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00:00:00final Sunday in October. It's the second meeting of the season between these long-time AFC Eastern
00:00:06Division rivals, the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots. Here's the way the standings
00:00:15are at the current moment. Buffalo with a half-game lead over Indianapolis, New England at
00:00:20four and three, Miami and the Jets follow. And good evening, everybody. I'm Vern Lundquist and
00:00:26welcome to Foxborough. Things over the weekend unraveled perfectly as far as the Patriots
00:00:30and the Bills are concerned. First, the Yankees won, so there's no game seven. And then this
00:00:35afternoon, the Colts lost, as did the Dolphins. And for the first time since the end of the 94th
00:00:40season, the Patriots are fighting for a piece of first place in the Eastern Division. I'm joined
00:00:45as always by Pat Hayden. Pat, they come in armed with a quarterback who, after an off-season last
00:00:50year, seems to have found himself midway through this season. You know, Drew Blitzo has played well
00:00:54this year, and particularly well the last five games where their offense has averaged 30 points
00:00:59per game. And they've been very good inside the 20-yard line. But, you know, his first three years,
00:01:04Drew Blitzo had some problems throwing interceptions. He threw more interceptions and touchdowns.
00:01:07That's a key statistic for quarterbacks in the league. This year, he has been phenomenal. Only
00:01:12thrown four interceptions, 11 touchdowns, and again, they've been very good inside the 20, Vern. And I
00:01:17think, you know, this team is not nearly as dependent upon Drew Blitzo as they once were. They have a lot
00:01:21of weapons. They've got some old ones, and they've got some new ones. And when you think about old ones,
00:01:25you always start with Ben Coates. 32 receptions, four touchdowns. Martin is played very well inside
00:01:31the 20. Glenn, their number one draft pick, leads all rookie receivers. And Jefferson comes over
00:01:36from San Diego. These are guys that can score from all parts of the field in a very dynamic offense the
00:01:42last five games. Over the last decade, you think of Buffalo, you think of offense. Kay Gunn,
00:01:46no huddle. Jim Kelly, not the case in 1996. Yeah, this is a much different Buffalo team,
00:01:52both offensively. And the defense has played very well this year. Look what this defense
00:01:56has done. They ranked number one in rushing average, yards per play, pass percentage, passing
00:02:01yards, points allowed. They ranked 10th. This is a great front seven. In particular, Vern,
00:02:05they have two dominant players in Bryce Popp and Bruce Smith, and a very, very strong front
00:02:11seven. But that does, Pat, bring us back to the offensive side of the ball and the continuing
00:02:14problems, really, of Jim Kelly. Well, Jim Kelly has struggled with his play, and believe
00:02:19it or not, Jim Kelly has struggled with his confidence this year. Almost a non-sequitur when
00:02:24you're talking about Jim Kelly. And you look at him over the years, he's always been able
00:02:27to throw more touchdowns and interceptions, a hallmark, almost one and a half to one ratio.
00:02:32But this year, he has struggled mightily, particularly inside the 20, only thrown two touchdown passes,
00:02:3811 interceptions, has not thrown a touchdown the last three starts. There's still some great
00:02:42players on this team, and good coaching, but it always starts with Jim Kelly.
00:02:45Well, there's the coach, 15th season in the National Football League, second among the
00:02:50active coaches behind Dan Reeves. Of course, many of those years spent in Kansas City. And
00:02:55Bill Parcells, in his 12th National Football League season, fourth among active coaches.
00:03:01These two teams meeting for the 74th time, 37 wins for one, 35 for the other, one tie, and
00:03:10in all those years, only 10 points separate the two. Christy will kick off. And is taken short,
00:03:20down near the 25-yard line, up to the 28-yard line, finally.
00:03:23Mike Gisler, number 67, picked up the short kick. And now Drew Bledsoe, 11 touchdowns, only four
00:03:35interceptions thus far this season. And playing with a renewed level of confidence, he had that
00:03:41brilliant season in 1994, fell off considerably last year.
00:03:45Well, Drew Bledsoe and Jim Kelly, perhaps on opposite ends of their career, maybe one of those
00:03:50past-the-torch types of games. But he has played particularly well the last five ballgames.
00:03:55From the 26, first down. And off to Curtis Martin, who bursts through right guard and
00:04:01gets out near the 30-yard line. Curtis Martin, of course, 1,400-plus yards a year ago.
00:04:08Sean Jefferson from San Diego. Terry Glenn, the number one draft pick at the other wide out.
00:04:12And Ben Coates, the all-pro at tight end. And Sam Gash, a sometimes underrated fullback.
00:04:17And the offensive line anchored on the left side by Bruce Armstrong, who will battle all
00:04:22night against Bruce Smith. Second and six. And a whistle, dead ball foul. So bring this
00:04:33one back. That usually indicates an offensive problem.
00:04:38Dick Hantak is a referee.
00:04:40Offense, prior to the staff, number 87, five-yard penalty, still second down.
00:04:45Ben Coates, that'll cost him five. Defensively for the Buffalo team, Hanson, Washington, Bruce
00:04:51Smith. The linebackers are Pop and Rogers. Sam Rogers, Spielman, and Maddox. And a change
00:04:57in the secondary. Stephens and Schultz. Thomas Smith, Jeff Burris at the corner.
00:05:05Second down and 11.
00:05:07Play action.
00:05:13Wetzel has it with protection. Over the middle, caught. Tight end Ben Coates. Close for first
00:05:19down yardage at the 37-yard line.
00:05:22Yeah, Vern. Ben Coates is a walking or running or trotting, whatever he is, mismatch. I mean,
00:05:27I think he and Shannon Sharp create more mismatches by physical size than any tight ends in the
00:05:35National Football League or any players in the National Football League. Too fast for linebackers
00:05:39and too big for safeties.
00:05:41That was a gain of 12 and a first down. And the newest tight end, Keith Byers, checks in.
00:05:45Bledsoe hit as he lets it go. It's an incomplete pass.
00:05:50When he was trying to get Keith Byers, who was one-on-one with a linebacker, Mark Maddox.
00:05:57Bryce Popp with the pressure. Here's Byers, waved by New England and angry at Jimmy Johnson,
00:06:02I mean by Miami, and signed because Bill Parcell said he respected him so much after his play
00:06:09with Philadelphia against the New York Giants. Second down and 10. Gash back in. Byers on the bench.
00:06:20Oh, Byers still in. Here's the cross. Martin coming right. And down at the 40-yard line.
00:06:31That will bring up third down. Sam Rogers with the tackle.
00:06:34We talked about this Buffalo defense. They play real good, solid, and stuffy on the run
00:06:44on the early downs. And then we get you in these situations, these third and eights,
00:06:48third and seven kind of situations. You've got two dominant pass rushers,
00:06:52the number 78, Bruce Smith, and 95, Bryce Popp.
00:06:55Third and seven. Hassan Graham comes in.
00:06:58That's the third one out.
00:07:00Bledsoe gets a good block from Dave Meggett.
00:07:02Come on, a crossing pattern. Here is Sean Jefferson.
00:07:06What a block by Meggett, though.
00:07:08Yeah, you're right. Dave Meggett, in spite of his size, has always been a very good blitz blocker.
00:07:15I mean, they bring him in for third downs.
00:07:17One of the strategies is to blitz him, to force him to stay in.
00:07:21And he picks up Marlowe Perry without that block.
00:07:23Drew Bledsoe doesn't have a chance to get the ball to number 84, Sean Jefferson.
00:07:27Jefferson, 22-yard gain. Jefferson wasn't able to play in the first game because of a concussion.
00:07:32But this is a guy, Sean Jefferson, had a big year with San Diego last year and has tremendous speed.
00:07:38Byers back in. Byers in motion.
00:07:42Gash leads the way for Martin at right guard again.
00:07:46Tried to get the block of Todd Rucci and Max Lane on the right side.
00:07:49And they pick up a couple to the 37-yard line.
00:07:52And Ted Washington, who has been an anchor at nose tackle for Buffalo, makes that stop.
00:07:56Yeah, he is anchor and boat and the whole rest of the ship.
00:08:00A rather large man at 325 pounds, Ted Washington.
00:08:04He had dominated nose guard.
00:08:06Former number one draft pick of San Francisco.
00:08:08Then went on to Denver, but really played exceptionally well last year and continues his good run stopping.
