that testy trade which ended his nine-year run in New England. Safety Lawyer Milloy, another disgruntled ex-Patriot, is expected to miss Sunday's game with a broken forearm, so that topic can be tabled as well.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--CB Troy Vincent, president of the NFL Players Association, is watching the current National Hockey League lockout with keen interest. He said the NHL needs to take the NFL's lead and somehow implement a salary cap. "It's worked well for us," Vincent said. "We're not in a position of any lock out. There's labor peace, two sides working together so it doesn't get to the situation we're seeing in the NHL today. The cap has worked for us and we're talking right now about another extension so we don't put the sport in that position."

Bills report: Inside slant

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe doesn't need extra motivation to beat the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick. Belichick was the man who gave up on Bledsoe more than two seasons ago and, history has shown, it was the right move. But just when it appeared all of the angles had been exhausted, out comes a new book to open up old wounds and add more fire to Sunday's showdown at Ralph Wilson Stadium where the Patriots will be out to make NFL history by winning their 18th consecutive game.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

The Bills' decision to carry rookie quarterback J.P. Losman on their active roster instead of placing him on season-ending IR is looking shrewd. After breaking his leg in practice on Aug. 24 in a collision with cornerback Troy Vincent, Losman was expected to miss eight games or more. Now he may miss only four or five. X-Rays this week showed that Losman's left broken fibula is healing faster than even what doctors first thought and Losman believes he could be cleared to play in as little as three more weeks.

Buffalo debacle still fresh: Ugly defeat haunts Brady

Tom Brady certainly seems to be the rare breed of athlete that gets all the motivation he needs from within.
 
But if the Patriots quarterback needed a little extra dose for this week's opponent, he knows where to go. All he needs to do is find the tape of last year's 31-0 season-opening loss in Buffalo in which he threw four interceptions and finished with a 22.5 rating.

Patriots expect strong showing from Buffalo

Bill Belichick is proficient at finding the silver lining, especially when talking about his team’s upcoming opponent. Buffalo is winless through the first three weeks of the season and has scored only 20 points in two games, but regardless of how bad the offense looks, Belichick said the Bills are a threat because of their aggressive defense, which is currently ranked fourth in the NFL.

It's no joking matter: Pats will be wary of tricky Bills coaches

FOXBORO - Beware of trick plays. It's a message Patriots coaches deliver in preparations for every opponent, but this week it's being heard louder than normal. That's because Buffalo head coach Mike Mularkey and quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche are known to regularly include a few wrinkles in their playbook.

Bledsoe brings welcome sight

FOXBORO -- It's a pass rusher's dream, an occasion when eyes get wide and appetites are whetted. Drew Bledsoe is next up on the schedule. Bledsoe is the NFL's most-sacked quarterback of this generation, and Buffalo's new coaching staff has yet to figure out a scheme to protect its immobile signal-caller. Bledsoe was sacked seven times against Oakland two weeks ago and has gone down eight times on the season. This follows a 2003 campaign in which he was dropped a league-high 49 times, which was actually an improvement from the 54 sacks he took in 2002.

Bledsoe, Bills unimpressed by new Belichick book

Don't expect Drew Bledsoe to rush out to pick up a new book profiling his former coach Bill Belichick. Bledsoe, the Buffalo Bills quarterback, sounded unimpressed Wednesday when informed of the book titled ''Patriot Reign.'' And Bledsoe shrugged his shoulders when told of the New England Patriots coach's observation that the best way to defend against him is forcing him into making mistakes in a a short-passing game. ''Hmmm. OK,'' Bledsoe said.

September 29, 2004

Drew is blue

You have to go back nearly four years to the day, Oct. 1, 2000. Drew Bledsoe, then the New England Patriots' starting quarterback for first-year coach Bill Belichick, displayed a bravado for the entire National Football League to see. Back then, when Bledsoe was on a Hall of Fame track, he dissected the Denver Broncos, hitting 18 of 27 passes for 271 yards, four TDs, with only one interception and a QB rating of 123.6. It was the last time Bledsoe, who's started 47 games since, strapped his team on his back and whooped a 10-plus win, playoff-caliber opponent.

Patriots seek to tie NFL record

Roll call for the list of NFL teams with the most consecutive victories can grow by one in Orchard Park, New York this Sunday when the New England Patriots play the Buffalo Bills. A New England victory would boost the Patriots to 18 consecutive wins, including playoffs. That total would tie five teams for the longest winning streaks in NFL history: 1933-34 Chicago Bears, 1941-42 Chicago Bears, 1972-73 Miami Dolphins, 1989-90 San Francisco 49ers, and the 1997-98 Denver Broncos. When New England last entered western New York, the Bills intercepted four passes and posted their first shutout in four years with a 31-0 victory on Kickoff Weekend of 2003. Buffalo head coach MIKE MULARKEY seeks his first NFL victory, and the Patriots aim to improve their 4-3 record against the Bills when playing Buffalo with a winning streak of five games or better.

Date	Length of Patriots Win Streak	Game	Winner/Score
10/3/04	17	New England at Buffalo	???
12/27/03	11	Buffalo at New England	New England, 31-0
11/5/78	6	New England at Buffalo	New England, 14-10
12/20/64	5	Buffalo at New England	Buffalo, 24-14
10/20/74	5	New England at Buffalo	Buffalo, 30-28
10/26/80	5	New England at Buffalo	Buffalo, 31-13
11/23/86	5	Buffalo at New England	New England, 22-19
12/18/94	5	New England at Buffalo	New England, 41-17

Buffalo quarterback DREW BLEDSOE was selected by New England with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft and led the Patriots from 1993-01.  In the New England record book, Bledsoe stands first in career completions (2,544), attempts (4,518) and passing yards (29,657). 

“They’ve got smart football players,” says Bledsoe of his former team.  “They make very few mistakes and force you to execute well against them.  If you make a negative play they come after you and attack you with their blitz package.”

Another former Patriot cites the team’s resolve.  “They have shown over the past year and a half that they are willing to win the ‘ugly’ games and that’s really what this league is predicated on,” says the Bills’ LAWYER MILLOY, who started at safety for New England in every game from 1997-02.  Milloy will likely miss Sunday’s game with an injury.

“Their coach (BILL BELICHICK) gets them ready to win the close games,” adds Milloy.  “That’s the mindset you have to go in with in order to beat them.  You have to be ready to win the game at the end.”

New England linebacker WILLIE MC GINEST is a veteran of 17 Bills-Patriots games.  A teammate of Bledsoe’s from 1994-01, McGinest knows what the Patriots must do to reach consecutive win No. 18.  “You can’t let Bledsoe sit in the pocket,” says McGinest.  “He has a strong arm, he has great vision, he is a great quarterback and he can get the ball anywhere on the field if you give him time.  He has great vision and he can hurt you.”

A noisy Ralph Wilson Stadium awaits the defending Super Bowl champs.  “You have to know the cadence and snap count,” says Patriots wide receiver TROY BROWN about handling the crowd noise.  “For receivers, it is a little easier because I’m watching the ball anyway.  For the linemen and backs, it is a little more difficult to hear the snap count.”

NFL FACTOID

 

31-0, FIRST & LAST:  Last season, the Bills defeated the Patriots 31-0 in Week 1 and the Patriots topped the Bills 31-0 in the last week of the season.  This marked the only time in NFL history that two teams played each other on the first and last weeks of the season and shut each other out by the identical score. 

Bills Back to Work

After a bye last week, the Buffalo Bills returned to work Wednesday. Buffalo is 10-5 all-time coming off a bye, but faces a daunting task this Sunday against the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and their 17 game winning streak.

“That is extremely impressive,” exclaimed quarterback Drew Bledsoe, a former Patriot. “With free agency, with the salary cap, with the emphasis on bringing in young players and having to bring them along quickly, that's a very, very impressive run by them.”

Bills Encourage Healthy Diet, Exercise

The Buffalo Bills have teamed up with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, Kaleida Health, and Upstate Farms to promote good eating habits and exercise to children throughout the Western New York region. The program kicked off at the Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence, School #89 in Buffalo. Five-hundred lucky fifth grade students were invited to attend a special assembly that talked about the "Eat Right and Exercise" program and how to maintain a healthy diet.

QB Losman Optimistic About Return

Bills rookie quarterback J.P. Losman did some jogging for the first time Tuesday since breaking his left leg in training camp. Losman went half-speed 100 yards three times as well as simulating some passing drops half-speed. "It was really exciting," said the second of the team's two first round picks. "That's the only way to tell it. I can't play it cool, it was fun."

Bills to Hold Seventh Annual Fan Food Drive

The Buffalo Bills will host the seventh annual Fan Food Drive prior to this Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. All donations will benefit the Food Bank of Western New York.

Monetary donations and non-perishable food items will be collected at all gates by volunteers headed by Fan Food Drive chairwoman Mary Wilson. Mrs. Wilson will team up with the Bills Women's Association, Buffalo Jills, Blue Coats, Student Leaders and Food Bank staff who will be located at collection points outside every gate of the stadium.

Bills' Losman expects to begin practicing in two weeks

Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman threw his first practice passes for the Buffalo Bills since breaking his left leg last month, and anticipates being cleared for contact within three weeks. Losman made the announcement Wednesday, a day after he threw several passes and jogged for about 100 yards. The workout came after an X-ray showed his leg healed significantly, and less-than-expected swelling.

Patriots Say They're Focused on Bills

Don't mention the streak within the confines of Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots take a string of 17 straight victories into Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. A win at Ralph Wilson Stadium would make them the sixth NFL team to win 18 straight, including playoff games.

"We've played two games," coach Bill Belichick says. "Right now, a streak of one division win is what I'm looking for."

Belichick buddy knows you don't mess with Bill

They met back in the early 1960s, when Steve Szabo was a halfback and defensive back for Navy and little Billy Belichick was an assistant coach's kid who was running around practice and hanging out with his idol, Roger Staubach. Belichick was 10 years old when Szabo first met him. "Back then, who knew?" Szabo, now a Buffalo Bills assistant, said after practice this week. "I was just a Midshipman who was playing. Steve (Belichick) would bring his kid out there once in a while to practice. He was just a little guy."

Bills offense in line for trouble

Here's what Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally sees when he looks at the Patriots' defense: ``They're sound and have terrific coaching. They might feel that what they do is simple, but it can be complicated (to an opponent). They might have a three-man line, then the next game it's a four-man line. They keep it simple for themselves, but when you try to block them, they put you in tough situations.
 
     ``Is (Willie) McGinest a linebacker or defensive end? (Mike) Vrabel has his hand down but is he rushing or dropping? You don't know what's coming.''

September 28, 2004

Flashback: Last-Second TD Beats Pats

Nov. 22, 1981: Maybe former New York Yankees star Yogi Berra was on to something when he said, ‘It ain’t over til it’s over.’ Fortunately, the Bills believed the same thing when they hosted New England that Sunday afternoon and came away with a 20-17 victory.

Trailing the Patriots by four and with no timeouts, Buffalo got the ball on its own 27 with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

In the Bills huddle, quarterback Joe Ferguson said, ‘90 all go.’ It was a pass play that’s first option was designed to go to the halfback. Normally, that would have been Joe Cribbs. However, he had left the game in the first half because of injured ribs and was replaced by six-year veteran Roland Hooks.

Players Prefer Bye Week Mid-Season

Former Bills quarterback and current radio color analyst, Alex Van Pelt, sits down with buffalobills.com every Tuesday to offer his insight to last week's game, this week's game, and his performance in the radio booth.

It's tough when you have a bye week so early in the season like the Bills do this year. As a player, you hope to have a bye midway through the season to have a chance to regroup and rest a bit. The only positive of having it in week 3 is that it will give the Bills a chance to work on some things that they weren't able to do in the first two games of the season. It also gives them an extra week to prepare for a crucial game.

Bills fans stick behind their team

It's a month into the season, and Erland 'Erkie' Kailbourne is still pushing Buffalo Bills tickets.

That's not unusual for the Business Backs the Bills committee chairman who has discovered it's a year-round job trying to fill the 73,000-seat Ralph Wilson Stadium in an economically challenged region.

Struggling Bledsoe has fallen on tough times with the Bills

The mere concept will no doubt lead many Patriots fans to shudder, but there are elements of Drew Bledsoe's game that Tom Brady hopes to incorporate into his game someday.

"This is his 12th year," said Brady. "I hope to play for 12 years. Everybody hopes to play for 12 years.

Catching up with Bledsoe

Richard Seymour was just a rookie when Drew Bledsoe entered his final season as a New England Patriot.

Seymour wasn't there when Bledsoe broke in and took his lumps under the stern guidance of Bill Parcells, or when he unexpectedly led the Patriots into the playoffs in 1994, or to a Super Bowl in 1996.

Patriots exit bye week with anxious feeling

The waiting for the New England Patriots is almost over.

The Patriots returned to practice at Gillette Stadium Monday following their bye week and a full three-day weekend since their last practice on Thursday. Following an off day Tuesday, the team will return to practice Wednesday to begin preparations for their match up AFC East rival Buffalo. While the bye week afforded many with time to spend away from football, many of the players who spoke in the locker room today said the break was a long enough interruption from football.

Aerial circus has Bills fans wondering

Wow, did you catch that Green Bay-Indianapolis game Sunday afternoon? At one point, I tried to adjust my TV set because I couldn't believe my eyes. The teams were actually throwing the ball down the field and scoring points.

With four minutes left in the first quarter, the Colts and Packers had already combined for five touchdown passes. Peyton Manning and Brett Favre combined for 751 passing yards, nine TDs, no interceptions and a sack in the Colts' 45-31 win.

Bills hope to derail Patriots' express

The New England Patriots are the New York Yankees. They are USA Basketball pre-Athens. They are UConn women's basketball. They're like dandelions in April, pennant races in September and falling temperatures in December. The Patriots are a given and the closest thing the National Football League has to a dynasty since the Dallas Cowboys of the early '90s.

They return to Buffalo on Sunday armed with a 17-game winning streak. No team in league history has won more than 18 in a row and they could reach that mark Sunday unless the Bills have something to say about it.

Bills report: Inside slant

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe has been almost as easy to sack as ex-Bill Rob Johnson, who was run out of town because of his inability to make plays under pressure. Bledsoe has been sacked 111 times in 34 games with Buffalo - an average of 3.3 per game. Johnson was sacked an average of 3.63. Bledsoe is coming off a seven-sack performance in a loss to Oakland and it doesn't get easier. On Sunday, the New England Patriots invade Ralph Wilson Stadium eyeing an NFL-record tying 18th consecutive win.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

PASSING OFFENSE:
D -- Drew Bledsoe, coming off his worst season, has done nothing to silence his critics. His numbers are decent looking (60 percent completion rate, 2 TDs, 1 interception) but he still can't consistently make plays under pressure.
RUSHING OFFENSE
D -- The Bills have been committed to the run, which is good, but the production hasn't been there with just 162 yards on 60 carries.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--After watching the replay, RB Travis Henry now feels he scored on the fourth-and-goal dive play from the 1-yard line against Oakland last week. "I wasn't even down," he said. "I was on top and I reached the ball across the plane."
--SS Lawyer Milloy would love nothing more than to play in Sunday's showdown with New England, his former team that cut him just days before the 2003 season opened, but it's not going to happen.

Can Szabo's secrets help the Bills?

Defensive backs coach Steve Szabo is a well-liked member of the Buffalo Bills coaching staff, but this week he's really Mr. Popular. Winless Buffalo takes on the unbeaten New England Patriots on Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and the Bills' challenge could not be more daunting. Trying to stop the Patriots from winning their NFL record-tying 18th straight game while averting the second 0-3 start of their own in four seasons.

Beleaguered Line

As the Buffalo Bills return from their bye week and host New England on Sunday, they still have to be somewhat concerned with the playoff of the offensive line. Through the first two games, Buffalo has run for only 162 yards and have not scored a rushing touchdown. That doesn't reflect well on guys up front who make the running game work.

September 27, 2004

Patriots Profiler- Two for two, not too much to ask

During this bye week, any outside observer could see the Patriots’ 2-0 record as a satisfying one for New England fans. That observer, however, would not know the true, over-analytical, “Remember-the-last-time-things-went-so-well” nature of team followers.

In 2002, defending the franchise’s first Super Bowl title, New England opened the season at a decisive 2-0, smacking the Steelers and Jets. Another championship? No problem. Until they lost four in a row, finished 9-7, and missed the playoffs.

Patriots Focusing on Next Game, Not Streak

FOXBORO, Mass. - The New England Patriots returned from their bye week to face the same question they'd heard before they left: What about The Streak?

Their answer was the same: What streak?

The Streak: Pats prefer improving

FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots could have used some free time during their bye week to celebrate their first anniversary without a loss. They preferred to spend it working to avoid another defeat. And they're trying to ignore the fact that two more wins will break the NFL record for consecutive victories in the regular season and playoffs, an increasingly popular topic of media questions.

