- 5/26/2025
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00:00:00♪♪♪
00:00:01The National Broadcasting Company presents
00:00:03the National Football League.
00:00:07♪♪♪
00:00:14Today, from Sullivan Stadium in Boxborough, Massachusetts,
00:00:18it's the Buffalo Bills versus the New England Patriots.
00:00:21♪♪♪
00:00:24Brought to you by Jeep Cherokee.
00:00:26There's a feeling you can get only in a Jeep.
00:00:30By Budweiser.
00:00:31For all you do, this Bud's for you.
00:00:35And by Manville.
00:00:3721,000 people with one goal,
00:00:39to be America's very best supplier.
00:00:43In New England, this is full foliage weekend.
00:00:46They take to the road by the thousands
00:00:48to look at the changing leaves.
00:00:50Although today, the weather may dim the view just a bit.
00:00:54And for those who have come in the rain to Foxborough
00:00:56to watch the Bills and Patriots today,
00:00:58they will be looking at two changing teams.
00:01:01Hi again, everyone.
00:01:02And welcome to a chilly and damp Foxborough.
00:01:05Len Berman along with Reggie Rucker.
00:01:07As you saw in NFL 85, Joe Cribs is here,
00:01:09but he will not dress.
00:01:10But Hank Bulla and the 0-5 Buffalo Bills
00:01:13have made several lineup changes.
00:01:15As a matter of fact, the changes started a week ago
00:01:17when Ralph Wilson, the Buffalo Bills owner,
00:01:19fired Kay Stevenson and hired Hank Bulla.
00:01:22It didn't work in Indianapolis.
00:01:23They were beating 49-17.
00:01:25So Bulla has made some changes in personnel.
00:01:28Starting at defensive end will be Bruce Smith,
00:01:30the rookie number one draft choice.
00:01:32An outstanding pass.
00:01:34Russia is now playing the run better.
00:01:36Also getting a start today, cornerback Derek Burrows,
00:01:39another number one draft choice,
00:01:40who's been out with an ankle injury.
00:01:42He is an excellent man-to-man defender.
00:01:45And also, for you fans in Buffalo,
00:01:48you'll remember Joe D.
00:01:50He gets a start today.
00:01:51Six changes in all.
00:01:52And Raymond Berry for the Patriots admits,
00:01:54yes, our offense has been a bit too conservative.
00:01:57He hopes to shake things up today as well.
00:01:59Yeah, it's unusual for a Hall of Fame pass
00:02:01get-your-leg Raymond Berry to be conservative.
00:02:03He's throwing the football with Tony Eason deep today
00:02:07at least four or five times.
00:02:08When these teams met three weeks ago,
00:02:10the Patriots won 17-14.
00:02:12It was the closest game for the Bills.
00:02:14This was the big play,
00:02:15Irving Fryer's punt return touchdown.
00:02:17Fryer, the electrifying player from Nebraska,
00:02:20can break the game open on one play.
00:02:22Every time he touches the football,
00:02:24he can take it all the way.
00:02:27The Buffalo Bills have won the toss,
00:02:29and they hope to provide Hank Bullough,
00:02:31who coached here in New England
00:02:32as an assistant for seven years,
00:02:34with his first coaching victory.
00:02:36Bills 0-5, 11 straight road losses.
00:02:39Tony Franklin will kick it off barefooted in the rain.
00:02:43Eric Richardson, Donald Wilson are back for the Bills.
00:02:48The crowd a bit on the slim side,
00:02:50but they are noisy, and we are underway.
00:02:52Franklin is not a deep kicker.
00:02:54Therefore, Wilson takes it at the 4.
00:02:57To the 25, across the 30, and stumbles to the 36,
00:03:01and that's where the Bills' offense
00:03:03will start out this afternoon.
00:03:06Ed Williams on the tackle.
00:03:08Vince Ferragamo, rated as the last quarterback in the AFC,
00:03:12gets the start in a tough game last week.
00:03:14Greg Bell, the running back, Jerry Butler in the rookie,
00:03:16Andre Reid, the wide receivers, the two tight ends,
00:03:19Pete Metzelaars and Easton Ramson.
00:03:21The offensive line, for the first time in five years,
00:03:24Will Grant will not snap it centered.
00:03:26Tim Vogler's the man.
00:03:28Richer and DeLaMolure, the guards,
00:03:30Ken Jones and Joe Devlin are the tackles.
00:03:35It was an offside called on the play.
00:03:37It was refused by the Bills.
00:03:39They will start at the 36.
00:03:41And as we start the game, temperature in the 40s.
00:03:44I think the rain has held off for the moment.
00:03:51That's Ramson in motion.
00:03:53The give is to Bell, who gets ahead to the 39.
00:03:56Pick up the three before he's greeted by Toby Williams,
00:03:59the right end for the Patriots.
00:04:02If you talk about keys to the game for the Buffalo Bills,
00:04:05it has to be controlling the football,
00:04:08running the football on first down,
00:04:10and picking up four yards or more on first down.
00:04:13That's very important.
00:04:18And controlling the time of possession.
00:04:21Obviously the Bills' last rated rushing team in the league.
00:04:25They'd like to hold on to the ball.
00:04:27Three tight ends in there now.
00:04:29That's one of them, Ramson in motion.
00:04:31It's Bell again.
00:04:32Nothing.
00:04:33Middle of the Patriots' linebacking core,
00:04:35spearheaded by all-pro Steve Nelson,
00:04:38helped by Larry McGrew.
00:04:41And there's Andre Tippett.
00:04:42So the front three.
00:04:43Kenneth Sims is coming on a bit now.
00:04:45Remember, he was a top pick a few years ago
00:04:47and struggled.
00:04:48Dennis Owens, Toby Williams, the front three.
00:04:50Good Patriots linebackers.
00:04:52Tippett and all-pro Steve Nelson, McGrew and Blackman.
00:04:55And the defensive backs.
00:04:57They like to throw at Ronnie Lippitt.
00:04:59They like to keep it away from Raymond Claiborne on the right side.
00:05:02And the safeties are Roland James and Fred Marion.
00:05:05A third and seven at the 39.
00:05:09From the shotgun for Ferragamo.
00:05:15His first pass.
00:05:17Throwing to this side, Rod McSwain had it
00:05:20but couldn't hold on for the Patriots.
00:05:22And that was nearly a sure interception,
00:05:24but immediately for the 0-5 Buffalo Bills,
00:05:27it's three plays and punt for Vince Ferragamo and company.
00:05:32Watch it here.
00:05:33This is Jerry Butler, the speecher from Clemson,
00:05:36running the deep pattern, but the ball is underthrown.
00:05:40Underthrown so much so that Rod McSwain
00:05:43had an excellent opportunity to catch that ball
00:05:45and return it down the sidelines.
00:05:47That's John Kidd.
00:05:49Averages about 42 yards a punt.
00:05:52Second year man from Northwestern.
00:05:54Had a good day here last year.
00:05:56Irving Fryer, the man who did it three weeks ago,
00:05:58will try again.
00:06:00But it's a short punt.
00:06:01There will be no return.
00:06:02And it goes out of bounds at about the 30s.
00:06:05So the Patriots on offense will start out in decent shape
00:06:09after the short punt from John Kidd.
00:06:1131 yards on that boot.
00:06:14Patriots offense.
00:06:15Tony Eason not having a good year either.
00:06:17He has nine interceptions.
00:06:19Ranked just ahead of Vince Ferragamo.
00:06:22Tony Collins and mostly to Tupou Starp,
00:06:24but we'll see a lot of Craig James and Robert Weathers.
00:06:27Morgan and Fryer, speedy receivers.
00:06:29Lynn Dawson, the tight end.
00:06:31First down for the Patriots, the 32.
00:06:34Good lineman in Holloway and Hanna on the left side.
00:06:37Passing on first down to Tony Collins.
00:06:39Holds on and heads up to about the 35,
00:06:42which will be a pickup of three.
00:06:48So Eason throwing on first down.
00:06:50Tony Eason wants to throw the ball on first down a lot.
00:06:54They have outstanding wide receivers who have great speed,
00:06:57and they want to attack the Buffalo secondary deep.
00:07:01Eason had eight interceptions all of last year, Reggie.
00:07:04Already he has thrown nine.
00:07:06The Patriots offense has really struggled.
00:07:09Second and seven at the 35.
00:07:14Eason throwing on second down.
00:07:16This one he can...
00:07:17No, he was wide open, and Stanley Morgan could not hold on,
00:07:22and that's unusual for him.
00:07:24Stanley Morgan has done so much work during the offseason
00:07:28to help improve those hands of his
00:07:30so that he can make the catches.