00:08:13Second and nine. Opening drive of the ball game.
00:08:17Back split. Quick flip. Caught.
00:08:19Close for first down yardage at the 28-yard line by Ben Coates.
00:08:25Now, one of the things that Drew Bledsoe gets accused of is, you know, locking in on number 87, Ben Coates.
00:08:33But, you know, when you have a mismatch and you have a guy like him, you don't blame him for looking like Ben Coates.
00:08:37And we were talking to Marv Levy last night and said we have three different, at least three different ways we're going to try to play against Ben Coates tonight.
00:08:45Three different strategies to try to slow him down.
00:08:48Third and one.
00:08:51Coates was held to one catch last week for seven yards.
00:08:55He's got a couple already.
00:08:58Martin, with gashes blocking help, gets close for the first down inside the 28-yard line.
00:09:05We'll see.
00:09:06I think he got a good mark.
00:09:07Yeah, it looks like it.
00:09:08Yeah.
00:09:08But when you play for Bill Parcells and you're the running back, you had better be able to run the ball straight ahead with some toughness.
00:09:18And Curtis Martin can do that.
00:09:19Curtis Martin in his second season.
00:09:26Brilliant.
00:09:27A year ago, rookie of the year, 1,487 yards on the ground as a third-round draft pick.
00:09:33Yeah, Vern, I don't think the 1,000-yard mark is so significant anymore.
00:09:36That's 62 yards a game.
00:09:37But when you get to 1,200, 1,300 yards, in his case, almost 1,500 yards, that is a sensational season.
00:09:45Now the stretch.
00:09:46I wonder whose football this is.
00:09:52I mean, it's the Patriots' ball, as you can see.
00:09:55Oh!
00:09:55The pats on them all.
00:09:56Yeah.
00:09:57Well, Bill Parcells likes to go for it on fourth downs.
00:10:01But watch 33 Sam Gash, the lead block.
00:10:04When you're a good inside short-running team, a short-yardage team, your fullbacks have to block well.
00:10:09And for the 18th time this year, Bill Parcells will go for it on fourth downs.
00:10:14In his coaching career, he has gone for more fourth downs for first downs than any other coach in the league.
00:10:21Fourth and round.
00:10:28Oh, no!
00:10:31Marleau Perry, number 58, and I believe he's stiffed it.
00:10:35That was great short-yardage defense.
00:10:41Yeah, the Patriot defense is running out.
00:10:43Now, when you play against Parcells, you better play good short-yardage defense because you're going to have more short-yardage plays against his teams than anybody else.
00:10:51Because they go for it on fourth downs so much.
00:10:52And there was tremendous penetration inside.
00:10:56Pop number 95.
00:10:57In 58, Marleau Perry just bites off a couple of blocks.
00:11:00Spielman gets in there and gets a piece of it as well.
00:11:02And that is a terrific defensive series for the Bills.
00:11:08Terrific short-yardage defense by the Bill linebacker, Spielman.
00:11:11And Perry's going to come in here.
00:11:12He'll come into your picture in a moment.
00:11:14Perry, number 58, gets him low.
00:11:17And then Spielman goes high.
00:11:18And that stopped all the momentum of Curtis Martin.
00:11:21And they force the ball right back over Jim Kelly's hand.
00:11:24That is really good defense.
00:11:25Look at the graphic on Jim Kelly.
00:11:27Two touchdowns, none in the last three games.
00:11:3011 interceptions.
00:11:31Tony Klein in motion.
00:11:33The handoff to Thurman Thomas, who squirts through and has a big hole all the way out to the 44-yard line.
00:11:42Lawyer Malloy, number 36, after Jimmy Hitchcock, 31, missed the tackle.
00:11:47Some suggest Thurman Thomas is running out of steam.
00:11:50But, Vern, this team would not be 5-2 without this gentleman.
00:11:55And he still has to be their workhorse and focal point.
00:11:58I think more particularly as a pass receiver than a runner.
00:12:03Lonnie Johnson split wide right.
00:12:05Kelly, draw play.
00:12:06Hands it off to Thomas, who comes left.
00:12:08Has a block from Ostrowski, number 60, to help get him across the 45 near midfield.
00:12:14Tackle made by Jimmy Hitchcock.
00:12:19Offensively, Quinn Early and Andre Reid at the wideouts.
00:12:22Climb the tight end along with Johnson.
00:12:24This is how they open.
00:12:26Thurman Thomas in the backfield.
00:12:27And the offensive line, Fina and Parker at the tackles.
00:12:30Kent Hull, Reuben Brown, Jerry Ostrowski.
00:12:34Complete that group.
00:12:35Second down and 5 at the 49.
00:12:3724.
00:12:41Draw play.
00:12:42Thomas in trouble.
00:12:44Down at the 45.
00:12:46Mark Wheeler, number 97, made the tackle.
00:12:50Big play defensively for this group.
00:12:54McGinnis and Jones at the ends.
00:12:56Sanga Pulitelli and Wheeler at the tackles.
00:12:59Ted Johnson anchors the middle.
00:13:01Chris Slade with a big season thus far.
00:13:04And here's a switch.
00:13:05Take a look at the strong safety.
00:13:07Lawyer Malloy, the rookie, getting his first start at strong safety tonight.
00:13:12He started at free safety last week.
00:13:14This is all brought about because Ricky Reynolds was missing his third straight game at cornerback.
00:13:2339.
00:13:26Kelly with pressure.
00:13:27Kelly.
00:13:28It's incomplete.
00:13:29Hit the ground at the 45.
00:13:31It'll be fourth down.
00:13:32That's what the Patriots have not been getting enough of.
00:13:37That's Algrove, the defensive coordinator.
00:13:38And that is pressure on the quarterback.
00:13:41Sometimes you don't have to get the sap.
00:13:44You just get in the quarterback's face.
00:13:45That's McGinnis, number 55, just pushing right through Glenn Parker.
00:13:49And Jones, number 96, was there.
00:13:51Chris Slade was there as well.
00:13:53It's nearly as good as a sap.
00:13:56Chris Moore on to punt for the first time.
00:13:58The ever-dangerous one, David Meggett, waits at the 10.
00:14:01Low snap.
00:14:03Moore's punt.
00:14:07Meggett.
00:14:08Good fake.
00:14:09It went to the end.
00:14:10Yes, it was.
00:14:10Heck, a fake.
00:14:12He faked over there by the sideline.
00:14:15The ball was right down the middle of the field.
00:14:16I like that, David.
00:14:19It's a subtle play.
00:14:22Little Hamlet.
00:14:23Yeah, I like that.
00:14:25Or, at the very least, somebody else.
00:14:29Yeah, I'm stuck.
00:14:30I'm not going to help you.
00:14:33Now, how long do you think this trio has been here?
00:14:37Do you think they're worried about the universe expanding?
00:14:41No.
00:14:43Absolutely not.
00:14:44First down play.
00:14:45Here's Curtis Martin out from the 22-yard line after the touchback by the Buffalo Bills.
00:14:50Second offensive set now for Drew Bledsoe and the New England Patriots.
00:14:55A New England team that started this season with back-to-back defeats,
00:14:59the most bitter of which was at Buffalo.
00:15:00They lost by seven points.
00:15:0417-10 and had a first down with no timeouts after two.
00:15:08It all ended on a draw play.
00:15:10They get stopped.
00:15:11Yeah, and I think it was the low point for Drew Bledsoe for this season as well.
00:15:15But since that point, this has been a different team, particularly offensively.
00:15:21Second and six after the four-yard game.
00:15:25Play action.
00:15:26Bledsoe rolls right, looks for Byers.
00:15:29And he settles for Byers, who makes the grab and out-of-bounds at the 25-yard line.
00:15:33That's a gain of one and brings up a third and five.
00:15:36You probably heard that collision.
00:15:38And any time you hear something like that, it's generally Bryce Popp or Chris Spielman in the area.
00:15:44And in that time, it was Bryce Popp.
00:15:46This is a guy you must admire, Bryce Popp, even if you're not a fan of the Bills,
00:15:49because he's got incredible skills and he uses all of them.
00:15:53I mean, there is nothing wasted in the way this guy plays.
00:15:58David Megan comes in on third down, as he is wont to do.
00:16:01Hassan Graham also on the line.