Losman on track to begin practicing within five weeks

J.P. Losman could be cleared to begin practicing within five weeks based on the progress the Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback has made recovering from a broken left leg.

Now walking without crutches or a protective boot, Losman is scheduled to have an MRI exam this week to better determine his status.

If all goes well, Losman's agent Gary Wichard said Monday that his client could be practicing as soon as Nov. 1, the day after the Bills play their seventh game of the season, hosting Arizona.

Ask Him Yourself: Tom Donahoe

Buffalo Bills General Manager Tom Donahoe took some time out to answer questions from Bills fans.
Richard Arnold (Stratford, Ontario): Seems some circles are criticizing you for not improving the O-line, yet quality players still want to come to Buffalo (i.e. Vincent). Do you and they know something the average fan does not?
Tom Donahoe: Players throughout the League recognize that Buffalo is a quality place to play and a very good organization and that makes it easy for us to attract free agents to Buffalo.

Ask Him Yourself: Mike Mularkey

Buffalo Bills head coach Mike Mularkey took some time out to answer questions from the fans.
Mike Parrish (Saratoga Spring, NY): Why is the offense not using the tight end in short patterns to help the QB gain his confidence. It seems to me that with the line still trying to bond, this would help when the wide outs are having problems releasing into their patters. Drew's best years were when he had the luxury of Ben Coates being open 5-10 yards up field. The Pats will be coming hard at the QB and this would be a nice way to slow down the rush.
Mike Mularkey: We've used a number of plays to try to get the ball to the tight end and we've caught a few. Early on, even if you look at the last couple of preseason games, we were sticking it in there a number of times. We're still calling them and some of the defenses are scheming to stop it.

NFL in Review: Week 3

Steelers 13 Fins 3

Unfazed by torrential rain, the Pittsburgh Steelers played smashmouth defense befitting their muddy, sodden uniforms. Pittsburgh forced four turnovers, made a key fourth-down stop and beat the hapless Miami Dolphins 13-3.

Texans upset Chiefs

The Houston Texans came up with one clutch second-half play after another, and Brown capped the rally by nailing a 50-yard field goal with 2 seconds left for a 24-21 victory. The Chiefs, the defending AFC West champions, became the fourth team since 1990 to start 0-3 after making the playoffs the previous season.

Complete week 3 wrap

September 26, 2004

Bledsoe's talk is brave, but he acts like he's defeated

Drew Bledsoe said it himself last week. Some of the most successful players in the National Football League were the ones with a bit of a screw loose. Athletes in general require a short memory, but the great players are the ones who put the worst behind them and move forward. Maybe that's been Bledsoe's problem. This guy is one of the most intelligent players ever to wear a Buffalo Bills uniform. He has a long memory. Say what you want about the veteran quarterback, but he's never come across as someone who was even mildly nutty. Bledsoe always held it together. Always.

Bills need attitude, not sympathy

It's thoughtful for NFL headquarters to send a sympathy card, but receiving one doesn't compensate for a three-point loss on the road in Oakland when the Buffalo Bills are fighting for self-respect. The failure to award a safety to the Bills' defense when the rules clearly called for it? That's a potential game-turning play. The Raiders would have had to kick or punt from their own 20-yard line, providing favorable field position.

Pressure's on Bledsoe: So far, Bills are standing by their man

Drew Bledsoe is under siege again, the victim of an impatient fan base and a critical media up in Buffalo. Even though, with rookie J.P. Losman out of action until at least midseason with a broken leg, journeyman Shane Matthews is the alternative, there were still calls for new coach Mike Mularkey to make a switch at quarterback after losses to the Raiders and Jaguars.
 
Bledsoe wasn't pleased.
 
I'm the quarterback here,'' he said. ``And I'm going tobe the quarterback here and that's what it is. Our guys know that. If there was a situation where Mike (Mularkey) felt we'd be more effective with someone else, he would make the change. But that's not the case.''

Sack attack concerns Bills

After collecting seven sacks against the Buffalo Bills in their 13-10 victory last Sunday, the Oakland Raiders hardly acted surprised. Could anybody blame them? After allowing an NFL-high 51 sacks last season, the rebuilt Bills line operated in various states of dysfunction throughout training camp, putting them weeks behind schedule.

September 25, 2004

Brown 'humbled' by induction

The phone call made Travis Brown nervous. It came from longtime Northern Arizona head athletic trainer Mike Nesbitt in late July. "He said, 'T. Brown are you sitting down?'" Brown recalled Nesbitt saying to start the conversation. "I was like, 'Oh, great, who's in the hospital?'" The former Lumberjacks quarterback, then getting ready for Buffalo Bills training camp, thought Nesbitt was the bearer of bad news. He wasn't.

September 24, 2004

NFL Denies it Apologized to Bills for Blown Calls

The NFL tells Channel 2 News it has not formally apologized to the Buffalo Bills for three incorrect calls in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders. As a matter of policy, the league says it doesn't apologize to teams. An NFL spokesperson did say the league communicates with teams about calls on a confidential basis, and wouldn't comment beyond that. The Bills aren't commenting on the situation.

Bills still search for a rushing rhythm

Say this about the Buffalo Bills running game: The new coaching staff has kept its promise to use it willingly. As for that 1-2 punch featuring Travis Henry and Willis McGahee, that has yet to show itself, which may be a big reason for the club's offensively challenged 0-2 start. In establishing the ball-control identity coach Mike Mularkey and offensive coordinator Tom Clements feel is best for their team, the Bills have called 60 run plays vs. 51 pass plays. But while that commitment to the run bodes well, the production has been less than scintillating, raising questions about why Mularkey and Clements have been unwilling, or unable, to capitalize on McGahee's talents.

Offense Main Focus During Bye Week

The Buffalo Bills offense struggled against the Oakland Raiders last week, but they now have two weeks to work out the kinks and prepare for the World Champion New England Patriots. Drew Bledsoe and company were efficient in week one against the Jaguars and put the team in a position to win late in the ball game. They put us in a position to win the game against Jacksonville and we made some dumb mistakes on defense, cornerback Nate Clements said. We're a team and that's how we're going to continue to play. We win together and we lose together.

Work on special teams could show good returns for Bills

The Buffalo Bills' return game falls under the category of the Glass is Half Full . . . or Empty. The Bills haven't done anything good yet on returns, but they show signs they're capable of big things. For a team that's 0-2 and has a long track record of return-game impotence, that's something to embrace. "We've showed the potential we can get down the field there, so hopefully this will be the year we do it," said Bills kickoff return man Terrence McGee.

NFL: 3 Calls Go Against Bills

The NFL responds to errors made by its officials so as to seem above reproach. Because every once in a while, you get a game, like the one the Bills played and lost in Oakland Sunday, that looks like it's been thrown.

The NFL prefers its officials to be bad, not dishonest.

Anchorage Backers Get Up For Every Game

The next time you wake up bright and early before the sun rises, take a moment to think of what Bills fans in Alaska do every week during football season.

With a four-hour time difference between Anchorage and Buffalo, the Anchorage Area Bills Backers are up and ready on Sundays while most fans are still snoozing.

"My wife and I wake up at 5:30 a.m. every week to get ready, we're usually out the door by 7:00 a.m.," said Ed McComb, member of the Anchorage Backers.

September 23, 2004

Flashback: Jerry Butler has Record Day

Sept. 23, 1979: In his first three games, Bills rookie receiver Jerry Butler, hampered by a shoulder separation, had 11 catches for 162 yards and no touchdowns. However, during the fourth game of the year, at home against the division rival Jets, he nearly doubled his season total of receptions. And only two weeks after halfback Roland Hooks had found the endzone four times against Cincinnati, Butler did the same against New York, as Buffalo beat the Jets, 46-31.

Fired-up Drew draws the line

Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe acted defiant and sounded fiercely competitive Wednesday. "I'm the quarterback here, and I'm going to be the quarterback here, and that's what it is," Bledsoe said in response to the uproar over the Bills' 0-2 start. "And our guys know that. The players on the team know that. The coaches know that. And that's just simply the way it is. If there was a situation where Mike (Mularkey) felt we'd be effective with somebody else, he would make that change. That's not the case."

Patriots could feast on Bills

Buffalo Bills fans figure to watch history in the making in the next home game. The opposing New England Patriots will try to become the sixth NFL team to win 18 consecutive games. The five teams that won 18 straight all lost their 19th games. It would take a major upset for the Patriots not to break the record and add a few more wins for good measure. Following the game in Buffalo Oct. 3, the Patriots will have a rare three-game homestand vs. Miami (Oct. 10), Seattle (Oct. 17) and the New York Jets (Oct. 24).

Bledsoe refuses to buckle to critics

Just two games into his third season as quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, Drew Bledsoe, a four-time Pro Bowler and the NFL's 12th all-time passer, is fighting for his job. At least he should be in the eyes of many fans and media that feel the team can do no worse, and maybe better, behind journeyman Shane Matthews. The 11-year veteran joined the team late in the preseason after injuries to first-round draft pick J.P. Losman and Travis Brown.

Bills report: Inside slant

This is how bad it's gotten for quarterback Drew Bledsoe during the Bills' 0-2 start following last season's 6-10 finish: Radio talk shows are comparing him to Rob Johnson. Reporters are asking coach Mike Mularkey if it's time to consider switching to 11-year journeyman Shane Matthews. Now that really hurts. While the Bills spend their bye week figuring out ways to fix their sloppy play and a way to prevent the New England Patriots from making NFL history by winning their 18th consecutive game on Oct. 3 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Bledsoe is fending off a growing legion of critics who would not protest his benching

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

--Bufalo Bills Pro Bowl SS Lawyer Milloy would like nothing more than to face his old Patriot teammates, but the Bills aren't going to grant him medical clearance until he's fully healed, or at least close to it.
--LB Takeo Spikes recorded two interceptions in his Bills' debut against New England in the 2003 season opener, but he has none in the 17 games since.
--RG Chris Villarrial appears to be OK after leaving the Raiders game early in the third quarter.

Bills Report: Notes & Quotes

--CBs Troy Vincent and Nate Clements are taking bows for holding Raiders WR Jerry Rice without a catch last Sunday.
--Two costly holding penalties that wiped out big returns in the kicking game won't turn Buffalo's coverage men gun shy.
--DT Sam Adams "Somebody needed to make a play at the end of the game..."

Third down: Whatever happened to Drew Bledsoe?

Jeff Merron: His O-line apparently forgot he's still in the league.
Alan Grant:Bledsoe is still a premier quarterback...
Eric Neel: I know he can still play...
Skip Bayless: This isn't Lasiks-vision hindsight. I said publicly at the time that the Patriots were making the right move trading Bledsoe...

September 22, 2004

No Down Time

This is the Buffalo Bills bye week. But instead of getting some time off for a little rest and relaxation, the Bills will instead spend their off week putting in extra time on the practice field. “Any time you start 0-2 or 0-3 or whatever you start, I think you have to come out and work a little bit harder to see what you got to do to get better,” wide receiver Eric Moulds explained. “We haven't scored many points the first couple of games and work is what we need and so that's what we got to do.”

Defiant Bledsoe answers his critics

A defiant Drew Bledsoe provided a stern response to those questioning whether he's still capable of leading the Buffalo Bills.

"I'm the quarterback here. And I'm going to be the quarterback here," Bledsoe said after practice Wednesday. "The players on the team know that. The coaches know that. And that's just simply the way it is."

Raiders down bad news Bills, 13-10

Drew Bledsoe's first career game in Oakland wasn't much fun. Playing before the Raider Nation for the first time in his 12th season, Bledsoe was sacked seven times and struggled for the second straight week to take advantage of good field position. Three of the sacks came in the first half, when Bledsoe's 31 yards were only seven more than those of punter Brian Moorman.

Game Center | Play by Play | Drive Charts | Team Stats | Photos

Game Center at NFL.com

Mularkey spots a silver lining

Mike Mularkey sat down with the offense Tuesday afternoon and explained in painstaking detail every mistake the Buffalo Bills made in their 13-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders. No, it was not the longest meeting in NFL history. The Bills head coach said, upon further review, their performance actually looked better. Take the offensive line, which has been a major source of concern since training camp. Drew Bledsoe was sacked seven times, and Travis Henry had little running room against the Raiders. Mularkey watched the video and, given how two newcomers were inserted into the starting lineup during training camp, concluded the line has shown progress.

Drew may need to step aside

Let me preface this column by saying that Drew Bledsoe is one of the classiest, most sincere people I've dealt with in my 27 years in the business. Unlike many of his peers, he isn't a fair-weather athlete. He's willing to face the music when things aren't going right. The dignified manner in which Bledsoe handled his demotion in New England after being a super Patriot for nearly a decade is the stuff of legend — a story you want to share with the kids. Bledsoe is the kind of player that even sportswriters root for, and, believe me, that's saying a lot given the depth of cynicism in my profession.

September 21, 2004

Some Bills Fans Starting To Worry, Want Answers

At WGR-Talk Radio in Amherst, the phone lines have been lighting up like mad with angry Bills fans. "Not only does the city need a control board, the Bills need a control board to make some of the decisions around here," said one angry caller.

Offense has Mularkey scratching his head in Buffalo

Mike Mularkey was hired in Buffalo based upon his success with the Pittsburgh Steelers as offensive coordinator. That, combined with the fact that the Bills have three former Pro Bowl players on the offensive side of the ball, figured to amount to a boat load of points being scored. However, that has not been the case, as the Bills (0-2) have produced just two touchdowns through their first two games, including Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Bledsoe is playing like a confused, gun-shy rookie

The biggest disappointment in Buffalo’s 0-2 start this season isn’t the Bills’ play in the red zone, their penalties, poor blocking on the offensive line or special teams — although they can all share in the blame — it’s the pitiful play of quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Looking more like a rookie — nervous and indecisive, missing wide open receivers, holding the ball too long, almost never audibilizing and unable to cash in from the red zone, Bledsoe — the pride of Buffalo — is off to another embarrassing season. Is all this really necessary?

Bills honor Bergan as top coach

Ellicottville Central School’s Tim Bergan is the Bills’ high school football coach of the week after the Eagles’ Section 6 Class D East 16-14 win over Maple Grove on Friday night. Bergan is 121-54-1 (.690 pct.) three games into his 19th season and his team is off to a 3-0 start and outscoring the opposition, 115-21. A frequent finalist in voting for Big 30 Coach of the Year, Bergan won the Times Herald Award in 2000. This is the eighth year Buffalo has sponsored the “Coach of the Week” program. During each of the 11 weeks of the high school football season, a committee appointed by the Bills selects a “Coach of the Week”.

Game Notes: Bills vs. Raiders

Eric Moulds: Extended his club-record receiving streak to 96 games…5-yd. TD reception was the 41st receiving TD of his career…marked the 11th time in his career that he has posted TDs in consecutive games…both receptions at OAK resulted in first downs (eight of 10 receptions this year have resulted in first downs). <br>

Brian Moorman: Punted five times for 199 yards for a 39.8 average, including a long of 63 yards…completed a 24-yd pass on 4th down to Kevin Thomas, which was the first completion by a Bills non-QB since Chris Mohr's 44-yd. pass to Daryl Porter (11/19/00 at KC)…tallied two punts inside the 20 yard-line.

It's too early to write off Bills' season

They could just as easily be 2-0 instead of 0-2, and imagine how that would alter the community perspective. If the Buffalo Bills are 2-0 then this sense of doom, this belief that another season has been wasted, surrenders to a feeling of anticipation, a belief that glorious things may be in store. We'd be straining all the negatives from the soup if the Bills had beaten Jacksonville, which they should have, and Oakland, which they could have. We'd be talking about how they're closing in on being for real, how they're finally on the right track.

Bills' offense a throwback

The best news concerning the Buffalo Bills on Monday was that they were guaranteed to survive this Sunday without another loss. The bye week couldn't get here fast enough for a team unable to get out of its own way and an offense that has, in fact, rivaled some of the worst units in team history. Yes, it really has been that bad.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--The Bills haven't had a winning road record since 1999, the last season they posted a winning overall record (11-5) and made the playoffs. Sunday's loss made the Bills 2-11 in their last 13 road games dating back to 2002 when QB Drew Bledsoe came aboard. In those games, Bledsoe has thrown 10 touchdown passes, 17 interceptions, and been sacked 45 times. Buffalo has committed 38 turnovers and collected just seven takeaways (minus-31). It's hard to believe the Bills were once 3-1 under Bledsoe on the road.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

REPORT CARD VS. RAIDERS
PASSING OFFENSE
D-plus - Take away a 36-yard pass to Eric Moulds and a 65-yarder to Lee Evans, both against broken coverage, and Bledsoe threw for 97 yards with one TD, one interception and seven sacks. Bledsoe was alarmingly off the mark for much of the day, with high throws and short-hops under the intense Raiders' blitz. Moulds made a nice TD catch but Josh Reed dropped a short pass in the red zone and Bills settled for a field goal. Bills didn't hit enough big plays early to call off the dogs. At least two sacks were blocking mistakes, allowing unblocked heat.