00:07:32Many people say that coming over the middle,
00:07:35the New England Patriot receivers have a problem.
00:07:38Now why?
00:07:39That's because that's where the big hits are made,
00:07:41and you think more about getting hit than catching the football.
00:07:44That was an out-and-out drop for all-pro Stanley Morgan.
00:07:48Third and seven now for New England, 35.
00:07:51Passing on all three downs now.
00:07:54Tony Collins out of the backfield.
00:07:56Across the 45, loses the ball after gaining a first down,
00:08:00and Buffalo has recovered.
00:08:06Rodney Bellinger runs out with the ball,
00:08:09second-year player from Miami.
00:08:11Martin Bayless made the hit on Tony Collins
00:08:14after he had made the first down,
00:08:16and the first turnover goes to the Bills.
00:08:18This has been a problem for both football teams
00:08:20Collins here picks up the first down,
00:08:22but gets hit very good from both sides,
00:08:25lets the ball go.
00:08:26When we come back,
00:08:27Buffalo will be starting at the Patriots 44.
00:08:31This is the takeaway giveaway story for both football teams.
00:08:35Minus eight for the Bills, minus six for the Patriots.
00:08:38I call that red numbers,
00:08:39and whenever you're in red numbers,
00:08:41you're going to have a difficult time winning football games.
00:08:44So Ed, one now for the Patriots,
00:08:46and take away one from the Bills.
00:08:48On the left, Raymond Burry.
00:08:50On the right, Hank Bull.
00:08:51They were assistant coaches together here in New England in 78.
00:08:55First down, 44.
00:08:58Straight ahead, Bell.
00:08:59Gets inside the 40 to the 38.
00:09:02And Fred Marion, one of the top tacklers on the Patriots club,
00:09:06catches up with him.
00:09:07Now when Buffalo runs the ball on first down,
00:09:10and they pick up four yards or more,
00:09:12they take all of the pressure off of Vince Ferragamo.
00:09:16Now his play calling and his selection process is a lot easier
00:09:20because he can dictate to the defense
00:09:22as opposed to the defense dictating to him.
00:09:27Now the ball on the 38, a second and three,
00:09:30and three tight ends come in for Vince Ferragamo once again.
00:09:33And now the rain, as you see behind Vince,
00:09:35is starting to come down again.
00:09:37And a flag.
00:09:43What was it, 32nd clock?
00:09:48False start, 68 offense, five-yard penalty, still second down.
00:09:53Gene Barth makes the call
00:09:55and the rest of his crew here in Foxborough this afternoon.
00:09:58Had an interesting conversation with Gene Barth a couple of weeks ago.
00:10:01We were on the same flight
00:10:02and learned a lot about the business of officiating.
00:10:06He's one of the best.
00:10:07It's an interesting business.
00:10:09These fellows all have different jobs and different walks of life,
00:10:12and they come here as a crew on a Sunday.
00:10:16Very interesting, their areas of responsibility.
00:10:18They get more heat than Ronald Reagan.
00:10:20Sometimes.
00:10:22Bramson in motion on the second and eight, the pitch back to Bell.
00:10:25And there is Kenneth Sims throwing him for the loss at midfield.
00:10:28And look at the emotion from Tippett.
00:10:37So how it turned around just now for Buffalo.
00:10:40Second and three, a quick penalty, a quick loss,
00:10:43and zip, they've lost 12 yards and they march backwards to midfield.
00:10:47And this is the situation that Hank Buller
00:10:49desperately wanted to stay out of.
00:10:51The New England Patriots will play the nickel or the six-back defense,
00:10:56and they will double cover most of the Buffalo Bills receivers.
00:10:59And many times in this situation, Lenny, he's forced to throw it to a back.
00:11:03Remember, a new center, Vogler, is snapping out of the shotgun
00:11:06on the third and 14 from the 48.
00:11:09Might have had a jump on the Patriots' side.
00:11:11Ferragamo under pressure unloads it.
00:11:14Intercepted by Roland James of New England.
00:11:17James on the far side to midfield.
00:11:19Roland James hurdles the lineman.
00:11:23Out of bounds.
00:11:25Garen Vares pushes him out.
00:11:27A 39-yard return off yet another interception of Vince Ferragamo
00:11:32for Roland James.
00:11:34The Buffalo Bills have a 33% conversion ratio on third down.
00:11:38That's not good enough to win.
00:11:40You'd have to be up around 55%, 60%.
00:11:43Poor pass by Vince Ferragamo.
00:11:45It's wobbly.
00:11:46He doesn't wait for the receiver to break out of the pattern.
00:11:49And if you're going to play football that way, you're going to have a long afternoon.
00:11:54First and ten for New England at the 41.
00:11:57Now Craig James in the lineup fights ahead to the 38 for a pickup of three.
00:12:02That is not a fumble.
00:12:03Whistle dead.
00:12:04Gang tackled in there.
00:12:06Eugene Marv, the man in the middle for Buffalo.
00:12:12Eugene Marv, number 54.
00:12:15Keep our eye on Bruce Smith, the rookie at right end,
00:12:18teaming with Smurlus and Ben Williams.
00:12:21Linebacker in court.
00:12:22Frazier moves to the other side.
00:12:23Lucia Sanford off injured reserve gets the start on one outside linebacker
00:12:26with Marv and Haslett in the middle.
00:12:28Defensive back to the rookie, Burrows.
00:12:29See if they go to him instead of Romes on the other side.
00:12:32Second and seven.
00:12:33Again, it's James.
00:12:36And James gets a first down inside the 30 before Romes catches up with him.
00:12:41How about all that controversy this week for New England?
00:12:43Who would be the starting running backs?
00:12:45First he named two guys, James, and he said Collins would come back to start.
00:12:49The players nor the fans knew whom the starting running backs were this week.
00:12:52It reminded me of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's who's on first.
00:12:57I don't think anybody knew.
00:12:59Well, now you know what the starting lineups mean.
00:13:01We introduced earlier to Tupou and Collins,
00:13:03and all of a sudden now Craig James is in, and we'll see Robert Weathers.
00:13:07So it switches around as the Patriots now have a first down at the Buffalo 28.
00:13:12Watch Stanley Morgan against Burrows on the right.
00:13:16Well, we're not going to watch anything.
00:13:19And a timeout is taken by Eason as he heads over towards Raymond Burry
00:13:23to discuss things.
00:13:24You see Steve Grogan, the backup number 14, discussing things as well.
00:13:28So we've had two turnovers.
00:13:30We've played three minutes, but we've yet to have a score.
00:13:33We'll be back.
00:13:34From the 28 for New England, James tries to pick a spot,
00:13:37but has let a host of other blue shirts stop him.
00:13:44Lenny, it's not a good idea, I don't think, today to run the ball outside.
00:13:48The field is wet.
00:13:49It's very slippery.
00:13:50When you run the ball on the outside,
00:13:52there's a look at first quarter score, Cincinnati over New York.
00:13:55When you run the ball on the outside perimeter, you need good footing,
00:13:58and you don't have that today.
00:13:59That was a Collinsworth catch from Esiason.
00:14:01It's a funny story about Hank Bullough.
00:14:02He was a co-head coach for one game with New England,
00:14:05he and Ronnie Earhart in 1978,
00:14:08co-head coaches for one game when Fairbanks was fired.
00:14:11They both gave pregame prep talks, and the team lost anyway.
00:14:15Second down at the 28.
00:14:18Incomplete.
00:14:19Looking on the far side for Derek Ramsey, the tight end.
00:14:25This will be third down.
00:14:26These offenses have struggled.
00:14:27Just look at the statistic for points scored for the season.
00:14:30Buffalo's only scored 63 points, and all the Patriots have scored is 90.
00:14:34That's the key statistic.
00:14:36Two different situations, though.
00:14:37The Patriots are a very talented football team.
00:14:40Tony Eason hasn't had the year so far.
00:14:42That's Joe Cripps.
00:14:44He's been around 50% past completion percentage,
00:14:46but that's because he has had so many injuries to his wide receivers.
00:14:51Cripps hopes to play next week at home against the Colts.
00:14:53Third down now.
00:14:55And 10 from the 28.
00:14:58Pressure from Smith.
00:14:59The throw is a good one, a completion on the far side.
00:15:02This time in traffic, Stanley Morgan holds on where he couldn't before
00:15:06when he was open.
00:15:08During the offseason,
00:15:09Raymond Berry had Stanley Morgan work with what we call silly putty.
00:15:14Now, as a rookie in Dallas 15 years ago,
00:15:16Raymond Berry gave me that same silly putty to strengthen my hands.
00:15:20Watch it.
00:15:21Watch his hands.
00:15:22Good catch, good hand-eye coordination, and that's good hand strength.