00:16:03Now, draw play.
00:16:03Megan dances right, drips, and falls.
00:16:06Well, he didn't make it in the first game on third and goal,
00:16:10and he didn't make it there on third and four.
00:16:13Bryce Popp, again, part of the defensive effort for the Buffalo Bills.
00:16:18As we near the midway point, and here is Tom Tupo on to punt.
00:16:24Jeff Burris goes back to the 25-yard line.
00:16:28Dave Megan is the up-back.
00:16:30He is in residence about three yards behind the center.
00:16:44Return is on all the way.
00:16:46Tupo, nice high punt, Burris at the 26.
00:16:52Flag is down.
00:16:53This one will go in favor of New England.
00:16:58David Megan downfield to make the tackle.
00:16:59Now, both these teams have played great special teams this year.
00:17:02I mean, they had their moments offensively and defensively,
00:17:05but Bruce DeHaven for the Bills has done a great job with special teams,
00:17:08and Mike Sweppen for the Patriots.
00:17:11They have had some dramatic plays on special teams this year.
00:17:14Now, this one will go against Buffalo.
00:17:17Here's Dick Hantak to identify.
00:17:20On return, number 94, 10-yard Philly, first down.
00:17:25That's Mark Pike, who is a star on the special teams for the Buffalo Bills.
00:17:30This time he got caught.
00:17:3147-yard punt, eight on the return.
00:17:33Spectacular final Sunday in October, but clouds are rolling in tonight.
00:17:41We've had a harvest moon, a full moon, which has been blotted out by some of the clouds.
00:17:45And we have a battle for the 74th time between New England and Buffalo.
00:17:51And it's a battle for a share of first place.
00:17:53Bruce Armstrong gets to rest before he renews his fight with Bruce Smith.
00:17:57First down, Jim Kelly, Thomas the setback.
00:18:05Kelly comes left, and it's caught by Andre Reid.
00:18:09Slips a tackle and moves all the way out to the 39-yard line.
00:18:14Andre Reid has great vision, great awareness, and that makes him bottom right down here.
00:18:21And I think it makes him very good in particular after the catch.
00:18:25I mean, there are a lot of guys that play well on the perimeter of the defense,
00:18:29and he did right there.
00:18:30But Andre Reid, I think what sets him apart is how good he plays in the middle of the field.
00:18:36He is exceptionally good there.
00:18:37Game of 17.
00:18:39Backs in the eye.
00:18:40Play action.
00:18:41Kelly, good protection.
00:18:43Man open.
00:18:45It's Lonnie Johnson who makes the grab across the 50 for another first down at the 48-yard line.
00:18:50Chris Slade, number 53, with the tackle.
00:18:55And take a look at the Nick Control scoreboard.
00:18:58Denver rolls over Kansas City, and they go to 7-1.
00:19:05How about the Redskins?
00:19:08Well, they rushed for 208 yards today.
00:19:11First and 10.
00:19:12Thurman Thomas, this time he is hit and driven back after about a two-foot game.
00:19:21If it seems like a much more methodical pace for this Buffalo Bill offense tonight,
00:19:26indeed it is, and it is by design.
00:19:28I mean, for years and years they put fear in defenses around the National Football League
00:19:34with that explosive no-huddle offense that, you know, kind of came in like a cold front.
00:19:39But now they're just, it's just a, they put more fear in people's hearts on defense now.
00:19:44But they're really slow on the pace down.
00:19:46Steve Tasker, who has missed every game since the opener, is on the field now, number 89.
00:19:52And he's got the inside reverse with not much blocking help.
00:19:56And Ted Johnson, 52, is there to make the tackle.
00:19:59So Tasker, who went out of the first game with a severely sprained foot.
00:20:04And, you know, on a play just like that.
00:20:07Right.
00:20:07It was on a run.
00:20:08Go back to the season opener on a Sunday night.
00:20:10Buffalo against the New York Giants, Matt.
00:20:13You know, just a little inside run.
00:20:14They were trying to use him all night or early in that game as a runner,
00:20:18as they wanted to do this year.
00:20:20And that left foot has been bothering him since then.
00:20:23And first time back.
00:20:24And Jim Kelly was excited about having Steve Kass go back, to say the least.
00:20:29Third and nine.
00:20:30Kelly back.
00:20:31Deep left side.
00:20:33Incomplete.
00:20:34Pretty good pressure.
00:20:35Mike Jones, Chris Slade, both there.
00:20:39Since they have put, the Patriots have put Chris Slade back at the right defensive end
00:20:44and rushing the passer.
00:20:46And he didn't early in this year.
00:20:47It's made a big difference in the pressure that he's put on the quarterback.
00:20:50Did it last week in their last game.
00:20:52He's doing it tonight.
00:20:53He's much more comfortable as the right defensive end and the left defensive end
00:20:57in the pass rushing scheme.
00:20:59And Willie McGinnis is going to the left defensive end.
00:21:02And he has been converted this year from his linebacker spot to a defensive end spot.
00:21:08He likes it better.
00:21:09Here's the high punt from Chris Moore.
00:21:11This one goes into the end zone.
00:21:14That will be, I believe.
00:21:15No, I haven't seen the signal yet.
00:21:17No?
00:21:18Is it a good?
00:21:18I think it's down.
00:21:20And you know what?
00:21:20Dave Maggett almost faked the guys out again.
00:21:23Yeah, there's the signal.
00:21:24Dave Maggett nearly faked those guys out again.
00:21:28Did you see Chris Moore had come all the way down after having kicked the ball?
00:21:34And he's arguing with the official.
00:21:42Oh.
00:21:47Yeah, the official says touchback.
00:21:49Well, it's time to revive that old feature we used to see all the time called you be the judge.
00:21:57Let's go back to that punt a moment ago.
00:22:02Marlo Perry, number 58.
00:22:04Watch his knees as he's trying to get this ball out of the end zone.
00:22:08And I think his knees are up.
00:22:09He throws the ball back in the field of play.
00:22:12And it did not touch the end zone line.
00:22:16That should have been a down ball there inside the one-yard line.
00:22:20Get another look here.
00:22:22Hustling play by Perry.
00:22:23And see, it didn't touch the line.
00:22:25So Perry made a good fourth down play a moment ago.
00:22:27Well, it should have been a good special team play.
00:22:29Bledsoe on first down.
00:22:31Finds Keith Byers, the tight end, out to the 33-yard line.
00:22:36And you get the feeling that the Patriots want to use this two tight ends with Keith Byers and Ben Coates,
00:22:42a little bit like Green Bay is using their two tight ends.
00:22:46And then once you get Byers going, boy, it opens it up for your wide receivers.
00:22:50And you've got a very good runner in Curtis Martin.
00:22:54That was a game of 13 for Byers from Bledsoe.
00:23:01Make the draw.
00:23:03Bledsoe with pressure.
00:23:04Has a man wide open.
00:23:07That one's caught by Terry Glenn, number 88.
00:23:11In front of Thomas Smith, number 28.
00:23:13Not only is Terry Glenn, with his 34th catch, the leading rookie receiver in the National Football League,
00:23:20he has become Drew Bledsoe's favorite perimeter guy.
00:23:22Up at the top.
00:23:24Perfect timing by Bledsoe and Glenn.
00:23:26And I'd say he has adjusted well to the game.
00:23:29Playing against Thomas Smith, who's a very, very good man-to-man coverage guy.
00:23:33Gain of 24, final three minutes, first quarter.
00:23:38Bledsoe, six of seven thus far.
00:23:41And he'll throw it again, deep right side.
00:23:43Sean Jefferson has it.
00:23:46Out of bounds at the one and a half.
00:23:48I'll tell you, Drew Bledsoe is on tonight.
00:23:52And he is dealing with a lot of players.
00:23:54And I believe, as a 33-yard pass completion, they have not thrown the ball deep much this year.
00:24:01Wade Phillips, the defensive coordinator, said to us this week, you know,
00:24:04they're completing a lot of balls, but not a lot of deep balls.
00:24:07So the Patriots change it up here.
00:24:09Sean Jefferson, as we mentioned, didn't play in the first game.
00:24:12And this guy has great down-the-field speed.
00:24:16Well-thrown ball again.
00:24:18And on time by Bledsoe, even though it was well-defended, perfect reception.
00:24:2433 yards.
