October 31, 2004

Bills pound Cardinals with McGahee

McGahee provided the spark the Bills needed offensively, running for 102 yards and two touchdowns to lead Buffalo to a 38-14 win over Arizona on Sunday.

McGahee fuels Bills' rout of Cardinals

Coach Mike Mularkey placed his faith in Willis McGahee to spark the Buffalo Bills' much-maligned offense, and the running back delivered in a big way.

Bills WR Reed leaves game with knee injury

Buffalo Bills receiver Josh Reed hurt his left knee while returning a punt 2 minutes into Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Buffalo chill

Two Florida kids, Henry from Frostproof and McGahee from Miami, find themselves battling for one job in Buffalo.

Facing top red-zone defense, Bills have no room for error

The Bills, no matter who's running, should be able to control clock by running at Cardinals' undersized front seven.

Team Player

Travis Henry has been trying to keep his emotions a safe distance from One Bills Drive because inviting them to Ralph Wilson Stadium would solve nothing.

Pressure on Bills to give Losman game experience

The specter of the No. 1 draft choice the Buffalo Bills gave away to acquire J.P. Losman is going to force them to get the rookie onto the field just about as soon as he's ready.

Bills focus on dealing Cards a loss

"We're putting the blinders on," said defensive end Chris Kelsay. "Everything that's happened in the past and everything that's going on around us, all the criticism, we're putting it behind us and focusing on Arizona."

The Unsinkable Sam Wyche

Medical mishap took away his voice, but coach's passion for football can't be silenced.

Bills Q&A: Drew Haddad

Ever since he arrived in western New York to play for the University at Buffalo, losing has been habitual for Drew Haddad.

Bills face suddenly revived Cardinals

Today's Halloween bash be-tween the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals at Ralph Wilson Stadium won't be televised locally.

Blacked Out Bills to Face Cards

The Arizona Cardinals, trying to end the NFL's longest road losing streak, may have Anquan Boldin on the field when they take on the lowly Buffalo Bills.

October 30, 2004

Emmitt looks ahead, not back, at Bills

Emmitt Smith chuckled after being asked to recall the success he enjoyed against Buffalo in two Super Bowl meetings more than a decade ago. "What kind of question is that? I'm not playing that team," Smith said. "This is a totally different ballclub."

Radio team far too easy on the Bills

Near the end of Sunday's 20-6 debacle in Baltimore that assured the blackout, Murphy asked Van Pelt a simple question that tested his credibility. "What do you make of Bledsoe's day?" Murphy said. "Not a real effective performance."

Smith's goal is forward progress

Two years removed from the Dallas Cowboys, he still looks out of place in Arizona Cardinals red. He owns nearly every meaningful rushing record, but the only carry that concerns him is his next one.

Smith looks forward to more carries, records for Cardinals

They're not giving up a whole lot of nothing," Smith said about the Bills' defense. "They probably should be grading a whole lot higher. They play very sound defense, very, very aggressive defense. I've seen this style before. This style reminds me of San Diego back in the early to mid '90s."

Tight ends give QBs key targets

The NFL's crackdown on defensive holding and pass interference this year was designed to benefit wide receivers, but the biggest beneficiary may wind up being tight ends.

Bills counting on McGahee for boost

The Buffalo Bills are just as bad under Mike Mularkey this season as they were under Gregg Williams last season.

October 29, 2004

Bills QB’s lack of mobility has made him easier to sack

The Cardinals have to like this combination Sunday in Buffalo: Their aggressive defensive schemes matching up against the offense most vulnerable to the quarterback sack.

Bills vs. Cardinals Preview

When you think of explosive receiving threats around the NFL, teams like the Colts, Rams and Vikings quickly come to mind with names like Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and Randy Moss.

McGahee back to old form

It was only a matter of time before the Buffalo Bills running back situation would be come one that is reminiscent of the days of Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson.

Buffalo, Tough Team, Tough Place to Play

The Buffalo Bills may only be 1-5 and fledging offensively, but they are a tough team to beat especially defensively.

Let the fun begin

I felt like the Aflac Duck in that commercial with Yogi Berra after I listened to the Buffalo Bills’ explanation of their muddled situation at running back.

Earning $7,000 is all in a day's work for NFL officials

The NFL pays its officials anywhere between $2,134 a game for a first-year man to $7,334 for one with 20 or more years of experience, according to the National Association of Sports Officials.

Boldin proves Tolbert's teaching makes a big difference

Buffalo Bills receivers coach Tyke Tolbert will see a familiar face on the opposite sideline when the Arizona Cardinals visit Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday.

Bills defense performs against tough schedule

There's a simple reason why the Buffalo Bills have lost five of six games this season, Cardinals coach Dennis Green says. "Schedule."

October 28, 2004

An Open Letter to Drew Bledsoe

Drew, before I begin I just want you to know that I have always supported you.

Dearest Drew Bledsoe,

Drew, before I begin I just want you to know that I have always supported you. I’ve hoped, prayed and wished for you to be the man that leads the Buffalo Bills to a Super Bowl. It would have been great to see you lead us there. You are a person one loves to get behind and cheer for. Even when things first began to go awry, I stood firmly entrenched in the “Bledsoe Supporter” camp. When other writers began to call for your head, I stood by your side and proclaimed that it was not your fault.

“Give the man some protection!” I yelled when the wolves began to howl. In my heart of hearts, I truly believed that the Drew that we saw for the first eight games of the 2002 season could be resurrected in a heartbeat. All you needed was a few blocks, a decent running back and some receivers to throw to. Then the Buffalo Bills would be on a path for a Super Bowl. It would be as easy as that.

But alas, it was not meant to be.

They say that a team goes the way its leader goes, mirroring their captain and following the example they set forth. It is an understatement to say that the Buffalo Bills have ebbed and flowed in the style of you, Drew.

Something “they” also say is that to kill the beast, you must remove its head from its shoulders. Unfortunately, the Buffalo Bills have been an ugly, boring, abomination of a beast for quite some time now.

We thought we had removed the source of all of our problems in the disposal of head coach Gregg Williams at the end of a punchless 2003 season, but the same problems remain one year later under new head coach Mike Mularkey.

A fishy smell has come to the forefront.

As bad as Williams was, maybe we were all wrong in pointing the burning finger at him. In fact Drew, I think we should have pointed it at you. Drew, you are the problem with the Buffalo Bills, just as you were the restraint holding back the New England Patriots from their glory. Is it a coincidence that once Tom Brady took over for you, the Patriots reached unprecedented heights? At this point, it is obvious that coincidence has nothing to do with it.

You held the Patriots down, just like you are holding this talented Bills team down. It’s a shame in this day and age too, when a team’s shelf life is only so long in the era of NFL parity.

This isn’t to say that the Bills will springboard into the Super Bowl with your departure, but hey, there is a precedent here.

Man, I’m so sorry, this is really painful for me. I can’t say enough about you as a person. You’re a great guy, a solid role model for the kids and an all around class act. You’re an excellent ambassador for the game of football; you play it the way it should be played. In a time where anti-heroes rule the day, you are the epitome of the classic, true hero.

But Drew, Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens was your last stand as a Buffalo Bill in my eyes. While I may also have to send a letter to Eric Moulds in light of his key dropped passes, you were the one at the end of the day that had five turnovers.

You guys outplayed the Ravens in every aspect of the game. Except for turnover differential, that is, the most important piece of the puzzle to winning an NFL game.

Drew, you cost us the game, and I just can’t take it anymore.

This Buffalo Bills team is in dire need of a new leader, a new swagger and a new style of play. So, please, pass the torch to this young buck in J.P. Losman. I know you can see that Losman, Willis McGahee and Lee Evans are the future of this offense. Please do not interfere any longer. Step aside, my friend, please step aside.

The removal of Losman’s cast will be your cue to hand the offense over. I was cheering for you Drew, but after compiling a 15-23 record over nearly two and a half seasons in Buffalo, it is clear that the team is in dire need of a change.

It is time to cut the problem off at its true head.

Once again, I am sorry, but this is just the way it has to be.

Good luck wherever life takes you.

Sincerely,

Jim Byrne

P.S. We will always respect you Drew. Stay class

Jim Byrne’s “Bills Blasts” appear weekly on the Erie-Times News website, GoErie.com, and he is a writer for his site at ZubazPants.com.

Bills Better Than Record Indicates

Heading into the seventh week of the season, the Cardinals think they are better than their 2-4 record and they are positive that the Bills feel the same about their 1-5 standing.

QB Losman last of Bills first-round picks waiting to make debut

Losman is about a week from being cleared for full-contact practice after breaking his left leg in training camp in August.

Bills blacked out Sunday

The Buffalo Bills home game against the Arizona Cardinals did not sell out by today's 1 p.m. NFL deadline, meaning that the game will not be shown on local television.

Bills Encourage Fans to Drive Home Safely

The Buffalo Bills would like to encourage all fans to be cautious of youngsters trick-or-treating when driving home from Ralph Wilson Stadium following the October 31st game versus Arizona.

Moorman Goes to Back to School

To encourage children, ages 6-13, to stay in school and become involved in after school programs, the "NFL Take a Player to School presented by JCPenney Afterschool" sweepstakes selected one winner in each of the 32 NFL markets and one non-NFL market.

Bills Announce New Partnership with Jim Kelly Football Camp

The Buffalo Bills and Jim Kelly Football Camp announced a new multi-year agreement Wednesday.

