Bills, Patriots hold the line on penalties
The two least penalized teams in the NFL will be playing Sunday in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
New England has a chance to set the NFL record for the fewest penalties committed in a 16-game season.
The Patriots have been flagged for 55 accepted penalties. If they commit three or fewer against the Bills Sunday, they will break the mark of 59 set last season by Seattle. New England has 491 penalty yards.
The Bills are tied for the second fewest penalties at 68. Seattle and Atlanta also have 68. The Bills have the second fewest penalty yards — 518.
The Bills have been one of the most disciplined teams in the NFL in terms of penalties under coach Dick Jauron.
If the Bills have fewer than 10 penalties Sunday they will break the team record for fewest penalties, set last year (78).
The Bills committed 87 penalties in Jauron’s first year, 2006. Each of the previous six seasons, the Bills committed more than 100 penalties.
Barring a 21-penalty showing Sunday, Jauron’s three seasons will rank first, second and third in terms of fewest penalties by a Bills team in a 16- game season.
The Pats committed a season-high seven penalties last week against Arizona, but five came after the team had a 38-0 lead.
“I think the biggest thing is the players playing with good technique and discipline and making good decisions on the field,” said Pats coach Bill Belichick. “Our No. 1 focus is not individual or team records or statistics or anything, it’s winning the game. But the fewer mistakes you make, turnovers, penalties, negative plays, missed assignments and all that, the better chance you have of winning.”
•••
The weather forecast for Sunday calls for the chance of a wet day, with rain, temperatures in the 40s and high winds. Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was experimenting with wearing gloves in practice this week. His throws looked good. He did not use gloves in the dry, 17-degree weather in Denver last week.
“I’m expecting a little bit more of rain this weekend, so I might try and do that on Sunday,” Edwards said. “I was just practicing with it today. I like the feel of it, I get a better grip on the ball, and it comes out a little bit better for me. Who knows? it might be something I try on Sunday.”
Even though the Bills worked in the fieldhouse Wednesday and Thursday, Edwards has been going outside, both last week and this week, to throw in the wind and snow.
There was too much snow on the stadium field to work outside Wednesday. Jauron said the Bills were planning on practicing outside today.
•••
Running back Marshawn Lynch (shoulder) and linebacker Kawika Mitchell (knee) both were able to practice on a limited basis Thursday. They sat out completely on Wednesday. Not practicing Thursday were left tackle Jason Peters (knee), and receiver Roscoe Parrish (knee). Cornerback Jabari Greer (knee) was limited, as was linebacker Teddy Lehman (groin).
The Patriots were home last week, so they practiced on Tuesday and took Thursday off. Left tackle Matt Light (shoulder) and safety James Sanders (ribs) did practice some on Wednesday. Initially they had been reported as not practicing.
•••
Pats receiver Wes Welker leads the NFL with 109 catches. He needs four to break the team record of 112 he set last year. He had nine catches in the first meeting with the Bills.
•••
Lee Evans needs five catches to pass Bobby Chandler’s 295 total and move into sixth on the team’s career list. . . Rian Lindell is three field goals shy of Steve Christie’s single-season record of 33, set in 1998.
•••
The Bills are seeking snow shovelers to work shifts that run 7 a. m. to 3:30 p. m. and 3:30 p. m. to midnight today and Saturday. Interested participants must be at least 16 years old and must bring two forms of identification. Pay is $10 per hour. Participants should enter the stadium grounds from Lot D off of Abbott Road and then proceed to Gate 7. For information call 818-1425.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments