Patriots have memory to feel sorry about
FOXBOROUGH -- Do not bring up last season. Patriots coach Bill Belichick despises talk of the past, except when it helps him prepare his team for the upcoming week.
This is one of those occasions.
"The last time we went to Buffalo, we got beat, 31-0," Belichick said about last season's opener. Asked whether that was all he needed to inspire his team, he said, "What else is there? I would like to go out there this year and not get beat, 31-0."
The mantra has spread like wildfire heading into Sunday's visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium. Quarterback Tom Brady echoed Belichick's statements, as did the team's other vocal leaders.
The only element of the loss they failed to mention was one of the primary reasons the team played so horribly: the impact of releasing Lawyer Milloy the previous week.
"I don't think that there were many good plays out there," Brady said. "From the quarterback position, I threw four picks. We couldn't get in on any goal-line situations. We didn't score a point. We were shut out for the first time in 10 or 12 years. It was just embarrassing. We played terribly. I played terribly and I still remember that game."
It's been a week of buildup to this game. Nobody really expects the Patriots to lose except for a few hopeful Bills fans. Still, Brady tried to explain why losing a game like last year's was so crummy and why the Patriots can't prepare the way they did for that loss.
"You say that you are going to get off to a great start and you go 0-1 and you throw four picks, your confidence takes a big hit," he said. "There is a bad taste in our mouth from that game. We want to go out and try to play certainly much better than we did last year, but even better than we did [these] last two weeks."
Brady agreed that the Patriots dwell on bad games because they provide correctable mistakes.
"That is part of the reason why the team has been successful, because we are always trying to get better, even if you win a game," Brady said. "We won two games the last two weeks, but we haven't played very well. If we play the way we did against the Cardinals then we will get beat by Buffalo," Brady said.
Brady was also wondering about his team. Wondering what the bye week did for it. Wondering if it can correct the mistakes made in two victories. "Being that it is only the third game of the year, I really don't know what this team is all about," he said. "Hopefully we used last week to our advantage and got a little rest. Hopefully guys come back a little healthier and a little more fresh. I will probably know more on Sunday how we react to it. Hopefully we react well."
Brady also reminded that being 2-0 or 0-2 isn't very telling. "A few years ago we were 0-2 like [Buffalo] and we had the Colts coming into our stadium and they were 2-0, and we beat them [44-13]," he said. "It really makes no difference. We know if we don't play well, we will get our butts kicked. Obviously that is not what we intend to happen. We are going out and will try to play well against a very good Buffalo team."
Brady's buddy Milloy will not be on the field after breaking his right forearm in the preseason, but the quarterback figures Milloy will inspire the Bills nonetheless.
"We know what he brings to the table. He brings a lot of heart, a lot of energy, and a lot of emotion. He is a tremendous player," said Brady. "He has a great attitude. I think he adds a lot to that defense. I'm sure they are glad to have him. He is a tough guy to play against. Every time I play him, I'm sure it is going to be the same way." The Patriots have been told to beware of the Bills' defense. Beware of Willis McGahee.
Respect the game. Respect the opponent.
Brady and the Patriots must execute the game plan Sunday. But even before that, they must execute the mantra.