Rookies, Kids Celebrate Halloween

Some orange frosting and chocolate sprinkles were all kids needed to put smiles on their faces this past week at Buffalo's Women and Children's Hospital, of course, it didn't hurt that some of their favorite Buffalo Bills players were on hand.

NFL notes: McGahee to start for Buffalo

"McGahee’s made some more yards after first contact," coach Mike Mularkey said in announcing that the second-year back will start ahead of veteran Travis Henry.

Bills fumble the two-back approach

You can look at it one of two ways, either Mike Mularkey is loyal and sensitive to a fault ... or he’s pathetically indecisive.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

The Bills talk about how their offensive line is improving, but the Baltimore Ravens, like the Oakland Raiders earlier this year, talked plenty of smack after their victory last Sunday.

Bills Report: Inside Slant

With their running game ranked 28th in the NFL and with no rushing touchdowns during their 1-5 start, the Bills have named medical miracle Willis McGahee their new starting running back.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

SS Lawyer Milloy, who missed the first five games of the regular season after breaking his right forearm during a preseason game at Detroit, started and finished last Sunday's game in Baltimore.

Arizona (2-4) At Buffalo (1-5) Capsule

Cardinals make third trip to Buffalo, first since 1990, they haven't won there since 1971.

No local TV for Bills-Cardinals

The Buffalo Bills sellout streak is in jeopardy as the team announced Thursday that some 6,500 tickets remain for Sunday's game versus the Arizona Cardinals at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Bledsoe: 'I feel like I've done what I can'

Bledsoe said, "I am the quarterback of a team that's a power-running team. Yet we have not run for a touchdown through six games."

Bills tap McGahee for start

Mularkey wasn't so definitive about the long-term implication of the move. He was only willing to declare McGahee the starter for the upcoming game.

One Fan's View: How the 'Bledsoe' are you?

Good news first, right? Well, the SPCA said they’d give us fans the medicine they give really old dogs when their time is up. There is bad news associated to it though. The makers of that shot are also the makers of the flu shot, so we won’t be able to get any until after January. So what a perfect segue into all the crap that I witnessed on Sunday. After watching the Ravens game, I can now say I know what it feels like to be Mary Kate Olsen after a big meal. I felt like vomiting from 1pm straight through until the 4th quarter. There isn’t an expletive that has been created to adequately cover my frustration. They all seem so trite. The F-word isn’t doing it. Usually a staple that has carried me for so many years, is just not quenching any of my anger. Perhaps the new word is Bledsoe.

Let me try. “BLEDSOE!!” “What the Bledsoe are you doing?” “Are you Bledsoe kidding me?” “Girlfriend, are you Bledsoeing Joe down the street?” Yep, I found my new curse word.

For those of you not in the know, I am Hindu. What does this have to do with football? Well, interestingly enough, I believe in reincarnation. So whatever you did in your past life kind of determines the life you get now. And before the last two seasons, I have to say I thought I had a really nice life. So I figured I must have done some good in my past life. But the complete idiocy of the last 20+ Bills games, have me thinking that I must have been a real bastard. Five turnovers? Field goals in the Red zone? Josh Reed still in a uniform? What did I do to deserve such misery? Did I kill someone? I repent for anything I may have done. Can someone please just make it stop? I’m so very sorry.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed today’s “game”. We really have a knack at making people who aren’t that good look like all-stars. Deion Sanders for example,. Effectively shut down for 7 weeks in the NFL, he is now going to be the talk of the week. Additionally, add the entire Ravens offense. They were supposed to be a joke. But they looked amazing in the first half. I was jealous when they scored two offensive touchdowns in a game.

Too much freaking drama comes with cheering for this team. We should get a show on Fox called “One O.P.” At least the writers could write some witty dialogue for the post game. The same damn comments. “We’re going to have to look at the film.” What the Bledsoe are you talking about? I watched the film. There is nothing in there. You guys are going to have to tear the “fall apart and look confused” pages out of the playbook. Frankly, I don’t know why their in there, and why we keep calling them. I can see in the huddle, “hey, Henry, we’re going to snap the ball and not block on the left side. That’s what the playbook says. Then you’re going to run left.” Everyone claps and they set at the line. “Ok, Eric, you run your pro bowl body through the endzone like a gazelle. I’m going to needlessly through it about 4 feet behind you. Got it? Great. BREAK!” They clap and set again. “Ok, guys, this one they called my number. I apparently have to get nervous and throw the ball to the other team. Awesome.”

Everyone is probably calling for JP. I’m ready for him to suck as well. He’s a rookie and he’s playing for Buffalo. But part of me thinks that if he can be the NFL QB that the NFL is showing you have to be, I think people will start laying off the line. This loss really was all Bledsoe. Even his completions were ugly. Early in the game, he had Josh Reed running all alone in the middle and he tossed it so high, Reed had to go up for it. I guess the paradox is if he throws it on target Reed drops it. Bledsoe took the standard drop back, pitter pattering of the feet and then gets crunched. He then has the audacity in the post game to say he needs more time. Unless you are Mick Jagger, time is not on your side buddy. Time is of the essence. You can’t ask for more of it. You got to make due with what you got. That’s why few people make good leaders. A leader can’t blow plays on a regular basis and then come off the field looking rattled, tired, and uninspired. Lead follow or get out of the way Drew

Kevin’s DVD extras:

- So I knew, like many of you when Deion was dancing to the end zone, the game was over. I know my dad probably turned the game off and went about his business right after that play. He almost 100% of the time knows when to give up. It’s a gift really. I’m the idiot who’s always like, “dude, Dad, its 52-17. Dallas has done all it can do…now we go on the offensive and get Super Bowl 27 back on the track.” I’d say I got that from my mother, but she doesn’t like football. So she’s smarter than the two of us put together.

- The crappiness of the Bills has also contributed to getting the worst T.V. analyst coverage for the games. That adds to the boredom.

- I don’t know how Boston 2004 became like Silicon Valley 1999. Does every major sports event have to happen to them? And again with the luck. Coming back from 3 games down in the ALCS, I was briefly inspired to think it could happen to us. But no. It’s official, I hate Boston.

- The random Bills fans that you don’t know by name at the Bills bar in NYC would look at you with the glance people exchange at funerals. Their eyes say “I’m real sorry, man” and all you can do is purse your lips together and fight out a smile. I don’t know if I had the will to watch football beaten out of me so badly. I am waiting for the Bills to bring a little respect and decency to the city of Buffalo.

- I’m going to the Bills-Cardinals game. I’m as patriotic as the next guy, but can we stop the fly overs? I only say this because the last one during the Miami game was like 200 feet over the edge of the stadium. The stadium went dead silent after it for like two seconds. Wetting oneself before the offense takes the field, takes away the one special moment that I get with the starting O..

- Since that game is being played on Halloween, can the Bills dress up like a football team this Sunday?

- Can the corporate sponsorship at the Ralph change. Can Celino and Barnes donate $10,000 for every person who boos when the bills offense is introduced? Can the Tim Horton’s Mascot line up on the O line? Can the race to the stadium change to the race home? Now those are contributions that we can use.

Kevin Shenoy is a member of the New York City Bills Backers

Running Back McGahee to Start for Bills

Willis McGahee will start at running back Sunday for the Buffalo Bills in hopes of igniting a sputtering offense.

Mularkey fumbles handoff

With a 1-5 record, Mike Mularkey's Buffalo Bills look an awful lot like Gregg Williams' Bills, right down to their inability to score points and their ability to waste stellar defensive efforts.

Mularkey gives McGahee the nod, this week that is

If the Buffalo Bills' running back situation wasn't already a soap opera with the presence of McGahee and Henry on the roster, it certainly became one Wednesday.

Cards prepare for Bills' backs

The Cardinals’ defensive game plan for Sunday’s contest at Buffalo will be the same regardless of who is carrying the football for the Bills.

Beebe calls on legend Levy for motivational support

"Marv Levy's influenced me on my style of coaching," said Beebe as he turns his career towards coaching football, "But now that I'm talking about it, he might have had an indirect impact on why I got into it."

Bills call on McGahee to find missing 'spark'

Buffalo running back Willis McGahee broke the news in a radio interview Tuesday while Bills head coach Mike Mularkey confirmed it Wednesday: McGahee will start at running back Sunday against the Cardinals.

Henry out as Bills' starter

Coach Mularkey gives highly touted McGahee the assignment as club's top running back.

Bills Expecting Improved Offense with Boldin's Return

With Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin being upgraded to probable on the team’s injury report after participating in today’s full-pads practice, the Bills know that the Cardinals inconsistent offense has just received an enormous boost.

October 27, 2004

Bills Report: Inside Slant

Coach Mike Mularkey and quarterback Drew Bledsoe couldn't - or wouldn't - give a specific reason why the Bills are struggling so much in the red zone during their 1-5 start.

Bills Add Reed to Practice Squad

The Bills announced today that the team has signed OT Rodney Reed to its practice squad.

Henry accustomed to, McGahee expecting to

Bills coach Mike Mularkey is expected to announce at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that Willis McGahee and Travis Henry will be "co-starters" Sunday, although John Clayton reports that McGahee will start.

Back to Earth, Ravens 20, Bills 6

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

Pasch Scouts the Bills

The cliché "defense wins championships" apparently doesn't apply to the Buffalo Bills, despite being the 5th ranked defense in the NFL, and in the top 10 in six other defensive categories, the Bills are 1-5.