00:15:26Once again, here is Eason.
00:15:28Eason looking one way and throwing the other.
00:15:30Get up in the air, Stanley Morgan.
00:15:34Driven back by Rodney Bellinger.
00:15:35First down, 13-yard pickup.
00:15:37They're at the 15-yard line.
00:15:40Eason over the middle.
00:15:41Friar complete at about the 8th with Marv, the linebacker, covering him.
00:15:48So now, Eason is completing it to his wide receiver.
00:15:51Friar, a former number one.
00:15:53Look at the number ones we've had in the overall draft the last few years.
00:15:56Kenneth Sims, Irving Friar of the Patriots, Bruce Smith of Buffalo.
00:16:00It tells you how these teams have done
00:16:02where they've been in the position to draft number one overall.
00:16:05Also tells you that they haven't done very well
00:16:07because you can't pick first unless you're not having a good season.
00:16:13So second and three at the 8th for New England.
00:16:21Hand off inside to James, maybe picks up a yard.
00:16:27Ben Williams, Bruce Smith combining on the defensive front three for the Buffalo Bills.
00:16:33They are last in the National Football League in defending the rush,
00:16:36but so far today they have done well.
00:16:40I believe that the Patriots will seek to exploit
00:16:43the defensive secondary of the Buffalo Bills.
00:16:46One, the Bills do not get a good pass rush,
00:16:49and two, the Patriots have so much speed
00:16:51that they're looking for mismatches in the secondary.
00:16:55Important third and three from the 8th.
00:16:57Greg Hawthorne is in the backfield now for the Patriots,
00:17:00and Eason wants to put it up as he rolls out.
00:17:03Fires, intercepted by the rookie Derek Burrows.
00:17:08So his first NFL start turns in a crucial interception for the Bills.
00:17:13We've had three turnovers in the game thus far this afternoon.
00:17:17Derek Burrows, number 29, coming out of Memphis State.
00:17:21They said he was the best pure man-on-man defender in the draft a year ago.
00:17:27How about starting your first NFL game, turning in your first interception.
00:17:32First down from the 20, and Greg Bell takes it straight ahead for a couple.
00:17:37We have six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
00:17:40We have no score. We've had three turnovers.
00:17:44Tony Eason and Vince Ferragamo both plagued by interceptions so far this season,
00:17:50and they've both been intercepted this afternoon one time each.
00:17:53This has been what's been plaguing the New England Patriots
00:17:56with all of their talent, all of their speed, and number one draft choices.
00:17:59They have been self-destructive.
00:18:03Derek Burrows has to feel pretty good.
00:18:04I wonder if he kept that football over to the side.
00:18:06Second and seven of the 23 for Buffalo.
00:18:10Ramson again in motion.
00:18:12Play action fake to Bell.
00:18:14Ferragamo nearly intercepted.
00:18:16Where was he?
00:18:17Steve Nelson had it in his hands.
00:18:20You know, that should be three interceptions for the Patriots this afternoon.
00:18:23McSwain dropped one.
00:18:25Nelson dropped this one.
00:18:27It was Roland James who held on.
00:18:29Ferragamo has the plays, as you see, written on his wrist.
00:18:33I think you should just throw him away.
00:18:37And Raymond Perry has been having all of his players, prior to practice each day,
00:18:42handle the football, do extra pass-catching drills
00:18:45so that they can improve their takeaway ratio on defense.
00:18:49But that hasn't been working to their advantage today.
00:18:54Now it's third down and seventh of 23.
00:18:57Ferragamo passing 0 for 3 with one interception.
00:19:00It's been tough.
00:19:02And he's not shell-shocked.
00:19:04He throws complete to the rookie Chris Burkett of Jackson State.
00:19:09First down for Buffalo.
00:19:1012-yard pickup.
00:19:12Burkett is a tall, lanky receiver that came out of Jackson State
00:19:17in the Southwest Athletic Conference.
00:19:24They've had some good people out of that school, Walter Payton, of course.
00:19:28Yes.
00:19:29Burkett was second-team all-conference to a fellow by the name of Jerry Rice,
00:19:33the number-one pick of the San Francisco 49ers.
00:19:36First down for Buffalo, the 33, three tight ends in the lineup.
00:19:39Ramson again heads out.
00:19:41Bell straight ahead.
00:19:42Andre Tippett grabs him after Sims missed the first grab.
00:19:46And a pickup of about 2 for the Buffalo Bills.
00:19:50The New England Patriots defensive unit is an outstanding one.
00:19:53It's very talented, led by Andre Tippett.
00:19:56Houston, 3-0 over Cleveland.
00:19:59Andre Tippett, 18-and-a-half sacks a year ago.
00:20:03That's a phenomenal figure for anybody.
00:20:05Oh, that's a linebacker.
00:20:07He's big, 6'3", 241 pounds.
00:20:09It's very difficult for halfbacks to block him on the blitz,
00:20:12and he's too quick for the offensive lineman to block him.
00:20:15So he's a terror.
00:20:17This is a second and 8 for the Bills.
00:20:20They're 34.
00:20:26Ferragamo, and he overthrows Greg Bell.
00:20:29Last week Ferragamo was overthrowing Jerry Butler with regularity.
00:20:33It's got to be tough for Vince.
00:20:36Wow.
00:20:37It's not an easy way to make a living when you don't exactly have the best pass
00:20:41protection in the world, and your best receiver, Jerry Butler,
00:20:44is coming back after not having played in 1984, and defenses take him away.
00:20:49So all you have left is throwing the ball to Andre Reid, number 83,
00:20:52a rookie who has been very impressive this year.
00:20:54And he's taking snaps from a different center today.
00:20:57Tim Vogler.
00:20:58And the weather's a bit bad,
00:20:59so any excuse you would like to make for Vince Ferragamo is certainly there
00:21:03for the taking this afternoon.
00:21:05Third and 8 at the 34.
00:21:11Shotgun formation.
00:21:15Throwing deep for Burkett.
00:21:17He's got it at the Patriots 39, covered by the veteran Raymond Claiborne.
00:21:22So our rookie takes the veterans of school for a pickup of 25.
00:21:27As I told you, he is a big, tall target, and it's a very cold day.
00:21:32And to make a catch like that by Burkett is unusual for a rookie.
00:21:36Watch it now.
00:21:37Another one of the wobbly Ferragamo passes,
00:21:40and he does do a fine job against Raymond Claiborne.
00:21:45With Mitchell Brookins now on injured reserve, the wide receiver,
00:21:48Burkett getting a shot.
00:21:49He had only four catches coming in before today,
00:21:52and he's made two this afternoon.
00:21:53And now Buffalo with their best field position.
00:21:56First to 10 at the 39.
00:21:57Remember last time they were in this situation, a penalty,
00:22:00and they were thrown for a loss.
00:22:01Let's see what they do here.
00:22:03And there's motion on the right side.
00:22:05He called it.
00:22:06Same thing as last, a self-destructing offense again.
00:22:08That's right.
00:22:09Buffalo is one of the more penalized teams in the league.
00:22:12They've been called for 48 penalties totaling close to 400 yards.
00:22:15Ball start, number 70 offense, five-yard penalty, still first down.
00:22:20Joe Devlin on the right side, right tackle.
00:22:22When you have that many penalties, Lenny,
00:22:24it really disrupts the continuity of the drive,
00:22:27and it takes the quarterback out of his play-calling scheme.
00:22:32Well, take a look at this one.
00:22:34You have 5-0 Rams against the 0-5 Bucks,
00:22:36and James Wilder gives Tampa Bay the lead.
00:22:40Bengals doing it to the Giants in the first quarter in Cincinnati here.
00:22:43Scoreless, 247 remain first quarter.
00:22:47First and 15 now at the 44.
00:22:50Ferragamo nearly intercepted by Johnny Greenberg.
00:22:53That should have been the fourth interception against Ferragamo.
00:23:00Well, these people, particularly the Buffalo Bills,
00:23:03are throwing caution to the wind with Vince Ferragamo at quarterback.
00:23:07He apparently isn't seeing some of the defenders
00:23:10who are cutting in front of his passes,
00:23:12and he just doesn't have the velocity.
00:23:15One of the reasons why it's hard to get the velocity
00:23:17is it's hard to grip the football.
00:23:19Do you think Hank Bulla is at all thinking about Bruce Matheson,
00:23:22his backup quarterback?
00:23:23I don't think so.
00:23:27Second and 15 at the 44, just a thought.
00:23:31Bell for a couple, but not the play you need when you need a lot of yardage.
00:23:37Andre Tippett and Kenneth Sims combining for the tackle,
00:23:40and this will set up third and long inside of two and a half minutes
00:23:44remaining in the quarter.