Bills report: Inside slant

If the Bills had to do it again, they'd still try to run the ball into the line on fourth-and-goal at the Oakland Raiders 1-yard line. "It was a good call. We looked over the play, we just didn't get it in," said running back Travis Henry, who was stuffed for no gain on one of the critical plays of Sunday's 13-10 loss, leaving them with a lot of explaining to do. "If we had to do it over, we'd do the same thing."

In defense of the offense

After dropping their first two games of the Mike Mularkey Era by identical 13-10 scores to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders, the Buffalo Bills have the company line down cold: It's a long season and anything can happen.

Convinced that they're their own worst enemy by committing costly penalties and mental errors, the Bills head into their bye week determined to clean up their sloppy play and make something of this still-very-young season.

Week 2: Is the Buffalo offense really this bad?

Sal: The numbers don't lie. The Bills' record is 0-2, they have two touchdowns and 20 points, they're averaging 2.7 yards per rushing attempt and 242.5 total yards per game, and Drew Bledsoe has been sacked eight times and looks as helpless as ever behind a weak offensive line. Does that answer the question?
Leo: Your stories should get to the point that quickly. The numbers are becoming as ugly as last year when the Bills didn't score a touchdown in seven games. It's hard to believe that many of the same sloppy errors that occurred under Gregg Williams and Kevin Gilbride are happening under Mike Mularkey and Tom Clements.

September 20, 2004

Sad Start For Bills

If the Bills won’t give a refund they should at least give their fans a blindfold.  It hurts ones eyes to sit through a Bills game and watch this offense.  Maybe it wasn’t Kevin Gilbride’s fault after all, this still looks a lot like the anemic, unproductive, and un-watchable offense we saw in 2003.

 

Many people will point to Mike Mularkey’s decision to go for the touchdown on 4^th and goal from the one as the critical call of the game.  Some would say if they had kicked a field goal, maybe the Bills late touchdown would have tied the game. 

Bledsoe-led Bills offense still sputtering

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the Buffalo Bills spent the offseason insisting their offense would be improved, erasing memories of last year's struggles. So far, no good. The same problems sacks, penalties, red-zone ineptness that plagued Bledsoe and his offense last year are back again, leaving the Bills (0-2) with plenty of concerns heading into their bye week.

Buffalo tests even the most patient of fans

Buffalo's Terrence McGee angled toward the spot where the goal line and sideline at Network Associates Coliseum meet, trying to outrun the angle drawn by tubby Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski.

Even before Janikowski put enough of a bump on McGee to knock the cornerback/kickoff returner out of bounds at the Raiders' 11-yard line, the crowd at Mister B's -- Billstuff's first vantage point on a spectacular cusp-of-fall afternoon -- wasn't talking about the possibility of tying the game, but of what would go wrong.

Raiders Sack Bills 13-10

The Oakland Raiders defeated the Buffalo Bills 13-10 at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland. The Raiders defense sacked Bills QB Drew Bledsoe seven times and WR Ronald Curry recorded his first career touchdown reception - a 44-yard strike from QB Rich Gannon.

Ransacked Bills 0 for 2 in sloppy loss

Mike Mularkey had his back against a cement block wall deep inside Network Associates Coliseum late Sunday. The symbolism was dramatic. Facing an Oakland Raiders team smarting from a season-opening road loss at Pittsburgh and looking to stretch its record in home openers to 9-1 since re-locating back from Los Angeles, Mularkey's Buffalo Bills needed to play a near perfect game.

Sack-happy 'D' bags Bills

 There was cornucopia of imperfections Sunday. And the point?

All of it was worth overlooking in the Oakland Raiders' 13-10 win over the buffaloed Bills.

The bad paled in the face of one fact, one number actually. A number that is near and dear to the heart of the Raiders, their history and their following.

Bills' Bledsoe way off mark

For Drew Bledsoe, it was a first.

It was also one of his worst.

The Buffalo Bills quarterback had never played at Network Associates Coliseum until Sunday.

It's an experience Bledsoe won't soon forget, no matter how hard he tries.

Monday Billboard

It's getting a little redundant, isn't it? The Bills played another horrible offensive game. They wasted another fine performance by their defense. They made just enough dumb plays to lose, again. They lost to the Oakland Raiders, 13-10 - the identical score as last week's opener. Buffalo is 0-2 and looking like a team that will be fortunate to equal last year's 6-10 record. The Bills have two weeks to contemplate their fate. They're on a bye next week and host the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots in Ralph Wilson Stadium in two weeks.

Going nowhere fast

Raiders' kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) couldn't stop Terrence McGee's (24) third-quarter kickoff return for the Bills, but a holding penalty could. The call wiped out an 88-yard play.
RUNNING GAME
(F): It's hard to get a run game going when you can't sustain any drives. But not scoring on goal line 2 straight weeks is pathetic.
PASSING GAME
(F): Painful. Miserable. Brutal. Bledsoe was awful. He is helpless against the blitz. Pass game couldn't exploit thin DB corps.

Raiders turn up the pressure

The big ugly for the Buffalo Bills was halfway down the postgame stats sheet: seven sacks for 46 yards lost. Sometimes, statistics don't lie. The Oakland Raiders knew coming into Sunday's game that they could attack the Bills' offensive line. The result was a 13-10 Oakland win in its home opener. "Going against their offensive line, we knew we were going to be able to get some pressure," Raiders cornerback Ray Buchanan said.

Erratic Bledsoe not on target

It seemed like old times for Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe on Sunday, and we don't mean that in a good way. The Bills' 13-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders brought back some bad memories of Bledsoe's woeful 2003 season. His numbers were decent enough: 13 of 24 for 198 yards and a touchdown. But what the statistics don't show is the number of bad throws to open receivers. 

These reruns are painful to watch

Do you suppose I could submit last week's column and leave it at that? Really, why torture ourselves unnecessarily? What exactly can be said that hasn't been said before? The Bills have become the NFL's version of the movie "Groundhog Day." The alarm clock rings on Sunday morning. You yawn, go out to the stadium, watch Drew Bledsoe stumble around behind that sieve of an offensive line, feel sorry for the poor defense, tabulate all the bonehead plays and go down to the locker room to hear the players and coach insist they really are a good team.

Bledsoe's the fall guy

It was supposed to be different. A new coaching staff and a couple of new players were supposed to create a new dawn for the Buffalo Bills' offense. Instead, the Bills find themselves still mired in a deep, dark offensive freeze. The Oakland Raiders handed the Bills their second straight 13-10 defeat Sunday in a fashion that was all too familiar and left the Bills frustrated and somber in the locker room afterward. "We're just killing ourselves," said defensive tackle Pat Williams.

Bills: 2-minute read

Here's a closer examination of some of the issues in the Bills' loss to the Raiders.

Play of the game

Ronald Curry's 43-yard touchdown reception that gave Oakland a lead it never relinquished. Curry got behind Buffalo rookie safety Rashad Baker and caught Rich Gannon's pass to cap a 98-yard drive, the only series in the game in which the defense failed. Unfortunately for members of the Bills defense, they don't have the luxury of ever failing. They have to play an almost perfect game to give this offensively challenged team a chance to win.

0-2 Bills lost in Raiders' 'Black Hole'

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Sam Adams has been on both sidelines at Network Associates Coliseum, home to the Oakland Raiders and arguably the most enthusiastic/obnoxious/demented fans in the NFL.

Which side does he prefer?

"It's easier to be a Raider when you play here," said Adams, who was one in 2002 when the Raiders advanced to the Super Bowl.

Mularkey's fourth-down call was right

Mike Mularkey absolutely made the right call when he elected to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard-line on the first play of the fourth quarter of Buffalo's 13-10 loss Sunday at Oakland. I know there is a percentage of the aggravated Bills fan base that is mumbling today about that decision. The argument is that if he had kicked a field goal, Eric Moulds' TD reception would have tied the game at 13-13 with 1:20 left to play.

Defense Keeps Game Close

The Buffalo Bills may have lost the game in Oakland, but the defense is starting to get a lot of attention. For the second straight week, the Bills unit allowed only 13 points to the opposition. The Bills were able to shut down the Raiders running game. Quarterback Rich Gannon was the team's leading rusher with 24 yards on four carries. Tyrone Wheatley and Amos Zereoue were non-factors in the game. The defensive line was able to shut donn the run up the middle and to the outside.

September 19, 2004

Game Summary - Buffalo at Oakland

Rich Gannon threw a touchdown pass and the Oakland defense came up with a goal-line stand in the second half, as the Raiders held on for a 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills at the Coliseum. Gannon completed 19-of-27 passes for 209 yards and was also Oakland's leading rusher with 24 yards. He threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Curry in the first half, as the Raiders (1-1) bounced back from last week's season-opening loss to Pittsburgh and gave Norv Turner his first win as Oakland's coach.

Raiders 13, Bills 10

Jerry Rice probably didn't figure his team-first attitude would lead to the end of his NFL-record receptions streak.

But Ronald Curry's big day Sunday is a sign the Oakland Raiders will no longer rely as much on Rice in their talented receiving corps. Rice's NFL-record streak of 274 games with a catch ended, and Curry caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Downfield passing game nonexistent for Bills' offense

Remember how it used to be, when Drew Bledsoe first came to town? Remember the overtime win at Minnesota? Miami in the snow? The Bills threw down the field. They attacked. Opposing defenses trembled in fear; Bills fans stirred in anticipation. Every one of Bledsoe's throws seemed to float through the air like a promise.

Building a safety net

When you've grown accustomed to doing things a certain way, change cannot come without exertion, without trial and error, without a degree of anguish. Coy Wire was drafted by the Buffalo Bills to play strong safety although he never played in the secondary before. Then he was moved to free safety. Now he's back at strong. Wire also went from being a starter as a rookie to a member of the special teams to a starter again in place of the injured Lawyer Milloy.

Raiders return to old-style offense

The Oakland Raiders' offense is undergoing a personality transplant. The Raiders have been known the past five years as the dink-dink-dunkingest, short-passing-happiest team in the NFL. The team that lines up today against the Buffalo Bills is shedding the image of its previous two coaches - Jon Gruden and Bill Callahan - and trying to get back to the Raider glory days.

Health woes can't keep Wyche from coaching

No matter what happens in the Raiders' home opener today, Sam Wyche, the Buffalo quarterbacks coach, will be able to make a better exit after the game than the last time he coached in Oakland. That was in 1981, when Wyche was the 49ers' quarterbacks coach, and, after the final exhibition game, he got into a heated argument with Raiders' assistant Charley Sumner walking off the field in Oakland.

Bills face Raiders and Oakland Coliseum’s mystique

The reality is, part of it is myth.
It’s a lousy facility for football.
Network Associates Coliseum, former Oakland-Alameda County Stadium, is one of only four of the National Football League’s 32 home fields that are currently shared with a major league baseball team.
The surface — dirt and natural grass surface — is terrible, especially before the skin portion of the infield is sodded over.
And while Raider fans have a reputation for intimidating, creative dress, there’s some question about their depth of loyalty.

Raiders' need to strike balance puts emphasis on run game

Anyone trying to categorize the Raiders' offense over the past five seasons would be wise to grab a calendar. Simply pick a year, and find a distinct offensive style.

Bills are ready for Raiders and their fanatics

Chris Villarrial knew he was in a place like no other the first time he played at Oakland’s Network Associates Coliseum as a member of the Chicago Bears in 1999.

“I looked up in the stands and this kid was probably 8 years old and he was giving me the finger, and he was standing next to his dad,” Villarrial recalled. “You can expect the unexpected at this place.”

Roland is a Raider to the core

You can scrutinize the stat sheets and watch game films until your eyes are screaming for the Visine, and you still won't get a clear picture of Roland Williams' true value to his football team.

As Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon says, "It's the intangibles with Roland, the things that aren't easy to quantify."

September 18, 2004

Bledsoe knows slow start is no reason to panic

ALAMEDA -- The New England Patriots started the 1996 and 2001 seasons by losing their first two games and rebounding to make the Super Bowl. It's the situation awaiting the loser of Sunday's game between the Raiders and Buffalo Bills. Current Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe was a member of both those Patriots teams. The memory of those slow starts puts Sunday's game between the 0-1 Raiders and 0-1 Bills in proper perspective.

A new challenge for Bledsoe

Hard to believe, but Drew Bledsoe's long NFL career has never taken him to the Coliseum and an encounter with the Black Hole. It's a prospect that has the Bills quarterback both excited and apprehensive about his second career visit to the Bay Area.

"We played the Raiders in the preseason quite a few years back. We went down and played at Stanford Stadium (Aug. 25, 1995),'' recalled Bledsoe, who is entering his third season as Buffalo's starting quarterback and 12th in the NFL. "But I have never played at the Coliseum, so I'm a little interested to see what that's all about.''

Lindell finds life begins beyond 40

An 0-for-5 stretch in baseball is not even considered a slump. But for a field-goal kicker, missing your last five from 40-plus yards is a whole different story.

That is the drought Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell finds himself engulfed in, with a crucial 42-yard miss in the second quarter of last week's opener fresh in his mind.

"You just go onward and upward," Lindell said. "Try and put that behind you and make the next one."

Raiders' Turner is NFL survivor

When he popped in the tape of last Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, Norv Turner couldn't help but experience a flashback to 1994. Turner, fresh off a second consecutive Super Bowl victory over Buffalo as offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, was in his first season as an NFL head coach. That trying 3-13 season, his Washington Redskins lost six games by four points or less, including three two-pointers.

Venturing into the Black Hole

When the Buffalo Bills play at Oakland Sunday they'll venture into one of the NFL's most intimidating stadiums. Most of the Bills have never been to the black hole. Safety Izell Reese knows the place well from his days with the Denver Broncos.

“It's Halloween every game,” Reese explained. “It's loud, it's rowdy, the fans say anything from a to z, the costumes, everything. Halloween's coming early for us.”

September 17, 2004

Tops Game Ball Winner: Eric Moulds

Buffalobills.com visitors selected wide receiver Eric Moulds as the Tops Game Ball of the week winner for his performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 12. Moulds caught a team-high eight passes for 75 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe in the first quarter. The touchdown reception was his 40th in his career and he trails only Andre Reed for touchdown catches with the Bills.

I Want Proof

The Bills head out to Oakland on Sunday. We keep hearing how it is such a tough place to play. Let’s face it. EVERY road stadium over the last few years has been a tough place to play for this team. I need proof before I can pick them in any game that involves travel. These are not your Super Bowl Raiders. They have a lot of problems. But guess what? Oakland fans are looking at this game as a win. You know they are. No one on the Bills scares them. I’m not sure if anyone on the Raiders scares the Bills, but they do get to play this one on their side of the USA.

NFL Preview - Buffalo (0-1) at Oakland (0-1)

A couple of clubs coming off heartbreaking losses in Week 1 will convene in Oakland this Sunday, as the Raiders host the Bills in the second contest of the year for both teams. Visiting Buffalo suffered a 13-10 home loss to Jacksonville last time out, with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Byron Leftwich to Ernest Wilford at the final gun spoiling Mike Mularkey's head coaching debut. The Raiders, meanwhile, dropped a 24-21 decision to Pittsburgh, with a 42-yard Jeff Reed field goal in the waning moments handing Norv Turner a defeat in his first game with Oakland.

L.A. Bills Backers Show Support

The City of Angels. The Lakers, Dodgers and Disneyland. But chicken wings? It's got those too. When the Los Angeles Bills Backers meet every Sunday at Q's Billards in nearby Pasadena, they can often be seen eating one of their favorite Buffalo meals. "The General Manager of the restaurant, Jimmy Peterson, is a Bills fan," said the club's co-president Kim Montoya. "When he approached one of our members [about making the restaurant the new home for the group], my husband and I went over and tested the wings. Then we were all set."

Bulletin Board

The Buffalo Bills and the Bills Youth Foundation are accepting nominations for the Community Quarterback Award program. The Bills will award $20,000 in grants through the program to outstanding volunteers in Western New York.

Nonprofit organizations may nominate people ages 13 and older who serve in a volunteer capacity. Individuals also may nominate themselves.

Points allowed, scored are statistics numbers 1A, 1B

If a coach were assessing his team's success for a game or season, what five or six statistics would he be most interested in? I'll give you a head start: No. 1 is did he win the game?; No. 2 is turnover differential. - Bob Hartman, Buffalo

Answer: Let's call points scored and points allowed the No. 1 statistic. That's obvious. It's actually two statistics, but we'll count points allowed as 1A and points scored as 1B. Turnover differential is a good No. 2. Over the past five years, 30 of the top 40 teams in turnover differential made the playoffs.

Halloween atmosphere won't be a treat for Bills

The Buffalo Bills will have to contend with a formidable 12th man in their first road game of the season. Maybe "12th beast" would be a more appropriate term. Oakland Raiders fans are known for being loud, and the gang in the south end zone of the stadium is among the most colorful and rowdy in the NFL.