Two Starting Running Backs

Mike Mularkey was quoted on BuffaloBills.com saying that both Willis McGahee and Travis Henry are his starting Running Backs for Sunday's game against Arizona.

Jumping the gun? McGahee says he's the starter

During an interview with Sporting News Radio on Tuesday, Willis McGahee said he would be the starter Sunday when the Bills face the Arizona Cardinals in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Cards @ Bills Game Release

The Cardinals play the first of two road games vs. AFC East teams when they travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills.

Greg Gumbel Not Down on Bills

CBS NFL Today host Greg Gumbel was a featured speaker at the annual Compeer luncheon at the Rochester Convention Center.  Like a lot of us Gumbel had his thoughts on the 1-5 Bills.

Bills RB McGahee says he's starting against Cardinals

Bills running back Willis McGahee told a national radio network on Tuesday that he expects to get the second start of his career when Buffalo plays host to Arizona this weekend.

October 26, 2004

Bills Dynasty Teams Featured on Super Bowl DVD Set

In a must-have for any Buffalo Bills fan, the great teams of the 90's are featured in Super Bowl XXI-XXX Collector's Set, a five disc DVD set chronicling the greatest spectacle in sports.

Eric Moulds a True Competitor

It was tough to watch most of the game on Sunday against the Ravens, but Eric Moulds gave this team some hope and showed that they're not going to roll over and write off this season.

Moulds sends a message to teammates

Their record is lousy and barely a third of the way into this quick-dissolving season, the Buffalo Bills are already playing for next season.

Healthy Attitudes

Members of the Buffalo Bills give pupils the game plan for a well-rounded life - eat right and exercise daily.

Offense still causing problems in Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills made it easy for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, as they turned the ball over five times in their 20-6 loss at M&T Bank Stadium.

Losman not close to playing again

Bills coach Mike Mularkey said Losman is still a couple of weeks away from being ready for full contact work.

Move to Willis might sell some tickets

Here's some free marketing advice: Have Mike Mularkey come out today and announce Willis McGahee is his No. 1 running back.

Bills are most feeble inside 20

In 16 possessions inside the opponents' 20-yard line, the Bills have scored touchdowns just 25 percent of the time, the lowest rate in the NFL.

Red zone is giving Buffalo the blues

It's just too bad Drew Bledsoe — and coach Mike Mularkey for that matter — can't provide some answers as to why the Bills are so frequently failing to score when they penetrate their opponents' 20-yard-line.

How long till Bills' changing of the guard?

Sal: I hope the change happened at the running back position in the second half Sunday when Willis McGahee took over for Travis Henry.
Leo: I agree, the sooner the better.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

REPORT CARD VS. RAVENS PASSING OFFENSE: D - Drew Bledsoe may have sealed his fate as Buffalo's starting quarterback with an absolutely brutal display of decision-making and execution.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

RB Willis McGahee, who got the bulk of the work in the second half, has sore ribs but is expected to be fine for the Arizona game.

October 25, 2004

Bledsoe's days are numbered

After another dreadful performance by quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the Buffalo offense, the questions already are flying as to when, not if, Losman will be the Bills’ starting quarterback.

No More Mularkey on McGahee

Why does Mike Mularkey have loyalty to Travis Henry when it’s clear that Willis Mcgahee is the better running back right now?

Inept offense dragging down Bills

When he's not getting sacked, Drew Bledsoe's throwing interceptions, or his receivers are dropping passes.

Bills Bomb in Baltimore

The Buffalo Bills suffered a series of turnovers Sunday in a defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, made possible mostly by Deion Sanders.

Ask Him Yourself: Mike Mularkey

Ask Him Yourself: Tom Donahoe

Q: How can you justify keeping Drew Bledsoe in as the Bills QB when he has such a terrible win/loss record since he's been here?

Bledsoe's blunders butcher Buffalo

Moments after the Baltimore Ravens finished working over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Drew Bledsoe offered what must have sounded to him like a perfectly reasonable explanation for the horrid throw that assured his team of its fifth loss in six outings this year.

Bills Not Ready To Give Up

If there was one play in Sunday's 20-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that symbolizes the attitude in the Bills locker room it was Eric Moulds' touchdown-saving tackle with 5:54 left in the game.

Game Notes: Bills. vs. Ravens

Eric Moulds extended his club-record receiving streak to 100 games.

The stuff of nightmares

The Bills played one of their predictably putrid road games Sunday, turning the ball over five times in a 20-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in M&T Bank Stadium.

End debates and put in Willis, J.P.

First, the good news, what little there is of it. Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman suited up for a regular-season Bills game for the first time Sunday. Losman's broken leg is nearly healed, and he conceivably could see his first game action in Sunday's home game against Arizona.

Grading the BILLS

RUNNING GAME

(D): Ran 8 times for 14 yards in miserable first half. Willis rebounded with 50 yards in second. Willis earned every yard he got.

Milloy thrilled to play again

"It was great just to be back out with the fellas," Milloy said. "I was a little fatigued as far as my conditioning in the first half, but I guess that was to be expected. But overall, I'm happy to be back. Being on the sidelines is something I wasn't used to."

Sanders in superstar form

Over the years, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders has called himself and been called seemingly every name in the book. After Sunday's 20-6 Ravens win over the Buffalo Bills, prophet can also be added to the list.

Henry resigned to likely cut in playing time

Since joining the Buffalo Bills in 2001, Travis Henry has been accustomed to being the team's featured running back when healthy.

Not ready for Prime Time

The long offensive nightmare keeps going and going for the Buffalo Bills, like a Halloween horror movie with unending sequels.

Bledsoe nearing end as starting QB

The Bills could have a veteran in obvious freefall, who can't execute a game plan because his body can no longer back up what his mind tells it to do, battling for his future as the losses mount, leaving teammates to make excuses for him while his days as the starter are numbered (October 25, 2004) — BALTIMORE — Football fans in this scenic seaport have a new tradition, and it has nothing to do with eating crab cakes. Before entering M&T Bank Stadium's main gate, they touch the larger-than-life statue of Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, bridging the eras of the Colts and the Ravens with a good-luck stroke of their hands. "Whatever it takes," John Sloan, 51, a Ravens season-ticket holder, told me as we walked in on Sunday after giving Johnny's foot a good rub. "We need all the help we can get, especially with this quarterback we have now." That would be Kyle Boller, the Ravens' second-year passer, who keeps things interesting as one of the lowest-rated quarterbacks in the NFL. The thing is, after Baltimore defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-6, Ravens fans have to see Boller in a new light. Their quarterback has a future, and they know it could be worse. The Bills could have a veteran in obvious freefall, who can't execute a game plan because his body can no longer back up what his mind tells it to do, battling for his future as the losses mount, leaving teammates to make excuses for him while his days as the starter are numbered. That's where the Bills are with Drew Bledsoe. Baltimore, which plays a ball-control style designed to complement its stalwart defense, is 4-2 under Boller. Buffalo, which plays a ball-control style designed to complement its stalwart defense, is 1-5 under Bledsoe. How can this possibly be? A second-year pro compared to one of the NFL's all-time leading passers and a four-time Pro Bowler? Because Boller managed Sunday's game and Bledsoe mangled it. In a classic defensive struggle, Boller had four fewer turnovers and one more touchdown than Bledsoe. After the Ravens went up 17-3, it wasn't what Boller did that mattered; it was what he didn't do: make mistakes. As for Bledsoe, he accounted for five turnovers, including a season-high four interceptions. After watching the Bills post a record of 10-20 under Bledsoe since midway through the 2002 season, rational people no longer expect him to win games and elevate the play of those around him. What they do expect is that he doesn't make the killer moves that lose games. On Sunday, in a very winnable game against a Ravens team missing All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis, he did just that. Bledsoe is a stand-up guy, but he wasn't taking a lot of accountability after Buffalo's 13th loss in its last 15 road games. That was disappointing. "Listen, I'm doing everything that I can to help this football team," said Bledsoe, who posted an atrocious 32.3 rating. "Today, I'm sure the stats look awful. Three tips for interceptions and it doesn't look good. But listen, I'm fighting. I'm doing all I can, and I expect us to get it turned around." About those tips. Yes, there were three of them. But that's on Drew. Inaccurate or late throws lead to tips and picks, and Bledsoe's throws made 37-year-old Deion Sanders, who had two interceptions, look 27. Ravens coach Brian Billick was all over it. "Turnovers are always the key," said Billick, who won a Super Bowl with a quarterback, Trent Dilfer, who understood how to play within himself. "They were intelligent interceptions. They knew where they were supposed to be. They saw the route progression. I was very impressed with the way they put themselves in position to get the turnovers." Bledsoe's teammates put an arm around him. Can he bounce back? "He has no choice. He's a quarterback of an NFL football team, and he's our leader," said safety Lawyer Milloy, his longtime teammate dating back to New England. "I told him as a friend, 'Look, keep your head up. We'll come back fighting next week.' It was as simple as that. He's a fighter." I can respect the support, but excuse me if I'm not teary eyed. Bledsoe is at the helm of a bad football team that has been spinning the same record for 30 games. At this rate, it's only a matter of weeks before beleaguered coach Mike Mularkey will be forced to turn to rookie first-round pick J.P. Losman. Losman, who broke his leg in training camp, dressed as the No. 3 quarterback for the first time and looms larger than ever as a viable option for Buffalo. So what if he's not NFL game-ready? If the Bills are 1-7 at the halfway point, what's the difference? Bledsoe knows this scenario is on everybody's mind. It hurts to think about it, to answer the questions that won't stop. "Listen, I'm the quarterback here and I'm going to be the quarterback here," he said defiantly. "Anybody who has questions about that, I apologize if you're going to cheer for the Bills because I'm going to be the quarterback." Look for Buffalo's streak of 11 consecutive home sellouts to end Sunday against Arizona.

