2011 Buffalo Bills: Losing Streak To New England Patriots Snapped
by MattRichWarren on Jan 13, 2012 9:36 AM EST
in Buffalo Bills Opinion
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The 2011 Buffalo Bills will be remembered as a team that had a hot start and completely collapsed in the second half of the year to miss the playoffs. They will also be remembered as the team that mercifully overcame Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to end a 15-game losing streak to the New England Patriots.
When Buffalo fell down 21-0 in the second quarter of the Week 3 contest, many Bills fans were of the "here we go again" mindset. Who can blame them? (Take a look at our game thread to see where Bills fans were headed.) But a Stevie Johnson touchdown catch and Rian Lindell field goal, aided by a huge Bryan Scott interception deep in Bills territory, clawed Buffalo back to 21-10 at the half.
After the half, Scott Chandler caught a touchdown pass and the Bills defense held the Patriots to a field goal in the red zone during the third quarter. The stage was set for Buffalo's second straight fourth-quarter comeback in two weeks. A Fred Jackson touchdown run evened the score at 24.
On the next series, the Ralph lit up when Drayton Florence took another Tom Brady interception, one of four on the day for the future Hall of Famer, back for a touchdown to give Buffalo the 31-24 lead. The image would grace that week's regional cover of Sports Illustrated putting a current member of the Bills front and center for the first time since 2003. Ironically, that cover shot of Sam Adams also came on an interception return touchdown against Tom Brady and the Patriots.
The Patriots were able to tie the score back up later in the fourth quarter but a long Fred Jackson run to the Patriots one yard line allowed the Bills to run out the clock and kick the game-winning field goal as time expired, ending eight years of fan frustration.
While the Bills toyed with our emotions this season, they got one monkey off their back in 2011.
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Hope to see more of this in 2012. (Assuming the Mayans were misconstrued).
.
When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.
by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 13, 2012 9:40 AM EST reply actions
This is how it will happen..
They’ll be in first place in the AFC East, went 5-1 in the division (some fluke loss to the dolphins, who are 2-12 at this time), 11-3 overall, about to make the playoffs for the first time since ‘99, and the Mayans will have been right, and we won’t ever see our Bills in the playoffs again.
Trample the weak, hurdle the dead!
by fansince83 on Jan 13, 2012 9:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
On the plus side...
1st Place Forever!
Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
Citi Field loves the mets so much it smothers them. -the caveman
by WhyBillsWhy on Jan 13, 2012 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Only reason I think the mayans will be right to keep buffalo out of the playoffs.
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Jan 13, 2012 12:57 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’ll be severely disappointed in myself if the Mayans and Nostradamus were right, and I wasted time working.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Haha
This made me laugh
The fans are going to be so loud they are going to hear us in the next Dimension - abayarde
by BillsFanSanDiego619 on Jan 13, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
Who needs money when there’s a timetable on the end of the world, right?
Want a Ferrari? Debt collectors won’t be after you until long after we’d all disappeared.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
Life was much better for a brief few weeks in September….until we all crashed back down to earth.
by BuffaloRepresent on Jan 13, 2012 9:40 AM EST reply actions
Our win streak against them didn’t last long though.
I’ve been to a lot of Bills games, and I can’t think of a better one than beating the Patriots. The Ralph was going bonkers.
Ron Paul 2012
by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 13, 2012 9:41 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Right on the win. Then the loss felt like one of the worst. I still think that prime time game in 2007 when the Pats demolished the Bills is their worst home game. The Pats were so far ahead (I think 28 points) that Cassel came in. He threw an INT, and maybe pick-6, and suddenly Brady was back in the game. That ticked me off.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
Yep, I was at that one too. Kevin Everett gave a statement on the jumbotron. The only plus was that Imade it almost to halftime with my sign that read:
kNock
Brady
unConscious.
Ron Paul 2012
by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 13, 2012 11:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Except the “NBC” was in line on my sign
Ron Paul 2012
by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 13, 2012 11:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I didn’t attend the game, thankfully. I watched it unfold on TV.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
That was such a fun game to watch.
Especially on the heals of an 18 point comback vs Oakland the week before.
Ahhh we were riding high back in September…
I hate that I love Buffalo.
This was the #1 best highlight of the 2011 season...
Although the KC game and Washington games were blow-outs and the Raiders game was a great come from behind win… The team didn’t show me anything until they could finally beat the Patsy’s.
The ugly winless streak since 2003 against them is finally over. Ironically that year the 31-0 drubbing was handed right back to us by them the last game of the year… we all konw what happened since. Then this year we were down 21-0 early and won, then of course the same happened to us… I just hope history doesn’t some how repeat itself for the next 9 years. Maybe we’ll dominate them for the next 9 years!