Legendary challenge awaits Smith

Buffalo Bills left guard Lawrence Smith will be staring across the line of scrimmage at two legendary defensive linemen - Warren Sapp and Ted Washington - when he takes the field Sunday in Oakland for the first road game of his NFL career. "It's going to be exciting considering I used to watch those guys on TV when I was in college," Smith said. "I think it's going to be a big test, a big challenge."

Don't discount debut of McGahee

If the game hadn't unraveled in such a devastating manner, more people would have noticed the big steps Willis McGahee took Sunday on his road to recovery from a career-threatening knee injury. It was a huge load for a player making his regular-season NFL debut, but the former University of Miami All-American was up for the challenge.With Travis Henry sidelined with muscle cramps and the Bills nursing a 10-6 lead with 7:12 remaining, coach Mike Mularkey called on McGahee to milk the clock and secure the win. As a closer, he turned in a performance Mariano Rivera would have admired. He did his part.

Spikes still driven

During his nine-year NFL playing career, Bills coach Mike Mularkey played on only three teams that advanced to the playoffs. That's three more than the star outside linebacker he now coaches, Takeo Spikes, has been on during his six-plus years in the NFL. In fact, since entering the NFL in 1998 as a first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, Spikes has never played on a winning team, nor on a team that lost fewer than 10 games in a season, let alone a playoff team. Following Sunday's disheartening 13-10 loss to Jacksonville, Spikes' career record in NFL games dropped to an abysmal 25-72.

September 16, 2004

Big Game Sunday

Buffalo at Oakland Sunday pits the Bills against the silver and black. Opponents used to get caught up in the Raider mystique and their commitment to excellence. But these days Oakland is just another team. “All I know is we got the Oakland Raiders this weekend, and we know they have a good organization. They have tough players over there, very talented athletes, and that's the team that we're getting prepared to play,” said safety Pierson Prioleau.

Bledsoe curious heading into first game in Oakland

Somehow, Drew Bledsoe has gone 164 regular-season and playoff games without playing in front of Oakland's rowdy Raider Nation. The only time Buffalo's quarterback has even faced the Raiders in the Bay Area was during his days with the New England Patriots in an exhibition game at Stanford University on Aug. 25, 1995 - the year Al Davis' franchise returned to the area after 12 years in Los Angeles.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

The Bills, who plan on playing an offensive style heavy on the run and high-percentage short passes, have got to be at least a little concerned about place-kicker Rian Lindell. Playing "small ball" demands a reliable kicker but Lindell started off the year missing wide left from 42 yards and making 1 of 2 field goals overall in a three-point loss to Jacksonville.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--WR Eric Moulds had his left hand stepped on in the first quarter against Jacksonville and had it heavily taped during practice on Wednesday. Moulds said a Jaguars defender purposefully tried to injure him, a claim coach Mike Mularkey can't prove but doesn't doubt. "I didn't even know that's how it happened, but there are things that go on underneath the pile that I know I wouldn't even start to describe, because I've been underneath there," said the former NFL tight end. "But yes, there are some guys who play like that and feel it's the advantage they're trying to create by taking one of your players out. Unfortunately it happens. I don't care for that."

Bills Look to take Victory out of ‘Black Hole’

The Buffalo Bills will look to crack into the win column this Sunday and they'll be trying to do it in one of the toughest stadiums in the league. Oakland's "Black Hole" is known throughout the NFL as one of the loudest and most intense places to play. The Bills will bring their 0-1 record there to take on the Raiders. Free safety Izell Reese is one of the few players on the Bills roster that has played in Oakland before. Reese was formerly with the Denver Broncos and had to go out there every year.

Tops, Bills Working for Education in WNY

Tops Markets of Western New York and the Buffalo Bills have teamed up to make sure local students get the opportunities to take educational field trips. Rookie members of the Bills toured the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society with students this past week to encourage cultural learning and student achievement. "This is a great program," Bills lineman Jasen Esposito said. "It gives the kids the chance to see some really interesting and historical displays."

Bills report: Inside slant

Losing last week's regular-season opener, at home, on the last play of the game, in coach Mike Mularkey's debut, was certainly disappointing for the Bills. But disappointment could be replaced by something much worse - disarray - if the club drops to 0-2 with a loss Sunday against the Raiders at Network Associates Coliseum. "The Black Hole" awaits Buffalo. Avoiding an early hole is the Bills' mission.

Wire Heading Back to School for Charity

Coy Wire is going back to school. The Bills strong safety is teaming up with McDonald's to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and The Coy Wire "Caring" Foundation through kids in local schools. Students will compete to see which school can raise the most money with the prize being Coy Wire serving as your school principal for a day.

Bills Focus on Matchup with Raiders

The new work week has begun for the Bills and that means the team's season-opening loss is behind them and focus is now on Buffalo's next opponent, the Oakland Raiders (0-1). "We watched the tape and Monday and moved on," cornerback Troy Vincent said of the last-second loss to Jacksonville. "They won, we lost, and we've got another opportunity this weekend as we travel out to Oakland. We'll get it together and see if we can have another good defensive performance but this time seal the deal."

Bills Accepting Applications for Community QB Award

Orchard Park, NY – The Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation are accepting nominations for the Community Quarterback Award program. The Bills will award $20,000 in grants through the Community Quarterback program to recognize outstanding volunteers in the Western New York area. The program is part of the national NFL Community Quarterback Award program that honors volunteers in all 32 NFL markets and awards more than $1 million annually to the charitable organizations that they serve.

Raiders show a commitment to the blitz

If you thought the Buffalo Bills' offense lacked explosiveness in Week One, get ready for the sobering forecast for Week Two: It might be just as hard to find the end zone Sunday in Oakland. The Bills managed 242 yards in their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Oakland's revamped defense allowed 5 yards fewer - just 237 - in its season-opening 24-21 loss at Pittsburgh. The Raiders boast three great defensive strengths:

Bills' offense can't afford to delay

London Fletcher was not in the mood for talking Wednesday. The Bills' middle linebacker was an elusive figure during the one-hour media session. At one point, he hesitated on his way out of the locker room and said he'd entertain a question or two. But as soon as someone asked about his delay-of-game penalty late in Sunday's loss, he was out the door. "I thought you were going to ask about Oakland," he said as he disappeared down the hallway.

Bills won't rush young Evans

He was selected 13th overall in April's NFL draft, a wide receiver touted for his world-class speed, sure hands, and maturity that would allow him to make an impact his rookie season. So where is Lee Evans anyway? The Buffalo Bills' slick new toy that wooed the training camp crowds during practice at St. John Fisher College, has been kept mostly in its packaging to this point, a perplexing development considering Evans' depth of talent.

Bills' Lindell still confident despite a critical miss

Rian Lindell says he's not feeling the heat, but the heat is there nonetheless. Coming off a sub-par debut season with the Bills when he made just 17 of 24 field goals, Lindell got off to a rocky start Sunday when he missed a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter in a game Buffalo ultimately lost by three points. Lindell later made a chip-shot 25-yarder, but with just over two minutes to play, coach Mike Mularkey opted against trying a 51-yard field goal and instead punted.

September 15, 2004

Bills Have to Finish

It’s rebound week for the Buffalo Bills. After squandering a number of opportunities in last week’s season opening loss to Jacksonville, the Bills look to make amends Sunday at Oakland. “We know what we’re capable of and what we can do as a team,” wide receiver Josh Reed excplained. “We just want to go out there and execute and not shoot ourselves in the foot like we’ve been doing.”

Former Bills assistant Hawkins dies at 69

Ralph Hawkins, 69, who spent 35 years in the NFL as an assistant coach or scout, including one season as defensive backs coach of the Buffalo Bills, died Sept. 9 in Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md. He had Pick's disease, a neurological disorder that causes dementia.

Defensive holding calls increase in Week One

Although there were fewer penalties overall in the first week of the NFL season, the number of defensive holding calls tripled, presumably because of the new emphasis on calling them.

Fans keep Bills' turnstiles spinning

The Buffalo Bills are still smarting over the season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they are smiling over the full house in Ralph Wilson Stadium last Sunday. A 6-10 season hasn't dampened the spirits of Bills fans, which is evident based on season-ticket sales. The Bills have sold 42,553 season tickets this year. That's 863 fewer than a year ago, but it's still the second-highest total since 1994. "It's been good," Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said. "And along with the suite renewals and the premium seats, it's been a good year in that regard."

Strategy and personnel

COACHING
D-plus -- Mike Mularkey's regular-season debut was marred by the turnovers and penalties that plagued his team in the preseason. Some questionable passing calls by coordinator Tom Clements, twice passing on third-and-one unsuccessfully to stir memories of Kevin Gilbride of a year ago. Bills never tested Jaguars' deep cover 2 zones with the speed of Evans. Meanwhile, Jacksonville scored winning TD throwing into triple coverage. Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray needed to find way to get to quarterback Byron Leftwich on final drive.

Notes, quotes

The Bills had drives of 13, 10 and 12 plays produce no points thanks to a missed field goal and two fumbles. "The bottom line is that we got down there three times and didn't finish," said WR Eric Moulds, who fumbled at the 12. "If we're going to be a good football team, we've got to learn how to finish."

Inside slant

It's a play that will keep cornerback Nate Clements up at night. A play he wishes he could have over. With the Bills protecting a 10-6 lead with 1:18 to play and the Jacksonville Jaguars facing a fourth-and-14 play at their own 34-yard line, Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich heaved a desperation pass to veteran Jimmy Smith down the right sideline. Clements, singled one-on-one with Smith because Jacksonville had spread the field with five receivers, had perfect coverage.

What Went Wrong

It had all the makings of a season opening win but mistakes, especially in the fourth quarter, cost the Buffalo Bills Sunday. The usually reliable Eric Moulds lost a fumble inside the Jacksonville 15. "We get down there and at least get three points out of it if I don't fumble the football," said Moulds. "So I have to take better care of the football. I take full responsibility.

September 14, 2004

Tough Loss To Take

Overall, I saw some great things on the field on Sunday. There are definitely some areas for improvement. Walking out of the booth, I thought there was no way that the Bills should have lost that game. It's just disappointing to see the defense play so well during the game and then come out on the last drive and allow a score. That's just what Jacksonville wanted and that was the type of game they wanted to be in. They made some great plays on that last drive so you can't take anything away from them. I thought the game could have been won a few times before that last drive but the Bills didn't make some of those plays and it cost them.

At this rate, Lindell might get the boot

When your objective is to win close, low-scoring football games - "small ball," in the current parlance - it helps to have a reliable kicker. The Bills have Rian Lindell, who might be the worst kicker in the NFL. Lindell's career field-goal percentage of 73.1 is the second-worst in the league among non-rookies. Only Arizona's Neil Rackers (67.5) is worse. Since the start of the 2001 season, Lindell is the only NFL kicker who has coverted fewer than half his kicks from 40-49 yards. The better kickers make 70-75 percent from that range. It's a stressful, unforgiving profession. If you make a habit of missing from 42 yards, as Lindell did against the Jaguars, you won't last very long in the league.

Gray upset by ending of game

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray reviewed the game film of Sunday's gut-wrenching 13-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and determined that his defense put forth an excellent performance. For 57 minutes and 53 seconds. It was the final 2:07 that bothered Gray, who saw the Jaguars drive 80 yards for the winning touchdown against his proud defense. "The whole thing is, we've got to finish," Gray said Monday.

Stars Don't Shine In Bills Opener

A new season in the NFL brings new hope and optimism.  Sunday in Orchard Park the first of 16 installments left Bills fans hurting and disappointed.  The jury is still out on a variety of subjects, and we won’t get too deep into dissecting the 2004 team from one game.  However, I will tell you that several players have me reevaluating my opinion of the term “star” players when it refers to a few of the Bills. 

Week 1: Is the offense any better?

Leo: After one game and 10 points scored, the answer is an emphatic no. After last year's Bills finished 30th in scoring, this was no way for the new coaching staff to win over fans. Buffalo left about 17 points off the board because of miscues, so there's hope that Mike Mularkey can live up to the hype if he can get his players to clean up their act.

Sal: I'm not sure if this offense is worse than 2003, but I do know it's just as boring. A boring win is OK, a boring loss is not.

Bills regroup for Raiders

Being the voice of reason that he is in the Buffalo Bills locker room, veteran cornerback Troy Vincent reminded some of his teammates Sunday afternoon that losing the season opener to Jacksonville was not the end of the world. "I told KT (Kevin Thomas) and P-Low (Pierson Prioleau) I can't remember the last time I won the opening game," Vincent said amidst the silence of the Buffalo locker room following the Bills' 13-10 loss to the Jaguars.

September 13, 2004

New-look Bills face familiar questions

New season. Familiar concerns.

The new-look Buffalo Bills under rookie coach Mike Mularkey were busy answering many of the same questions Monday that they dealt with a year ago regarding an offense that squanders opportunities and a defense that occasionally wilted in the clutch.

Those were the problems that cost coach Gregg Williams his job after last season's 6-10 finish. And they're ones that appear to be back following the Bills' 13-10 season-opening loss to Jacksonville.

Buffalo Bills Team Report

The Buffalo Bills got their season off on the wrong foot on Sunday, as Byron Leftwich hit rookie wide receiver Ernest Wilford in the back of the end zone for a touchdown on the final play of the game to lift the Jacksonville Jaguars to a thrilling 13-10 win.

Following three unsuccessful attempts into the end zone, Leftwich lofted a pass to the back that was caught by Wilford amid three Buffalo defenders.

Bills talk a good game better than they play one

Late-game flashback brings back bad memories.

The quick-cut highlight montage backed by a thundering soundtrack signaled that football, the real kind, was back.

Then came the dramatic jet fly-over and a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. All eyes, whether normally concerned with football or not, focused tightly on the television screens as Buffalo kicker Rian Lindell raised one hand in the air and trotted slowly towards the teed-up football.

Bills lose real heartbreaker

Everything was in place for the Buffalo Bills to make a fresh start, maybe even make a few amends, not to mention an Amen or two. The Ralph was loaded (operative word) with a crowd in the 70s (thousands that is), basking in the late-summer 70s (Fahrenheit, eh). There was a new attitude with a new head coach in town, Mike Mularkey, with an over-from-Pittsburgh approach to the old problem of curing the persistent ills of the Bills. Challenger, the American bald eagle, landed safely on cue after the anthem, the day after Sept. 11, and for more than three hours what followed also played out as if scripted.

Bills die in seconds

The video clip Drew Bledsoe had played out in his head all summer was cued up and ready to roll. "I had really thought long and hard about how gratifying it was going to be to hand (coach) Mike Mularkey the game ball," the Buffalo Bills quarterback said yesterday after being snapped back to reality. "I wanted to kneel down with it, walk off the field and give the ball to Mike."

Bills in a state of disbelief after being robbed of win

As the ball left Byron Leftwich's hand and floated to the back of the end zone where a crowd had gathered with no time left on the clock, somebody pretty big apparently took notice from far, far away. At least that's how Donovin Darius saw things at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which had just witnessed its version of the parting of a sea. From the Egyptians' point of view. "That was an act of God," said Darius, the one-time Syracuse University Orangeman who now punishes people out of the Jacksonville Jaguars' secondary. "That's what that was. It was divine intervention."

Veteran Mistakes Ruin The Bills Opener

A final drive and a touchdown on the last play of the game ruined Mike Mularkey's head coaching debut as the Bills lost to the Jaguars 13-10. Jacksonville was allowed to drive 80 yards on 14 plays with rookie Ernest Wilford out fighting Takeo Spikes, Izell Reese and Coy Wire for the ball in the back of the end zone as time ran out. It was the Jags 4th round pick's first NFL catch, but it wasn't the first time he made an impact on the game.

Monday Billboard

Big Picture: Considering they led for nearly the entire game, this one could eat at the Bills for quite sometime. They played good enough to win until Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich pulled a John Elway and orchestrated a last-minute drive capped by a touchdown pass to rookie Ernest Wilford.

Hit of the Day: That tremor you felt late Sunday afternoon was Takeo Spikes drilling Reggie Williams. Williams caught a pass over the middle and was immediately greeted by Spikes, who hit Williams so hard his helmet soared in the air as if it had been punted by Brian Moorman. At least Williams got a 2-yard gain. Welcome to the NFL, rook.

Wilford's leap a giant step for Jags

It didn't matter that Ernest Wilford is only a rookie with the upper body of a wire hanger, he was not about to let three Buffalo Bill defenders beat him to the ball. A 42-inch vertical leap has to come in handy at some point. So Wilford and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich decided to play a little jump ball with the Buffalo Bills. The winner leaves with a momentum-building victory. The loser goes home asking "what if?"

Offense stays with running game

Rushing for only 95 yards on 36 attempts may not seem like an impressive afternoon, but it shows the Buffalo Bills are following through on their promise to be more dedicated to the ground game. The Jacksonville Jaguars have one of the best run defenses in the NFL, but the Bills did not abandon it Sunday as they had in recent years. "I felt good about it," said running back Travis Henry. "We had been playing good in the preseason. Everybody wants to run the ball. We ran it good sometimes, but there were sometimes where we got negative plays. But for the most part, I though we stuck with it and did a good job."