00:24:25And this sets it up probably for Curtis Martin.
00:24:29Six touchdowns at the ground already this season.
00:24:32And they did not take care of business.
00:24:35Delay of game.
00:24:37Oh, wow.
00:24:40And Bill's just a pinch upset.
00:24:42But this is a team that's been pretty good inside the 20.
00:24:45Offense.
00:24:46Five yards.
00:24:47Still first down.
00:24:49Mm.
00:24:52You know, they have a lot of weapons.
00:24:54Let's see what happened the first two games inside the 20.
00:24:57They were 0 for five trips, and they went 0-2.
00:24:59Last five games, they have been great.
00:25:01This is touchdowns we're talking about.
00:25:0313 of 24 tries.
00:25:04And they have a lot of weapons down here.
00:25:06You have Coates.
00:25:07You have Terry Glenn.
00:25:08You have Curtis Martin, who scored eight times.
00:25:10First of the goal from the seven.
00:25:13Martin gets some of it back.
00:25:17He's down inside the four at the three-yard line.
00:25:19Well, Vern, watching Curtis Martin, I was telling you this week, reminds me a lot of watching Marcus Allen.
00:25:25The way he, you know, he moves his body in small places in particular.
00:25:30He kind of bobs and weaves.
00:25:31Never seemed to take a big direct hit.
00:25:34I mean, the full body control kind of back.
00:25:36Bill's got a kind of pained expression.
00:25:40He hasn't forgotten that delay of game call yet.
00:25:44Second and goal.
00:25:46Glenn in motion.
00:25:47Play action.
00:25:48Bledsoe, good fake.
00:25:49But good coverage.
00:25:51Now they're not open.
00:25:53Curtis Martin with his third catch of a touchdown this season.
00:25:57And it was a really nice fake by Drew Bledsoe.
00:26:11Now Parcells will forget the delay of game call.
00:26:15Adam Vinatieri is on to try and tack on the extra point.
00:26:28Tom Kippa holds it.
00:26:30Vinatieri is perfect.
00:26:33The Bills on defense, Vern, did the thing you have to do first.
00:26:36You have to take care of Ben Coates in this situation.
00:26:39He had three guys get a hand on him.
00:26:41Spielman, Stevens, and Pop at the line of scrimmage.
00:26:45They're not going to let him get the ball.
00:26:47But when you do that, you have three guys on Ben Coates.
00:26:50It leaves your running back, Curtis Martin, as a secondary receiver, but wide open.
00:26:55Good inside the 20 team because they have multiple weapons.
00:26:59And Curtis Martin scores his ninth touchdown of the year.
00:27:03And that was a terrific drive.
00:27:07Curtis Martin, who is averaging just about a touchdown,
00:27:11per game played, here's the all-time career ratio.
00:27:15You know about Emmitt Smith.
00:27:16I think you've heard of that other guy, Jim Brown.
00:27:19Steve Van Buren and Jerry Rice.
00:27:21And Martin's right in the middle of it.
00:27:22Yeah, not just about.
00:27:23He is.
00:27:2323 games, 23 touchdowns.
00:27:25Scores one tonight.
00:27:2824 touchdowns, excuse me.
00:27:29And it's Wetzel on that drive.
00:27:31Four of four.
00:27:3282 yards and a touchdown pass.
00:27:34That was a very nice drive.
00:27:38They ran the ball well.
00:27:39They threw it to tight ends.
00:27:40They threw it to wide receivers.
00:27:41They had a good play-action pass.
00:27:45Versatile offensive series.
00:27:46New England comes in with a fight for first place.
00:27:51They were 10 and 6, having won their last seven in a row in 1994.
00:27:56Last time they were in first place in the division.
00:27:59Here's Eric Moulds with the return.
00:28:01Number 80 goes right.
00:28:03And this one's going to come back.
00:28:05Second time.
00:28:06And that's probably going to be against the Bills again.
00:28:12It is.
00:28:12Marv Levy, obviously, in disagreement with the goal.
00:28:23Number 72.
00:28:2410-yard penalty.
00:28:27We'll penalize half the distance to the goal line.
00:28:30First down.
00:28:32It's on Corey Lucci.
00:28:33Go back.
00:28:34Pat, look at the way they spread this out on the drive.
00:28:36Yeah.
00:28:37First you throw at the Byers for 13 yards.
00:28:39Then Glenn for 23.
00:28:40Roy Jefferson for 42 yards.
00:28:44And then Martin for four yards on the touchdown.
00:28:46I mean, that's spread around.
00:28:48And a versatile offense.
00:28:50More weapons than just Ben Coates.
00:28:53And that's what made them, I think, a real good dynamic offensive team.
00:28:58At the 10-yard line.
00:28:59First down.
00:29:00Backs in the eye.
00:29:06Quick opener.
00:29:06Thurman Thomas out near the 15-yard line.
00:29:10Mark Wheeler, number 97, made the tackle.
00:29:14There's Wheeler who came over from Tampa Bay.
00:29:20Thurman Thomas, who is now the number one rusher Buffalo Bill history.
00:29:24Surpassed O.J. Simpson.
00:29:28I think what they have to do to get back at it on track and out of his slump is get him more involved as a pass receiver.
00:29:35Second and five.
00:29:37Thomas runs this one.
00:29:38Boy, he is knocked down as he gets to the line of scrimmage.
00:29:41And then a flag.
00:29:43He has also thrown.
00:29:45Chris Slade, number 53, with the tackle this time.
00:29:49Boy, another holding penalty against the Bills.
00:29:57Now, here's a curiosity.
00:29:59Okay.
00:29:59Buffalo comes in with 52 penalties.
00:30:02Here's Dick Hantak.
00:30:02Holding.
00:30:04Offense, number 79.
00:30:06Then lies half the distance to the goal line.
00:30:09Repeat the down.
00:30:10Second down.
00:30:11Reuben Brown, the left guard.
00:30:13New England has had its opponents penalized 70 times.
00:30:18That's an inordinate number this early in the season.
00:30:21They've only been penalized themselves 41 times.
00:30:24The sign of a very disciplined team.
00:30:25Yeah.
00:30:25They penalized half as much as anybody else.
00:30:27They haven't turned the ball over much.
00:30:29They've been good inside the 20.
00:30:30The Patriots are a team nobody talked about in this division.
00:30:34But they're coming on.
00:30:37Kelly will throw from the end zone.
00:30:40Deep right side.
00:30:41Flying Andre Reid.
00:30:43Tipped away.
00:30:43Double coverage.
00:30:45A lawyer, Malloy, number 36, just made a sensational save.
00:30:50But what may have been a very long touchdown to Andre Reid.
00:30:54You mentioned Malloy, the rookie, out of Washington, getting his very first start.
00:31:01And Bill Parcells loves this guy.
00:31:04You know, he just makes up a lot of territory.
00:31:08Hand right at the last moment.
00:31:10Perfectly timed.
00:31:11And you save six.
00:31:15And he's got a great name, Lawyer Malloy.
00:31:18Playing alongside Ty Law.
00:31:23Time for one more play.
00:31:25Eric Moles in.
00:31:26Draw play.
00:31:27Right side.
00:31:28Thurman Thomas gets a block.
00:31:30And watch out.
00:31:31It's a foot race now with Otis Smith.
00:31:33And Smith has the angle and knocks him out of bounds.
00:31:37But Thurman Thomas, on the final play of the first quarter, gets Buffalo out of a huge hole.
00:31:43I mean, this is a play that you have to expect on a real long-down situation to draw a play.
00:31:49I mean, against the nickel defense.
00:31:51And when Thurman Thomas has had big seasons and big years, it's been against nickel defenses on the run.
00:31:56And he just did a terrific job of reading a couple blocks.
00:31:5935-yard gain.
00:32:00And gets the Bills out of trouble.
00:32:07Welcome back to Foxborough Stadium.
00:32:09Start of quarter number two, Jim Kelly.
00:32:12And the team, first down and 10 after that 35-yard gain.
00:32:16And Kelly to 12.
00:32:17Wanted to go to Ronnie Johnson.
00:32:19This one's picked off.
00:32:21Intercepted by.
00:32:22Dropped it.
00:32:23Should have been picked off.
00:32:24Oh, man.
00:32:25Chris Slade, who had his only interception of the season in game one against these two.