Defensive effort shortchanged

(October 25, 2004) — Mike Mularkey was asked following Buffalo's latest nightmarish offensive performance Sunday afternoon if this was a day when a great defensive effort was wasted. "No, I don't think it was wasted," Mularkey said. I beg to differ. It absolutely was wasted. The Buffalo defense limited the Baltimore Ravens to 160 total yards Sunday yet the Bills lost by two touchdowns, 20-6. It was the lowest yardage yield by a Bills defense since Nov. 14, 1999 when Miami managed just 101 yards, an effort that was not wasted as Buffalo won 23-3. Further, the 160 yards were the fewest allowed in a game the Bills lost since 1977, and it was the fourth-lowest yardage yield in a loss in team history. Not that we should be surprised by this alarming lack of support from Drew Bledsoe and his cohorts. Last December, Buffalo limited Miami to 11 first downs and 169 yards yet still lost 20-3. Earlier in 2003 during a three-game mid-season stretch the defense limited Dallas, Houston and high-scoring Indianapolis to a combined 39 points, and the Bills lost all three games. In the first three losses of this season the defense allowed a total of three touchdowns. There wasn't much more the defense could have done on any of those days, and there certainly was nothing more it could have done Sunday at Baltimore. It gave up one sustained drive, an 83-yard march that ended with a touchdown run by B.J. Sams that made the score 17-3 at the half. Otherwise, check out these numbers: The Ravens made 12 first downs, just one after intermission; they averaged just 2.9 yards per play; they had only three plays that gained 10 yards or more; on eight of their 12 possessions they held the ball four plays or less; they gained 17 yards in the second half. And still Baltimore won by two touchdowns. Not wasted? There was nothing the defense could do but watch from the sideline as Deion Sanders returned an interception of a poorly thrown Bledsoe pass for a touchdown. There was something they could have done after another errant Bledsoe pass was returned 93 yards by Chad Williams, and they did it. The defense marched out to its 6-yard-line and kept the Ravens out of the end zone and the Bills in the game by forcing a field goal. Not that it mattered. At the end of the day it was just another sad, frustrating loss that dropped the Bills further into the NFL's dungeon. What a waste.

Bills picked apart

Here's something else that's true: The Buffalo Bills are 1-5 and looking as lost as ever after a turnover-filled 20-6 loss to Baltimore on Sunday when 69,809 fans at M&T Bank Stadium sat in the rain to watch the Purple reign over quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Co. (October 25, 2004) — BALTIMORE — Cornerback Deion Sanders had a premonition during the Baltimore Ravens team breakfast. "I told the guys, 'When I get into the end zone, stand back, let me dance first, then you can congratulate me,'" said the man called Prime Time. "True story." Here's something else that's true: The Buffalo Bills are 1-5 and looking as lost as ever after a turnover-filled 20-6 loss to Baltimore on Sunday when 69,809 fans at M&T Bank Stadium sat in the rain to watch the Purple reign over quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Co. So much for the Bills building momentum after last weekend's victory over Miami. With four interceptions, four sacks and a recovered fumble against Bledsoe, the Raven-ous Baltimore defense led by Sanders and Ray Lewis could have danced all night. Sanders had two key interceptions, one he returned 48 yards for a touchdown in the first half and one in the end zone in the second half, when the Bills — late starters, as usual — moved the ball on five promising drives and outgained Baltimore 202-17 with 11 first downs to Baltimore's one but couldn't find the end zone. Buffalo's 0-for-4 day in the red zone included three failed goal-to-go opportunities, producing a lot of embarrassment in the locker room and plenty of questions about how much more the defense — which again played well enough to win — can take. "It was a very winnable game," linebacker Takeo Spikes said. "I felt like we had something that we started in the second half of the Miami game. I felt like, looking at our opponents, 'OK, maybe we can get some things to go our way.' But this is one that you wish you could have back." Bledsoe certainly would like it back. Unfortunately, he rekindled his critics' attacks. Buffalo fell to 0-3 on the road this year and 2-13 since midway through 2002, Bledsoe's first season with the club. In that block of games, Buffalo is minus-34 in takeaways with Bledsoe throwing 22 interceptions and being sacked 53 times. "It's a team game. They'll stand by us," Bledsoe said when asked about any pressure he may be feeling after he and his offensive mates threw away another strong defensive showing. "For our part, we have to score more points. We had the ball in the red zone about 100 times today and couldn't put it in the end zone. That's the story of the game." In a game pitting two of the NFL's poorest offenses and two of its best defenses, it was felt that whoever had the fewest turnovers and got to double digits first would win. Bingo. The Ravens' offense, missing suspended All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis, turned the ball over just once and jumped to a 17-3 halftime lead. Quarterback Kyle Boller directed a 54-yard drive to a field goal, then an 83-yard drive to a touchdown that was set up by a 47-yard strike to Travis Taylor. The Ravens offense, which gained a mere 2.9 yards per play, then turned the keys over to its sixth-ranked defense. The Bills, who took a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal set up by an Aaron Schobel sack/forced fumble, were on the march when they appeared to get a bit too fancy. A fake reverse by Bledsoe nearly resulted in a sack. Two plays later, wide receiver Eric Moulds lined up in the backfield and took a fake pitch from Bledsoe, who then swung a high pass back across field to running back Willis McGahee. The ball was tipped by safety Chad Williams into the hands of Sanders, who took it to the house. "Anytime I give up a pass, (the critics) will talk," said Sanders, who came out of retirement on Sept. 1 at age 37. "Michael Jordan warned me. He said, 'If you can handle the criticism, you're going to make it.' I'm a 37-year-old kid out there." Sanders' high-stepping just made it that much more of a miserable day for the Bills. On their opening drive, the Bills had to settle for a field goal because of a false start by Mike Williams. To open the third quarter, Bledsoe threw badly behind a wide-open Moulds on second-and-goal at the Ravens' 5, forcing them to settle for another three points. Buffalo's final five possessions then ended with turnovers: a sack/fumble, three interceptions, and a turnover on downs. Along with Sanders' end zone pick on a badly thrown ball into double coverage, strong safety Williams intercepted Bledsoe at the goal line on a third-down pass intended for Lee Evans that was tipped by Lewis. Williams returned it 93 yards to set up Matt Stover's clinching 19-yard field goal. Bledsoe was livid with the officials on the Williams interception. "An unbelievable poor call," said Bledsoe, who finished with a horrific 32.3 rating. "Ray Lewis just grabbed Lee Evans around the waist, basically tackled him. I saw him grab him, and I just figured I'd throw the ball to Lee, we'll get the call, and it'll be first-and-goal. Instead, they don't throw the flag, the ball gets tipped and it goes back the other direction." For the Bills, they go back to the drawing board.

Buffalo Bills report card

F Quarterback: The numbers speak for themselves. (October 25, 2004) — F Quarterback: The numbers speak for themselves. Four interceptions, four sacks and a QB rating of 32.3. Baltimore QB Kyle Boller played a terrible game, yet his QB rating was double that of Bledsoe's. This was a game that was there for the taking, and all Bledsoe did was throw it away. C Running backs: Travis Henry started, but he didn't finish. Whether Henry's foot was bothering him, we don't know, but he got off to a terrible start and coach Mike Mularkey recognized a change had to be made, so he inserted Willis McGahee. McGahee didn't have great success early, but as he did last week he seemed to get stronger as the game went on. He finished with 58 yards. FB Daimon Shelton is a tough blocker, and he contributed 4 receptions for 26 yards. C- Wide receivers: Eric Moulds made a great catch for a 49-yard gain that set up a Buffalo field goal in the third quarter and he finished with 6 catches for 96 yards, but he also had some key drops. He had his hands on two touchdown passes and couldn't hold on (one was way behind him courtesy of Bledsoe), and he had a pass zip right through his hands in the fourth quarter that resulted in an interception. C Tight ends: Mark Campbell made a pair of nice plays, two catches that totaled 36 yards including a 20-yard gain on a play-fake pass. D Offensive line: LT Jonas Jennings couldn't play due to an ankle injury and Marcus Price filled in. Also, C Trey Teague missed his third game and Ross Tucker started. Down two starters is no excuse in the NFL. Bledsoe was sacked four times, hurried numerous other times, and the running game was limited to 85 yards because the Ravens were winning up front which allowed LB Ray Lewis to roam free and make 12 tackles. B+ Defensive line: DE Aaron Schobel is rounding into form. He now has 5.5 sacks, all in the last three games. He also forced a fumble on his first sack. DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams were stout in the middle and after a rough day against Miami, Adams was energized. He and Williams combined for six tackles. Chris Kelsay had four tackles, Ryan Denney was a non-factor. A Linebackers: Takeo Spikes was the best player on the Bills defense. He was credited with 11 tackles, had one sack, and he was a constant fly in the ointment for the Ravens' putrid offense. London Fletcher came up with a sack but also contributed another dumb personal foul penalty. Jeff Posey had a fumble recovery and had a good day in short zone pass coverage. B+ Secondary: Lawyer Milloy made his return and it was good to see him back. He was in on six tackles. CB Terrence McGee gave up Baltimore's longest play, a 47-yard pass to Travis Taylor, but he also broke up two passes and made four tackles. C Special teams: There were two penalties, a running-into-the-punter penalty by Joe Burns which almost cost the Bills three points. Baltimore pulled its punt team and tried a field goal, but Matt Stover missed. Terrence McGee averaged just 18 yards on five kickoff returns, Nate Clements did nothing on punts, but the coverage teams were effective. B- Coaching: The defensive staff put together a good plan and executed it in limiting the Ravens to 160 total yards. On the offensive side, the plan was fine, but the execution was terrible. Mularkey made a good move turning to McGahee, and penalties were down which is a good sign.