Bills' secondary comes up a bit short

Sunday was a tale of two games for Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements and free safety Izell Reese. The Bills have emphasized the need for more takeaways by the defense throughout the offseason, and Clements and Reese delivered with interceptions that led to all of the Bills' points against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, it was two big plays Clements and Reese didn't make that ultimately resulted in the Bills' 13-10 season-opening loss. Clements was beaten by Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith on a 45-yard pass completion on a fourth-and-14 play, while Reese was one of three Bills defenders covering rookie wideout Ernest Wilford on the game-winning 7-yard touchdown catch.

Byron shows signs of being a winner

You know what they're thinking in Jacksonville today? They're thinking what Western New Yorkers thought following opening day of the 1989 season, after Jim Kelly plunged into the end zone to beat the Dolphins in Miami on the game's final play. They're thinking they have themselves a bona fide NFL quarterback, a leader, a winner, someone who can take the franchise where it's never been before.

Bills beaten on final play

Time was not on the Buffalo Bills' side Sunday. Jacksonville's Ernest Wilford pulled down a 7-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone as time expired, giving the Jaguars a 13-10 win over the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills (0-1), playing their first game under coach Mike Mularkey, dominated the time of possession by more than seven minutes but could muster just 10 points, including a 17-yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to Eric Moulds in the first quarter. A lost fumble by Moulds and a holding penalty in the fourth quarter proved costly.

Lack of scoring punch reminiscent of 2003

Say what you will about Drew Bledsoe. He has his shortcomings as a player, but he is a decent guy with a big heart. After Sunday's wrenching, 13-10 loss to Jacksonville, the Bills' quarterback got choked up because he had wanted so desperately to win the opening game for his new head coach.

"This is an emotional loss," Bledsoe said. "I really had thought long and hard about how gratifying it was going to be to walk in here and hand Mike Mularkey the game ball."

Photo Finish

It took an amazing string of events for the Buffalo Bills to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Sunday's season-opener. They had to settle for three points instead of seven after an interception by safety Izell Reese set the offense up on first and goal from the 3. They had to fumble away a sure three points thanks to a giveaway by Eric Moulds on the Jacksonville Jaguars' 7-yard line in the fourth quarter. They had to miss a 42-yard field goal. They had to take a holding penalty to wipe out a first-down run by Willis McGahee that would have allowed them to run out the clock.

Bills look like last season's losers

Gregg Williams was criticized for many things during his three failed seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Couldn't hire a competent staff. Couldn't manage a game. Couldn't handle the heat. Of all the knocks, however, the one that hit like Hurricane Ivan was general manager Tom Donahoe's assessment that his team was mentally soft under Williams, whose teams were 8-11 in games decided by seven points or fewer. Watching his team lose four games by four points or fewer in the second half of last season ate at Donahoe. It's why he turned to Mike Mularkey, a former player and assistant coach forged in the furnaces of Pittsburgh Steelers football.

Bills need to learn how to win

It was one year ago almost to the day when Bills fans were ready to anoint their team as the AFC's representative in Super Bowl XXXVIII. The Bills had just crushed Jacksonville 38-17 to improve to 2-0 on the young 2003 season, and it looked as if there wasn't a team in the universe that could beat the Bills. The lesson learned?
Things can change in a big hurry in the NFL, and as it turned out there were plenty of teams who could beat the Bills - and did - as Buffalo lost 10 of its last 14. Perhaps Bills fans can take solace in that as they try to make sense of Sunday's horrific 13-10 last-play loss to the same - albeit improved - Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Two plays take away victory from Bills

It came down to an oops and an alley oops. Had Nate Clements batted down a Hail Mary pass instead of going for the interception and had Jacksonville Jaguars rookie receiver Ernest Wilford not been blessed with a 42-inch vertical leap that enabled him to soar above three Buffalo Bills defenders, the ending would have been dramatically different. The Bills would have handed rookie coach Mike Mularkey a game ball instead of a bitter pill to swallow. The majority of the 72,389 spectators would have left the Ralph elated, not deflated.

Buffalo Bills report card

Quarterback, B-: Drew Bledsoe threw a nice 17-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Eric Moulds and did well handling Jacksonville's pressure. Telegraphed a lateral pass to Moulds that was charged as a fumble. With 153 yards passing, didn't win the game for Bills and didn't lose it.

The 'Two-Minute' Read

Obviously, when a game is decided on the final play, the choice is pretty easy. Byron Leftwich's alley-oop prayer into the end zone to rookie Ernest Wilford not only won the game for the Jaguars but will remain a staple on Jacksonville highlight films for years to come. How Wilford was able to make the catch with three Bills surrounding him is a nightmare the Bills won't easily forget, but they have to, and fast.

Just out of reach

For the past couple of weeks, Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe had been thinking about the moment when he was going to sidle up to new coach Mike Mularkey and present a souvenir that Mularkey would cherish the rest of his life. "I really thought long and hard about how gratifying it was going to be to walk in here and hand Mike Mularkey a game ball after this first game at home," Bledsoe said Sunday afternoon, intimating that he fully believed, even expected, that the Bills would defeat Jacksonville in the season opener at sold-out Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Jaguars bump Bills 13-10

Byron Leftwich spent the first 58 minutes looking terrible, and the last two looking remarkable. Leftwich capped an 80-yard touchdown drive with a 7-yard toss to rookie Ernest Wilford as time ran out, lifting the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. So much for the criticism that followed the second-year quarterback through four preseason games in which he failed to generate a touchdown drive. And what a confidence-boosting effort for a young Jaguars team which opened the season hoping to improve on last year's 5-11 finish.

Positive Signs from Offensive Line

First-year head coach Mike Mularkey has insisted the Bills won't abandon the running game this year and he kept his word on Sunday, despite facing one of the NFL's toughest run defenses. The Jaguars, led by defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, finished second against the rush in 2003. In their last seven games last year, the Jaguars allowed only 100 points, the third-lowest total in the league in that time. Last season, despite a lop-sided Bills victory, the Jags held Bills running back Travis Henry to only 26 yards on 21 carries.

Game Notes: Bills vs. Jaguars

Making their NFL debuts today were five players: RB Willis McGahee, FS Rashad Baker, T Lawrence Smith, WR Lee Evans, and TE Tim Euhus…Smith and Evans started for the Bills, the first time Buffalo had two rookies in the offensive starting lineup since 2001, when RB Travis Henry was joined by T Jonas Jennings and G Corey Hulsey … In addition, three players made their Bills debuts (all in starting roles): FB Dainon Shelton, G Chris Villarial, and CB Troy Vincent.

Bills Lose Close Game, Still in Shock

The Buffalo Bills controlled their opening day game against the Jacksonville Jaguars for 58 minutes. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Jaguars quarterback Bryon Leftwich threw a seven yard touchdown pass to Ernest Wilford on the games' final play. "Honestly, I'm a little bit in shock," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "I really felt like we were in control of the ball game the whole way." Bledsoe's sentiments were echoed by the 72,389 fans that left Ralph Wilson Stadium in disbelief that the Jags were able to steal a victory from their hometown Bills.

September 12, 2004

Last second Jags down Bills, 13-10

Byron Leftwich was best when it counted most, stealing a victory with a touchdown pass as time ran out.

Ernest Wilford came down in traffic with Leftwich's 7-yard toss to cap an 80-yard drive in the final 2:07 and lift the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

It was a remarkable effort from Leftwich, who had struggled all game and raised questions about his readiness to lead the Jaguars after failing to generate a touchdown drive in four preseason games.

Leftwich shed the doubts when facing fourth-and-goal from the 7 with four seconds remaining. He sent up a touch pass to the back of the end zone, where Wilford out-muscled three Bills defenders and came down with the ball as he fell out of bounds.

Game Center | Play by Play | Drive Charts | Team Stats | Photos

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/live/NFL_20040912_JAC@BUF.shtml

NFL Game Summary - Jacksonville At Buffalo

Byron Leftwich found rookie wide receiver Ernest Wilford for a touchdown on the final play of the game, lifting the Jacksonville Jaguars to a thrilling 13-10 comeback victory over Buffalo in the season opener for both teams. Following three unsuccessful attempts into the end zone, Leftwich lofted a pass to the back of the end zone that was caught by Wilford in the midst of three Buffalo defenders. Jimmy Smith made a tough 45-yard reception earlier on the 80-yard drive, saving the Jaguars on a 4th-and-14 situation.

Jaguars 13, Bills 10: By the numbers

Complete statistics for today's matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills.

New-look Bills set for close encounters

The Buffalo Bills were clinging to a 12-10 lead in the second half of their preseason game against the Tennessee Titans three weeks ago when coach Mike Mularkey turned to quarterback Drew Bledsoe on the sidelines and said, "This is the way our games are going to go this year." The Bills unveil what they hope will be a new identity today in their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a sellout crowd in Ralph Wilson Stadium should not count on leaving early.

Buffalo Bills reach injury settlement with quarterback Travis Brown

The Buffalo Bills reached an injury settlement with Travis Brown on Sunday that makes the quarterback a free agent. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Bills can't re-sign him until after the 10th week of the season. Brown was placed on injured reserve last Sunday.

Redemption song

Working closely with former CFL star Tom Clements, Drew Bledsoe may have been given the tools to snap out of his funk. The Buffalo Bills running game may be as deep as any other team in the AFC East. The defence should be as strong, if not stronger than a year ago.

Bills: Double trouble

The much-awaited debut of the Buffalo Bills' revamped running game takes place today when the regular season opens against the Jacksonville Jaguars at sold-out Ralph Wilson Stadium. With consecutive 1,300-yard seasons, fourth-year running back Travis Henry has already joined Cookie Gilchrist, O.J. Simpson, Joe Cribbs and Thurman Thomas in the hall of great Buffalo ball carriers, and this season he's joined by potential star Willis McGahee.

September 11, 2004

Van Pelt offers fresh perspective

After quarterbacks J.P. Losman and Travis Brown went down with injuries, Channel 7 sportscaster John Murphy speculated on the air that his new radio teammate, Alex Van Pelt, might be a candidate to replace them. It indicated that the new Bills play-by-play man realizes that his 97 Rock partner would leave him instantly if injuries didn't prevent him from being Drew Bledsoe's backup. "(Murphy) jokingly said to me, "You'd leave me, wouldn't you, halfway through the season?' " recalled Van Pelt while watching practice earlier this week. "I said, "Darn right I would. I'm a football player.' That's what I feel most comfortable doing."

Leftwich turns Jags right way

It seems to happen every year. Some lowly NFL team comes out of nowhere to become a winner. No one saw Carolina coming last season. After going 7-9 in 2002, the Panthers won the NFC South and the NFC championship en route to Super Bowl XXXVIII. So who are this year's Panthers? Some NFL prognosticators have anointed the Jacksonville Jaguars as a candidate.

NFL Preview - Jacksonville at Buffalo

Mike Mularkey makes his official head coaching debut on Sunday afternoon, when his Buffalo Bills host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the season opener for both teams. Mularkey, who was formerly the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, will be charged with turning around a team that hasn't posted a winning season or playoff berth since 1999. The Bills finished 6-10 last season, their fourth straight losing season. The Jaguars endured similar frustration, as the 5-11 record they put up in 2003 was the worst since their inaugural season of 1995.

Bills season on the line

Bills have skill, but they need men up front to set the pace. The skill position players are in place, and they are impressive. In Drew Bledsoe, the Buffalo Bills have a 12th-year quarterback who steadfastly maintains that he is still one of the best in the NFL and who further is motivated to prove his miserable 2003 performance was merely an aberration.

Defense is Gray's show now

By their very nature, NFL house cleanings are ruthless, usually leaving no man standing. In the switchover from Gregg Williams to Mike Mularkey as Buffalo Bills coach, however, defensive coordinator Jerry Gray not only held on to his high-profile title, he emerged with a better job. When the Bills open the season Sunday against Jacksonville, there will be, for the first time since Gray came to town in 2001, no questioning of his abilities or his authority. Without Williams, whose own resume included a No. 1 ranking as defensive coordinator in Tennessee, and without assistant head coach Dick LeBeau, one of the game's all-time great defensive masterminds, around to breathe down his neck, Gray can exhale. His training wheels are definitely off.

Bills Opener Sold Out

The Buffalo Bills home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars is sold out. That means the T-V blackout for the Sunday afternoon game at Ralph Wilson Stadium has been lifted. It's the ninth straight sellout for the Bills, as the team sold out every home game last season. Sunday will mark the fourth consecutive season and the 36th time in team history that the Bills have opened at home.

Eric Moulds Interview

Recently, Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds was interviewed by Derrin Horton of the NFL Network. Following is the transcript from the interview.

Eric Moulds: Thanks for having me, I’m doing good guys, how you doing?

DH: We’re going good up here in California. Tell us about what happened today in practice. I know you guys are getting ready for your opener against the Jags.

EM: We’re just going out there and trying to establish the running game. And we’re going to go out there and mix it up a little bit. We’re going to try to do whatever they give us and we’re going to take it. If they let us pass the football, we’re going to pass it, but if they let us run it, we’re going to hand it off to Travis and Willis and let them run.

Kelsay, Denney Content with Sharing Time

Though Chris Kelsay will play first on Sunday to open the season, there is no clear-cut starter for the Buffalo Bills left defensive end. The coaching staff had hoped to have a starter in place by opening day, but the players are too even to make a decision. Thus, the coaches have decided to have Kelsay split time with incumbent starter, Ryan Denney.

Bills Kickoff Weekend Memories

Memories from the 2004 Buffalo Bills Radio Network Broadcast Team

Color Analyst - Alex Van Pelt: The former Buffalo Bills quarterback made a quick transition from the playing field to the radio booth in 2004. Van Pelt played nine seasons for the Bills before retiring after the 2003 season. A Communications major out of Pittsburgh, Van Pelt's first radio broadcast was a Pitt-West Virginia game back in 1993.

September 10, 2004

Three Keys to Bills Win

Run the ball and run it a lot. That's the Buffalo Bills offensive philosophy under new coach Mike Mularkey. That running game will be tested Sunday by a stingy Jacksonville defense.

"We're going to continue to pound on people," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe. "I think you'll see that at times it may not be efficient in the first quarter, it might not even be efficient in the second quarter. But as the game goes on, with the big dudes we have up front and with Travis Henry running the ball and pounding on people, late in the game that's where you can kind of start to wear them down."

Sam Adams has a sprained toe; listed as questionable for Sunday's game

Bills defensive tackle Sam Adams has a sprained toe and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Adams was injured late Wednesday during practice. Adams did participate in Friday's workout and was slightly limited, but coach Mike Mularkey said he expected him to play Sunday.

Mularkey eager to make debut

Mike Mularkey prepares to make his head-coaching debut secure that he made the right decision to quit his day job as a computer salesman some 11 years ago.

"I don't miss that. That wasn't me," Mularkey said, referring to the time he spent working for IBM in the early 1990s after the former NFL tight end's playing days were over. "But it was a great experience. It let me have a little taste what the real world was like."

Guessing Game Begins for Bills

Buffalo’s opener against Jacksonville is one of the head-scratchers. Two teams coming off losing records with young head coaches, theoretically good defenses and productive running backs, but big questions under center add up to the traditional home-team trio of points. The Jaguars might seem like an ideal debut foe. Byron Leftwich started most of last season as a rookie, but remains a young quarterback, a species that rarely fares well when things get loud at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which they certainly figure to be on Sunday. And after staying healthy almost all of last year, Fragile Fred Taylor lived up to that moniker again this summer, though he’s listed as probable with a foot injury.

Bills' sellout streak intact; TV blackout lifted

The Buffalo Bills have announced that all tickets for the Sunday, Sept. 12 home opener versus the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium have been sold. The sellout means the game, scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff, will be televised in the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse markets on CBS affiliated stations.

Pedigree of 'Canes running backs makes them top dogs

For years, the University of Miami was known as "Quarterback U." The Hurricanes program produced Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, George Mira and Heisman Trophy winners Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992). And don't forget about Craig Erickson, Steve Walsh, Ken Dorsey and Ryan Clement. But a quick glance at the record book and around the NFL landscape would certainly merit a change to "Running Back U."

The Buffalo Bills' Willis McGahee, who missed his rookie season with a knee injury suffered in the Hurricanes' Jan. 3, 2003 double-overtime Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State, comes from quality campus bloodlines, to say the least.

Evans' speed should give Bills a new dimension

Question: Lee Evans didn't do anything in preseason. Is he going to help the Bills? Will he help my fantasy team? - Dean Johnston, Philadelphia, Pa.