00:32:32And then thought he had been knocked down.
00:32:35Watch what happened in game one.
00:32:36Kelly, Chris Slade picks it off.
00:32:39Now, did Kent Hall number 67 hit him or not?
00:32:42Chris Slade thought he had been touched.
00:32:45So, he leaves the ball on the ground.
00:32:47It was ruled a fumble.
00:32:49And the interception became a fumble.
00:32:52Buffalo got possession back.
00:32:54Second and 10.
00:32:59Into the flat.
00:33:00Incomplete.
00:33:02Intended for Derrick Holmes, number 44.
00:33:04Well, Thurman Thomas takes himself out of the game when he needs a break.
00:33:09But, boy, they need him back in.
00:33:1157 yards on five carries thus far.
00:33:13Only had 22 yards rushing in the first contest.
00:33:17And if they're going to get out of their funk and their slump, I think Thurman Thomas is going to be the guy that gets them out of it.
00:33:23Steve Tasker back in.
00:33:25Third down and 10.
00:33:27A 35-yard run that set up this circumstance the longest of the season for Thurman Thomas.
00:33:35Derrick Holmes stays in the backfield.
00:33:36Haskell is the third wideout on third and 10.
00:33:41Four-man rush for New England.
00:33:44And some pressure applied as Kelly comes right.
00:33:47Incomplete.
00:33:49Willie McGinnis.
00:33:51I don't know why they moved these guys to the opposite ends early in this year.
00:33:56But they have moved them back.
00:33:57McGinnis is back on his favorite side.
00:34:00And Chris Slade is on his favorite side.
00:34:02And, boy, they have put some pressure on these, on the Bills quarterback tonight.
00:34:08You know, McGinnis just kind of spinning off his defender, the blocker.
00:34:13I mean, a guy that moved from linebacker to defensive end.
00:34:16And he has been in Jim Kelly's face this first half.
00:34:20Here's Chris Moore.
00:34:21Punch it away to Dave Meggett.
00:34:24And Meggett has it at the 14-yard line.
00:34:27And Meggett with a counterpunch outside the 20 to the 22.
00:34:33The tackle is made by Marlo Perry, who's had a busy night.
00:34:36McGinnis with the pressure.
00:34:38His teammates have the ball on offense.
00:34:42Welcome back to one of the featured matchups tonight.
00:34:45All-pro left tackle Bruce Armstrong.
00:34:47All-pro right defensive end Bruce Smith.
00:34:51Thus far, an even-steven match.
00:34:54And here's Gledsoe with play fake on first down.
00:34:57Goes into the trap.
00:34:59Caught by Keith Byers, his second catch of the night.
00:35:02And he moves it out to the 30-yard line.
00:35:05You mentioned that matchup with Bruce Armstrong and Bruce Smith.
00:35:08And, you know, that is one of the featured battles tonight.
00:35:12Bruce Armstrong was saying to us just yesterday, today,
00:35:15when you play against Bruce Smith, you had better come prepared to play your best ball game.
00:35:20Because if you make the slightest mistake, a wrong step, you know, you get lazy.
00:35:25You don't get your hands on him quickly.
00:35:26He will destroy your quarterback.
00:35:28He had three sacks in the first game.
00:35:30Here's a quick count and a handoff to Martin.
00:35:33Or Dave.
00:35:34Yes, it is, Curtis Martin.
00:35:35Out to the 35-yard line.
00:35:37That's good for the first down.
00:35:39And the chains will be moved.
00:35:41At the 35, a 7-0 ball game.
00:35:43Martin got the touchdown grab from Drew Bledsoe.
00:35:46And when you try to tackle Curtis Martin, you had better be fundamentally strong.
00:35:50Again, he's one of those guys in that real small area can twist and turn and slither.
00:35:57Slither?
00:35:57Slither.
00:35:58Steal a couple yards from him.
00:35:59If you slither, you can pick up a smidgen.
00:36:03Or more.
00:36:04Bledsoe comes back one time.
00:36:06Wide open.
00:36:08Caught by Glenn.
00:36:09He's out of bounds.
00:36:11Oh, brother.
00:36:13And Bledsoe gets up limping a little bit.
00:36:22Terry Glenn makes the grab on the left side of the field.
00:36:27You know, one of those old adages is you never throw the ball across the field
00:36:32except when you have an arm like Drew Bledsoe.
00:36:36Terry Glenn threw all the way on the other side of the field.
00:36:39He had to wait for it.
00:36:40It's almost like accepting a punt.
00:36:41But a well-thrown ball by Drew Bledsoe.
00:36:46And another big play in the passing game of 28 yards.
00:36:48Can we say together, no way.
00:36:50Yeah, he can do that too.
00:36:52Martin goes right.
00:36:54What a tackle at the line of scrimmage by Phil Hansen, number 90.
00:36:58Phil Hansen, one of those guys around the league who gets overlooked
00:37:02because he plays with great players, Pop and Bruce Smith and Spielman.
00:37:06But Phil Hansen's the one who made the tackle, remember,
00:37:09on that draw play at the end of the first game
00:37:11to stop Dave Megan from going to the end zone.
00:37:15Hansen, a one-time second-round draft pick back in 1991 from North Dakota State.
00:37:20Second down and eight.
00:37:22Byers is back in.
00:37:23So also is Sean Jefferson.
00:37:24Three-two.
00:37:25Oh, thank you.
00:37:27Thirty-second draft pick.
00:37:30Blitz coming.
00:37:31Curtis Martin out of the blitz.
00:37:34Inside the 30 and cut down at the 27.
00:37:37Close for first down yardage.
00:37:40Curtis Martin is a versatile, versatile player.
00:37:44We've seen it as a runner.
00:37:46Saw it all last year when he gained 1,500 yards.
00:37:48We've seen it tonight as a pass receiver as he caught a touchdown.
00:37:51And then, you know, no wasted motion with this guy.
00:37:55Gets the ball, sees an open field, doesn't dance around,
00:37:58breaks one tackle, and perhaps picks up the first.
00:38:02Interesting.
00:38:03Bill Parcells talking about his outstanding second-year running back last night.
00:38:06Here's the stretch, and it's going to be that short.
00:38:11So knowing part...
00:38:12Oh, they got it.
00:38:13Well, they made it by a smidgen.
00:38:14Yes.
00:38:15You thought they were short by a smidgen.
00:38:16Well, he didn't slither enough.
00:38:17Yeah.
00:38:21If you look it up in the dictionary, and I'm not sure you could find it...
00:38:24Smidgen?
00:38:24Yeah.
00:38:25I had it recently.
00:38:28You've got to do your research.
00:38:29I have not looked it up, nor have I found it.
00:38:32S-M-I-D.
00:38:34S-M-I.
00:38:34Yeah, yeah.
00:38:35S-M-I-D.
00:38:37First down.
00:38:397-0 New England.
00:38:41They're threatening again.
00:38:42They have won four of their last five.
00:38:47Fire is in motion.
00:38:49Curtis Martin's flag is down.
00:38:51So is Martin at the 20-yard line.
00:38:53I thought this one's coming back.
00:38:55Kurt Schultz, number 24.
00:38:57Offside.
00:38:57Oh, no, no, no, no.
00:39:00Again, once again, Curtis Martin gets through a small area.
00:39:03He is...
00:39:04You've got some good size at 203 pounds,
00:39:06but he just disappears sometimes and pops out on the other side.
00:39:10Here's Dick Hamtack.
00:39:17Offside.
00:39:18Defense.
00:39:19Number 95.
00:39:20Five-yard penalty.
00:39:22Repeat the down.
00:39:22First down.
00:39:25Bryce Pop.
00:39:27Offside.
00:39:29So, they'll take the five, and Bill Parcells looks on.
00:39:32Yeah, and the Bill defense needs a negative play badly.
00:39:36I mean, the last two series of the Patriots,
00:39:38they have really been in rhythm,
00:39:39throwing the ball a time running,
00:39:41and the Bill's defense needs a momentum changer right now.
00:39:44Bledsoe hands it off to Martin,
00:39:46who might have gotten at that time from Sam Rogers, number 59.
00:39:52And that will set up a passing possibility now.
00:39:57Drew Bledsoe, terrific night.
00:39:59He's hit his last 10.