The Bills may dominate them once Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are no longer part of the team.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
At the time
A number of posters said a victory over NE would make the season a complete success. Anyone still feel that way?
I do
Slug free since '10-'11
Fitz's Beard has superpowers in it
by dEnnistheMenace88 on Jan 13, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
We were very healthy then
still minus a Roscoe Parrish and Marcus Easley. Plus an unproven #2 WR. Still we needed some breaks that we normally don’t get, but yea on any given sunday we can play with anyone. It is a step.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
Complete success for me would have been beating them twice, then losing every other game to land the QB in the draft that we all want.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
Not complete success
There were many that said it would make us respectful again. I was the guy that said that if we beat them, I’d be happy for the rest of the season. I am. Beating the pats was one of the signs of how I interpret the “five year plan” as becoming a reality. Next up, Playoffs! Thanks for the Post! Maybe we should have friday morning “Why we Billieve posts” throughout the offseason? ;)
"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi
by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Jan 13, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
Sadly
It was our only divisional win of the season. We did have a winning record at home which is a significant accomplishment, but the real monkey on our back is our divisional record. Build this team to win your division, if you can’t find that glamored franchise QB, then build a defense that can compete against a franchise QB. Stevie Johnson will be an important sign as is DeMetrice Bell, but bringing in a pass rush that can daze and confuse offenses will trump those signings.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
You
could run this exact story everyday and I would read it and still have a smile thinking about the interceptions by Wilson and Florence. Nobody forgets Sam Adams running in the end zone. No one will forget Florence’s TD 10 years from now either.
Oh man, i loved this game. My sister and I went to the game and were sitting next to some pats fans. During the last drive they walked past and said good gane guys, you got a FG for the win. When there was 2 mins left! I was shocked they actually didnt think they could get the ball back and win! Oh and the one fan sitting behind us that would say Gronk could catch all those passes and tds cause hes from Buffalo.
by polar2292 on Jan 13, 2012 10:33 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Spider Man?!
I love the random fan in the photo. Never noticed that in the photo before.
I remember commenting on it the next day thinking it was awesome.
by MattRichWarren on Jan 13, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe it was Talley.
"Go check on the ribs!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 13, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Went to a bar to watch it...
…here in Madison WI. When they went down 21-0 I thought, if this gets any worse I’ll head home. Then it was 21-10 and I just had to stay. Great game, a blast. I was so happy for them. I had my Fitz jersey on and other folks in the bar – who were all there for other games – gradually started watching the Bills as the game grew closer and more exciting at the end. Highliight of the season. GO BILLS!!!
We were at Beef O Brady's in Fla.
Of course it was loaded with Pats fans with just a handful of us Bills fans. Over the last 10+ years no matter where we watched the game we’ve had to endure the smug arrogant attitude of the Pats fans not to mention the snide smart ass comments. The way the game started it looked like another long afternoon. But low and behold the Bills roared back and we were finally rewarded with the Pats fans whining as they left instead of us!
The victory was the highlight of the season and brought back memories of finally ending the 20 game losing streak to the Phins…
.
How come I always get blamed for everything I do ?
Dennis the Menace
Try LIVING in New England
It’s friggin’ unbearable.
Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
Citi Field loves the mets so much it smothers them. -the caveman
by WhyBillsWhy on Jan 13, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
When the brady retires and the pats fade back into mediocrity they will lose so many bandwsgon fans its not crazy. Bandwagon fans seem to behave the worst.
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Jan 13, 2012 12:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Correction
Its crazy
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Jan 13, 2012 12:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Agree
Bandwagon fans seem to behave the worst.
They seem to rise from the ashes and love to talk smack and disappear into a black hole once their team hits the skids!
Years back it use to be fun to travel to other stadiums and watch the Bills play. It would be a good time sitting amongst opposing fans an have some good banter. Those fans have now been replaced by the loudmouths who take following their teams to the extreme and feel because they purchased a ticket they have a right to start trouble.
.
How come I always get blamed for everything I do ?
Dennis the Menace
I loved re-reading the gamethread. Its awesome.
The game was fantastic. Patriotsfriend ate crow with lots of hot sauce while watching the game with me. It was exquisite because he talked huge, arrogant, smug trash the whole game until the 4th quarter started. Then, he realized what was going to happen and just started bitching about how the Refs gave us the game.
Really?
Anyway, I’m not a big Denver fan, and I still think Tebow sucks as an NFL QB, but you know who I’m rooting for Saturday night!
DIE PATS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.
by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 13, 2012 3:34 PM EST reply actions
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