New England Patriots fans will extol the 11-point comeback by Tom Brady that led to a 25-24 win Monday in the NFL season opener for both teams. But an impartial observer will point out the obvious — the Buffalo Bills choked it away. They had an 11-point lead (24-13) with 5:30 to play, then played a soft defense that allowed the Patriots to march 81 yards and cut the lead to five.
With 2:06 left, the Patriots kicked off with 2:06 left to their secret weapon, Bills return man Leodis McKelvin, who had fumbled his previous kickoff return only to get a lucky bounce and have a teammate recover. This time, McKelvin momentarily thought about kneeling and giving the Bills the ball at the 20, but he decided to run it out. Great decision! He fumbled again and this time the Patriots recovered at the Buffalo 31.
It took Brady all of three plays to strike, hitting Benjamin Watson on a 16-yard TD pass on a route that was identical to one he threw for a TD to Watson the previous series. Game over.
This defeat was eerily reminiscent to a 25-24 loss by the Bills to Dallas on Monday Night Football two years ago; in that game they had what seemed like a safe lead, only to gag it away. There is a reason teams like the Patriots stay at an elite level, while the Bills have not made the playoff this decade — the former knows they always have a chance, while the latter at some point collectively wake up and remember, “We’re the Buffalo Bills.”
On a positive note, the Bills throwback uniforms rock. They at least look good while falling apart.
on Sep 14th, 2009 at 11:59 PM
It’s great to see Richard Seymour doing so well tonight with Oakland!
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 7:36 AM
“Bills Pulls…” collective singular noun presumably. They’re still stinkeroos collectively.
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Good point on the throwback unis. Both the Bills and Patriots should permanently lose their current uniforms and go back to the unis they wore last night. Both of their modern, current uniforms are atrocious and the throwbacks looked great!
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
As a neutral observer that was a tough game to watch last night. It was impossible to root for either team. Other than Jerry Jones the two people in the NFL I like least were part of the game and on opposite sides. On the one side was Bill Belicek and on the other Terrel Owens. Talk about trying to pick the lesser of two evils.
The best possible outcome would’ve been a Bills win with Owens getting one catch for zero yards and losing a fumble on his one catch.
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 11:34 AM
““Bills Pulls…” collective singular noun presumably. They’re still stinkeroos collectively.”
Fixed and the Bills still suck.
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 3:34 PM
WOW!!! Did the Pats every steal one away, but wait, that’s not what happened. The Bills did everything right except for one STUPID play. The Pats got lucky and I’m a Pat’s fan.
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 7:04 PM
I have come to the following conclusion. Either:
1. There is no God. Or
2. There is a God, and He hates Buffalo. Especially on Monday Nights.
(sigh)