| October 29, 2004 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 05:59 PM |
The Bills upped their record to 9-5 with a 10-point Sunday night win in their first-ever visit to Arizona. While the Buffalo victory improved its own playoff chances, it eliminated the Patriots, Jets and Chargers from contention.
The Bills struck first on the game's opening possession, moving 67 yards in 6 plays and capping the drive with a 15-yard TD pass from Doug Flutie to Eric Moulds. Key plays on the drive included completions of 24 and 19 yards to Jay Riemersma and Andre Reed, respectively. After the defense sent Arizona 3-and-out on its first two possessions, Buffalo increased its lead when Jonathan Linton's 6-yard TD run ended a 12-play, 80-yard drive. Early in the 2nd, the Cardinals got on the board with a long TD drive that resulted in a 1-yard Mario Bates run. Just before halftime, another Bates TD run - this one from 2 yards out - knotted the score at 14 at halftime.
After sending the Cards 3-and-out on the opening drive of the 2nd half, Buffalo chewed up most of the 3rd quarter with a 15-play drive that took 9:17 off the clock and ended when Steve Christie nailed a 33-yard FG. The Bills opened that possession with 12 straight running plays that moved the team from its own 25 to the Cards 11. Buffalo's next drive ended on a Flutie interception but not before again taking more than 5 minutes off the clock. Clinging to a 3-point lead in the 4th quarter, the Bills embarked upon a 13-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard Riemersma TD reception with 3:01 to play.Down by 10, the Cards came right back and made things interesting when Jake Plummer connected on a 26-yard TD pass to Rob Moore with 1:55 left. Bills SS Henry Jones put the game out of reach, however, when he controlled the ensuing onside kick and returned it 37 yards for a TD.
Despite the absence of RB Antowain Smith (turf toe) the Bills running game gained 159 yards on 41 carries and was a major reason Buffalo was able to control the ball for nearly 23 of 30 second-half minutes. Overall, the Bills enjoyed a 376 to 178 edge in total yards of offense and were particularly effective on 3rd down (12-17 for 71%).
Week 9 was played in dismal conditions back home at Rich Stadium. During the game, a consistent 30-40 mph gale force wind blew, driving rain and later sleet and hail. 59 points were scored by both teams, all of them with the wind. The visiting Arizona Cardinals managed the only points of the first quarter. A Kelly fumble on a sack resulted in a Johnny Johnson TD score. In the second, Kelly managed 3 TD passes, including Steve Tasker's first of his career at WR. Tasker was pressed into service when Both Beebe and Reed were knocked out of the game due to injury. Tasker set up a second TD recovering a Rich Camarillo bobbled snap at the Cardinal 6 yard line. Butch Rolle contributed a TD reception, his 8th TD catch on his last 8 receptions. Kelly defied the conditions to toss 4 TDs as the Bills rolled themselves to a 45-14 win.