Bills vs. Patriots Classic: 2003 Season-Opening Shutout

by MattRichWarren on Sep 23, 2011 8:30 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills History

Each week, Buffalo Rumblings will prepare you for the Buffalo Bills' upcoming opponent by looking back into the history of the series to find a memorable game or moment. This week, we continue by looking at the last Bills home win in the series against the New England Patriots.

The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots this Sunday in Orchard Park, and while the Bills haven't beaten the Patriots in their last 15 meetings, there was a time when Buffalo triumphed at home in September. The last Bills victory in the series came on September 7, 2003, when Buffalo opened their season with a resounding shutout victory over Tom Brady's Patriots.

Five days before the regular season was set to begin, the Patriots shockingly released long-time safety Lawyer Milloy. Milloy was a leader in the locker room, and his release was not met well by Patriots players. Tom Donahoe pounced, offering Milloy a contract that same day.

Ready to turn the tables on his former employer, Milloy signed with the Bills after some phone calls from former teammate Drew Bledsoe, and started Week 1 against his old team, emotional from the start. Milloy was with the team for three days, but forced an interception, sacked Bledsoe's replacement Tom Brady, and made five tackles. Bledsoe passed for 230 yards and a touchdown.

The Bills forced four interceptions of Brady, including a Sam Adams pick that the defensive tackle rumbled back 37 yards for a touchdown. It's tied for the most picks Brady has ever thrown in a game. Takeo Spikes had two of those interceptions after signing with the Bills in the off-season. Travis Henry scored twice, and former Bills runner Antowain Smith was stuffed at the goal line as time expired to preserve Buffalo's shutout.

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"Bledsoe passed for 230 yards and a touchdown."

How did he do that?

by theplagiarist on Sep 23, 2011 8:34 AM EDT reply actions

scratch that.

read it wrong :)

by theplagiarist on Sep 23, 2011 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions

years later, it's STILL sickening to be reminded bledsoe was a bill

by heff17 on Sep 23, 2011 8:51 AM EDT reply actions

why?

drew bledsoe was not only a great qb (who served the team admirably – even with a pro bowl appearance), but one hell of a great community member in buffalo. he was/is a great family man and represented this team with dignity and respect…i always loved drew bledsoe as a bill

by rjryan on Sep 23, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree RJ, he gets a raw deal for as good as he was, not only here but league wide.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

by HurricaneJay on Sep 23, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, but Drew didn't love it in Buffalo...

I used to like Bledsoe too. But I saw Bledsoe on TV last week. He was in the tv announcers booth at a Red Sox game. He talked about how he was “exiled” to Buffalo. He made it very clear that the Buffalo years were not the favorite part of his career.

by pioniere on Sep 23, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I was there for that one

It was awesome, it would seem like yesterday if not for the fact that the Bills haven’t won since. It was so loud when Sam rumbled, stumbled for the TD that your body shook. I say we do it again, it was fun!

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

by HurricaneJay on Sep 23, 2011 8:58 AM EDT reply actions

Since Schobel is no longer with us...

…it’s up to Kelsay to take his place and do this to Brady.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7nYIogZ8V0

by NordicBillsfan on Sep 23, 2011 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

I thought it was going to be the video of Schobel’s pick 6 from 2009. I’d rather see Kelsay (or Merriman, or Dareus, or Williams, or…) do that!

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Sep 23, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.nfl.com/videos/buffalo-bills/09000d5d812a17b6/WK-1-Can-t-Miss-Play-Schobel-INT-TD

Kelsay had a decent block on that play too while Schobel was returning it.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Sep 23, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I was at that game!

by rjryan on Sep 23, 2011 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

Actually -

That’s the last game I attended at the Ralph!

by T McGee on Sep 23, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I think I just found out why they stink for 8 years

Attend the game!

by RabidBuffalo on Sep 23, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

TKO

was a beast here! Miss him so much!

by Fernando brazil on Sep 23, 2011 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I remember watching that game at Jimmy’s Old Town Taven in Herndon, VA. Scott Norwood was in attendance at the bar that day. By far, that was the most fun I had watching a Bills game, with all the other Bills fans in attendance. I was literally exhausted from all the excitement during the game.

by steve b. on Sep 23, 2011 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

Sam Adams rumblin and stumblin is the play I remember most from any Bills Patriots game and I absolutely freaked out when it happened! What a great game to watch that was!

by billsfan26 on Sep 23, 2011 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

by panekattack on Sep 23, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

It seems like a century ago!

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

-- John Wooden

by Goose22 on Sep 23, 2011 2:52 PM EDT reply actions