October 24, 2004

Bills face tough D in Baltimore

So far this season the breaks have not gone the Buffalo Bills way, losing games on the last play, on a 4th quarter fumble, and a late field goal.

Milloy Returns to Lineup; Jennings Sidelined

Safety Lawyer Milloy made his season debut at Baltimore Sunday after missing seven weeks with a broken right forearm. Layoffs of eight to 12 weeks are common with forearm injuries.

Turnovers Bury Buffalo

Turnovers proved to be the difference in this game as Buffalo coughed up the ball five times, twice inside the red zone. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by cornerback Deion Sanders.

SAN-TASTIC

Sanders, who returned to the NFL at the age of 37 after a three-year absence, silenced any remaining doubters about his ability to play Sunday, intercepting Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe twice and logging two tackles to highlight another dominant Ravens defensive effort.

Ravens get their picks in victory against Bills

Baltimore matches team record with 4 INTs; Sanders has two; Ogden leaves with pulled hamstring

Ravens 20, Bills 6

High-stepping Deion Sanders made sure the Baltimore Ravens wouldn't lament the absence of Jamal Lewis.

Improved Bledsoe may be playing for his future today

He is one of the most overrated players of his time, an average quarterback who has stood still while a rapidly changing sport passed him by. At the end of last season, I thought the Bills should have cut him and moved on.

Adams, Shaw learn just who is in charge

When defensive tackle Sam Adams issued a personal manifesto at midweek, after throwing a 400-pound tantrum in the middle of the Bills' first victory last Sunday, it amounted to a promise that he would play when directed, keep his mouth shut and adhere to his contract, which has plenty of time to run.

O-line line allows Ravens to run, QB Boller to hide

Running effectively will keep Bills out of long-yardage situations and help them wear down Ravens' defense in fourth quarter.

Evans runs a blue-collar streak

Hard work learned from dad allows Bills receiver to recover the ability he lost in a knee injury.

The hits by Ravens just keep on coming

"Boom - they stick the blockers and then they shed them," said Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally. "They hit you and disengage, and they're good tacklers."

Q&A: Izell Reese

Steady veteran free safety Izell Reese is in his second season with the Bills and is the last line of defense on the NFL's eighth-ranked unit.

Top Raven respects Bills’ McGahee

 “He’s a special kid, a hard worker,” said Lewis. “He loves this game, never means any disrespect. He won’t blast off like Portis did. He’s not that type of guy.”

Gray's contract extension bodes well for Bills' defense

When an impending free agent reaches the end of the NFL season without a contract extension, he usually is lured away to another team. When an impending free agent reaches the end of the NFL season without a contract extension, he usually is lured away to another team. That's the way the football business works. So the contract extension the Buffalo Bills signed with defensive coordinator Jerry Gray this week was an important move for the organization. Gray's stock is rising in the NFL. If he had reached the New Year with his contract about to expire, it would have been a sticky situation. Chances are some team would have stolen him in the coaching musical chairs game that happens every January. Gray's re-signing ensures continuity on the defensive side of the ball for the Bills. That's big. They probably will have enough things to worry about in March without overhauling the defense. Having returning players who are familiar with a sound scheme is a recipe for success. A revolving door is an invitation for failure. The Bills' defensive scheme is sound. The Buffalo defense has gone from 21st to 15th to second under Gray's watch. As long as the Bills' defense posts decent numbers this year - and it appears it will - Gray's reputation league wide will continue to climb. Accountability is an important trait for a coach. When Gray showed up, he was coaching a defense that was starting venerable names such as Kendrick Office, Kenyatta Wright and Raion Hill. Yet Gray never complained or made excuses. Even now with the offense struggling for a season and a half and counting, you don't hear Gray whining about lack of support. Once a coach starts making excuses, the players will jump on the bandwagon in a heartbeat. Gray is building a solid resume that is likely to get him more head-coaching interviews eventually. He played for a great defensive mind in Fritz Shurmur with the Rams. He coached under Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams. Last year's association with Dick LeBeau added to his zone-blitzing expertise. LeBeau is one of the great defensive coaches of the past 25 years, and he helped the Bills. But it was Gray who was calling all the plays last year. Those high-profile associations are a factor in moving up the coaching ladder. Mike Mularkey had Bud Grant, Chuck Noll, Sam Wyche and Bill Cowher in his coaching pedigree when he was interviewing for a head job. When Mularkey was hired, he never offered the defensive coordinator job to LeBeau. He never got to interview LeBeau, who left for Pittsburgh before meeting with the new Bills coach. Mularkey hit it off with Gray in his interview, and the extension is proof the two are comfortable with each other. That's a good message to send to the players, too, given the fact Gray was a holdover from Williams' staff. Aside from a few details, it's believed the framework of the deal was struck a month ago. Gray has a solid group of players, and he continues to manufacture good production out of them. That bodes well for the future. "It's been in the works for awhile," Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said. "We appreciate all Jerry has done, and he deserves it. We look forward to having him here for a long time."

The hits by Ravens just keep on coming

The Bills go toe-to-toe with the simple ferocity of the Ravens today in what should be a hard-hitting, low-scoring game at M&T Bank Stadium. BALTIMORE - There's no great secret to the defensive brilliance of Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens' defense. It's about the most basic elements of football - blocking and tackling. "Boom - they stick the blockers and then they shed them," said Bills offensive line coach Jim McNally. "They hit you and disengage, and they're good tacklers." "They shed blocks probably as well as anybody we've faced," said Bills coach Mike Mularkey. "They use their hands very well. They use good leverage. . . . There's not a lot of different fronts to have to worry about. They just do a good job of getting off people. That frees up Ray." The Bills go toe-to-toe with the simple ferocity of the Ravens today in what should be a hard-hitting, low-scoring game at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens' defense has ranked among the top three of the NFL four of the previous five years. This season the Ravens are allowing 15.8 points per game, tied for sixth fewest in the league, and they're sixth best in yards allowed. Lewis, the premier middle linebacker in the game, is one of four Pro Bowlers who will be on the field for the Ravens' defense. The others are defensive backs Ed Reed and Chris McAlister, and linebacker Adalius Thomas, who was honored as a special teamer last year. The Bills know they are in for a rugged day. "Typically those were very physical football games," said Mularkey of his annual meetings with the Ravens as a Pittsburgh coach. "I can say they usually were won within the trenches. Typically the run game was a factor one way or the other. Really not beating yourself is a big factor with teams like this because they're very sound. But we know it's going to be physical." The Ravens have held the opposition to 20 or fewer points in 16 of the last 21 games. The Bills have failed to top 20 points in 16 of the last 21 games. Bills guard Lawrence Smith, who spent two years on the Ravens' practice squad, will have the unenviable task of trying to get off the line to block Lewis some of the time today. How would he describe No. 52? "One word sums it up: intensity," Smith said. "If you can be half as intense as Ray is, that would be great. Something I don't think a lot of people give him credit for is his intelligence for the game. That's something he'd show in practice. He always had a great idea of what was coming just by watching how the offense lined up." Lewis is a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. "I think the biggest thing he does is those players play off of his emotions," Mularkey said. "He starts from the introduction through every play. He has them going. They're high energy. They fly around the football. They're physical. They all play like him. I believe that. I think he pushes them. We have to be aware of where he's at and try to get hats on him. He makes plays all over the field." Baltimore (3-2) has played four good defensive games and one bad one this year. The Ravens' down week was against Kansas City, which rushed for 178 yards in a 27-24 win. Baltimore rebounded in its last game by holding Washington's Clinton Portis to 53 yards in a 17-10 victory. The Bills stand 21st in the league in rushing yards. They enter the game buoyed by Willis McGahee's 111-yard outing last week. McGahee is expected to play in relief of starter Travis Henry today. "We're going to run it - that's our style of play," said receiver Eric Moulds. "We're going to go out there and run the football and do play action and mix it up a little bit. We're not going to change our game plan." The Ravens, who rank 30th on offense, have a similar plan. "Our profile is to play great defense, run the ball, play dominating special teams - and see how many games you can win with that," said Ravens coach Brian Billick. The Ravens' defense rarely sends all-out blitzes. Like a lot of 3-4 defenses, they usually send five rushers and cover receivers with six men. "If you let Drew (Bledsoe) sit back there and just pat that football, he picks anybody apart," Lewis said. "I don't care how good you are on defense. That's one of the biggest things we saw on film: Just don't let him get into his comfort zone. Either we get burned, or he gets hit a lot." Bledsoe better keep his head up.

Bills look to keep turning season around

The Buffalo Bills saved face by defeating the Miami Dolphins last Sunday in a battle of winless NFL teams.