00:40:00Again, just when you need a negative play,
00:40:03you get it from one of your linebackers, Sam Rogers,
00:40:06and that's what the Bills need more of.
00:40:08The defensive coordinator, Wade Philbo,
00:40:10has this defense playing very, very well.
00:40:14Second down and seven in a 7-0 ballgame.
00:40:17Jefferson, the motion man.
00:40:21Bledsoe, going after his 11th straight.
00:40:24Has it?
00:40:25Nope.
00:40:25There's the string ending.
00:40:27Terry Glenn couldn't hang on down around the ankles.
00:40:30It will be third down.
00:40:31Yeah, and third down is when Drew Bledsoe, in particular,
00:40:35looks for that mismatch with Ben Coates,
00:40:37the walkie mismatch,
00:40:39or runny mismatch, as we said.
00:40:41I mean, he is, of all those passes he's caught this year,
00:40:43he's got 14 of his receptions on third downs this year.
00:40:48Coates comes near side.
00:40:50Meggett is in the backfield on third down.
00:40:53So also is Hassan Graham.
00:40:56Coates in motion.
00:40:58They toss it.
00:41:00They will run it.
00:41:00Meggett is caught short at the 23-yard line.
00:41:04And that's going to bring on Adam Vinatieri,
00:41:06the rookie place kicker who earned his spot
00:41:09in a battle with Matt Barr
00:41:11and had his lowest moments in his rookie season in the NFL
00:41:15in game one between these two.
00:41:17This likable young kid was one of four.
00:41:20He hit the upright twice in that rainstorm in Buffalo
00:41:23back in September.
00:41:25And remember, Buffalo,
00:41:26one of the best teams in the National Football League
00:41:28in blocking kicks.
00:41:29They have blocked four field goal attempts this year.
00:41:35In the league, there have been only nine blocks.
00:41:38Buffalo has four of them.
00:41:42Two for a hole.
00:41:45That one is perfect.
00:41:46Vinatieri has now hit 11 of his last 12.
00:41:54He's good from 40 is the former South Dakota State Jackrabbit.
00:41:58The next play, the Toronto Raptors.
00:42:02And in game two, Shaquille O'Neal makes his debut
00:42:05as a Los Angeles Laker when the Phoenix Suns head into the Great Western Forum.
00:42:10That's next Friday night.
00:42:12Here's Adam Vinatieri.
00:42:13And this one is taken by Eric Moulds.
00:42:16Three yards deep, he will bring it up.
00:42:19Marv Levy said at the first game of the season,
00:42:28this kid has the potential to be one of the great kickoff return men in this league.
00:42:33And he gets it out to the 25-yard line.
00:42:35Jim Kelly, they need a little spark, Pat.
00:42:37Yeah, you know, the Bills have not been, you see the stats,
00:42:40have not been vulnerable much in the past seven years, Vern.
00:42:44But you sense that the teams, particularly in their division,
00:42:48feel some vulnerability of this Bills team right now while they're struggling.
00:42:51Even though they're 5-2, they have not been dynamic in offense at all this year.
00:42:56Russell Copeland is inactive tonight with an injury,
00:42:59thus negating his presence as a receiver.
00:43:02Into the front, it comes Lonnie Johnson.
00:43:04And Chris Slade misfires on the attempted tackle and Ty Law, number 24, caught up with him.
00:43:12Well, we began the evening talking about the troubled Buffalo offense.
00:43:16Take a look at this.
00:43:1823rd in those three and out series.
00:43:20Those are deadly, particularly for your defense.
00:43:2226 in passing yards.
00:43:24They've not run the ball well.
00:43:25Their yards per play is nearly last in the league.
00:43:28The thing I like about Jim Kelly, though, Vern, is he has taken the blame.
00:43:31He has taken the responsibility.
00:43:33He said, hey, I must play better.
00:43:35Second and two.
00:43:37Thomas, no.
00:43:39It will be third and two.
00:43:41Whistle had blown.
00:43:42That is not a fumble.
00:43:45But oftentimes, Thurman Thomas bounces out of a pile like that.
00:43:50But when they have big old guys like Mark Wheeler in there,
00:43:53you don't bounce out of the pile.
00:43:55Wheeler playing off Kent Hall's block, number 97, did a real good job of throwing Hall away and making the stop.
00:44:06And really a scene that takes some getting used to.
00:44:08Jim Kelly looking over for the play to be sent in.
00:44:10Third and two.
00:44:13Third and two.
00:44:14Clyde in motion.
00:44:17Thomas, I don't think he's got it.
00:44:26Ted Johnson.
00:44:26Well, you know, we saw a good short-yarded series by Buffalo in the first quarter.
00:44:31And then Ted Johnson and the Patriots do their job on that series.
00:44:36And again, the Bills just don't seem comfortable in this offense.
00:44:43And really nowhere for him to run.
00:44:45That brings on Chris Moore, and it means the presence of Dave Meggett at the 20-yard line.
00:44:54Nice and high.
00:44:58Meggett.
00:45:02At the 30-yard line.
00:45:06It is unnatural catching punts and running into a bunch of people.
00:45:09You know that?
00:45:10You didn't practice that in Southern California?
00:45:11No, no.
00:45:11Absolutely.
00:45:12I mean, you know, you have guys chasing like lemmings off a cliff.
00:45:16You know, it's very unnatural.
00:45:22Welcome back to Foxborough Stadium.
00:45:23If we sometimes appear confused, and I confess that we sometimes do appear confused,
00:45:28sometimes there are reasons.
00:45:30On your left, Todd Collins.
00:45:32On your right, Todd Collins.
00:45:35One a linebacker, the other a quarterback.
00:45:38Now, Jimmy Smith, you know, okay, it's going to happen a lot.
00:45:41But Todd Collins, same game.
00:45:43Well, both Todd Collins have played well for their respective teams this year.
00:45:46And neither is playing right now.
00:45:48So, here we go.
00:45:50Here's Bledsoe, who's playing very well.
00:45:51And has just been sacked for the first time tonight.
00:45:54Phil Hanson, number 90.
00:45:56Boy, Phil Hanson has had a pretty good first half here, Vern.
00:45:59Boy, he's run down some guys on short yardage plays.
00:46:02Stuffed Curtis Martin early in the game.
00:46:04Coming off the right part of your screen.
00:46:06Number 90 just runs right behind, right around Rucci.
00:46:11This is, Phil Hanson is a strong, determined pass rusher.
00:46:15You know, you have the quickness in Bruce Smith, but a determined pass rusher in Phil Hanson.
00:46:21Second down and 19.
00:46:23Bring this one back.
00:46:27Now, a plethora of shuttlecocks.
00:46:30Yes, shuttlecocks.
00:46:31Shuttlecocks, yeah.
00:46:32A plethora, yes.
00:46:33That means a lot, where I come from it.
00:46:34Or, in this case, three.
00:46:36False start.
00:46:37Offense, prior to the snap.
00:46:38Number 68.
00:46:40Five-yard penalty.
00:46:41Here it is.
00:46:41Phil's second down.
00:46:42There's one.
00:46:46Max Lane, number 68.
00:46:49Bill Parcells, age 54.
00:46:59And second down and 24.
00:47:02Draw play.
00:47:02Martin bounces it to the outside.
00:47:06And he picks up considerable yardage.
00:47:08Back to the 26-yard line.
00:47:10What was Bill Parcells saying to us this week?
00:47:12Said, you know, really don't know what kind of team I have just yet.
00:47:16And he's a coach that really seems to reserve judgment until late in the year.
00:47:20But said, hey, we're going to find out what kind of team we have over the next four weeks.
00:47:23Didn't you get a sense, though, Pat, yesterday morning,
00:47:26that he likes his team better than the one he had a year ago?
00:47:28Yeah, absolutely.
00:47:29And he likes them both as, I think, individuals and the way they perform,
00:47:33the effort they've given.
00:47:34Said they were responsive.
00:47:36Had the big year in 94 when they won the last seven.
00:47:38Last year, they struggled to a 6-10 mark.
00:47:41Never really seemed to be in sync.
00:47:43It's third down and 14.
00:47:46Bled's coming in the corner.
00:47:47Bledsoe reads it.
00:47:48Oh, Terry Glenn manages to keep his feet,
00:47:51but he is not going to get first down yardage.
00:47:53He was popped by Kurt Schultz, number 24.
