New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

BUFFALO BILLS (5-4) vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-0)
November 18, 2007

Press Box Pregame Notes – I just arrived here in the press box at Ralph Wilson Stadium, about 3 1/2 hours before game time. Remember when I said the Bills were huge underdogs against the Dallas Cowboys back in early October on MNF? Well, tonight is more like David vs. Goliath as they host the undefeated New England Patriots who are 9-0. Of course, the Cowboys were also undefeated at that time and the Bills controlled most of that game until the infamous final 20 seconds when they let it slip away in heartbreaking fashion, losing by one point on the last play of the game. Since that time, the Bills have learned how to finish games, rolling off four straight wins to improve to 5-4 ….. As that was my first Monday Night game, this is my first Sunday Night Football experience. The NFL’s flex scheduling arrangement setup this game back on November 5 and I’ve been counting the days to this one. John Madden and Al Michaels are right next door in the television booth. The whole country will be watching on NBC. If this evening turns out to be anything like that game, it will be an evening to remember ….. Here’s an interesting factoid about tonight’s game. The Bills are 5-0 in SNF games played at Ralph Wilson Stadium. They are the only team in the NFL with an undefeated home record in Sunday Night games ….. The Patriots have won 13 of the last 14 games between these two teams ….. One Communications, the official telecommunications provider of the Buffalo Bills, is the official game day sponsor tonight. OC will provide “Let’s Go Buffalo!” rally towels for the first 50,000 fans to enter the gates ….. The Bills are hosting the annual “Gift of Warmth” collection prior to tonight’s game. All donations will benefit the Salvation Army’s services. Fans were encouraged to bring warm clothing items like hats, scarves and gloves ….. I just received my list of inactives for tonight and Marshawn Lynch is unfortunately on that list, still suffering from last week’s ankle sprain. Anthony Thomas will start at RB and rookies Dwayne Wright and Fred Jackson will undoubtedly see a lot of work as well ….. Game time temp was just announced as 36 degrees. And the wind chill is 29. I can tell you I won’t be spending much time in the tunnel after the game ….. Obviously, it’s a sellout crowd tonight. And they are in a pregame frenzy right now as the Bills are being introduced ….. Injured TE Kevin Everett delivered an emotional videotaped message to the entire stadium before the game.

1st Quarter – The Bills won the toss and Terrence McGee returned the opening kickoff to the 18 ….. J.P. Losman to Lee Evans for 16-yards on the first play from scrimmage ….. J.P. took a sack and lost nine yards ….. One play later J.P. was intercepted by Randall Gay and to add insult to injury, a late hit out of bounds added 15 to it. Patriots take over at the Bills 13. Clearly, this was about the worst way to start this game ….. Two plays later, Laurence Maroney runs in from the six and the Patriots lead 7-0 ….. Obviously, the Bills can’t turn the ball over in their own territory against the best team in the league ….. Better field position this time. Terrence McGee returns the KO the the 30, but it’s three-and-out ….. DE Chris Kelsay dropped into coverage and tackled Wes Welker after a seven-yard gain ….. Donte Stallworth just dropped a sure TD ….. A couple plays later, Randy Moss just dropped a sure first down ….. Randy just made up for it with a 43-yard TD catch and the Pats are up 14-0 ….. Randy was all alone on that catch. Safety George Wilson tried to catch-up but it was much too late ….. Before this game gets out of hand, the Bills need to control the clock and put points on the board now ….. J.P. to Josh Reed for 12 yards on first down ….. Michael Gaines made a nice one-handed grab for a first down. J.P. fumbled, scooped it up, ran for his life and found Michael downfield for a first down. What a wild play ….. Touchdown Bills! Roscoe Parrish just lit up the crowd with a leaping 47-yard TD catch. The crowd is back in it and maybe that play will give the defense a spark as well. Patriots still lead 14-7 ….. The Bills are challenging whether there was a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. We’re watching here in the press box and it looked like a fumble, but it also looks like a Patriot player fell on it ….. The ruling is in and the Patriots keep it ….. Intentional grounding by Tom Brady on first down ….. A 31-yard pass completion to Jabar Gaffney on third down ….. The Patriots are rolling, now at the Bills’ 16 as the first quarter ends.

