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Pre-Season  August 9, 2003

Bills 20
Baltimore 19

Attendance:  68,550


BALTIMORE (AP) -- Here's a twist: The Buffalo Bills talking excitedly about defense and special teams in the wake of a narrow victory. 

Scoring Summary
1 2 3 4 F
Bills 7 3 3 7 20
Baltimore 7 0 0 12 19

First Quarter
BAL  TD, JAMAL LEWIS 1 YARD RUN (MATT STOVER KICK), 7:59.

BUF  TD, OLANDIS GARY 1 YARD RUN (RIAN LINDELL KICK), 11:54.

Second Quarter
BUF  FG, RIAN LINDELL 34 YARD, 9:49. 

Third Quarter
BUF  FG, RIAN LINDELL 25 YARD, 12:05.

Fourth Quarter
BAL  TD, DAMEON HUNTER 1 YARD RUN (PAT FAILED), 7:08).

BUF  TD, ANTONIO BROWN 87 YARD PUNT RETURN (RIAN LINDELL KICK), 11:41.

BAL  TD, RANDY HYMES 26 YARD PASS FROM KYLE BOLLER (2-POINT CONVERSION FAILED), 14:37.

Antonio Brown returned a punt 87 yards for the decisive touchdown with 3:19 left, and Nate Clements intercepted Chris Redman's pass to set up a score in a 20-19 preseason victory Saturday night.

"We came out and did some key things we wanted to do -- three-and-outs and turnovers," Clements said.

The Bills ranked 27th in points allowed last year and were dead last in takeaways, two big reasons why they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs despite averaging 24 points per game.

Newcomer Takeo Spikes had three tackles for a retooled defense that forced three turnovers and limited the Ravens to one touchdown through the first three quarters.

"They did a good job of getting turnovers, making stops," Buffalo coach Gregg Williams said.

Brown, a rookie wide receiver, blew past the Ravens' punt return coverage and cruised down the left sideline to make it 20-13.

"It was nice to see Brown take the punt and make a big play," Williams said. "On our special teams, we've been lacking that for a while. That was fun to see."

Ravens first-round pick Kyle Boller responded with a 26-yard touchdown throw to Randy Hymes with 23 seconds left, but the two-point conversion pass failed.

Redman, Boller and veteran Anthony Wright all struggled in their quest to make an impression on Baltimore coach Brian Billick, who has declared the duel for the starting quarterback job to be an open competition.

Redman played the first quarter, guiding the Ravens to one touchdown and four first downs in four possessions. He went 5-for-8 for 55 yards and one interception -- an excellent play by Clements, who stripped the ball from Marcus Robinson at the Baltimore 14.

"The interception was not Chris' fault. I thought he was fairly efficient," Billick said at halftime.

Redman was replaced by Wright, who went 7-for-11 for 75 yards and one interception.

Boller played the entire second half, completing 10 of 21 passes for 124 yards in his professional debut.

"The speed of the game is incredible," Boller said. "You have a million things that you're thinking about. Toward the end I got a little more comfortable out there."

Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe went 4-for-8 for 27 yards before leaving early in the second quarter. Half his completions went to Eric Moulds.

"Well, I felt like we were sloppy," Bledsoe said. "Thankfully, our defense stepped up, turned the ball over for us and gave us a chance to score on the short field."

The Bills didn't make a first down until late in the first quarter, but tied it at 7 when Olandis Gary scored from the 1 after Clements' interception.

Rian Lindell's field goal from 34 yards put Buffalo up 10-7 with 5:11 left in the second quarter.

Bills backup Travis Brown went 9-for-21 and directed a 65-yard drive that led to a 25-yard field goal by Lindell for a 13-7 lead with 2:55 left in the third quarter.

Baltimore tied it with 7:52 remaining on a 1-yard run by Dameon Hunter. The play came after a partially blocked punt and a deflected completion from Boller to Ron Johnson for 21 yards to the 3.

Backup kicker Dan Nystrom missed the conversion.

Ravens wide receiver Frank Sanders dislocated two toes on his right foot on the game's fifth play and did not return, but the injury was not serious.

Baltimore tight end Trent Smith broke his leg after being tackled on a 39-yard completion from Boller.

 

 

Game Breakdown
BUF BAL
FIRST DOWNS
3RD-DOWN EFFICIENCY
TOTAL NET YARDS
   Total Plays

   Average gain
NET YARDS RUSHING
   Rushes
   Average Per Rush

NET YARDS PASSING
   Pass Completion
   Yards per pass
   Times Sacked
   Yards Lost To Sacks
   Had Intercepted

PUNTS
     Average Punt

PENALTIES
   Penalty Yards

FUMBLES
   Fumbles Lost

TIME OF POSSESSION
12
4-16
214
62
3.5
72
28
2.6
142
15-31
4.2
3
14
0
10
37.3
10
80
0
0
31:50
17
5-14
300
67
4.5
71
24
3.0
229
22-40
5.3
3
25
2
9
43.1
5
27
1
1
28:10
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Buffalo Rushing
Joe Burns 12-34, Charles Johnson 1-3, Olandis Gary 7-17, Sammy Morris 2-17, Ken Simonton 3-1, De'Mond Parker 2-1, Jason Johnson 1-(-1).

Baltimore Rushing
Chester Taylor 8-30, Demeon Hunter 3-3, Jamal Lewis 6-15, Kyle Boller 3-11, Marc Lester 1-11, Ryan Brewer 3-1.

Buffalo Receiving
Clarence Coleman 5-89, Mark Campbell 1-6, Brady McDonnell 1-6, Sammy Morris 1-5, Joe Burns 3-18, Eric Moulds 2-16, Rodney Wright 2-16.

Baltimore Receiving
Ryan Brewer 1-9, Randy Hymes 3-72, Milton Wynn 1-7, Frank Sanders 1-5, John Jones 1-4, Trent Smith 1-39, Terry Jones 3-38, Ron Johnson 4-31, Marc Lester 2-17, Marcus Robinson 1-13, Chester Taylor 2-11, Travis Taylor 1-10, Dameon Hunter 1-(-2).

Buffalo Passing
Drew Bledsoe 4-8-27-0-0, Travis Brown 9-21-83-0-0, Alex Van Pelt 2-2-46-0-0.

Baltimore Passing
Chris Redman 5-8-55-0-1, Kyle Boller 10-21-124-1-0, Anthony Wright 7-11-75-0-1.

Missed Field Goals

BAL - Matt Stover (1).


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