Bills TKO Patriots

It didn't take long for many of the Bills offseason additions to make their prescence felt. As the Bills opened the 2003 season with an impressive showing in defeating the New England Patriots 31-0.

The Bills offense opened the game with a nine play 80 yard drive capped by a one yard TD run by Travis Henry. The Bills revamped defense held the Patriots to a three and out drive by the Patriots with new LBs Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey combing on a tackle that saw former Bills fullback Larry Centers lose three yards on third down. The Bills offense continued on the same torrid pace in their second drive when scored another touch down after moving down the field 90 yards on fifteen plays. The Bills were helped when Patriots' backup tightend was flagged for holding on a 4th down play.

The teams' exchanged three and outs in the middle of the second quarter. Then the Bills scored an unlikely touchdown when 340 pound defensive tackle Sam Adams intercepted a Tom Brady pass and rumbled down the field 37 yards to increase the Bills lead to 21-0. The ensuing drive looked like the Patriots were going to finally get some points on the board when Tom Brady throw a pass in the end zone intended for wide out David Patten. Though former Patriot strong safety caught up with Patten from behind and hit him just as the ball got there and it popped in the air and Bills corner Nate Clements was able to catch it and drag his feet inbounds at the back of the end zone for another Bills interception. The Bills were unable to do anything with the ensuing drive and it looked like the Patriots would end up with good field position as Bills punter Brian Moorman punted from the Bills 22 yard line instead the AFC Pro Bowl alternate from last season boomed a punt that went 71 yards in the air. Hurt with another penalty the Patriots were forced to start their next drive at their own 8 yard line. Lawyer Milloy again made his prescence felt when he sacked Tom Brady on third and fifteen and forced the Patriots to punt. The Bills offense took over and moved the ball down the field and looked to be in scoring position again when rookie cornerback Eugene Wilson intercpeted a poorly thrown ball by Drew Bledsoe. Though with only ten seconds left on the clock the Patriots weren't able to do anything before the end of the first half.

The Patriots had their chances to make a game of things in the third quarter. Though a fourth down penalty stalled the Patriots drive and an inability to score after the Bills' Travis Henry fumbled a ball at the Buffalo twenty two helped the Bills 21 point lead lead the game. In the closing minute of the quarter Takeo Spikes intercepted a Tom Brady pass which the Bills followed up with a scoring drive lead by Travis Henry's rushing that ended on a nine yard touchdown on sweep off the right side and gave the Bills a 28-0 lead. Spikes intercepted Brady on the following possesession once again giving the Bills the ball back. THough this time Henry's running could only get the Bills so far and the team settled for a field goal to up their lead to 31-0.

Patriots' third string quarterback Rohan Davey entered the game in mop up duty and prompty went three and out. Bills backup quarterback manned the Bills on a three and out himself. A pass interfence penalty on Bills backup safety Coy Wire looked as though it would help break the Bills shutout when the Patriots were given the ball at thier own one with 18 seconds left on the clock. Though an overthrown pass and goal line stance preserved the shutout in the games' final plays and preserved the Bills 31-0 victory.