00:23:46Here's where, once the Bills get Joe Cribs back,
00:23:49Joe Cribs is probably the most effective back in football,
00:23:53pass-catching ability out of the backfield.
00:23:56Right now they don't have that without Cribs.
00:23:59And when they get Cribs back,
00:24:00they will be a much more dangerous football team in this situation.
00:24:03Do you think he'll run Cribs and Bell together, two small backs in the backfield?
00:24:06He says that he will, but I think it's difficult
00:24:09because neither of those fellows blocks very well.
00:24:12Shotgun, third and 13.
00:24:16Uh-oh.
00:24:17And he threw into some tough coverage for Andre Reid.
00:24:20Ronnie Lippitt was covering.
00:24:24There's an example of the liberalization of the pass-interference rule.
00:24:28We have a flag, Reggie.
00:24:30Yes, it is.
00:24:34I'll hold my comment.
00:24:37Defensive pass interference on the intended receiver.
00:24:41See, I was going to be wrong with it.
00:24:44I thought that that was an excellent example of the new freedom
00:24:49that the defensive back has.
00:24:50Let's watch it.
00:24:51Now the defensive back can play through the man to the ball.
00:24:54Maybe it was the left hand there.
00:24:56I couldn't see it from that angle,
00:24:57but apparently he must have had his left arm around the receiver.
00:25:00He might have had his hand wrapped around.
00:25:03That is a very costly penalty.
00:25:05Instead of fourth down in the punt, that's an automatic first down at the Patriots 38.
00:25:12Ronnie Lippitt, that's the man they will try to work on.
00:25:20Berghoff wants to throw again.
00:25:22Again, tipped.
00:25:23And another near interception by Raymond Claiborne.
00:25:29As Raymond Claiborne is the one defender in the Patriots secondary that has sure hands
00:25:35and usually does something fantastic with the football once he gets it.
00:25:40Watch it now.
00:25:41Balls in and out.
00:25:42Tipped at the line of scrimmage, as a matter of fact,
00:25:44and Claiborne had a shot down the right sideline.
00:25:47Claiborne, that's a record for the Patriots.
00:25:49It's 111th consecutive start.
00:25:51Cliche dodging a bullet.
00:25:53Ferragamo has dodged an entire machine gun round.
00:25:58Five near interceptions.
00:26:00Second down at the 38.
00:26:05And Bell on the draw.
00:26:07Rembrandt in there.
00:26:09Fred Marion chasing him.
00:26:11Finally drag him down.
00:26:12Well short of a first down, but third down coming up.
00:26:16Fred Marion, number 31.
00:26:18And the safety for the Patriots, it's an interesting story.
00:26:21Second on the team in tackles a year ago from the free safety position.
00:26:25Eagles with a field goal.
00:26:27Ball down to the 34 now.
00:26:31You may wonder if Ferragamo won't try to exploit the fact that Marion comes up very fast
00:26:37from the safety position.
00:26:38He may try to fake a run and throw something deep behind Marion.
00:26:43Coming down to one minute remaining in a scoreless first quarter.
00:26:46Third and six at the 34.
00:26:48Andre Reid in motion.
00:26:51Swings it out to Bell.
00:26:53Bell was looking to do something with it.
00:26:55Instead he's thrown for a loss.
00:27:00I'd like to say we have a scoreless first quarter because of the defenses,
00:27:04but I have a hunch it's more because of the inability of the offenses, Reggie.
00:27:09Well, I don't like some of the schemes that I'm seeing right now
00:27:12and the selection and the choice of where Ferragamo, in particular,
00:27:16has been throwing the football hasn't been the very best,
00:27:19but he isn't by himself.
00:27:20He's got help.
00:27:24John Kidd, his first punt was a short one.
00:27:30Irving Fryer is standing back on the 10 for New England.
00:27:38Kidd puts it in good position.
00:27:40Fryer waves for a fair catch, and he had some daylight.
00:27:43He could have run.
00:27:45So the Patriots take over at their 11.
00:27:48We have 11 seconds remaining first quarter,
00:27:51and Tony Eason, number 11, coming on.
00:27:53We'll be back.
00:27:56Back in Foxborough, the rain has let up,
00:27:5911 seconds remaining in a scoreless first quarter.
00:28:03The Patriots start at their 11.
00:28:08The first man is Tony Collins, has some room across the 20
00:28:11and slides up to the 25 out of bounds with 5 seconds remaining in the quarter.
00:28:16A 13-yard pickup for Collins,
00:28:18and that's a quarter of the Patriots' total offense.
00:28:22The Patriots have garnered just 62 yards total offense in this first quarter.
00:28:27Buffalo has responded with just 44 yards of their own.
00:28:39Well, that's in the first inning.
00:28:41Pittsburgh to run Homer, but over Dallas, good one going there.
00:28:46Here we're looking for points as well.
00:28:48Fryer in motion.
00:28:49This could be the last play of the first quarter,
00:28:52and they do it conservatively.
00:28:54Collins runs a couple of yards.
00:28:57There's the gun, and we have had one fumble recovery, two interceptions,
00:29:03five near interceptions, and no points after one.
00:29:09Reggie, my kingdom for some offense.
00:29:12Well, Buffalo is staying in this football game right now
00:29:15because they've been able to take the football away from New England,
00:29:18a much more superior team talent-wise.
00:29:21They've been able to take the ball away from them twice.
00:29:23There's some encouragement for Buffalo Bills fans watching today.
00:29:26As you know, this team hasn't won on the road for nearly two years now.
00:29:30At least they're tied after one.
00:29:31Well, Buffalo is cutting down on its margin of error,
00:29:34and I think what Hank Bullough will do is really get this team disciplined enough
00:29:38so that they cut down also on some of the penalties that they've been having
00:29:42because so far that's what's stopping them, the penalties.
00:29:44That's right.
00:29:45A couple of times they've gotten inside the Patriots' 40.
00:29:47They've had a couple of five-yard penalties that have pushed them back,
00:29:50so the Buffalo team has not been able to push it forward very well.
00:29:54The first quarter statistics, as we noted before,
00:29:57Buffalo's had the ball a lot but haven't been able to do much with it.
00:30:03There's a second and nine at the 26 for New England.
00:30:06Eason to throw.
00:30:08Looking for Tony Collins.
00:30:09He did not hold on.
00:30:11Incompletion with Marv and Charles Rooms covering on the far side for Buffalo.
00:30:16Sets up a third down.
00:30:18When you're a pass catcher on the offense on a day like this
00:30:21and you have to put your hands down on the turf that's wet,
00:30:24your hands pick up moisture.
00:30:26Now you must be sure to wipe your hands and to dry your hands as much as you possibly can
00:30:31because if you don't, the ball is going to be slick and you're going to drop it.
00:30:35Well, no, Pittsburgh did not add a rouge there.
00:30:37Our 2-0 score we had before was incorrect.
00:30:40It's 3-0, and that game is in the second quarter.
00:30:43That's where the two came in.
00:30:45Third down and nine.
00:30:47Eason in trouble with his own lineman Hannah blocking in front of him
00:30:50and throws incomplete on the near side.
00:30:52Look at the Buffalo defense.
00:30:55Guy Frazier, who switched over to the other outside linebacking spot,
00:30:59one of the key men on that play.
00:31:01Well, you can't tell from looking at the Buffalo Bills that they're 0-5.
00:31:05They're a very spirited-looking team today.
00:31:07They're hustling all over the field,
00:31:09and there's a trademark to a Hank Bullough defense of pursuit and hustle.
00:31:14And now we will look at the best NFL punter on for the first time, Rich Camarillo.
00:31:18And again, Buffalo will get decent field position.
00:31:22Donald Wilson is back at his 35 for the Buffalo Bills.
00:31:28Camarillo, good long punt, not a lot of height.
00:31:32Wilson at the 23, across the 30, and upended before he can get to the 35.
00:31:40Good tackle turned in by special teams captain Mosey Tutupu.
00:31:45So opening seconds, second quarter, scoreless, Buffalo gets it back once again.
00:31:51Just a bit, the lights are on at Sullivan Stadium, and the rain thankfully has held off.
00:31:56The Bills have first and ten at their 35.
00:32:06Ramson again in motion.
00:32:09Taking the pass instead, Reg, and gets it to Ramson,
00:32:13and it's complete for close to a Buffalo first down at the 44, maybe the 45.
00:32:20And Farragamo completes his fourth pass for a total of 38 yards.
00:32:25He's not being shell-shocked.
00:32:27He has seen a handful of passes nearly picked off, but he's still going through the air,
00:32:31and he did pick up a first down at his 45.