00:47:58Now let's watch and see the defensive deployment here, Patrick.
00:48:01You know, here's Bruce Smith.
00:48:03Remember, we want to watch that matchup with, well, this time he's not rushing the pass.
00:48:06Believe it or not, he is covering Ben Coates.
00:48:09I mean, and then he makes the play.
00:48:12I mean, three or four different ways they have of trying to cover Ben Coates.
00:48:15That time, Bruce Smith uncovered John Coates.
00:48:19Jeff Burris is back to return the front of Tom Tupac.
00:48:24Bit of a line drive punt.
00:48:27Burris out of the tackle.
00:48:31Into another.
00:48:31Larry Wiggum, number 25.
00:48:37Yeah, Wiggum was the guy who had a first shot at him.
00:48:39Missed him.
00:48:40Was, uh, just hung in there, hung in there, hung in there, and got him second time around.
00:48:44Needs a baylock after a hit like that.
00:48:49Larry Wiggum for the Patriots, number 25, is their best special teams player.
00:48:54He's going to get Vernon Koerner there, or Marlon Koerner, number 46.
00:48:57And this is a determined play.
00:48:58He's getting held.
00:49:00Misses him the first time, Burris.
00:49:02But then he comes back and makes the play.
00:49:04And he blocked the punt early in the year that was returned for a touchdown.
00:49:06A great special teams player.
00:49:08On first down, Kelly with play action.
00:49:10Deep across the middle.
00:49:11Oh, what a pop.
00:49:13My goodness.
00:49:16Willie Clay, number 32, with the defensive job.
00:49:21Willie Clay is a guy that always seems to be around the ball.
00:49:25He was with Detroit a year ago when he had eight interceptions.
00:49:29He has three this year.
00:49:32You know, Reed's Kelly, who got very good pass protection.
00:49:34I mean, he saw him the whole way, and then just drives on the pass.
00:49:38Second down.
00:49:39Ronnie Johnson, the tight end, out to the 35-yard line.
00:49:44And the clock continues to run at 535, and here's the K-Gun offense.
00:49:48Boy, they used to run the K-Gun offense 65% to 70% of the time.
00:49:54They backed off it, but they are struggling with this game, so now they're right back running again.
00:50:00Third and two.
00:50:09Intercepted drop.
00:50:10Willie Clay had him.
00:50:11He's talking about Willie Clay being around the ball, and Willie Clay is the guy who has had some success against Jim Kelly.
00:50:17In a Thanksgiving game a few years ago, Willie Clay picked off two passes against Jim Kelly,
00:50:23and this team continues to struggle offensively.
00:50:26A miscommunication between Tasker.
00:50:28He thought Tasker, I think, was going to turn outside.
00:50:31He turns inside, and Willie Clay, if he catches that, may be in the end zone.
00:50:35Well, certainly not the kind of start, first half, for Jim Kelly or Marv Levy.
00:50:41Kelly now 4 of 12 with two potential interceptions dropped.
00:50:45Bearcats make it at the 22.
00:50:5010-zip.
00:50:52New England leads it over Buffalo.
00:50:555.04 to go, first half.
00:50:56And when your offense is struggling, like the Bills are, Vern, you need, you know, some change in momentum play.
00:51:01A defensive play, a turnover, or a big special teams play.
00:51:06Because they continue.
00:51:07And they have struggled, really, since the very first game.
00:51:09We saw them in an opening game against the Giants, and, oh, they pulled out a win at the end.
00:51:14This is not the same explosive offense that we've all become accustomed to.
00:51:19And on the other side of the offensive scheme, things have gone well for Drew Bledsoe in New England tonight.
00:51:25Bill Parcells saying yesterday, and Bledsoe confirming that one of the things he really needed to improve on was his accuracy.
00:51:33He has been on target tonight.
00:51:35Here's first down, except for that pass.
00:51:39Oh, he's still 12 of 15.
00:51:40But, boy, they're throwing the ball in the direction of Keith Byers a lot tonight.
00:51:45I was talking with Mike Pope, the tight ends coach, who's been a part of Parcell's staff for a long, long time.
00:51:50He said they want to use Byers quite a bit tonight.
00:51:54He played 22 plays in his first game with the Patriots last week.
00:51:58But they are setting up their two-tight end offense for games to be played when the weather gets really rotten.
00:52:04That's typical Parcells.
00:52:05Yeah, Parcells is, I think he watches the weather channel more than any other station.
00:52:09Second and 10, under the five-minute mark.
00:52:13Bledsoe.
00:52:14Oh, boy, they got it.
00:52:15Is that good timing?
00:52:17And a flag on the far side of the field.
00:52:19I don't care how good the coverage is, when you throw the ball on time like that and throw it away from the defender, you just can't stop it.
00:52:27And Sean Jefferson, who has a defensive holding call.
00:52:32Boy, a lot of penalties on the Bills tonight.
00:52:35They'll have their fifth penalty of the evening.
00:52:38Defense number 23.
00:52:40Penalty is declined.
00:52:41Result for the play is a first down.
00:52:45Down here at the bottom of the screen, Sean Jefferson gets a defensive back turn.
00:52:51The ball was already in the air as he was getting ready to turn.
00:52:54I mean, that's just good pass offense.
00:52:56Gain of 12.
00:52:57Bledsoe 13 of 16 for 185.
00:53:01Play action.
00:53:04Next side.
00:53:05Whoops.
00:53:06This one incomplete.
00:53:08And, boy, that's asking a lot of Terry Glenn to go up, knowing he's going to get slammed in the back.
00:53:13You know, the thing about Terry Glenn, the rookie number one draft pick out of Ohio State, taking some abuse.
00:53:20Bill Parcells in training camp called him she.
00:53:23And in a kidding fashion, just kind of poked some fun at him.
00:53:27And I think it was blown out of proportion, at least from Parcells' perspective.
00:53:31But he has responded very well to Parcells, which some rookies don't.
00:53:36And played better and better every week.
00:53:38Second and 10.
00:53:394.36 to go.
00:53:41Four-man rush by Buffalo.
00:53:44That one's straight across the middle.
00:53:47Sam Gash, number 33.
00:53:49Really spread it around.
00:53:53You know, some really good fullbacks, quality fullbacks in the league.
00:53:56In 33, Sam Gash is one of them.
00:53:58You know, Johnston at Dallas and Kevin Turner in Philly.
00:54:01This guy is primarily a lead blocker for Curtis Martin.
00:54:05He plays some special teams.
00:54:07And there he catches the ball.
00:54:08And doesn't get a lot of hoopla.
00:54:10But Sam Gash makes this offense better.
00:54:13Keith Byers back in on third and two.
00:54:1940-yard field goal by Vimentary.
00:54:21A touchdown pass.
00:54:23Bledsoe to Curtis Martin who scores thus far.
00:54:28Bledsoe in the front.
00:54:30Caught by Gash.
00:54:32He's still on his feet.
00:54:33First down at the 45.
00:54:35He's got a name like a fullback.
00:54:37He's got a neck brace like a fullback.
00:54:39And he looks like a fullback.
00:54:41And he does a lot of things well.
00:54:44You fake Curtis Martin inside first.
00:54:48And then you throw it where the linebackers should be.
00:54:53And when you're a good inside running team, which the Patriots are,
00:54:57you have opportunities like that.
00:55:00Damian Covington missed the tackle number 57.
00:55:02It's a gain of 12 and a first and 10.
00:55:07Bledsoe knows what he's got going.
00:55:09And he hits another one.
00:55:10He fires again.
00:55:13Well, how about this story?
00:55:14Here's a guy waved by Jimmy Johnson in his second game with Bill Parcells.
00:55:20And he's caught four balls in the first half.
00:55:22You know, it's amazing.
00:55:24In his career, you know, he's caught over 540 passes.
00:55:27This is the guy who's done it year in and year out.
00:55:29And in the right offense, he can still be very productive.
00:55:32And he will be as November and December comes in here to Foxboro.
00:55:37And had a string of 130 straight games with a catch brought to a close in Miami.
00:55:43Here's Bledsoe.
00:55:43Keep left side to Glenn.
00:55:45Thomas Smith is back there.
00:55:48Boy, that was a play.
00:55:48To knock it away.
00:55:49Yeah, that was a play, though.
00:55:51The momentum changer that the Bills defense needed.