Answer: Rookie receivers - even first-rounders - usually only post average numbers. Evans should have a positive effect on the offense, even if his numbers are ordinary. Why? His deep speed will affect the way opposing coaches try to defend against the Bills. If you're a defensive coordinator, you'd better be shading a safety toward Eric Moulds' side of the field almost every play. Because there was no other deep threat on the Bills last year, defenses weren't afraid to bring their second safety up to help stop Travis Henry.

Brown's brother supplies some perspective

Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Travis Brown is not wallowing in his bad luck. For the second year in a row, Brown saw his certain spot on the Bills' active roster disappear at the end of preseason because of injury. Last year it was because of a broken finger. This year it was because of a sprained knee suffered in the preseason game against Indianapolis that sidelined him four to six weeks. Brown was placed on injured reserve. Brown says it did not take long for him to see the big picture on his situation.

Spikes ready to take out the trash

 know, I know. It's the second week of September already, and you're tired of waiting. Tired of highlights and preview shows. Tired of thinking about the third running back on your fantasy team. You're ready for the real thing. Well, imagine what it's like for the players. Imagine what it's like for Takeo Spikes. I stopped by his locker Wednesday afternoon. Looking in his eyes, you knew it had been way too long since the Pro Bowl linebacker hit someone for real. I thought he might put me through a wall for practice. "I'm really fired up, man," Spikes said, "especially knowing what we could have been last year and how disappointed I felt looking at that tape."

Bills to get a test run against Jags' tackles

The Buffalo Bills have been talking the talk about their ground game for the past six months. In Sunday's season-opener against Jacksonville, we find out if they can run the run. Jacksonville's defense is led by the best young defensive tackle tandem in the NFL. Marcus Stroud and John Henderson lead a Jaguars defense that allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the NFL last year (88 a game) and the fewest yards per attempt (3.2). "They're guys who, if they catch you leaning a little bit, they're going to throw you down," said Bills guard Chris Villarrial.

Taylor a big test for Bills

Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey said his defensive staff doesn't need to stay up late figuring out what the Jacksonville Jaguars' game plan will feature in Sunday's NFL season opener at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It will be as subtle as a hammer to the head.
"I think it's going to be run Fred right, run Fred left, run Fred in the middle," Mularkey said.

Bills' McNally thrives with 'mushrooms'

"You want to be a mushroom," McNally says.

The Mushroom Society is an informal organization that allows the NFL's offensive line coaches to occasionally come together to empathize and to share information that helps the general membership. Contract details, for instance, are common knowledge.

September 09, 2004

Bills rookie WR Evans confident he'll contribute

Receiver Lee Evans has soft hands, fast legs and for a highly touted first-round draft pick, his head in the right place. Evans might have been a star at Wisconsin, and the 13th player selected in the draft, but he's aware all of that means little when it comes to establishing his role with the Buffalo Bills. He's among the last off the field after practice, the first sticking his head into the huddle, and the last to complain that the Bills mostly overlooked him during four preseason games.

Bills' sellout streak intact; TV blackout lifted

The Buffalo Bills have announced that all tickets for the Sunday, Sept. 12 home opener versus the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium have been sold.

 
The sellout means the game, scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff, will be televised in the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse markets on CBS affiliated stations.

Bills vs Jaguars- Official NFL Injury report

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS (0-0) Jacksonville

Jaguars

OUT TE Kyle Brady (finger) QUESTIONABLE RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (foot) PROBABLE QB Byron Leftwich (right hand); RB Fred Taylor (foot); TE George Wrighster (foot) Listed players who did not participate in "team" practice: (Defined as missing any portion of 11-of-11 team work) WED TE Kyle Brady; RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala THURS TE Kyle Brady; RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala

Buffalo Bills OUT QB J.P. Losman (ankle); S Lawyer Milloy (forearm) PROBABLE RB Joe Burns (ankle); LB Angelo Crowell (hamstring); RB Travis Henry (rib); CB Terrence McGee (thigh) Listed players who did not participate in "team" practice: (Defined as missing any portion of 11-of-11 team work) WED QB J.P. Losman; S Lawyer Milloy THURS QB J.P. Losman; S Lawyer Milloy

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS (0-0) Jacksonville Jaguars OUT TE Kyle Brady (finger) QUESTIONABLE RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (foot) PROBABLE QB Byron Leftwich (right hand); RB Fred Taylor (foot); TE George Wrighster (foot) Listed players who did not participate in "team" practice: (Defined as missing any portion of 11-of-11 team work) WED TE Kyle Brady; RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala THURS TE Kyle Brady; RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala Buffalo Bills OUT QB J.P. Losman (ankle); S Lawyer Milloy (forearm) PROBABLE RB Joe Burns (ankle); LB Angelo Crowell (hamstring); RB Travis Henry (rib); CB Terrence McGee (thigh) Listed players who did not participate in "team" practice: (Defined as missing any portion of 11-of-11 team work) WED QB J.P. Losman; S Lawyer Milloy THURS QB J.P. Losman; S Lawyer Milloy

Catering to strengths

The Bills' offense last year was predictable and ineffective. The cerebral, businesslike Clements already has thrown out a few surprises during the preseason. As quarterbacks coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a key figure in the reclamations of Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox. Many thought both were washed up, but Clements teamed with Mularkey (then the Steelers' offensive coordinator) in rescuing both careers. Their idea, similar to the approach they brought here, was building the offense around the talent of the players, not forcing players into their offense. Clements made it clear he was adjusting to Bledsoe's strengths and weaknesses rather than having Bledsoe modify his game to suit Clements' attack.

Thinking on the run

Clements played quarterback for 12 seasons in the Canadian Football League, won two Grey Cups, once was named Most Valuable Player and was inducted into the CFL's Hall of Fame. Clements called his own plays every season. Will that experience and 11 seasons as a quarterbacks coach be enough to make him an effective NFL offensive coordinator? We'll see. "I called my own plays. In order to do that well, I had to prepare the way a coordinator prepares now," Clements said.

Murphy ready to take control

John Murphy certainly has had his share of practice replacing a legend. After all, Murphy was Stan Barron's replacement on WBEN-AM's evening sports show and will present the late sportscaster's name for induction into the Buffalo Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in three weeks. Murphy was also one of two men who replaced Rick Azar when the legendary sportscaster retired from WKBW-TV. And now he replaces Van Miller as Buffalo Bills play-by-play man.

You make the call

Friday was Mike Mularkey's favorite day of preparation as an offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. "I loved it at 1 o'clock when everybody got out of the building and I could shut the door and basically play the game in my head," Mularkey says. "I played it to a point where I could make my play calls and anticipate them because I had gone through every scenario possible. First and 10. Second and 6. After a week of practice and film watching, based on everything that's unfolded, what do I think of how the plan would work for every situation?"

In order to fly first class, Bills look to coach

The Buffalo Bills sound like a team that has found religion. Within the locker room, the players are talking up their newfound faith that the team is on the right track. It's the same in many locker rooms on the eve of the NFL season. The difference in Buffalo is the faith is based on what's on the sidelines as much as what's on the field. "When veteran players believe in their head coach, they give their team a chance to win," says Bills cornerback Troy Vincent. "There's a great level of respect for coach (Mike) Mularkey. He has not changed since Day One. He's consistent. You want guys to bust their butt for the head coach, as well as themselves. You want them to just believe in what the coach is doing. That's what I see here."

Pass rush comes wrapped in surprise packages

The Buffalo Bills' pass rush is more stealthy than scary. More tricky than terrifying. It does not evoke images of the Purple People Eaters, the Fearsome Foursome or other dominant fronts of days gone by. Yet there was no question about its bottom line last season. The Bills manufactured an effective pass rush in 2003 and are looking for even better results in 2004. "The defense is designed to be unpredictable," linebacker Jeff Posey said. "We have similar-type guys. We have guys who can come rush the quarterback, and we have guys who can drop in coverage. So you don't know who's rushing or not."

Can running mates share top spot on Bills' ticket?

Every team in the National Football League dreams of having one good running back to build an offense around. But imagine if you had two. You can run one after the other, giving defenses a heavy dose of both. The Buffalo Bills believe they have a double-barrel rushing attack in Travis Henry and Willis McGahee. First-year coach Mike Mularkey believes in running the football a lot. In Henry and McGahee, Mularkey envisions a one-two punch that will pile up yards, control the clock and grind defenses into dust in the fourth quarter.

Confidence in Donahoe is fading

He came here 3¹/2 years ago, armed with a five-year, $5 million contract and more power than any executive in Buffalo Bills history. Tom Donahoe was ready to get back in the NFL after a year of dabbling in the media, and every one said Ralph Wilson was lucky to find such a brilliant football mind to be his president and general manager. Donahoe knew his way around the NFL. He was going to clean up John Butler's mess and get the franchise back on the right track. Never mind that the Bills had made the playoffs 10 times in the previous 13 seasons. Just wait. Give him a few years to work his magic and he'd show us what winning football was all about. I'm still waiting.

Bills high on the cheap-seats list

Another national survey ranks Buffalo dead last - but, for once, the region can rejoice. Buffalo is the cheapest place to attend a National Football League game, Team Marketing Report revealed in its survey of all 32 NFL franchises. Not only does Buffalo have the lowest average ticket price, at $37.13, but it also boasts the "cheapest" cost for a family of four to attend a game, $228.52. That figure includes tickets, parking, souvenirs, programs, hot dogs, beer and soft drinks. So Buffalo ranks dead last in both categories, and that's something for Bills fans to cheer.

Bills tighten their grip on pass rush

Defensive end Aaron Schobel signed a contract extension Wednesday with the Buffalo Bills in a deal that was largely about pressure. Schobel took pressure off himself for this season. The Bills took pressure off themselves next March. The extension includes a signing bonus of $6.75 million and is worth an average of $3.8 million over six years. Schobel was entering the last year of a rookie contract that paid him $711,000 a year. He's now signed through 2009.

Kelsay and Reed named starters

Chris Kelsay will start at left defensive end and Josh Reed will start at wide receiver in Sunday's season opener against Jacksonville. Both players are expected to do a lot of "time sharing" at their positions. Ryan Denney will see plenty of time at defensive end, and Lee Evans figures to see a lot of plays at receiver.

Mularkey Drawing Comparisons With Parcells

MIKE MULARKEY reminds Drew Bledsoe of Bill Parcells, without the yelling. "It's a nice compliment," Mularkey, the Buffalo Bills' new head coach, said almost sheepishly.

"Let's see if I can live up to it."

Let's see, indeed.

To be fair, how the Bills fare this NFL season will not be up to Mularkey exclusively. But one thing's for certain: Everyone from Mularkey, to offensive co-ordinator and former CFL stalwart Tom Clements, to quarterback Bledsoe, to general manager Tom Donahoe, to the average guy on the street in Lackawanna believes the Bills have more talent than their 6-10 record last season indicated.

Schobel given $23 million extension

The thought of testing NFL free agency was alluring to Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel, especially as a young pass rusher entering his prime. But the thought of being injured this season and having no offers to weigh in 2005 scared him straight. It made agreeing to a five-year extension worth $23 million on Wednesday a very easy decision. "What if I got hurt? You never know in this game. It was enough for me to say, 'OK, let's take the risk away,'" Schobel said. Schobel, a second-round draft pick in 2001 whose sack totals have improved each season from 6.5 to 8.5 to 11.5, received a signing bonus of $6.75 million and will get a $2 million roster bonus in the spring.

Reed welcomes Evans

It did not come as a surprise, nor did it come as an insult, to Josh Reed that the Buffalo Bills picked wide receiver Lee Evans in the first round of the 2004 draft. In fact, Reed was the first Buffalo player to welcome to the team the man who was going to be bidding to take away his starting job this season.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

--Sunday's game marks a test between the second- and third-youngest coaches in the NFL. Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio is 41 and Buffalo's Mike Mularkey is 43. Del Rio went 5-11 his rookie season last year and can relate to Mularkey making his debut. "Certainly I can but I would prefer to let Mike kind of find his own way, and we'll talk after our game," he said.

Bills report: Inside slant

Mike Mularkey is a big believer that you win in the NFL with an offense that stresses the running game and possession-style passing. He'll get the chance to practice what he preaches in his NFL head-coaching debut for the Bills on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

The Bills had a glaring need to improve their pass rush but their solution included the release of big-name veterans Keith McKenzie and Jason Gildon, who had 106.5 sacks between them. Those moves signaled the definite start of a youth movement. Kept ahead of McKenzie and Gildon as reserve end rushers on passing downs were second-year man Chris Kelsay and undrafted rookie free agent Constantin Ritzmann from Tennessee.

September 08, 2004

Mularkey Ready for Opener

This is what the Buffalo Bills have been waiting for since last December, week one of the new season.

It's a special time for head coach Mike Mularkey. He's been through opening day before as a player and assistant coach, but this is his first as the man in charge.

"I'm excited myself, but probably more for this team," Mularkey said. "They have prepared diligently and they've been impressive to be around. They've made my job a lot easier."

McGahee settles for backup role behind Henry

Travis Henry will be the Buffalo Bills starter on opening day, leaving Willis McGahee to settle for playing backup.

McGahee said Wednesday he can live with the role, but he doesn't have to like it.

"That's their decision, it ain't mine," McGahee said after practice. "That's all I can say about that. I'm not worried about it. My time will come. ... Only one person can start and unfortunately he's the one that's starting."

Home Game Traffic Safety Increased

The Buffalo Bills today joined forces with the New York State Police, Sheriffs Department local Police Agencies to help ensure that Bills fans think of safety as well as a good time when attending home games at Ralph Wilson Stadium. State Troopers, Deputies and local Police will be stepping up their enforcement of impaired driving on routes frequented by the home fans. The effort is just one more step being taken by the Buffalo Bills and area police agencies to improve safety and discourage irresponsible behavior on the part of the home fans. Troopers will be conducting sobriety checkpoints on several egress routes from Ralph Wilson Stadium to ensure that drivers are sobers. They plan on continuing the added enforcement throughout the Bills season.

Celebrate the Season with 'Blue Friday'

The Buffalo Bills and Heritage Centers are teaming up to celebrate the start of the 2004 NFL Season in grand style. On Friday, September 10, Heritage Centers and Buffalo Place will host a Buffalo Bills pep rally, dubbed "Blue Friday" to commemorate the beginning of another exciting Buffalo Bills season. The event will take place in Fountain Plaza, downtown Buffalo beginning at 5:30 p.m. The band Universal Grille will provide live entertainment for the fans. Master of Ceremonies and new Buffalo Bills play-by-play announcer, John Murphy will introduce current and former Bills Players including several members of the 1964-65 AFL Championship team. Members of the Buffalo Jills and Billy Buffalo will also be on hand to lead the cheers.

Police plan stepped up road details for Bills' games

Law enforcement agencies will be more vigilant in checking for impaired drivers during the upcoming Buffalo Bills season. The safety crackdown was announced Wednesday by the New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff's Department, local police agencies and the Bills. Troopers will be conducting sobriety checkpoints along several routes leading to and from Ralph Wilson Stadium when the 2004 season begins Sunday, Sept.12.

Bills Extend DE Schobel's Contract

Defensive end Aaron Schobel extended his contract with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday. A second-round pick in the 2001 draft, Schobel was entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract that paid him an average of $711,000 a season. Schobel is coming off his best season in which he had 11 1/2 sacks, becoming only the fifth Bills player to have a 10-plus sack season. Schobel has led the team in sacks in each of his three seasons, in which he's had 43 starts in 48 games. His 26 1/2 career sacks place him ninth on the franchise list.

Schobel Extended

The Bills today announced that Aaron Schobel has extended his contract. A second-round draft pick in 2001, Schobel has led the Bills in sacks in each of his three years. In 2003, Schobel led the team with a career-high 11.5 sacks. The defensive end from TCU ranks ninth on the Bills all-time list with 26.5 career sacks. He is one of only five players in Bills history to record a 10-sack season.

Schobel Signs a 5-Year Extension Worth Almost $23M

In a move Wednesday that keeps one of their top young players out of the spring 2005 unrestricted free agent market, the Buffalo Bills signed right defensive end Aaron Schobel to a five-year contract extension, ESPN.com has learned.

	Aaron Schobel Defensive End Buffalo Bills
	2003 SEASON STATISTICS Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int 60 42 18 1 12 1

Retaining the fourth-year veteran is a key for the Bills, since Schobel is the team's top pass rusher and one of several prominent veterans who could have left after this year. Schobel is one of three pending free agents -- left offensive tackle Jonas  Jennings and defensive tackle Pat Williams are the others -- with whom Bills officials attempted to carve out extensions before the start of the regular season.

Christie lands on his feet

The New York Giants changed kickers five days before their regular-season opener in Philadelphia, signing veteran Steve Christie and releasing Todd France. Christie, who kicked for the Buffalo Bills from 1992 to 2000, was given a tryout Monday along with Dave Kimball, who had been in the Indianapolis Colts camp. Giants coach Tom Coughlin elected to sign the 36-year-old Christie, who had been considering retirement, for his 15th NFL season.

Stand by your man

He's a player who will require patience. His team must remain committed to him. Fan and media criticism must be ignored.