00:32:46Farragamo starts at his 45 now.
00:32:50Ramson again in motion, handoff up the middle.
00:32:53Bell lost the football.
00:32:57The Patriots say they have it.
00:32:59The officials concur.
00:33:01So now it's even.
00:33:02Each team has lost a fumble.
00:33:04Each has had an interception.
00:33:06Andre Tippett, the recovery of the Greg Bell fumble.
00:33:09The difference is the Buffalo Bills, quite frankly,
00:33:12aren't good enough to be able to turn the football over and stay in the football game.
00:33:17Now, they've been playing good transition defense, as they must play right now,
00:33:21but they simply cannot afford to fumble the football.
00:33:24Here's Bell being met squarely in the hole by Kenneth Sims.
00:33:28He can't find the ball, and that's where you get hurt right down in there
00:33:31when helmets go down for the football.
00:33:34Berry has a fumble recovery drill where the players pounce on the ball.
00:33:37First down throwing and completing to Robert Weathers, the backup fullback,
00:33:44and he picks up a couple of yards.
00:33:47Martin Bayless covering.
00:33:49Dallas has now taken the lead over Pittsburgh, 7-3 in the second quarter.
00:33:54Scoreless as well, Indianapolis.
00:33:56Boy, that's quite a come down after all the points they scored last week.
00:33:59Giants can't get on the board in Cincinnati.
00:34:03Look at that. That's a surprise.
00:34:050-5 Tampa Bay, leading the Rams in the second quarter.
00:34:09Here at scoreless, second and five at the 42 for the Patriots.
00:34:14And straight ahead, but not picking up much, Robert Weathers and Fred Smurlus.
00:34:23Sweet at him. Smurlus, a local product from Waltham.
00:34:27Houston with the early lead over the Bernie Kosar-led Cleveland Browns.
00:34:31That's a surprise.
00:34:33Washington, looks like they've got their act back together again,
00:34:36leading the Detroit Lions, 10-3.
00:34:39And scoreless second quarter in Green Bay.
00:34:41The points are hard to come by around the NFL, it seems like.
00:34:46Mills with six defensive backs on the third and fourth of 41.
00:34:53Eason throwing, knocked down, intended for Cedric Jones and Derek Burroughs.
00:34:59And if this keeps up, this rookie may get a game ball.
00:35:02He has an interception, a knockdown, and now Rich Camarillo will come on to punish.
00:35:07Charles Rhoams gives him some encouragement, as do his teammates on the near side.
00:35:11One thing Burroughs has is blazing speed, and he sticks to receivers very tightly.
00:35:17And when you have that kind of speed and that kind of man-to-man ability,
00:35:20it gives you a lot of confidence to play these professional receivers
00:35:24the way Burroughs is playing them this afternoon.
00:35:27Did well on his first punt, so noted before he leads the league.
00:35:30Donald Wilson back at his ten.
00:35:33The teams are giving the opposition plenty of chances.
00:35:35They've handed the ball over a total of four times,
00:35:37and the offenses can't do anything with it.
00:35:40Rich Camarillo, bad punt aimed towards this side, and that will hurt his average.
00:35:45It's marked out of bounds.
00:35:48All the way up at the 29.
00:35:51A 12-yard punt for Rich Camarillo.
00:35:54What will go wrong for these teams next?
00:35:58If you're wondering what Rich Camarillo's been doing during that last commercial,
00:36:01he's been standing there just shaking his head.
00:36:03I can't believe it.
00:36:07First punt of his glorious short career.
00:36:09First down for the Buffalo Bills.
00:36:11They're 29.
00:36:12Suddenly they're saying to themselves, we can win this football game.
00:36:15Ferragamo fires.
00:36:16An overthrowing on the far side to Andre Reid.
00:36:21Ronnie Lippitt covering, and that's the side he'll try to work.
00:36:24Fortunately for Vince, he threw that ball high
00:36:27because if that ball had been lower, it would have been picked off for a touchdown.
00:36:31A Sammy Winder run.
00:36:32The point was missed.
00:36:33Denver beating Indianapolis.
00:36:36And the Rams have come back.
00:36:37Dieter Brock to Bobby Duckworth.
00:36:39They've tied at seven apiece in the second quarter.
00:36:42I'll never understand the trade.
00:36:43San Diego to send Duckworth up to L.A.
00:36:46They picked up a lineman and a draft choice there.
00:36:52Second down.
00:36:53Play action fake.
00:36:54Throwing for Reid again.
00:36:55This time he has it near the first down marker.
00:37:02And that's a 10-yard pickup.
00:37:04And I'm sure Hank Bullough, when he gathered his offense around before,
00:37:08said if we can get anything going, we can beat these guys.
00:37:12Certainly Andre Reid is a big find in 1985 for the Buffalo Bills.
00:37:18A scintillating rookie from Cutztown State in Pennsylvania.
00:37:21That's right.
00:37:23He's made a remarkable impression on the fans up in Upper State New York.
00:37:27They're going to measure this.
00:37:29Maybe just a bit short of a first down.
00:37:31We'll see.
00:37:32No, it's still made it by the nose of a football.
00:37:36So a quick first down pickup to the 39.
00:37:41They have a little more than 12 minutes remaining.
00:37:44Hank Bullough, coming into this game,
00:37:45wanted to try to get the football a great deal to Andre Reid.
00:37:49He's a very clever pass runner.
00:37:51He has fine speed, and he's been showing the propensity for the big play.
00:37:57Eagles with another field goal against the Cards.
00:38:05Here we are early in the second quarter looking for our first score of any kind.
00:38:10First down at the 39 for the Buffalo Bills.
00:38:17Pitch back to Bell.
00:38:18Holds it in one hand.
00:38:20That's a dangerous way to carry the ball.
00:38:22Heads out of bounds.
00:38:23Holds onto it.
00:38:24But there must be some scoring going on elsewhere.
00:38:27Let's go to NFL 85.
00:38:30All right, Lynn, down in Dallas,
00:38:31the Cowboys have struck with the big play against the Steelers.
00:38:33Second quarter, Danny White back.
00:38:35Tony Dorsett splits the seam beating the linebacker.
00:38:38Tom Landry has been using Dorsett more as a receiver.
00:38:41Dallas, 7-3 second quarter.
00:38:43Back to Lynn and Reggie.
00:38:45Thank you, Bill.
00:38:46That was your first club, the Dallas Cowboys, wasn't it, Reggie?
00:38:48Dallas Cowboys was my first club, and Raymond Berry was my first coach.
00:38:53Reggie was a collegiate here with Boston University
00:38:56and then went out to star with the Patriots.
00:39:01Second and six at the 43.
00:39:04Fake to Bell.
00:39:06Ferragamo nearly intercepted by Fred Marion intended for Jerry Butler.
00:39:14Let me tell you one of the things that's happening
00:39:16and the reason why so many defensive backs are getting their hands on these balls.
00:39:20These receivers, when they go downfield and make their cuts inside,
00:39:23have to do it very gingerly.
00:39:25They don't have the normally sure footing that they would have.
00:39:29Therefore, the pass and the timing is off,
00:39:31and the defensive backs are sitting back and getting their hands on the footballs.
00:39:35But, you know, defensive backs, I've seen better hands on clocks than defensive backs.
00:39:39But Raymond Berry works with them.
00:39:41He wants them to catch as many balls as the offensive receivers.
00:39:46Third down.
00:39:48Going deep for Burkett, and he was tangling with Raymond Claiborne.
00:39:52A lot of finger pointing going on, but no flag is thrown.
00:39:56The result, incomplete, and Buffalo will punt.
00:40:00That's a good no call by the officials because Claiborne was looking back for the ball.
00:40:05And this year, if the defensive back is looking back and making an attempt for the ball,
00:40:10no matter what type of contact, they will not call pass interference.
00:40:14But if the other player is not looking back,
00:40:16you're supposed to call interference on the player who's not doing the looking.
00:40:19If they're both looking or neither is looking, no flag.
00:40:22Right.
00:40:25John Kidd back to punt.
00:40:34Punt is a short one, and it's taken at the 26 by Fred Marion.
00:40:41So a 32-yard punt for John Kidd.
00:40:4511-51 remaining in the first half, and still goose eggs.
00:40:50Raymond Burry looking for some offense.
00:40:52They have scored just one offensive touchdown each of the last four games.
00:40:56The Baxter split.
00:40:57He had said he was going to go to the I formation.
00:41:00Crumble.
00:41:01Collins gets it back.
00:41:02Retreats to his 10.
00:41:04Gets up to the 15.
00:41:05Lucious Sanford with a strong tackle on the far side,
00:41:09congratulated by his other defensive mates.