00:55:54Had a chance to intercept it.
00:55:56Well covered by Thomas Smith.
00:56:01But, boy, when your offense is struggling, you need to make those kind of plays.
00:56:05Would have been a tough catch.
00:56:07It should have been made.
00:56:11Third down.
00:56:12West.
00:56:14Third and about a foot.
00:56:19Quarterback keeper.
00:56:20Bledsoe appears to have gotten it.
00:56:22The spot is inside the 35-yard line.
00:56:26As we wind things down here in the first half,
00:56:30Bill Farsell's team trying to grab a piece of first place in the division
00:56:35at the midway point of the season.
00:56:38And they've got an important stretch coming up.
00:56:40He was talking about Drew Bledsoe,
00:56:42and he said there are defining periods for young quarterbacks.
00:56:45This is one for Drew Bledsoe.
00:56:47Because the table has been set for them to accomplish a lot.
00:56:52Five, four, four.
00:56:54Bill Farsell.
00:56:57Into the flat for Martin.
00:57:01Jeff Burris, number 22, on the corner to make the tackle.
00:57:05And we have reached the two-minute warning.
00:57:0710-0 New England over the Buffalo Bills.
00:57:15The show here in the first half, 17 of 22.
00:57:18And, Patrick, look how he spread it around.
00:57:19Six different receivers with multiple catches.
00:57:22It's no longer the Ben Coates show,
00:57:23and it makes them a much more difficult offense to defend, Vern.
00:57:27And, you know, Sean Jefferson has really had some of the deep passes tonight.
00:57:32First 40-yard completion for Drew Bledsoe tonight.
00:57:34He said one of the things he was hoping would happen was get some big plays.
00:57:38They have the one to Sean Jefferson.
00:57:39Second down and 10.
00:57:41Play action.
00:57:42Bledsoe rolls out.
00:57:44Finds Byers again for the fifth time.
00:57:47And Byers and Spielman, a couple of old foes from Ohio State.
00:57:53Teammates there in the Earl Bruce era in the late 80s.
00:57:57Chris Spielman is an eggs-and-hash-brown kind of guy
00:58:00and, you know, loves the running game in particular,
00:58:04defending the running game.
00:58:05What does that make Keith Byers?
00:58:07I don't know.
00:58:08Filet kind of guy.
00:58:10Yeah.
00:58:11One of those steak and potatoes, perhaps.
00:58:13But I tell you, they continue to use Keith Byers in the perimeter.
00:58:16And that was a little tight-end delay kind of pass.
00:58:18Makes it very difficult on an inside linebacker.
00:58:20Third and two.
00:58:25Byers in motion.
00:58:27Quick opener up the middle.
00:58:29And Martin plunges over Kent Hull.
00:58:32Oh, beg your pardon.
00:58:33Over Dave Wollabaugh and gets the first down.
00:58:36I didn't realize they had traded for Hulson.
00:58:38Well, it was, you know, they just beat the trading deadline.
00:58:42Well, again, we talk, when you play for Bill Parcells and you're running back,
00:58:44you better not fumble the ball and you better be tough inside the tackles.
00:58:49Curtis Martin is there.
00:58:50And he, you know, he can give you a lot of different looks.
00:58:53He can run wide.
00:58:53He can run tough inside.
00:58:55And a good receiver we've seen tonight.
00:58:56First and ten.
00:58:58Byers again in motion.
00:59:02Martin coming left.
00:59:04Schultz.
00:59:06That safety is there to try and shove them back.
00:59:09I'll tell you one thing.
00:59:09This Buffalo Bill defense has been on the field entirely too long.
00:59:14And Marv Levy and Bruce Smith gets up slowly.
00:59:16That's the result when you've been on the field that long.
00:59:20Marv Levy changed his offensive system the past couple of weeks to keep his defense off.
00:59:25They got out of the no-huddle K-gun.
00:59:28But tonight, this first half, the defense has been on a lot.
00:59:31Second and seven screen pass.
00:59:33Across the middle, incomplete intended for Coates.
00:59:36You know, that's two times on this drive the Bill defense had a chance for an interception.
00:59:42When they desperately need one.
00:59:43Coming up on the Fruit of the Loom Halftime Report.
00:59:47Vince Cellini is in our Atlanta studios with no-huddle highlights.
00:59:50Also, Mark May and Randall Cunningham offer their analysis coming up at halftime on the Fruit of the Loom Halftime Report.
00:59:57I hope Vince has better luck with the no-huddle than the Bills have had tonight.
01:00:02That is pass interference.
01:00:03It was not called on Chris Spielman, by the way.
01:00:07Dave make it in on third down and seven.
01:00:11Glenn, in motion, comes back near side.
01:00:17Flag is down.
01:00:18And another near interception.
01:00:20This one, Emmanuel Martin, number 21.
01:00:24Three times on this drive.
01:00:26When you're down 10-0, your offense is struggling.
01:00:28You have to make a play.
01:00:29Offside against Marv Levy's team.
01:00:36Defense, number 99, lined up in the neutral zone.
01:00:40Five-yard penalty.
01:00:41Repeat the down.
01:00:42Third down.
01:00:43Sometimes time of possession is a useless statistic, but not tonight.
01:00:48That is a telling tale this evening.
01:00:50Two-to-one and a ten-point lead.
01:00:57And Drew Bledsoe has been hot, and the offensive line has played very well.
01:01:02Penalty was against Gabe Northern, the rookie linebacker from Louisiana State.
01:01:07There's Northern, who started a couple of games with Sam Rogers' injury,
01:01:11but gave way to Rogers tonight.
01:01:13Guilty of the infraction.
01:01:15Tonight, following the Steel postgame show,
01:01:20things he said is that this is a very fragile team.
01:01:24But they don't have a genuine sense of confidence yet.
01:01:28I think a win tonight, coupled with their victory on the road last week at Indianapolis,
01:01:32would help get them there.
01:01:33Yeah, back-to-back division wins really helps your confidence.
01:01:37And this is a team that has a chance to really get on the roll the way their offense is playing.
01:01:41And third and two, they are three and three on third downs on this drive.
01:01:48Now they're three of four.
01:01:50They are determined to run that drop by Ante on third down.
01:01:53Well, I heard Marv Levy over the sideline go draw, draw, draw.
01:01:57Well, in the opening game, Marv Levy guessed that they were going to run a draw
01:02:01at the end of the ballgame, and then Phil Hanson made a terrific tackle
01:02:04to stop Dave Megan, and they try it again, and they stop him again.
01:02:08And this time, it's Bryce Popp, number 95, at the very top of the screen.
01:02:13Blows right around his guy.
01:02:15Get some help with Jeff Coates.
01:02:19Time has been called.
01:02:22And Marv Levy, well, no move yet to send Vinatieri on.
01:02:27Here it comes, yeah.
01:02:28Now time is called.
01:02:30Let the clock down to two seconds.
01:02:31Well, New England, Barcells saying this is a critical stretch for his team
01:02:38and his quarterback.
01:02:41Miami comes in on the third.
01:02:44Then they take on the New York Jets.
01:02:46Denver playing supremely well.
01:02:49And then Indianapolis, the rematch, and then out at San Diego.
01:02:53Well, Vinatieri is going to come on,
01:02:55and he will try and author the field goal against a team
01:02:59which leads the league in blocked field goals.
01:03:02Isn't that amazing?
01:03:03Yeah, really.
01:03:04Bruce Smith has two of those.
01:03:05Hanson has one.
01:03:06Ted Washington has a blocked field goal.
01:03:09They've all come from right up the middle.
01:03:12So if you're a kicker, you better get the ball up quickly
01:03:14against this built-in.
01:03:17Adam Vinatieri.
01:03:1832-yard effort to increase the lead to 13 points.
01:03:34No block this time.
01:03:36That one did get up quickly.
01:03:39But, Byrne, I think a tough defensive series for the Bills
01:03:42because they had a chance to intercept the ball three different times.
01:03:48Well, at the half,
01:03:52we mentioned the overwhelming statistical edge by New England, Pat.
01:03:56They have really handled Buffalo in this first half.
01:03:59Passing yard in all categories.
01:04:02Time of possession is telling,
01:04:03and Drew Bledsoe hitting six different receivers
01:04:06multiple times in that first half.
01:04:08Well, that was a good opportunity.
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