We're talking about Byron Leftwich and the Jaguars, right?

Wrong. Though they are statements that would easily apply to Leftwich, in this case they are meant to describe Willis McGahee and the Buffalo Bills.

It was a pick Bills president Tom Donahoe made because McGahee was too good to pass up. The Bills believed McGahee was, by far, the best player in college football. The knee injury he suffered in Miami's national title game loss to Ohio State afforded the Bills a rare opportunity at the bottom of the draft. Donahoe searched his soul, pulled on his thickest of skins, and made the pick.

With Vincent's help, Evans goes practice route

After practice, long after their Buffalo Bills teammates have retired to the locker room, rookie wide receiver Lee Evans and veteran cornerback Troy Vincent are on the field working on various one-on-one techniques. It's an exercise they've been going through for more than a week, at Vincent's insistence. "I told him it was something that we needed to do, so he really didn't have much of a choice," Vincent said. Vincent said working out with Evans benefits him as much as Evans. But the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback believes the post-practice drills are invaluable to Evans' development as an NFL player.

September 07, 2004

Andrews legend still on Bills’ roster

Shaud Williams, a 1999 graduate of Andrews High School whose collegiate football career took many strange turns, made the opening-day roster of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

The Bills waived 14 players to bring their roster down to the NFL’s mandatory limit of 53, and opted to keep the free-agent Williams after he had two strong outings in the team’s last two preseason games at running back.

Williams led the team by rushing for 78 yards and one touchdown Thursday in Buffalo’s 20-17 loss at Detroit in the final preseason game for both teams. He also returned four punts for a 9.5-yard average in that game.

Buffalo Bills to be featured at annual golf tournament

The Buffalo Bills will be a feature at the 11th Annual St. Francis de Sales Charities Golf Tournament to be held Friday, Sept. 10 at the Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club.

At the tournament, a football signed by former Bills kicker Steve Christie and official jerseys signed by linebacker Takeo Spikes and former running back Antowain Smith will be on display. Sealed bids will be taken for each of the items.

'Fan Cost Index' says Bills are NFL's best buy

An annual sports marketing survey of the costs for a National Football League game says the Buffalo Bills are a bargain compared with the other 31 franchises.

 
The Team Marketing Report overall Fan Cost Index, or "FCI" includes a computation of the price of taking a family of four to a game, adding in tickets, parking, concessions, a program and cap.

Almost Time for Kickoff

It's great to have the regular season ready to begin. The preseason is over and now we can get to the games that count. I must say, I was impressed with the starting offense last week against the Lions. They set a goal for themselves to come out and score a touchdown and they did just that. They moved right down the field and had some nice third down conversions to keep the drive alive. I know they had been frustrated because they couldn't put the ball into the end zone, but that first drive gave them the confidence they needed heading into the regular season.

Injured Losman views practice from sidelines

Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman made his first appearance at a Buffalo Bills practice Monday since suffering a fractured fibula in training camp on Aug. 24. Wearing a protective boot on his left leg and walking with crutches, Losman was in good spirits for someone who's been bed-ridden since having surgery 12 days ago. "It's my first day I've got out of my bed, so I wanted to see the guys and it was good for everyone to see me and I'm glad to see them," Losman said after practice. "It's good to be part of the team again." Losman, the second of the Bills' first-round draft picks and the heir apparent to Drew Bledsoe, is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks of the season.

Bills' needs cost Brown roster spot

The need for an additional roster spot was the primary reason quarterback Travis Brown won't play for the Buffalo Bills this season, team President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said Monday. Brown, who was slated to be Drew Bledsoe's primary backup before suffering a sprained knee in the third preseason game, was placed on the injured reserve list Sunday. Brown was reportedly upset with the decision, especially since Donahoe indicated a week ago that the team planned to keep Brown on the roster heading into the regular season because his injury wasn't season-ending. He is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

South Side grad Greer makes NFL with Bills

Call them the Tennessee Trio that made a big Volunteer splash in Buffalo.

Defensive backs Rashad Baker and South Side High School graduate Jabari Greer, and defensive end Constantin Ritzmann, all undrafted free agents and college teammates last year, suddenly have another thing in common. They're now Buffalo Bills players after making it through the final round of NFL cuts on Sunday.

Bills: Sharing the load works for ends

They have been battling all summer to become the starting left defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, but in the end, it really isn't going to matter whether Ryan Denney or Chris Kelsay is the starter.

"They're both listed as starters right now and in my mind they're both starting left ends," said defensive-line coach Tim Krumrie.

Bills at least a little better

You'd think the Buffalo Bills have to be better this year.

After all, they jettisoned painfully stubborn offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and the rest of the staff that guided the feeblest offense spotted in the Orchard Park area since Vince Ferragamo was trying to read his wristband. With Tom Clements calling the plays and Sam Wyche rebuilding Drew Bledsoe's shattered confidence, memories of a season in which the offense failed to score a touchdown in seven of 16 games started fading by March.

September 06, 2004

Luke Lawton

Former McNeese fullback Luke Lawton is coming home. A day after being released by Buffalo, Lawton is returning home to Lake Charles because he did not make the eight-man practice squad for the Bills. Lawton's agent has been trying to contact other NFL teams, in hopes of finding a place for the fullback.

Bills defend decision to place Brown on IR

Backup quarterback Travis Brown's loss unfortunately proved to be the Buffalo Bills' gain. Bills president Tom Donahoe on Monday defended his decision to end Brown's season by placing him on injured reserved, saying the team could not afford to keep another injured player on its active roster.

Bills QB Losman takes first step in rehab on crutches

Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback J.P. Losman has his cast off and his hopes up.

Losman attended his first practice, watching on crutches from the sideline Monday, since breaking his left leg in practice last month. It was the first step for a player who hadn't been able to go anywhere, spending the past two weeks bedridden before getting his hard cast removed earlier in the day.

McFarland Fights His Way onto Roster

Dylan McFarland sat patiently in his hotel room on Sunday waiting for his cell phone to ring. One o'clock came around, then two o'clock and then four o'clock. But his phone never rang and McFarland has never been happier.

Bills attempt to erase memories of last year's blunders

Try as he might, Tom Donahoe has difficulty putting to rest last year's frustrations. The troubling memories of a blunder-filled Buffalo Bills season still linger for the team's president, evident in a comment Donahoe recently made during training camp. When informed of the sleepless nights quarterback Drew Bledsoe expressed having in stewing over last year's overall effort, Donahoe shook his head and said: "We all did."

Focus turns to Buffalo

The roster has been cut, Frances is slowly moving out of Jacksonville and coach Jack Del Rio's attention has turned sharply to Sunday's season-opener.

“We're going to make our way to Buffalo somehow,” Del Rio said, referring to the rugged conditions posed by Hurricane Frances this past weekend. Power outages, downed trees, leaking roofs and closed roads were the order of the day in Jacksonville, as Del Rio canceled Monday's practice due to lingering storms. The Jaguars will begin preparations tomorrow morning for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Bills 2004 Forecast: Keys to the Bills’ Season

Last season the Bills’ issues stemmed almost entirely from their sad and depleted offense. A combination of injuries as well as offensive line issues led an anemic Bills attack. The Bills struggled to move the ball let alone punch it into opponents’ end zones. At present, the Bills have several similar and a few new issues that they need to iron out prior to the season home opener in only six days. 

The defense played well although not exactly vs. a schedule that featured many well-balanced offenses, top rushing teams, or even top running backs. The single well-balanced offensive team that the Bills faced last season was Kansas City and the result there is a painfully remembered 38-5 trouncing with poor play on both sides of the ball. The defense was good enough however to have provided double digit wins had the offense not performed worse than it did under Rob Johnson.

1980 Replay: San Diego 20, Buffalo 14

It was a simple sideline route midway through a meaningless 1981 preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers.

Ron Smith moved easily 15 yards downfield, then broke toward the Chargers’ bench and caught a perfectly thrown ball from San Diego backup quarterback Ed Luther.

The gain was good for a first down, but the normally exuberant Smith didn’t see any humor in the hit that was applied by Buffalo safety Bill Simpson.

Bills Sign Eight To Practice Squad

The Buffalo Bills today signed the following eight players to the Practice Squad: Jasen Esposito OL Kutztown Drew Haddad WR Buffalo Jason Peters TE Arkansas Lauvale Sape DT Utah Freddie Smith WR Georgia Tech Ben Sobieski OL Iowa Darryl Towns LB Nevada Greg Zolman QB Vanderbilt

Practice Squad Proves Beneficial for Team

Over the course of the next week you'll hear the term Practice Squad used frequently. In most cases, this may be the last time you hear this designation used the rest of the season. But don't let the lack of lip service fool you, the carefully selected players that make up a team's Practice Squad are an integral part of the team as well as the development of the individual player.

Surprise gifts for Bills

The work of the Buffalo Bills' scouting staff in the hours after April's NFL draft paid off for the team on Sunday.

Four undrafted rookie free agents signed after the 255-player selection process was over survived the final cutdown as the Bills trimmed their roster to the NFL's 53-man limit.

Three of the players were from the University of Tennessee, headed by safety Rashad Baker, who was the walk-on sensation of training camp. Baker established himself as the No. 2 free safety on the squad weeks ago and was no surprise to make the club. Neither was his Tennessee backfield mate Jabari Greer, who made the Bills as the fifth cornerback.

Roster moves surprise Brown

Two days of studying the playbook and about two quarters of game action in Buffalo's preseason finale the other night were enough for Shane Matthews to convince Mike Mularkey that he's ready to be the Buffalo Bills' backup quarterback this season.

The Bills pared their roster to the NFL mandated limit of 53 on Sunday by releasing 14 players and placing quarterback Travis Brown - who was supposed to be Drew Bledsoe's backup until he suffered a knee injury Aug. 28 - on the reserve/injured list.

Bills cut Gildon, place QB Brown on IR

Backup quarterback Travis Brown is shocked by how the Buffalo Bills ended his season by placing him on injured reserve. The move comes a week after Brown sprained his left knee in a preseason game. And it came as a surprise after Bills president Tom Donahoe indicated Aug. 30 the team was going to keep Brown on the roster heading into the regular season because he was expected to miss four to six weeks.

Bills Down to NFL Limit By Cutting 14

Backup quarterback Travis Brown's season is over after he was placed on injured reserve by the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
  The move comes a week after Brown sprained his left knee in a
preseason game. And it came as a surprise after Bills president Tom
Donahoe, last Monday, indicated that the team was going to keep
Brown on the roster heading into the regular season because he was
only expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

A look at the 2004 Buffalo Bills

As Buffalo Bills training camp opened a month ago, expectations were high for things to finally come together for the Tom Donahoe regime.

Gone is the seemingly lost coaching staff of Gregg Williams and Kevin Gilbride. Enter Mike Mularkey and his veteran staff with the likes of Tom Clements and Jim McNally, veteran free agents Chris Villarrial, Troy Vincent and Jason Gildon, first-round draft picks Lee Evans and J.P. Losman and second-year player making his debut Willis McGahee.

September 05, 2004

Bills Reduce Roster to 53

The Buffalo Bills today waived the following players to bring the roster to 53, the mandatory number required by the NFL:

Gerald Dixon CB Alabama, Jasen Esposito OL Kutztown, Jason Gildon LB Oklahoma, Drew Haddad WR Buffalo, Luke Lawton FB McNeese State, Keith McKenzie DE Ball State, Lauvale Sape DT Utah, Ken Simonton RB Oregon State, Jonathan Smith WR Georgia Tech, Ben Sobieski OL Iowa, Dominique Stevenson LB Tennessee, Marques Sullivan OT Illinois, Rod Trafford TE South Carolina, Greg Zolman QB Vanderbilt

Additionally, QB Travis Brown was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.

DT Decisions Right Down to the Wire

Competition at the defensive tackle position has been intense throughout the preseason, creating some tough decisions for the coaching staff come roster cut down day Sept. 5.

Teams typically keep four defensive tackles on the roster but the Bills have indicated they may consider keeping a fifth tackle in place of what would normally be a roster spot held by a defensive end. Last year the Bills kept five defensive tackles and four ends.

Buffalo vs. Miami Tale of the Tape by Nick Bakay

The moment is frozen in my heart like it was yesterday. A young, ginger-haired dreamer name o' Bakay attended every 1970 Bills home game at the Old Rockpile. I saw men get drunk, I saw men get in fights, I saw the Jills back in the day when team rules decreed they had to be married - and at least 30 pounds overweight. What I didn't get to see was good football from the local team. That's the year I learned there isn't much to savor in a three-win season, so you have to reframe your definition of glory.

This was long before O.J. was infamous. Hell, it was long before O.J. gained 2,003 yards in a 14-game season. He was just a former No. 1 pick still buried in a decoy role.

Smoke signals from Bills don't fan the flames of optimism

You have to admit, this is the best time of the year in Buffalo because during no other week are people so willing to believe. Nobody has moped about the Bills losing a game since December. Mike Mularkey hasn't made a poor decision in a game that mattered since he became head coach.

It's Week One. It's football season. It's Buffalo. It's buzzing. And that means optimism.

Perhaps I've been a tad cynical once or twice, but let me remind you that I picked the Bills to win 12 games last year. It didn't matter, I thought, that Peerless Price sped out of town last season. Josh Reed and Bobby Shaw seemed capable replacements. Drew Bledsoe was coming off a Pro Bowl season, Travis Henry had established himself as a top back, Sam Gash returned to show Henry the way, and right tackle Mike Williams was ready to blossom in his second season.

Gogolak style in fashion for 40 years

Next Sunday will mark a number of milestones at Ralph Wilson Stadium: Mike Mularkey's regular-season debut as the 14th head coach of the Bills (I'm counting Lou Saban twice; like Grover Cleveland he served two terms, but non-consecutive), Willis McGahee's first appearance while real NFL bullets fly, and the commissioning of new offensive line coach Jim McNally to make chicken salad out of chicken scratch - but we're forgetting something else.

It will be the 40th anniversary of the introduction of soccer-style kicking into American professional football.

It happened here in Buffalo, with Bills rookie Pete Gogolak as the pioneer.

Bills decide today who is a cut above

The Buffalo Bills will provide more evidence their defense is for real this afternoon.

Some pretty good defensive players will be among the 15 cuts the Bills announce at 4 p.m., as they pare down their roster to the NFL limit of 53.

"There's going to be tough decisions, and I think that's good," said defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. "That means you've got some good players. We brought some good players into training camp this year. Nobody could take a couple practice days off and say, "I'll still have my spot.' "

Donahoe: Rooneys made 'a mistake'

Tom Donahoe insists that he harbors no bitterness toward the Steelers.

He does, however, retain some strong feelings about his forced departure four-and-a-half years ago.

Donahoe, then the Steelers' director of football operations, lost a very public power struggle with coach Bill Cowher, who offered to resign after a 6-10 season in 1999.

Ex-Steelers contingent under intense pressure to reverse Buffalo's fortunes

Tom Donahoe likes to keep a low profile, so you won't find his photograph in the Buffalo Bills' media guide, even though he is the second-most powerful man in the organization. You will, however, find so many photos of other ex-Steelers employees that you could craft a second book. Start with the big three:

September 04, 2004

Controversy breaks serenity of Bills camp

The Buffalo Bills had been quietly tucked away in this beautiful little upstate New York town, giggling at how nobody seems to know that they exist. It was the perfect setup for an NFL sneak attack, but in one short week any hopes of hiding in the bushes came crashing down when an old-fashioned running back controversy screamed for attention.

Just what first-year coach Mike Mularkey needed to break the serenity.

Shane Matthews has nice debut with newest team, the Buffalo Bills

Pascagoula native Shane Matthews put together a solid opener to his preseason stint with the Buffalo Bills. Matthews, who was signed last week because of injuries to the Bills second- and third-string quarterbacks, completed 7-of-10 passes for 104 yards in a 20-17 preseason loss to the Detroit Lions earlier this week.

Mike Williams looks ahead, not back

Mike Williams joked recently that he has become a forgotten man the past few weeks. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

The last time the Buffalo Bills' massive right tackle was the center of attention it was for all the wrong reasons.

He entered training camp playing with the second-team offense because he missed a lot of practice time during the spring minicamps and needed time to get caught up with the team's new playbook.

Finally together, O-line shines

The Buffalo Bills' starting offensive line played well in its first game together during Thursday's preseason finale at Detroit. Jonas Jennings never had a doubt about that.

The veteran left tackle returned to the lineup after sitting out last week's game in Indianapolis. Although the starters didn't play much as a unit this summer, Jennings has insisted throughout the preseason that the group would be fine.

For one game at least, he was right.

Bills must stop penalties

Mike Mularkey didn't have a play-by-play sheet or a calculator handy Thursday night in the moments following the Bills' sloppy 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions, but he didn't need them.

"The yardage lost from penalties and special teams has got to be phenomenal," Mularkey said after Buffalo concluded a 1-3 preseason at Ford Field.