00:41:13Folks are booing here at Sullivan Stadium,
00:41:15but they just don't understand how slick it gets on this kind of field
00:41:19and this kind of weather, Lenny, because your hands are cold.
00:41:23The ball is wet.
00:41:24The player's uniforms are wet.
00:41:26See, his uniform is wet from falling on the turf so many times.
00:41:29So when Eason puts the ball in there, it just slips right out.
00:41:33You don't have that abrasiveness that you need normally when everything is dry.
00:41:37This will be second and 20 back to the 16.
00:41:40This recalls a game back in 1978 opening day,
00:41:447-0 Houston over New England in the rain.
00:41:47A fumble recovery was the only points.
00:41:51Eason completes it, and then the ball is knocked away,
00:41:54and it will be ruled what?
00:41:56Complete.
00:41:57Complete, and his knees were down.
00:41:59Tony Collins will get the completion to the 19.
00:42:03Jim Haslett was covering.
00:42:09So it goes in the book as a pass completion,
00:42:12and now third down from the 19.
00:42:15They need the 31 for a first down.
00:42:19Coming up at halftime, Bills in for Bob.
00:42:22Ahmad and Axe will be there,
00:42:25and they'll have all the scores and highlights.
00:42:27If they show highlights from this game, they will be turnovers.
00:42:30The Bills have their pass-rushing specialists in the game,
00:42:33and this is the situation they want on defense.
00:42:37This is third and 16.
00:42:41Eason wobbles one, intercepted by Charles Romes,
00:42:47and Buffalo is in business as Romes has now turned in
00:42:51an interception for the third straight week.
00:42:54Now we're beginning to see the skill and the genius
00:42:57that is Hank Bullard.
00:42:59He's known around this league as a defensive genius.
00:43:02He put Don Smith in there in a pass-rushing situation.
00:43:05He forced Tony Eason to force the football by pressure.
00:43:09Remember, if you get more sacks than you give up,
00:43:13you're in position to take the ball away
00:43:16and cause the offense to be disrupted.
00:43:19Here it is. He's throwing under a lot of pressure.
00:43:22Result, interception by the veteran Charles Romes.
00:43:26It was intended for Lynn Dawson.
00:43:28Now the Bills with their best field position,
00:43:30first down at the Patriots 23.
00:43:35Bill breaks ahead for a pickup of five down to the 18.
00:43:41Finally, Fred Marion combined with Steve Nelson
00:43:43to bring him down.
00:43:45Buffalo has three takeaways from this game, right?
00:43:48Okay, there it is, 3-2, which gives the Bills a plus 3,
00:43:52a plus 1, I'm sorry, and keeps this game close.
00:43:58It'll be a second and five at the 18.
00:44:00We're inside of ten minutes remaining of a scoreless first half.
00:44:05Three interceptions in the game, two fumble recoveries.
00:44:09And Ramson in motion again.
00:44:12And Bell to carry again, but this time nothing
00:44:15as the old Wiley veteran Julie Adams combined with Dennis Owens
00:44:19to bring Bell down.
00:44:21Adams playing in his last year,
00:44:23but now let's check in with Bill McAtee, another update.
00:44:27Lenny, Denver has scored against the Colts.
00:44:29Here's the play that set it up, John Elway to Clint Sampson.
00:44:32The play covers 45 yards, puts the ball down at the 1.
00:44:35Sammy Winder takes it in from there,
00:44:37but the extra point was missed, so it's 6-0 Denver.
00:44:42Well, I saw Clint Sampson get hit by Donald Wilson,
00:44:45who plays for the Bills here in Buffalo last year.
00:44:48I never thought Sampson would live and now comes back,
00:44:50gets a touchdown today.
00:44:52Rolling out is Ferragamo,
00:44:54throwing back to this side on the screen to Ramson.
00:44:56A flag goes down, and Ramson is down as well near the 5.
00:45:01And he may be hurt.
00:45:03Well, that kind of play takes a lot of timing
00:45:06between the offensive line and the man who's catching the screen.
00:45:10Sometimes the offensive guys get downfield.
00:45:14Ineligible downfield, number 72.
00:45:1710-yard settling, number 72, illegally downfield.
00:45:22That's Ken Jones.
00:45:23It looked like a beautifully designed play,
00:45:25but Jones just jumped apparently a little bit.
00:45:28The problem with it is that the offensive linemen
00:45:30sometimes lose track of the line of scrimmage, Lynn,
00:45:33and they get beyond the line of scrimmage,
00:45:35and an offensive lineman cannot go down the field
00:45:38before the ball is caught.
00:45:40Ramson limps off a bit.
00:45:42I'll tell you, I saw Vogler well ahead of Ken Jones on the play.
00:45:46So if one guy was offside, I think it might have been Vogler.
00:45:50And he is playing a new position, so maybe that's where the flag was.
00:45:53But a costly penalty.
00:45:55Instead of being at the Patriots 5, the Bills are pushed back to the 30.
00:46:01This will be 3rd and 17.
00:46:05Penalties have killed the Bills, and that's an old story for Buffalo fans.
00:46:12Not so many flags against the Patriots today,
00:46:14and now the Bills call a timeout.
00:46:18Ferragamo wants to have somebody help him read his wrist,
00:46:21check out the plays to see what to pull out of the hat on 3rd and long here
00:46:26with 8.49 remaining in the first half.
00:46:29Let's see what's going on elsewhere.
00:46:33As they attend to Ramson on the inside, the Bengals rolling it up.
00:46:37James Brooks has just scored in the second quarter on a 5-yard run
00:46:40to 1-0 Bengals.
00:46:43And guess who, Eric Dickerson, 6-yard run.
00:46:46The Bills were 7 down.
00:46:47They're now up by 7.
00:46:49And John Riggins starting to exert himself, a 1-yard touchdown
00:46:53followed by a 21-yard scamper.
00:46:56The Redskins lead the Lions now 17-3.
00:47:05Well, Vince Ferragamo probably feels right now that he hasn't done a whole lot
00:47:11for his team offensively, but then again,
00:47:13the Patriots are playing just as poorly, and quite frankly,
00:47:17I think both teams are thinking about what they're going to do tomorrow
00:47:21or the next day because they certainly aren't displaying any obvious skills
00:47:25here this afternoon.
00:47:27Wow.
00:47:28Buffalo, three costly penalties.
00:47:30Patriots have just been flagged once,
00:47:32but the calls against the Bills have really hurt them.
00:47:35Is this the last hurrah this afternoon for the Kansas City Royals?
00:47:39The Blue Jays did it again with three runs in the ninth last night.
00:47:42Can the Blue Jays wrap it up to force the first international World Series?
00:47:46We will find out immediately following football.
00:47:48And then tonight at Busch Stadium,
00:47:50the Cardinals try to even things with the Dodgers.
00:47:53That will be at 8 o'clock Eastern time.
00:47:55So following football, a baseball doubleheader.
00:47:57What a sports day here on NBC.
00:47:59Hope you'll stay with us.
00:48:00Third down and obvious passing situation again, Lynn.
00:48:04This is where Ferragamo has gotten in trouble in the past.
00:48:08To repeat, this is third and 17.
00:48:11They need the 13 for a first down.
00:48:14Ulysses Norris in motion.
00:48:17Throwing to the equipment man on the far side.
00:48:20There's the best catch of the day.
00:48:22And Ronnie Lippitt picks him up.
00:48:27Way to go.
00:48:28Give that man the game ball.
00:48:35A big ovation from the Sullivan Stadium crowd.
00:48:38Well, this is the best catch we've seen all day because there wasn't a receiver.
00:48:42Hey, sign him up.
00:48:45Andre Reid says, give me that ball.
00:48:50Can you believe that guy made a catch like that?
00:48:52So now Scott Norwood, who's been perfect, hasn't missed a kick all year.
00:48:59This will be an attempt from the 38th.
00:49:02A 48-yard field goal attempt for Scott Norwood.
00:49:09And he is still perfect.
00:49:11And the winless Buffalo Bills, with 839 remaining in the first half,
00:49:15have taken a 3-0 lead over the Patriots
00:49:18thanks to the first-year player from James Madison, Scott Norwood.
00:49:25This is a very basic offensive game plan for the Buffalo Bills.
00:49:30Coach Fuller is really trying to cut down on the number of times he turns the ball over
00:49:35or the number of penalties that's called against his football team.
00:49:39And as long as he can do that, I don't care how inartistic the game looks,
00:49:43he's going to be in this football game with an opportunity to win.
00:49:53Coming up at halftime, join Bill Ahmad and Pete.
00:49:56They've got some highlights and finally something to show you from this game.
00:50:00It is 3-0, the Bills.
