AFC East

Sporting News, The, Dec 20, 1999

This time, Pals' slump might well prove fatal

Every year, it seems, the Patriots overcome a midseason slump, rally down the stretch and make the playoffs. This year, though, there probably will be no such comeback.

With a chance to put themselves back in the AFC wild-card race last Sunday at Indianapolis, the Patriots shot themselves in the foot, dropping a 20-15 decision to the Colts and remaining in fourth place in the AFC East. On a day when the Dolphins and Bills left the playoff door ajar by losing in upsets, the Patriots failed to take advantage, missing a chance to move into a four-way tie with three games to play in the race for the final two wild-card spots.

The Patriots' funk is of their making. When plays are needed, they're making mistakes. They move the ball, but they don't score touchdowns. Against the Colts, they were in the red zone four times--and they settled for three field goals, including one after a first-and-goal at the 3. Defensively, they're playing well, but that's not good enough when your offense is averaging 14 points a game in its last five games.

Until the Colts game, the Patriots' season had a very familiar tone. For the third straight year under coach Pete Carroll, they started fast, winning their first four games and heading into their midseason off week with a 6-2 record.

Then came an unexpected home loss to Bill Parcells' Jets on Monday night in Week 10. The Jets came to Foxboro staggering at 2-6, but they left with a 24-17 victory. The Patriots have been reeling ever since.

The Patriots pulled out of midseason slumps each of the past two years and made the playoffs. But even if they manage to wind up in a tie with the Bills or Dolphins for a playoff spot this season, the Patriots' 2-5 record in the division would cost them any tiebreakers. --Kevin Mannix

Buffalo

8-5: T 2nd

Running game struggles when team needs it most

The Bills' high rushing ranking--they were third in the NFL entering Week 14 and are averaging 122 yards a game--continues to be one of the most deceiving stats in the NFL. The Bills have struggled all year to run consistently when they have needed to, a point illustrated near the two-minute warning in the 19-17 loss to the Giants. With two plays to get one yard and a first down that would have put the game away, the Bills were stuffed. The Giants then drove for the winning field goal. The main reason the ranking is deceptive is that QB Doug Flutie has added 407 yards to the rushing total, most of them coming on scrambles. The inconsistency is a result of a line that isn't overpowering and a less-than-optimum situation at running back. Antowain Smith has been affected by turf toe, and Jonathan Linton is still getting comfortable with his first real chance to play. If the team can't pound it out in the final three weeks--two will be cold-weather games--it might not make the playoffs.... If the Giants game was an indication, the loss of RT Robert Hicks may be tough to overcome. Marcus Spriggs started against the Giants, and the level of play dropped considerably. He couldn't handle Michael Strahan, and this week he will confront Arizona's Andre Wadsworth. Hicks' size (6-7, 338) and decent quickness give him an edge over most ends, but Spriggs weighs 25 pounds less and isn't as gifted athletically. Hicks (ankle) may not be back until the last game.

SCOUTING REPORT: NT Ted Washington has not been as dominant as he was two years ago, but he remains a force. His ability to clog the middle has been critical to the Bills' No. 2 ranking against the run. Teams have to use two blockers on him, and that frees ILBs John Holecek and Sam Cowart to flow to the ball. Despite the double-teams, Washington leads the team's linemen in tackles. He has great size and strength and uses them to overpower foes. He has surprising quickness for 360 pounds, but the downside to his bulk is that his stamina is questionable. He also isn't part of the dime defense because he doesn't generate much of a rush.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Giants unveiled a strategy that seemed to frustrate Flutie. New York DEs Strahan and Cedric Jones rushed upfield quickly, forcing Flutie to step up in the pocket and keeping him from getting outside, where he can be so dangerous. Bottled up inside, Flutie's passing lanes were cut down, and it was difficult for him to scramble. --Sal Maiorana

GRADING OUT vs. NY Giants

OFFENSE D

Running game struggled, especially at the end, and Flutie was off target.

DEFENSE C

NFL's No. 2 unit buckled at crucial times; missed tackles were a big issue.

SPECIAL TEAM C

Coverage units were very good, but Christie's two misses were killers.

COACHING D

Call to hammer the ball inside on late 4th-and-1 play was ill-conceived.

BILLS

PASSING        Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Flutie         411     221    53.8   2720   54t
Johnson          2       1    50.0    11     11

PASSING        TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Flutie         17    14    74.1     22
Johnson         0     0    66.7      1

RUSHING        Att.   Yds.    Avg.    TD

A. Smith       162     583    3.6      5
Linton         146     514    3.5      2
Flutie          74     399    5.4      1

RECEIVING      Att.   Yds.    Avg.    TD

Moulds          47     758    16.1     6
Reed            44     471    10.7     1
Linton          27     212    7.9      1

SCORING        XPM     XPA    FGM    FGA    Pts.

Christie        24      24     21     30     87

PUNTING        No.    Yds.    Avg.   Blk.

Mohr            62    2439    39.3     0

KO RETURNS     No.    Yds.    Avg.    TD

K. Williams     35     729    20.8     0

PUNT RETURNS   No.    Yds.    Avg.    TD

K. Williams     29     309    10.7     0