But did they save their season?
(October 24, 2004) — BALTIMORE — The Buffalo Bills saved face by defeating the Miami Dolphins last Sunday in a battle of winless NFL teams. But did they save their season? A big clue to answering that question will be revealed late this afternoon after the Bills (1-4) play the Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at M&T Bank Stadium near Baltimore’s scenic Inner Harbor. Buffalo played its most complete game of the year in defeating the Dolphins 20-13 at home, but all that good work will be lost if it can’t capitalize on a Ravens club missing dynamic running back Jamal Lewis. The Bills’ immediate goal is to climb back to .500 at the year’s midway point and give themselves a legitimate shot at a playoff spot. Since they used up all of their mulligans by starting 0-4, they say there’s no chance of a letdown any week, let alone today against a Baltimore team missing its best offensive weapon. “That’s not happening,” defensive tackle Justin Bannan said. “We’re still in a big hole and we have to claw our way out. It starts one week at a time. This is a huge game for us. I don’t think there’s going to be any thoughts in the back of our minds like that at all.” Lewis, who last season became just the fifth player in NFL history to top 2,000 yards in a season, is serving a league suspension for his role in an illegal drug transaction. Baltimore turns to third-year pro Chester Taylor today to try to mimic the style of play it has ridden to great success in recent years, control the ball on offense and punch opponents in the mouth on defense. The Ravens still have another Lewis in their lineup, six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray, the catalyst behind a defense ranked sixth in yards and points allowed. There’s even a reserve defensive back x named Deion Sanders (yes, that Deion), who has come out of retirement. The Bills will get a lift by the return of Pro Bowl strong safety Lawyer Milloy from a broken right forearm. “Just because they’re missing one cog, those guys are champions, period,” said Bills defensive tackle Sam Adams, who was a member of the Ravens’ 2000 Super Bowl champs. “It has nothing to do with Jamal. It has nothing to do with Ray Lewis as an individual. It’s about their team. Those guys play hard, they play hard together and we’re going to get their best shot. If we want to beat them, not only do we have to surpass their intensity level, we have to go out and play physical, mistake-free football.” In losing both their road games this season and 12 of their last 14 overall under quarterback Drew Bledsoe, that hasn’t been the Bills’ calling card. In that 14-game block, the Bills are minus-30 in turnovers vs. takeaways and have also been out-sacked 49-27. Bledsoe has thrown 12 touchdown passes vs. 18 interceptions. “We’ve got to do the same things we did the second half last week,” running back Willis McGahee said. “No penalties, no mental errors and just let it loose.” Like Bills-Dolphins, Bills-Ravens matches two low-ranked offenses against two high-ranked defenses. If Bledsoe and Travis Henry (or McGahee) can’t outperform Kyle Boller and Taylor, then Buffalo is wondering if it deserves to win. Bills coach Mike Mularkey knows Baltimore well, having coached the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. He told the trainers to pack extra bandages and ice packs for this trip. “Typically, those were very physical football games, I can say that,” Mularkey said. “Usually, they were won in the trenches. The run game factored in one way or the other, and not beating yourself is a big factor with a team like this, because they are just very sound.” Ravens coach Brian Billick said the Bills are close to being the same kind of team. His Ravens, coming off a bye, will be rested and ready but Billick has warned his team about not being complacent against an opponent that is coming in with a poor record. Baltimore has been down this road before, losing at home, 27-24, on Oct. 4 to the then-winless Kansas City Chiefs, who out-rushed the Ravens 178-80 and beat them at their own game. “This is going to sound like every other coach when you face a 1-4 team and you’re trying not to let your troops get too complacent, but I see the same thing my players are going to see: an outstanding football team,” Billick said of Buffalo. “Their profile is clear-cut: They want to play good defense, run the ball, have a certain amount of balance, be close at the end of the game and come out with a win. They’ve had some pretty unique things that have cost them games. “For the sake of three, or four or five plays they could be sitting here at 4-1 very easily. That sounds like a setup and coach-speak, but I think anyone who has seen their games would reiterate the same thing.”

October 23, 2004

Schobel faces biggest challenge

Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel hopes to get well acquainted with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller on Sunday. Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel hopes to get well acquainted with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller on Sunday. But Schobel will have to figure out how to get around the 6-foot-9, 345-pound wall that protects Boller. Perennial All-Pro Jonathan Ogden is considered to be the best offensive tackle in the NFL. His imposing presence presents Schobel with the greatest challenge of his young career. "He's good. There's no question about it," Schobel said. "He's huge. He can move. It's going to be a challenge, but I've got something to prove." The Bills generate a pass rush with various schemes, but they believe Schobel is developing into the kind of player who can be a consistently disruptive force. The 6-4, 262-pound Schobel has held his own against some good offensive tackles, but Ogden will provide the ultimate test. He is a dominant blocker who engulfs defensive linemen with his size. He has long arms, exceptional mobility and upper body strength and plays with great leverage. Although Schobel is being paid like a premier defensive end (he signed a $23 million extension before the season), he has yet to gain league-wide notoriety. But a strong performance against Ogden would definitely get people's attention. "If you want to be the best you've got to play against the best, and Jonathan Ogden is as good as it gets in this league," Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said. "I remember when I was in Tennessee, Ogden was one of the best going against our right defensive end, Kenny Holmes, and then Jevon Kearse. If Aaron keeps playing, he'll be in that category. But to get there you have to beat the best." Sacks were hard to come by for Schobel at the start of the season. When he was shut out the first three games, some team observers wondered if the Bills were getting their money's worth. But he has recorded 31/2 sacks the past two games, including 21/2 in the Bills' 20-13 win over Miami last week. Schobel wasn't worried about his slow start. He never doubted his ability to get to the quarterback. Besides, he didn't have a sack three games into last season and still finished with a career-high 111/2. "They do come like that," he said. "You never know how or which way they're going to happen. But as long as you keep going and playing hard, they will come." Schobel has always been bothered by the fact that a defensive end's performance is measured by how many sacks he gets. But getting consistent pressure can be just as effective in forcing quarterbacks into making mistakes. Gray thinks Schobel has done that. "He's playing with a lot of confidence," Gray said. "What people don't understand is people put their best offensive tackle on their quarterback's blind side, so when you can get sacks over there you deserve them. He tried so hard the first couple of weeks because the expectation is, "I've got to get a sack every week.' I could kind of tell he was disappointed, but he never stopped working. "Look, you're not always going to beat your man. What we try to tell Aaron is keep the pressure going because you can get some coverage sacks, too. Just be relentless, and that's the best thing about guys like Aaron. He's going to give you 110 percent no matter what, and you've got to be proud of that."