00:50:03Buffalo fans do not have to be reminded that the road has been awfully long
00:50:07and unfriendly for the Buffalo Bills over the years.
00:50:11Their last road victory in December of 1983.
00:50:15And here they have a three-point lead.
00:50:19Recognize number 14?
00:50:21Some of the fans are calling for the old veteran Steve Brogan to come back.
00:50:24Lost his job early last year.
00:50:26Good friends with Tony Eason.
00:50:29But some of the fans think that maybe the offense needs Groves back.
00:50:35Steffens starring at the three.
00:50:39Starring at the 20.
00:50:42And he gets the 26.
00:50:45Before he is stopped by Eric Wilson.
00:50:48Let's pause briefly for a station identification.
00:50:51This is the NBC Television Network.
00:50:54This is WGRZ-TV 2, Buffalo.
00:51:02A little bit of booing from the crowd because Tony Eason is coming back.
00:51:07Tony and the New England offense has struggled.
00:51:11There are some reasons for that.
00:51:16First down at the 27.
00:51:19Friar in motion.
00:51:22Pitch back to Craig James.
00:51:25Steve Freeman comes up to make the stop,
00:51:27and a flag is thrown right at his feet.
00:51:30Marv also in there as well.
00:51:32Here's Gene Barth.
00:51:37A Patriots hold.
00:51:38What are some of the reasons, Reggie,
00:51:39for the struggling offensive production for the Patriots?
00:51:42Well, play selection right now has a great deal to do with what's going on.
00:51:47They are running plays that really don't make a lot of sense
00:51:50given the field conditions.
00:51:52You can't run outside if you don't have good footing.
00:51:58Grogan signaling in the play.
00:52:00Penalty against Steve Moore.
00:52:02Also, when you have field conditions such as this,
00:52:05players try to do things to offset the field conditions
00:52:10and the weather conditions.
00:52:11Like just then, they may have to hold.
00:52:15Friar made some terrific scrambles in his career in the early days.
00:52:20Obviously, didn't run as much as he got older.
00:52:26First and 20 from the 17.
00:52:29Eason for Friar.
00:52:31Nearly had it in the 39, but could not hang on.
00:52:34There's that youngster, Derek Burrows, again in on the action.
00:52:38Also, good hit by number 22, Steve Freeman,
00:52:41who read the play very well, was sitting in the passing lane waiting on Friar.
00:52:46Middle of your screen, number 80, Friar coming back right towards you.
00:52:51See how he has to round that pattern?
00:52:53He really can't get into position to make the catch
00:52:56because he doesn't have good footing.
00:53:00Six defensive backs in for the Bills on an obvious throwing situation.
00:53:04Patriots respond with three wide receivers.
00:53:08Second and 20 at the 17.
00:53:14This one's a completion, and Starring can't get away from the grasp of Rodney Bellinger.
00:53:21There's a flag down.
00:53:24There's a tussle going on.
00:53:27If the play stands, it's short of a first down.
00:53:30Irving Friar being pushed away by the Patriots.
00:53:37First of a foul, 43 defense. We'll tackle at 15 yards.
00:53:42Martin Bayless and another costly Buffalo penalty.
00:53:48Absolutely a mindless sort of thing to do
00:53:52because you know that you're in a tight ball game.
00:53:55The last thing you want to do if you're a member of the Buffalo Bills defensive unit
00:53:59is to give 15 yards to the opponent because of a penalty of that nature.
00:54:05What should have been a 14-yard pickup has Hank Bulla steamed.
00:54:10Instead, it's a 31-yard combination gain of the pass and the penalty.
00:54:16The Patriots are out to their 48.
00:54:20First down. Talk about a full house backfield.
00:54:23Look at all those guys back there. Call this a triple-I.
00:54:27I don't think Buffalo's seen this formation.
00:54:30Now they split. One of them's a tight end, Derek Ramsey.
00:54:33I think they're the Cowboys out there.
00:54:37Grabbed by Lucius Sanford. That's the first sack of the day.
00:54:40Eason down to this 39.
00:54:45Lucius Sanford just coming off of injured reserve.
00:54:48He has been a key member of over the years in this Buffalo Bills linebacking corps.
00:54:53They have been doing without him over the first part of this 1985 season.
00:54:59They know they're happy to have him back.
00:55:01Coming from the right side, the blind side of Eason, with the sack, Lucius Sanford.
00:55:06John Haddon, number 73, just looking back and hopeless feeling for an all-pro guard.
00:55:127'15", remaining in the half.
00:55:14Now a second and 15 for the struggling Patriots.
00:55:19Sanford's coming again.
00:55:21Greg James trying to hold him off.
00:55:25Eason picking up airline miles on that run and finally out of bounds to a chorus of boos.
00:55:37Eason should have gotten rid of the football then.
00:55:40And I think the fans here in New England are sophisticated enough to know that
00:55:44he had enough time, if there wasn't a play developing, to throw the football away and he didn't do it.
00:55:51They're going to call that a sack.
00:55:54Are they?
00:55:57Probably will.
00:56:00This is third and 26, if you can believe it, from their 32.
00:56:05They need the Buffalo 42.
00:56:07And that does indeed count as the second sack of the day, turned in by the Buffalo defense.
00:56:13They'll be coming on this one.
00:56:17And they get him.
00:56:18Give that one to Toby Williams.
00:56:21Sack number three.
00:56:23And he counts them out as well.
00:56:27And who's causing havoc for the Buffalo Bills offensive line?
00:56:34And Eason may be hurt.
00:56:37And the crowd, through the back door, may get their choice of Steve Grogan if Eason cannot come back.
00:56:45Grogan starts to warm the hands on the far side.
00:56:50That's Bruce Smith.
00:56:52We talked about him at the top of the show.
00:56:55Now they're snapping from the 19.
00:56:59Camarillo back all the way up to his 5.
00:57:06A low kick, but he gets distance to Donald Wilson at his 39.
00:57:11Wilson eludes Bowman.
00:57:13And Wilson, out close, lost the ball.
00:57:16But it's covered, I believe, by Jim Haslett of Buffalo.
00:57:22This really is a sloppy game, man, I tell you.
00:57:25I've never seen so many penalties, so many fumbles, so many quality thrown passes, tackling.
00:57:31You've seen it all out here today.
00:57:34And the crowd is cheering because on the far side, Steve Grogan, the veteran quarterback, is starting to limber up, number 14.
00:57:46I don't think Raymond Berry has any other choice but to get Grogan ready.
00:57:51Buffalo with a 3-point lead with the ball at their 48.
00:57:546.24 remaining in the half.
00:57:58Greg Bell.
00:58:02Does well to get to the 49 of New England territory for a pickup of 3 before Fred Marion and Andre Tippett combine to track him down.
00:58:11Giants are on the board, still trailing, 21-3.
00:58:17And look at this!
00:58:18Tampa Bay has come back to take the lead over the Rams.
00:58:22Good one going there, 17-14, Buccaneers.
00:58:26Houston, a couple of Zendayas field goals.
00:58:30And a 3-point lead.
00:58:31Tampa Bay has come back to take the lead over the Rams.
00:58:34Good one going there, 17-14, Buccaneers.
00:58:38Houston, a couple of Zendayas field goals.
00:58:41Shutting out the Browns.
00:58:44And Tommy Kramer has hit Mike Jones from 14 yards.
00:58:47So, here, 2nd and 7 at the Pat's 49.
00:58:50Ramson again in motion.
00:58:53Chase by McGrew, and that should count as a sack if the other one did.
00:58:57Out of bounds at the line of scrimmage at the 49.
00:59:01That will count as the first sack, and it's credited to Larry McGrew, his first of the year.
00:59:10This will set up 3rd and 7 at the 49.
00:59:13We've just received a call from Canton, Ohio, Reggie.
00:59:16They said, keep the tapes of this game.
00:59:18We're not interested.
00:59:26If this lead holds up for Vince Farragamo and his teammates,
00:59:29and they have 531 remaining in the half,
00:59:31this will be their first lead at halftime,
00:59:34let alone the end of a game this season.
00:59:40Farragamo overthrowing for Burkett,
00:59:43but off the back of the net,
00:59:45Farragamo overthrowing for Burkett, but a flag down.
00:59:50Ronnie Lippitt turning around,
00:59:52saying, who me?
00:59:55And let's see if it is he.
01:00:03Gene Barth.
01:00:05Illegal contact.
01:00:0642 defense, a 5-yard penalty.
01:00:09Again, but first down.
01:00:11Automatic first down.
01:00:12Ronnie Lippitt, hands on hips.
01:00:14Okay, you can only hit that receiver within the first 5 yards.
01:00:17After that, you have to let him alone.