September 03, 2004

Some tough cuts ahead for Bills

So where are the Buffalo Bills nine days before their regular-season opener? Yeah, they finished the exhibition schedule 1-3, but two of those defeats were a one-pointer to Tennessee and last night’s 20-17 defeat at Detroit. Still, there was good news in the pre-season finale. No. 1, the first-team offensive line, together for the first time since training camp opened, performed well. The starting offense, after being held without a touchdown on its first 14 possessions, went 90 yards on 16 plays for a TD to open the game.

Burning Questions-Buffalo

• Has Buffalo's new coaching staff salvaged Drew Bledsoe's faltering game?

Answer: With quarterbacks J.P. Losman and Travis Brown both going down in the past week, Bledsoe is more important than ever to the Bills' chances in 2004. And this much is encouraging: The troika of offensive coordinator Tom Clements, quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche and head coach Mike Mularkey appears to have fixed the faulty time clock in Bledsoe's head, because the veteran is getting rid of the ball quicker and avoiding the costly sack. That has been the focus of the staff's work with Bledsoe from day one.

But here's what's not so promising: The immobile Bledsoe is only going to be as good as his offensive line, and on that front things are shaky at best in Buffalo. The Bills have virtually no depth or margin for error at offensive line and are relying on line coach Jim McNally to work his usual magic with the unit. We've already seen how the story ends if Bledsoe has to endure too much pass rush.

Williams making a run at third RB spot

The Buffalo Bills know who their top running backs are. But they aren't so sure about who will back up Travis Henry and Willis McGahee. Shaud Williams is making a strong case to win third running back spot. The undrafted rookie from the University of Alabama had his second straight strong preseason outing in Thursday's game against the Detroit Lions. Williams displayed quick feet, vision and elusiveness in gaining 78 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. He added another 69 yards on punt and kickoff returns and had a 65-yard punt return called back by a holding penalty.

No sense overreacting to QB injuries

Why all the fuss over the injuries to the Bills' backup quarterbacks? By deciding not to bring an experienced backup QB to training camp, the Bills were rolling the dice on Drew Bledsoe staying healthy for the entire season, anyway. They were apparently more interested in propping up Bledsoe's fragile self-confidence than having a proven backup who might actually challenge him for the job. Really, is Shane Matthews any worse an option than Travis Brown?

First things first for Bills

The starting offense finally found the end zone. The defense got in one more dress rehearsal. The coaches got one more chance to evaluate guys fighting for those last few roster spots. The preseason is over for the Buffalo Bills, and quarterback Drew Bledsoe couldn't be happier. "Yes, we are ready for the regular season," Bledsoe said Thursday night as the Bills lost to the Detroit Lions, 20-17, in the penalty-filled preseason finale in Ford Field

Veteran Matthews Impressive in Bills Debut

"He was pretty impressive," Head Coach Mike Mularkey said after the game. "I hope other quarterbacks don't get that mind set that you can be home with your wife and kids and can miss training camp and 48 hours later you can come in an NFL game and move a team." Based on the unique circumstances, Offensive Coordinator Tom Clements and Quarterbacks Coach Sam Wyche put a package together for the Lions game that Matthews was comfortable with. "That's the first time I put on pads since the pre-game warm-up the last game in December last year," said Matthews. "It felt a little weird but I had fun out there."

Bills Offense Efficient, Scores on First Drive

The Buffalo Bills offense got out of their scoring drought on Thursday against the Detroit Lions and it didn't take very long. The Bills drove nearly the entire length of the field on the game's opening possession. The scoring drive lasted nearly nine minutes with the Bills moving the ball 90 yards on 16 plays.

Bledsoe trying to beat the clock

No quarterback was sacked more often last year than Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe. Part of the blame for those 49 takedowns rests on the offensive line, but Bledsoe conceded after the season the internal clock that tells him when to get rid of the ball was out of whack.
    "We have to do everything we can to protect Drew, but he has to do everything he can to avoid sacks and taking unnecessary hits," new quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche said. "Getting rid of the ball just a second quicker can make all the difference in the world."

Bills Drop Their Final Exhibition Game

The preseason ended for the Bills Thursday losing in Detroit 20-17. Mike Mularkey's first preseason ends 1-3. The most distressing thing about this game was the 17 penalties committed by the Bills. Mularkey's message on that front is not being heard. They also fumbled three more times. More on that stuff later.
Good news for the first team offense. They had one series and put together a 16 play, 90 yard drive.

Bills Fall in Preseason Finale

In the final preseason game for the Buffalo Bills, starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe finally led the first unit to a touchdown.

In the only series he played, Bledsoe connected on 4-of-6 passes for 62 yards setting up a Willis McGahee two yard run in a 20-17 loss at Detroit.

Better Bills lose again

Drew Bledsoe admitted that coach Mike Mularkey made mention of the Bills' continued penalty woes at halftime of Thursday's preseason finale against Detroit at Ford Field. However, Mularkey's aggravation was somewhat quelled by what took place on the opening possession of Buffalo's 20-17 loss to the Lions.
For the first time in four games, Bledsoe led the Bills on a touchdown drive, and it couldn't have been more impressive, a penalty-free, 16-play, 90-yard march that chewed up the first 8:44 of the game before Willis McGahee slammed across the goal-line on a two-yard run.

Bills Look Sloppy In Finale

Plagued the entire night by penalties the Buffalo Bills dropped their preseason finale 20-17 to the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. 

Drew Bledsoe finished the preseason on a high note completing four of six passes and lead the first team offense to it's first touchdown of the preseason

Banged-up Lions outlast Bills 20-17

Steve Mariucci struggled to get too excited about a preseason victory because a handful of Detroit Lions went down with injuries. On the opening drive, the Buffalo Bills got exactly what they wanted, while the Lions couldn't avoid their worst fear in the preseason finale for both teams. Drew Bledsoe led Buffalo's first-string offense to its only touchdown of the preseason, three Detroit defensive backs were hurt and the Lions went on to beat the Bills 20-17.

September 02, 2004

Lions 20, Bills 17

DETROIT (Sept. 2, 2004) -- On the opening drive, the Buffalo Bills got exactly what they wanted, while the Detroit Lions couldn't avoid their worst fear in the preseason finale for both teams.

Drew Bledsoe led Buffalo's first-string offense to its only touchdown of the preseason, three Detroit defensive backs were hurt and the Lions went on to beat the Bills 20-17.

Lions safety Brock Marion (bruised right knee), cornerback Fernando Bryant (neck stinger) and cornerback Rod Babers (shoulder) all left the game with injuries.

Lions 20, Bills 17 Capsule

DETROIT (AP) Drew Bledsoe led Buffalo's first-string offense to its only touchdown of the preseason, but three Detroit defensive backs were hurt.

Lions safety Brock Marion (bruised right knee), cornerback Fernando Bryant (neck stinger) and cornerback Rod Babers (shoulder) all left the game with injuries. Bryant was hurt on the second play from scrimmage, Marion went down three plays later and Babers was also hurt during the first possession. Marion was later carted away from the sideline with an ice pack strapped to his knee, but X-rays were negative. Bryant is a starter, and Babers is competing for a roster spot.

Clean bill: Lions OK after last exhibition

The idea -- first and foremost -- was to survive. Everything else was secondary. So the Lions' final exhibition game of the season -- despite a couple of early scares -- had to be considered a complete success. Quarterback Joey Harrington and rookie running back Kevin Jones didn't even play. Wide receivers Charles Rogers and Roy Williams got only one offensive series each.

Lions 20, Bills 17 Gamebook

Lions safety Marion hurts knee, leaves game

DETROIT (Sept. 2, 2004) -- Detroit Lions safety Brock Marion bruised his right knee on the opening drive of his team's preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills. Marion was helped off the field after he was hit going after a fumble. He was later carted away from the sideline, with an ice pack strapped to his knee. But X-rays were negative.

Buffalo Closes Preseason with 20-17 Loss to Lions

The Buffalo Bills closed out the 2004 preseason with a 1-3 record in a 20-17 defeat to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit.  The first string offense played sparingly, but effectively. Drew Bledsoe went 4 of 6 for 62 yards while directing the Bills on a 90 yard opening drive in 16 plays. Willis McGahee capped the drive with a 2 yard run for an early lead. It was the only action the Bills first unit would see on the evening.

Newcomer Shane Matthews, on the roster a mere 72 hours, was inmpressive in his debut running a limited offense. Matthews was 7-10 for 104 yards to lead all passing in the game. He also led two scoring drives resulting in 10 points. Shaud Williams' 18 carries for 78  yards led all rushers.

Bills Face Lions for Third Straight Year

The Buffalo Bills head to Detroit to take on the Lions in their 2004 preseason finale. It marks the third straight year the two teams have played in the exhibition season and the fourth in the last five years. This year's game takes place on a Thursday, after both teams just played days earlier. The schedule makes for a short week and could cut into the amount of preparation time each team has. Lions Head Coach Steve Mariucci said the short week influences his decision on who plays in the game. "We'll see how many healthy bodies are left and who we want to play in the last game and for how long," Mariucci told the Detroit media. "It changes a little bit on how we play this game."

Bills hope the hard knocks are over

Asked about the importance of avoiding injuries to key players in his team's final preseason game, Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey gave an appropriate response. He knocked on wood. Injuries are a part of the game, and the Bills have certainly had their share this summer. So while the Bills will try to end the preseason with a win over the Detroit Lions tonight, they're keeping their fingers crossed that they will walk out of Ford Field in one piece.  

Wire regains position as Bills' No. 1 strong safety

Coy Wire went through training camp and the entire 2003 preseason as the Buffalo Bills starting strong safety, ready for Year 2 as an NFL starter. Then, four days before the season opener, the Bills signed free-agent Lawyer Milloy, made him their starting strong safety and sent Wire to special teams. Now, less than two weeks before the first game of the 2004 season, Wire has his job back.

Bills hobbled, hungry for TDs

OK, it's only preseason.
Considering the Buffalo Bills offense is coming off a year in which it failed to score a touchdown in seven games, finding the end zone in tonight's final tuneup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field would not be an insignificant achievement. Through three preseason games, Bledsoe and the first-unit offense have produced four field goals in 15 possessions. The other 11 series ended with eight punts, one interception, one fumble and one missed field goal.

Burning Questions: The key issues that face each team

Buffalo: Has Buffalo's new coaching staff salvaged Drew Bledsoe's faltering game?

Answer: With quarterbacks J.P. Losman and Travis Brown both going down in the past week, Bledsoe is more important than ever to the Bills' chances in 2004. And this much is encouraging: The troika of offensive coordinator Tom Clements, quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche and head coach Mike Mularkey appears to have fixed the faulty time clock in Bledsoe's head, because the veteran is getting rid of the ball quicker and avoiding the costly sack.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

The Bills stole half of the University of Tennessee's starting defensive backfield with the signing of safety Rashad Baker and cornerback Jabari Greer, two draft-rated players who for various reasons went un-selected. Both street free agents have been impressive in training camp and should make the final roster and play. "We're really encouraged by the performance of both of them this camp," defensive backs coach Steve Szabo said. "These are the two best free agents I've seen in 11 years in the NFL. We never had anybody like this in Jacksonville or New England when I was there, kids who look they can legitimately contribute and play."

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

Most NFL teams carry only three quarterbacks on their active roster and many elect to go with just two. Because of a freak rash of injuries, the Bills will likely carry four. "We may have more people in our quarterback room than we have in the offensive line room by the time the roster is put together," GM Tom Donahoe quipped, just before signing 11-year free agent veteran Shane Matthews on Aug. 30 as insurance behind starter Drew Bledsoe to open the season with.

Bills report: Inside slant

• Rookie coach Mike Mularkey came off tough, fair and decisive.
• Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, coming off his worst NFL season, looked trimmer and quicker.
• Wide receiver Eric Moulds, who caught only one touchdown pass last season while battling a severe groin injury, looked like his old Pro Bowl self.

Presidential (And other political) Football Anecdotes

SPONSORING A BILL, JACK KEMP: The long-time congressman from New York, the 1996 vice-presidential candidate and former Buffalo Bills quarterback was claimed off waivers from San Diego in 1962 for all of $ 100.

PRESIDENTIAL TRAFFIC, GEORGE BUSH: On Jan. 24, 1982, Detroit hosted the Super Bowl during a snowstorm. However, then-Vice President George Bush decided to attend the game, resulting in even more traffic jams from the motorcade.

September 01, 2004

Where is the love?

During a training camp session on a sauna-like day, running back Travis Henry spots a photographer shooting pictures of him from about 40 feet away. He smiles, points, then flashes the thumbs-up sign. The 25-year-old is cheerful and relaxed, exhibiting little concern that former University of Miami superstar Willis McGahee is starting for him while he sits out and heals bruised ribs. He says the pain is not nearly as bad as the torn rib cartilage or the hairline leg fracture he played with last year. Still, he admits that just as a precaution, he likely won't practice or play until the Bills prepare for their Week 1 September 12 home opener against Jacksonville.

Preseason Preview - Buffalo (1-2) at Detroit (1-2)

The Buffalo Bills will attempt to crystallize their quarterback situation on Thursday night, when they travel to meet Detroit in the final preseason game for both teams. With projected backup signal-callers J.P. Losman (broken leg) and Travis Brown (sprained left MCL) both out, the club signed veteran Shane Matthews on Tuesday to hold down the No. 2 spot behind Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe is expected to play just one or two series against the Lions, leaving Matthews and third-stringer Greg Zolman to handle most of the duties behind center. The Bills have dropped their last two preseason games, including a 30-17 defeat at the hands of Indianapolis last Saturday. The Lions will also be vying to snap a two-game losing skid, which was extended when they lost to Baltimore, 17-6, last Saturday.

Coy Wire up for challenge to fill in for Milloy

Safety Coy Wire has a message for injured Buffalo Bills teammate Lawyer Milloy: Get well soon. Wire might be getting the opportunity to start in place of Milloy, who's out indefinitely with a broken right forearm. But Wire is also aware of Milloy's importance to the team, and wants him back as soon as possible. ''He's a guy you hate to see go down because of the passion he has for the game and what he means to our team,'' Wire said as the Bills prepare for their preseason finale at Detroit on Thursday. ''I'm taking this upon myself to not have a big drop-off from what we lost. I'm taking it very personally.''

Final Preseason Game Important for McMahon

Don't tell Mike McMahon the NFL's final exhibitions are meaningless.

While many downplay such games because starters play little if at all, they are important for some players, like Detroit's backup quarterback.

McMahon is expected to get playing time with the first-string offense for the first time this preseason when the Lions host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.

Even without final preseason tune-up, Lions regulars ready to go

A decision has yet to be made about how many snaps, if any, the Detroit Lions' starting offensive unit will play in Thursday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Steve Mariucci and his staff will weigh the risk/reward consequences, but the players say it really won't matter to them either way.

Buffalo Bills Scouting Report

The giddiness that greeted the arrival of quarterback Drew Bledsoe in Buffalo two years ago -- "the over-the-top parades," as he puts it -- has subsided. The stands at training camp were only half to three-quarters full this summer, and the crowds were surprisingly subdued. That's what happens after a 6-10 season, one that cost coach Gregg Williams his job. Taking over is Mike Mularkey, who spent nine years in the league as a player and 10 as an assistant coach, including the last three as the Steelers' offensive coordinator.

Matthews aims for game action

New quarterback Shane Matthews said he thinks he will be ready to see a little action Thursday when the Buffalo Bills close the preseason at Detroit against the Lions. Matthews, an 11-year veteran, watched Monday's practice and took part in Tuesday's workout after signing a contract with the Bills. He's the Bills' new No. 2 behind Drew Bledsoe until Travis Brown recovers from a sprained knee in about four to six weeks. "Everybody runs the same plays in this league," Matthews said. "You just have to learn how they call them. I'm pretty smart, at least I think I'm pretty smart. I just have to learn how to translate the plays."

Mularkey sticks to party line on front five

Mike Mularkey isn't trying to kid anyone. Sure, it would be better if his starting offensive linemen spent the entire summer lining up together. But the Buffalo Bills' coach maintained this week that preseason results have not shaken his belief that his front five is headed for a turnaround this year. "I have total confidence that it will come together," Mularkey said. "If you're looking for excellence the first game, I think it's a pipe dream. But I think they'll get better and better as they play."

Thomas fights with one hand to keep his job

There's one good thing about the cast Kevin Thomas must wear on his left wrist and hand.
There's no way the back judge can ever accuse him of holding with his left hand. "Most of the time I have to have my hand balled up," the Buffalo Bills third-year cornerback said. "There's no way I can be holding." He can, however, still provide tight coverage when opponents are in obvious passing situations.

Bills QB taking a crash course in offense

With the calendar about to flip to September, quarterback Shane Matthews was beginning to think his NFL career might be over.
After his contract was not renewed by the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the 2003 season, Matthews spent the spring and summer at home in Florida playing golf and being a father and a husband. That's what he was doing Sunday afternoon when his cell phone rang.