Monday, September 14, 2009

PATRIOTS-BILLS PREVIEW


And you thought waiting for the 2008 season was hard. Brady's back, and the '09 campaign starts tonight. And with throwback jerseys, too.



The Bills haven't beaten the Pats since that 31-0 shellacking in Week 1 of the 2003 season. That was the Lawyer Milloy game, in case you forgot. That's 11 straight Patriot wins in this series. And with #12 back, the Pats will get win #12.

No Richard Seymour for this game, and the adjustments will be tough to make. But the Bills are also missing a key piece, RB Marshawn Lynch is serving a suspension. The Patriots will miss Seymour the most in the run-stopping game, but without Lynch, the Bills will be running without cleats on.



The Bills added Terrell Owens, who will be underutilized because QB Trent Edwards will frequently be occupied with some very serious meetings with the ground. Randall Gene Moss is still the Real #81.



The Bills will be able to get a big play here and there, and might be capable of driving the ball down the field on occasion. They'll score 13 to 17 points. But it won't be nearly enough. The Patriots' passing offense will shine in the 1st half, and the multi-back running game will help drain the clock in the 2nd.

Prediction:
Patriots 38, Bills 17

Sources:
Pro-Football-Reference.com
ESPN.com

PEDRO IMPROVES TO 5-0


Pedro Martinez stunned the Mets as the Phillies swept a doubleheader from their NL East rivals. He pitched 8 shutout innings, scattering 6 hits, striking out 7, and throwing 130 pitches. He hasn't thrown that many pitches in a game since Game 1 of the 2003 ALDS against the Athletics.

In 7 starts for the Phillies, Pedro is 5-0 with a 2.87 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and a 1.09 WHIP. He's only walked 6 batters.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Matt Slocum