01:00:20Now, Lippitt makes contact beyond the 5-yard parameters.
01:00:25Therefore, he was assessed with that penalty.
01:00:27So that's a costly penalty against New England.
01:00:30Moves the ball down to the 44 for a first down.
01:00:32Lippitt is the player that most teams go after
01:00:35because of the outstanding play of Raymond Claiborne on the other side.
01:00:38But he's a good corner.
01:00:45Greg Bell picks his way ahead for a good pickup down to the 35.
01:00:53Fred Marion finally made the tackle.
01:00:55One thing you have to keep in mind is that one week ago
01:00:58when Hank Bullard took over the Buffalo Bills football team,
01:01:02he didn't really have enough time to begin to leave his blueprint
01:01:06on their style of play.
01:01:08Now he's had two weeks to prepare this club,
01:01:10to get his philosophy ingrained into their system.
01:01:13They're playing more like a Hank Bullard football team
01:01:15than a Kay Stevenson one right now.
01:01:17That's a lot of rushes for just 37 yards for Bell.
01:01:19This is a 2nd-and-1.
01:01:21Will they play conservative?
01:01:23Bell again.
01:01:2515th carat.
01:01:27Flag down.
01:01:292nd effort gets a first down, but let's check out the penalty.
01:01:44Personal foul.
01:01:46Clipping, number 68.
01:01:4815-yard penalty.
01:01:52Joe D.
01:01:54Getting the start today.
01:01:56And getting the penalty as well.
01:01:58Well, Joe D. blocks against the run very well.
01:02:02And I can't see him in the picture.
01:02:07Right there.
01:02:09That's Vogler, 65, that made that foul.
01:02:1265, that made that block in the back of Larry McGrew.
01:02:15That's when the flag came down, right about that time.
01:02:17So maybe again, Vogler was the man.
01:02:19And again, he didn't get called for it.
01:02:21It's redundant to say a penalty is costly,
01:02:23but in this game, particularly so.
01:02:25Many first downs have been wiped out by penalty.
01:02:282nd.
01:02:3016 for midfield.
01:02:33And he hit his man.
01:02:35Unfortunately, he hit him in the knee.
01:02:37Bramson.
01:02:39Sets up 3rd and long.
01:02:49Bergamo saying, maybe I should have stayed in Canada.
01:02:52I don't know.
01:02:54This is an awfully tough game to come back after his struggle of a week ago.
01:02:58Sometimes, look at him, looking at his wrist.
01:03:00See, sometimes you wonder how much that distracts a player's expression of his ability on the field
01:03:05when he has to pay that much attention to calling plays off of his wrist.
01:03:09It's got to bother you.
01:03:143rd and 16, midfield.
01:03:19Complete. Greg Bell.
01:03:22Well short of a first down, and another flag is down.
01:03:26And in that position where I see the yellow flag, that might be a hole.
01:03:31So most of the gains are being nullified here.
01:03:35Tony Eason being helped into the runway.
01:03:42Perhaps near his left elbow, Tony Eason.
01:03:45So we will see Steve Grogan, if and when the Patriots get it back,
01:03:49with 4 minutes remaining in the half.
01:03:5468 offense, holding 10-yard penalty.
01:03:5768 offense, holding 10-yard penalty.
01:04:00We'll replay the 3rd down.
01:04:03I've always contended that the most unsettling element on a football game is penalties.
01:04:12And the Buffalo Bills have been assessed with a number of them today.
01:04:15They have been plagued in 1985 by penalties, and they are going on and on and on.
01:04:20And they're virtually disrupting any kind of continuity that they might have on offense.
01:04:25There's Grogan, and frankly I'm surprised they're playing the down,
01:04:28because they would have been 4th and long and out of field goal range.
01:04:32And here they're giving Buffalo a 2nd chance.
01:04:35But they do not cash in. Credit the sack to Julie Adams and Andre Tippett.
01:04:40The two of them combined for the 2nd sack of Ferragamo this afternoon.
01:04:45To an offense, as I said, the most disruptive thing has to be penalties.
01:04:49The 2nd most disruptive thing, then, are quarterback sacks.
01:04:54And they have sacked Vince Ferragamo 2 times today.
01:05:00And he is a full-on young man.
01:05:03Number 5, Vince Ferragamo.
01:05:06John Kidd standing back at his 16.
01:05:11Irving Fryer at the 25.
01:05:16Not a good kick.
01:05:17Near side. Patriots let it bounce. Takes a bill bounce out of bounds.
01:05:22And Steve Grogan will start at his 30.
01:05:25And the cheers of the crowd as the likeable veteran comes on for the first time since early last season.
01:05:32He was replaced during the Seattle game when the Patriots were trailing.
01:05:36Tony Eason led the comeback, and Ron Meyer made Eason the starting quarterback there on out.
01:05:42Here he comes, Grogan in his return.
01:05:45Just by the nature of the crowd reaction to Grogan's entrance into this football game,
01:05:51sometimes it can have an uplifting effect on the morale of the football team.
01:05:56And it might be just what they're seeking, is a shot in the arm or leadership at quarterback for number 14, Steve Grogan.
01:06:04First down at the 30.
01:06:06Has not played since early last season in a regular season game.
01:06:12Tony Collins on the way. There's a snap. Fumble.
01:06:16The Bills have the football.
01:06:19And whether someone moved is debatable.
01:06:28No signal yet. It was not a storybook start for the veteran.
01:06:34They're still fighting for the ball, and now the Bills have it.
01:06:39You know, the irony in this is that one week ago in Cleveland, when Danielson was hurt,
01:06:45Kozar came into the football game and fumbled on the snaps.
01:06:49Maybe Buffalo, seeing that in the films, thought that, hey, let's try this guy.
01:06:55Because the ball is wet, his hands have to be cold, and there it is.
01:06:59The exchange from center with Pete Brock, number 58.
01:07:04Grogan's reaching down for it, and I can't tell who that is in the Buffalo uniform that got that football, but...
01:07:12Jim Haslett. Very alert play by Haslett.
01:07:16First down at the 28.
01:07:18That silenced the happy crowd. Bell heads to the outside.
01:07:22Tippett and James were there, and he stopped at the 25.
01:07:26We have 315 remaining in the turnover-filled first half.
01:07:30Four New England turnovers, two for Buffalo, and Steve Grogan will practice a few snaps with Pete Brock.
01:07:36Well, they should have done that before they went in the first half.
01:07:39That's usually what you do, but I'm sure Grogan had to talk with Raymond Burry about,
01:07:44well, what are we going to do here? What are we going to do with the football?
01:07:49Inside of three minutes now. Second and six at the 24.
01:07:57Bramson again.
01:08:00Greg Bell.
01:08:02Makes a hole.
01:08:03Runs it to Marin, and yet another flag goes down with 237 remaining in the first half.
01:08:14Holding number 72 offense. Pin-yard penalty.
01:08:17We're moving back to second half.
01:08:20Ken Jones.
01:08:22So offensive line penalties have plagued the Buffalo Bills.
01:08:26As they continue to lead, though, 3-0.
01:08:29That's Greg Bell right there in the middle of your screen.
01:08:32And 72 is Ken Jones that has his hand on the jersey of Julius Adams, number 85.
01:08:46I'll bet you some of Buffalo's yardage backwards on the penalties equals their yardage forward with their offense.
01:08:53Second and 16 at the 34.
01:08:58Barragamo will try another one. Plenty of time.
01:09:01Tipped, and Claiborne went after it.
01:09:04A pass intended for Butler.
01:09:09Johnny Rembrandt, number 52.
01:09:12A fellow who fell on a punt last week in Cleveland who tipped the ball there.
01:09:19Here's Butler.
01:09:20Isolated view of him as he tries to work against Raymond Claiborne.
01:09:24Good leap here. You'll see Rembrandt get his hands on it.
01:09:27Can't hang on.
01:09:28And then Claiborne comes in and makes a good defensive play against Jerry Butler.
01:09:32So this will set up third and long.
01:09:35As Barragamo has missed his last six passes.
01:09:41Third and 16 at the 34.
01:09:47Look out!
01:09:48Number 3, Kenneth Sims with rookie Garen Vares.
01:09:58And the clock will run to the 2-minute warning as we take a look at the sack.
01:10:03Here comes Ken Sims who they say has been having more of a Ken Sims kind of year.
01:10:08Putting pressure up the middle.
01:10:10Collapsing that pocket around Barragamo and sacking Barragamo for the third time.
01:10:15So for Sims, the second sack of the year.
01:10:17The 2-minute warning. Buffalo by a field goal.
01:10:22And now John Kidd will punt for a fifth time.
01:10:25Irving Fryer at his 10. Remember he broke one.
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1:10:52
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