Ravens' battle plans for Buffalo Bills

One of the biggest challenges the Ravens will face on offense is trying to run the football against Buffalo’s front seven, which is among the top groups in the league. Offensive Game Plan 1.) Running the ball in passing situations: One of the biggest challenges the Ravens will face on offense is trying to run the football against Buffalo’s front seven, which is among the top groups in the league. The front features a solid trio at the linebacker position, and a stout defensive line anchored by sumo defensive tackles Pat Williams and Sam Adams. Generally, Williams and Adams do a nice job of occupying blockers so that backers London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey are able to run unimpeded to chase the ball carrier. On the edges, defensive ends Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel are tough to move because they are heavier than most ends, and play with sound leverage. If the Ravens rely on their base offensive front to slug it out with Buffalo’s base defensive front, the chances are not in their favor for achieving success, especially with Jamal Lewis being out for this game. In order to run the ball with effectiveness, the Ravens will need to run the ball in passing situations out of the spread formation. Specifically, when the down is third-and-five or longer, or second-and-eight, Baltimore should line up in a three-wide, one tight, one-back set with Chester Taylor as the feature back, and run the ball against Buffalo using the draw or delay play. Running the ball out of a spread formation accomplishes a couple of things. One, the Ravens do not usually run a running play in long conversion situations, so Buffalo may be thrown off guard by having to defend the run on those downs. Second, if the Buffalo linebackers are forced to spread out in order to cover four receivers, that will open up man-to-man blocking battles for the Raven offensive lineman to work against. 2.) Passing the ball out of a three-wide formation: There is a decent chance that Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap will miss his fourth straight game against the Bills. If Heap is out, then the Ravens will have a much tougher time passing the ball out of its base offensive formation. Ideally, a team would want to pass the ball out of its base formation against Buffalo’s base defense, which is built to stop the run but is not as solid against the pass. However, with Heap being out, the Ravens may be forced to operate consistently out of a three-wide, one tight or one fullback, one halfback formation. With the return of Travis Taylor, this formation could provide the Ravens with its best chance to move the ball through the air. In all likelihood, Randy Hymes will run his routes out of the slot formation, while Taylor and Kevin Johnson will be the outside flankers. Hymes should present the biggest match-up problems against Buffalo, because a safety or a linebacker cannot cover him, especially in the middle of the field. 3.) Running a hurry up, no huddle offense: The Baltimore passing attack is clearly in shambles, although the return of Taylor and Heap (whenever he gets back) will at least give quarterback Kyle Boller more weapons to work with. Still, Boller has regressed over the past two games. He has not been reading the blitz properly, his mechanics are not consistent, and his accuracy has been off target in crucial passing situations. Buffalo will follow the same formula to stop the Ravens’ offense as every other defense before has followed. Stop the run on first and second-down, forcing Boller to throw the ball in third-and-long conversion situations against a heavy pass rush. The Ravens have the chance to change this pattern of efficiency by using a different offensive script against Buffalo. What Baltimore can do, especially because they are at home, is come out of the box throwing the football out of a hurry up offense. Employing this strategy accomplishes a couple of things. One, if the offense gets to the line of scrimmage quickly, it forces the defense to stay in whatever personnel grouping they have on the field, because they cannot substitute players in due time. In Buffalo’s case, they will use a base front to match-up against whatever formation the Ravens use, so the Ravens can pass the ball against this formation when they are in their three-wide set. Two, by running a hurry up offense, the Ravens can potentially tire out Adams and Williams, as the two defensive tackles will not have enough seconds to catch their breaths between snaps. And of course, as the game progresses, the Raven lineman would rather face a winded combination of Adams and Williams as opposed to an active duo. Three, running this offense will test Boller’s ability to run a two-minute offense with effectiveness, when the stakes are not as high as they would be at the end of a game. Defensive Game Plan 1.) Forcing Bledsoe to hold the ball: Every defense that faces the Bills’ offense is looking to accomplish one main object: Force Drew Bledsoe into making mistakes. Bledsoe has always been sacked often throughout his career, because he is immobile, and tends to hold the ball too long instead of getting rid of it. However, over the last two seasons, Bledsoe has also been turnover prone. In Sunday’s game, look for Mike Nolan to test Bledsoe’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly by using four and five-man pass rush fronts. The Ravens have been able to get to the quarterback consistently without having to bring a lot of bodies, and against a leaky Buffalo offensive line, that success should continue. 2.) Keeping Eric Mould and Lee Evans in check: Even with Bledsoe’s struggles, he is still capable of drilling deep shots down the field. With receivers like Eric Mould and Lee Evans being adept at defeating man coverage, Bledsoe will have his chances to complete some long passes against the Ravens, if the Raven corners allow these two receivers to get behind them. McAlister will likely check Moulds, a receiver that is physical and tough at the line of scrimmage. He can usually get a clean release, and when the ball is in the air, there are few wideouts who can adjust to the ball better than Moulds can. McAlister will need to make sure that he is not too aggressive when trying to stymie Moulds at the line because if he misses his jam, Moulds will run right by him. Baxter will also have his hands full against the explosive Evans. Evans has the quickness to give Baxter trouble, and once Evans gets his hands on the ball down the field, he will outrun any defender trying to track him down from behind. 3.) Facing the spread: One of the things that Buffalo may do to counter the Ravens’ defensive attack is to spread the Ravens base defense out, and pass the ball out of a hurry up offense. Buffalo has done this against other teams, so it would not be a surprise to see them operate out of this formation on Sunday. Also, offenses have attempted to throw the ball against Baltimore’s base defense more often in order to force linebackers Ed Hartwell and Terrell Suggs to cover. In order to defense this formation, the Ravens may need to use more 4-3 alignments, with Terrell Suggs playing on the line at the defensive end position, so he is not exposed in the open field. Playing Deion Sanders more often is another way to counter the spread attack, and by having Sanders on the field, that will give defensive coordinator Mike Nolan the flexibility to line Ed Reed up in different spots on the field.

Bledsoe shows Bills that he can run from the rush

For those of you who were rubbing your eyes at the sight of Drew Bledsoe effectively avoiding the pass rush last week against Miami, you weren't alone. (October 23, 2004) — ORCHARD PARK — For those of you who were rubbing your eyes at the sight of Drew Bledsoe effectively avoiding the pass rush last week against Miami, you weren't alone. "I think we all kind of looked at him and said 'Where's this been?'" Buffalo Bills offensive guard Chris Villarrial said, laughing at the thought of the moment in the film room when the offensive line watched Bledsoe do his best Michael Vick impersonation during the 20-13 victory over the Dolphins. For at least one game "Bledsoe" and "statue" were not used in the same sentence as the oft-sacked Buffalo quarterback made a couple of nifty moves in the pocket to avoid the Dolphins' pressure. On one play he sidestepped hard-charging linebacker Zach Thomas and completed a 20-yard pass over the middle to Lee Evans. On another he actually scrambled out of the pocket on third-and-10 and ran for 11 yards, only to see the converted first down wiped out by a dubious holding penalty on tight end Mark Campbell. "I was proud of Drew on a couple occasions," center Ross Tucker said. "That's an offensive lineman's dream if the quarterback can evade the sack. It kind of pumps everybody else up when you see your quarterback do that because you know he has your back as much as you have his. You get excited when your quarterback can make plays like that." Let's not get too excited, though. Those plays from Bledsoe are few and very, very far between. Nimble he is not. Never was, as 385 career sacks would attest, and at the age of 32, he never will be. However, the Bills don't need Bledsoe to be as elusive as Vick or Donovan McNabb. Dan Marino would be fine. Marino was not fleet of foot. He was a classic dropback passer who felt like a fish out of water (how appropriate considering he played for the Dolphins) when he left the pocket, much like Bledsoe. But Marino once went an NFL record 759 pass attempts without being sacked. Yes, his offensive line was very good, but Marino was able to do two things vitally important to avoiding sacks: He had a quick release, and he had the innate ability to move ever so slightly in the pocket to buy himself the extra half-second he needed to make a throw. Bledsoe proved he could do it against Miami, but he was quick to remind that without protection even subtle moves in the pocket are difficult. "If there's one guy who comes free I have room to move around and make one guy miss in the pocket," he said. "But when that doesn't work is when you have multiple guys (rushing) and the pocket is compressed and there's no room to move." Quarterback coach Sam Wyche has been working with Bledsoe since the day he arrived on feeling the rush and getting rid of the ball, hence the alarm clock drill in training camp at St. John Fisher College. Through the first four games, all losses, it seemed as if that work had gone for naught because Bledsoe was sacked 19 times. Against Miami, it seemed to click. Bledsoe was sacked only once on 29 dropbacks, he delivered the ball on time, he bought himself that extra split second a couple of times, and by avoiding the negative plays the Bills were able to enjoy some success on offense. Now the question is can it continue on Sunday against Baltimore, a fast, aggressive defense that will be stoked by a noisy home crowd? "We have been emphasizing that, dropping the ball off to another receiver, buying time in the pocket, but sometimes that just kind of grows on you," Wyche said. "You keep hearing that you can't move so you want to prove that you can. "He had some success in this last game, but when you get hit from the blind side or get engulfed quick, I don't think any quarterback comes out of that and the quarterback gets sacked and he gets blamed for it." Bledsoe knows he's never going to outrun the pass rush; he can't outrun a turtle. He also knows that if he gets some help, if the Bills stay on the same page and everyone does their job, he can make plays as he did last week. "When our guys protect me like they did the last game, it makes my job much easier," he said. "I'm able to work to a third and fourth receiver so I don't have to make my best guess with the first one and hope it works out. I can actually scan the field and find my guys and it allows me to play more effectively and efficiently. "When we finally got out of our own way and eliminated the negative plays, whether they be penalties or lost yardage plays, we were very effective. We've done that in spurts. The thing we have to do is to do that for four quarters and if we do that we're going to be hard to stop."

October 22, 2004

Reed To Be Inducted Into The GBSHOF

Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed has been selected for induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame for 2004.

Overrated Ravens ripe for upset

Still riding the wave launched by shedding the “winless” tag last week against Miami, the Buffalo Bills head to Baltimore this week to face the allegedly fearsome Ravens.

Bills Are Fortunate to Have Two Quality Backs

I see a lot of parallels between Travis Henry and Willis McGahee to Thurman Thomas and Kenneth Davis, they were able to exist together because each realized their role on the football team.

Where are they now?

Bill Enyart remembers well his illustrious football career:

Entering the NFL as the first pick in the second round of the 1969 draft by the Buffalo Bills, who spent the first overall pick on the Simpson.

When it comes to Deion, everyone's an admirer

Perennial All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders ended his three-year retirement to play for the Ravens, and the Bills receivers are looking forward to playing against the future Hall of Famer.

Savvy drafts put stars on Ravens' roster

When it comes to acquiring big-name talent, the Baltimore Ravens seem to have cornered the market. The names on the roster read like a virtual who's who in the NFL.

Bills having a field day on their new artificial turf

"I'd rather have this than the artificial turf we had before any day," fullback Daimon Shelton said. "I've only had one brush burn with the new turf. With the old stuff the brush burns went down to the white meat. It was pretty nasty."

McAlister's view mostly one-sided

With Baxter's emergence, Sanders' arrival, corner stays on one side of field

Bills' Henry expects to start against Ravens on Sunday

Running back is listed as questionable by team due to sprained left foot

Ravens will be in a rush to put pressure on Bledsoe

Limiting throwing time of immobile Bills QB key to defense's success

Bills can't let up on Ray Lewis

He is considered the best linebacker in the NFL, and in many circles he is regarded as the best defensive player in the NFL.

Football is year-round job for Buffalo's Adams

When the season is finished, and NFL players are preparing for a few months away from football, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Sam Adams will put away his helmet and shoulder pads and get ready for some ... football

October 21, 2004

Buffalo and Baltimore Meet for 2nd Time

The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens have only met once in the Ravens short nine year history, but Buffalo will look to capture the same result they did five years ago when they won 13-10.

Dan Marino Apologizes to Buffalo for Comments Dissing the Queen City

Remember last week when 2 On Your Side told you about Dan Marino and what he had to say about Buffalo and Bills' fans?

Taking Momentum on the Road

After losing seven straight dating back to last year, they played a solid game last week, especially in the second half, and finally broke into the win column.

Bills Zone’s Postgame Report Card: Bills vs. Dolphins

Quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe had one of his best games in a while for Buffalo. He showed that with proper blocking, he can avoid the pass rush and still make some great plays. Bledsoe was 15/28 for 212 yards and threw 1 touchdown and no interceptions. He did miss on a couple long bombs, including 1 to Lee Evans that would have probably been for a touchdown, but the wind was at his back. Bledsoe even managed to find a hole and run with the ball on 3rd down and 10, for 11 yards, but Mark Campbell was called for holding. Drew Bledsoe was at his best in the 2nd half, when it counts. Bledsoe took the team downfield and moved the chains while going 9 of 16 for 141 yards and a touchdown to Campbell. Overall, Bledsoe had a solid game and definitely did nothing to lose it. Grade: B+

Running Backs: Welcome to Buffalo, Willis! McGahee had a great game against a tough Miami defense. He started out slow, with only 3 yards in his first 3 carries and then seemed to pick it up by the 2nd half. McGahee had 26 carries for 111 yards rushing and 3 catches for 31 yards. Willis also had several key blitz pickups and blocks for Bledsoe. He was definitely a big part of the win. Joe Burns had 4 carries for 22 yards in relief of McGahee. Grade: A

Wide Receivers: Eric Moulds had another good game. He made some nice plays, including a sweet catch that he bobbled but still brought it in and ran for 30 yards. However, he also did drop at least one pass too. Moulds had 5 receptions for 99 yards. Lee Evans was next with 2 catches for 32 yards; however he dropped 2 passes. His main asset was that the defense had to cover him after Bledsoe threw deep downfield to him in the beginning of the game. They were worried about the big play and that forced them to ease up on the blitz. Josh Reed caught 1 pass for 14 yards and it was a nice 3rd down and 9 conversion. However, you could tell that Bledsoe has lost confidence in Reed as he checked off on his several times. Sam Aiken had one pass thrown his way, but he dropped it. Grade: B

Tight Ends: It was another day where the tight end was involved in the offense. Mark Campbell caught 4 passes for 36 yards, including a nice 5-yard goal-line pass. Campbell and Tim Euhus also were in to make some solid blocks for Willis McGahee. Grade: B+

Offensive Line: Wow! The offensive line can actually block. I don’t have anything bad to say about them this week. They did a solid job run-blocking for Willis McGahee, and also pass-blocking for Drew Bledsoe. The best part was that they completely shut down Pro Bowl DE Jason Taylor. The line only allowed 1 sack on Bledsoe and gave him lots of time to throw. He also had time to scramble around and make plays that he usually wouldn’t make. I don’t know if it is the line jelling or if Ross Tucker and Marcus Price are better than Trey Teague and Jonas Jennings. Either way, I hope it continues. Grade: A

Defensive Line: This line had a great game too. They harassed and pressured Jay Fiedler all day and definitely took advantage against a porous Miami offensive line. Aaron Schobel has his best game yet. He managed to get 8 tackles, 2 ½ sacks, and even force a fumble. He truly showed why he was paid so much before the season. Let’s just hope he can keep it up. Ryan Denney saw more action in the 2nd half and had 4 tackles, helping to keep Sammy Morris from breaking a long one. Chris Kelsay did a nice job pressuring Fiedler and had 2 tackles for the day. The defensive tackles had two halves in the game. In one half, they let Sammy Morris run all over them for 81 yards. However, in the second half, they shut him down to only 10 yards. That would be in part to the benching of Sam Adams. Ron Edwards, who took his place, had 4 tackles, and 2 sacks. He did a great job pressuring Fiedler. Pat Williams also had a solid game, as he managed to get 5 tackles, and also share a sack with Aaron Schobel. Grade: A

Linebackers: Takeo Spikes finally decided to break out. What a great game by him. He had 2 tackles, 1 interception run back for a touchdown, and almost picked off 2 more Fiedler passes. London Fletcher had a quieter day than usual. He only had 5 tackles, but he also forced a fumble that the Dolphins recovered. He was also beat on the Dolphins’ only touchdown. Jeff Posey didn’t do much either and was in on 3 tackles. Over pursuing Sammy Morris killed this unit. Grade: B

Secondary: Nate Clements had solid coverage on Marty Booker and shut him down to only 1 catch for 10 yards. He also had 5 tackles. However, Clements missed an easy pick that he might have been able to take downfield. Terrence McGee was burned a couple times, but nothing big. He finished the game with 7 total tackles. Pierson Prioleau held down Randy McMichael for most of the game and also had 6 tackles. Izell Reese was a goat of this unit, getting a pass interference call in the end zone, that luckily the defense managed to hold them to a field goal anyways. He also had 5 tackles. Rashad Baker had 2 tackles and stripped the ball from Randy McMichael, who managed to recover his own fumble. Grade: B-

Special Teams: Brian Moorman did a great job handling the terrible Ralph Wilson Stadium winds. He had an average of 53 yards on 3 punts with a 59-yarder as his longest. He also managed to kick one of them directly into the wind for 47 yards. Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard field goal into the wind that everyone in the stadium knew he wouldn’t make. However, he did make a 43-yarder. Lindell also kicked 2 out of 4 kickoffs within the 10-yardline, but kicked one of them out of bounds. The coverage was solid all day. There were no big returns. As for the Bills return team, they also did a good job. They didn’t run any kicks back, but they also didn’t lose field position from a bad return. Grade: B+

Coaching: I knew there was light in the tunnel. They built on the end of the Jets game and went right away with the deep pass to Lee Evans. It didn’t work because of the strong winds, but it certainly made Miami lighten up with the blitzing. The offensive game plan was solid. They kept running the ball and held the ball for over 13 minutes in the 4th quarter. What a great way to win a close game. Keep moving the chains and run the ball down their throats. That was the smash mouth we were waiting for. Let’s see if they can keep this plan against the Ravens. I also liked what I saw from the defense. They let the Dolphins score 10 points in the first half, but held them to only a field goal in the 2nd half. The best part was that they shut down the running game and forced Miami to punt 2 out of 3 times. I also was glad to hear that Mularkey benched a star player in Sam Adams, because he was not doing his job in the first half. That’s a great way to get in these players heads. If they don’t do their job, there’s the bench. Overall, it was an impressive win and it was a great way to get some well-needed confidence into this team. Let’s hope they can keep this up and go on some kind of winning streak. Grade: B+

Healthier Henry expects to return as Bills starter

Travis Henry expects to be Buffalo's starting running back at Baltimore on Sunday after missing last week's game with a sprained left foot.

Bills extend defensive coordinator's contract

Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray signed a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. Terms were not immediately available, but Gray was entering the final year of his contract.

Vincent Highlights Student Leaders Meeting

The Buffalo Bills Student Leaders were given valuable first hand experience Wednesday Oct. 6 from various Community Relations speakers, as the second meeting of the year was highlighted by presentations from Tom Donahoe, Gretchen Geitter, Michelle Roberts, Chris Lewis, Troy Vincent and Alicia Lamanna.

Gray Receives Contract Extension

The Bills today announced that Defensive Coordinator Jerry Gray has received a contract extension.

Buffalo (1-4) At Baltimore (3-2) Capsule

Sam Adams, who had a confrontation with his defensive coach on sideline last Sunday and didn't play in second half, is looking for revenge against his former team.

Henry practices, should start

Travis Henry practiced with the first team on Wednesday and will probably start on Sunday.

Bills report: Strategy and personnel

Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sam Adams are moving on from the sideline confrontation they had during the second quarter last week against Miami.

Bills report: Inside slant

Mike Mularkey's first year as an NFL head coach has been eventful, to say the least, and it's still far from over.

Bills report: Notes, quotes

Brian Moorman was pleasantly shocked and surprised over being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Milloy should be back

Bills coach Mike Mularkey said after Wednesday's practice in Ralph Wilson Stadium that he expects the starting strong safety to return to action.

Adams puts confrontation behind him

"It had nothing to do with my performance or playing time, period. It's an in-house thing that we deal with here."

Bills' Milloy prepared to make '04 debut

Buffalo Bills safety Lawyer Milloy is prepared to make his season debut at Baltimore this weekend after missing six games with a broken right forearm.

Sam Adams Fired Up For Ravens

Sam Adams' concerns about his role in the Buffalo Bills defensive scheme are suddenly secondary, whatever frustrations the defensive tackle has can be taken out against Baltimore, his former team, this weekend.

Milloy to start on Sunday

Buffalo Bills safety Lawyer Milloy is expected to make his season debut at Baltimore this Sunday after missing the first six weeks of the season with a broken right forearm.

Adams Responds to Benching

Buffalo Bills defensive end Sam Adams, who was benched during last Sunday’s win over Miami, addressed the situation on Wednesday.

October 20, 2004

Spikes Takes Time to Visit Children

Takeo Spikes walks out of the elevator and turns the corner and faces over a half a dozen kids who greet him with thunderous applause and cheering, treating him like a hero.

Moorman Earns AFC Special Team Honors

Bills punter Brian Moorman has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Miami Dolphins in the sixth week of the 2004 season.

Bills need to build off first win

So what if it was overcast and chilly? Monday was a beautiful day in Western New York simply because the Buffalo Bills won.

Bills Down Fins, 20-13

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