Exactly four minutes and 35 seconds remain in the third quarter Sunday and finally something

has grabbed my attention during the Bills-Patriots game. Unfortunately, it wasn't the Bills or

the Patriots. It was news that actress Brittany Murphy died of an apparent heart attack at age

32.

Murphy was a star in "Clueless" and "8 Mile." She was young, successful, beautiful. When

you hear someone with so much talent dying so suddenly, it never makes sense. Then again, you

never know what's happening behind the scenes with these Hollywood types. What a shame.

Let me take a moment to bring you back to the game, where Bills quarterback Ryan

Fitzpatrick has just connected with Lee Evans for an 8-yard gain on second-and-12 from the

Buffalo 43. The Bills are trailing, 17-3, but inside Pats' territory. If they put together a

scoring drive, stop the Pats and score another TD, this puppy is tied.

It's time to pay attention.

Wait, who am I kidding?

We're talking Bills and Patriots here, not the Bills and the Browns. OK, bad example, but

you get the picture. The Bills aren't scoring two touchdowns against the Patriots in a game

that matters to Bill Belichick. Anyway, Buffalo was outscored, 112-70, in the fourth quarter

going into the game.

Did Murphy have children? As a father of four, it really hits home when people die young.

Bengals receiver Chris Henry was no saint, but he had three little ones and a fiancee when he

died last week. No matter what you think of Henry, that was a real-life tragedy. This is a

football game. Well, sort of.

Fitzpatrick just threw a bad pass to rookie Shawn Nelson. Incomplete. Fitzpatrick follows

with a brutal toss behind Fred Jackson. Incomplete. Finally, the Bills have someone on the

field who is worth the price of admission. Brian Moorman is punting. He's been their most

effective player for, what, almost a decade now?

Zzzzzzzz. Wake me up when it's over. I feel bad for anyone who paid for this game and Bills

fans who are 20 years old and younger. They don't know that feeling that sweeps across

town when the Bills are in contention. After all, Buffalo hasn't won a playoff game since

1995.

The Patriots aren't doing anything, either, but they come with subplots. They were

vulnerable after losing two straight and playing poorly in a win over Carolina. Receiver Randy

Moss tanked against the Panthers and was called a quitter. He showed up today, and that's what

really matters. Why?

Moss plays on my fantasy team, the Buck Buchanans. Terrible drafting and worse decisions

killed my playoff chances. It's funny how fantasy sometimes runs parallel with reality. But it

doesn't stifle my anticipation in the fourth quarter when Tom Brady goes deep ... down the

sideline ... for Moss ... incomplete.

Murphy was born in Atlanta. One of her first roles was on "Murphy Brown." What a

coincidence. She was a spokesmodel for Jordache Jeans and was named to FHM's 10 Sexiest List

and Maxim's Hot 100. Did she have a history of cardiac problems or is there something more?

Trent Edwards is under center. The Bills had high hopes for him, but he appears headed for

the same fate as J.P. Losman. Edwards is sacked on the first play. Shocker. Edwards complete

to Nelson for minus-1. Another shocker. Edwards throws behind Josh Reed. Incomplete. Edwards

sacked and shaken up. Need I say more?

Fitzpatrick is back. He connects with Reed on a great catch and run. I was just telling

Mark Gaughan before the game how Reed deserves credit for navigating the potholes and finding

a way to stay in the NFL after dropped passes plagued him early in his career. Reed is open

inside the 5 on fourth-and-9 with 3:48 remaining. He drops the pass.

Where did everybody go? An optimist would say The Ralph was half-full, but to me it looks

half-empty. Start your e-mails.

The Patriots go three-and-out before Fitzpatrick finds Reed with a 17-yard pass play. Lee

Evans kept his feet in bounds, beating Brandon Meriweather (strange spelling) for a TD,

bringing the Bills within 17-10. This is just another tease . . unless ... unless they recover

the onside kick and score in the final three minutes.

Buffalo pounces on the kick, but wait. Rookie Aaron Maybin was flagged for being offside on

the kickoff. They kick it away. Wes Welker has two hands on the ball, unlike Leodis McKelvin

in the last meeting, when he's tackled. Third-and-6 for the Pats just before the two-minute

warning. Still time for the Bills. Brady to Welker for 8. Ballgame.

It's time to run downstairs for postgame enlightenment from The Hoody.

"This week is this week," Belichick said. "Next week is next week."

Gripping.

I never saw "Clueless" or "8 Mile." Sounds like a plan for the next two Sundays.