2nd Quarter – Tom Brady to Randy Moss for 16 yards and a TD to open the 2nd quarter. The Patriots are just plain good, performing surgery on the Bills D so far. The Pats are back out in front by 14 ….. Terrence McGee almost broke it, but returns the kickoff to the Bills 45 ….. Anthony Thomas breaks a nice first down run but an illegal formation penalty wipes it out ….. The Bills are forced to punt, with the wind this time. Still, kind of a frozen knuckle ball by Brian Moorman with a good bounce to the Patriots’ 16 ….. Three plays and the Patriots are at the Bills 40 ….. Continuing their drive, New England is starting to take everything underneath and picking up chunks doing it (8, 11 and 10 yards). The Bills are stopping the run, but it seems the Pats could pass their way through the entire game, which is nothing new if you’re familiar with this team ….. Speaking of, another TD pass to Randy Moss and the Patriots are up 28-7 ….. Terrence McGee muffed the short kickoff trying to catch the ball on the run and the Bills start from their own 13 ….. The Patriots just got their fourth sack. It looks like J.P. is getting enough time to throw, but he’s not finding anyone open ….. Lee Evans was just credited with a 16-yard catch but the replay shows it hit the ground. This will be overturned forcing a punt ….. Brian Moorman hit a nice 43-yard punt ….. Now in their two-minute drill, the Patriots are again taking everything underneath in chunks ….. Angelo Crowell finally got a hit on Tom Brady, incomplete pass ….. Tom Brady overthrew Randy Moss on one play but then hit him with 17-yarder on the next and the Patriots are up 35-7 with only 10 seconds left in the half. That’s Brady to Moss four times tonight so far ….. An incomplete hail mary pass by J.P. ends the half.

Halftime – We’re celebrating legendary (retired) Bills play-by-play announcer Van Miller’s birthday. The food is typically good but the mood is somber.

3rd Quarter – The Patriots are starting this quarter mixing the run with the pass and almost making it look like a scrimmage ….. On 4th and 1, the Pats go for it and Ben Watson makes a nice leaping catch. 12 plays, 73 yards later, New England is up 42-7 ….. Tonight’s attendance was just announced as 71,338 ….. Terrence McGee returned the kickoff to the Bills’ 47 ….. The Bills are moving the ball, but J.P. is still getting pressure ….. Rian Lindell makes a 52-yard field goal. The ball actually hit the camera attached to the goal post, resulting in a successful try. It’s 42-10 ….. The Pats are putting together a long drive again as the third quarter comes to an end.

4th Quarter – Kyle Eckel opens the final quarter with a TD run and the Pats have expanded their lead to 49-10 ….. The Bills have the ball back. RB Dwayne Wright caught a 5-yard pass from J.P. But in doing so, he was hit, the ball popped out and Pats CB Ellis Hobbs returned it 35 yards for a TD. This is officially embarrassing as the Bills are getting hammered 56-10. The stadium is about half full now and it’s getting really hard for me to continue writing. I can’t imagine the locker room will be much fun tonight ….. Josh Reed made a nice leaping catch for 19 yards but the drive would stall at the Bills’ 45. And another punt ….. Tom Brady is calling it a night and backup QB Matt Cassell is in ….. I’m off to the tunnel.

Final Thoughts – I actually thought the Bills had a chance tonight. I know all of WNY wanted a repeat of the Dallas game (with a win this time), but it was not to be. The New England Patriots are, perhaps, the best team I’ve ever seen. They do everything right and they just don’t seem to have any weaknesses. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they finished the season undefeated. As for the Bills, their win streak ends, but I don’t think they’re going to spend a lot of time analyzing this game. They’ve got two tough road games ahead of them and still have a shot at the playoffs, so it’s best to put this one behind them.