Archives for September 11, 2000

‘Bills fans spent the off-season moaning over the controversial lateral in the playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans and eulogizing the Buffalo careers of popular veterans Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed. The easiest way to forget the past is embrace the present, and Bills fans are doing just that. They’ve spent the past two weeks rejoicing the revenge of the Home Run Throwback with a win over the Titans and cheering on a bright crop of new young stars.’

‘Two areas where Buffalo needs to improve are the offensive line and the running game, which are also tied together. Johnson was sacked five times – though two were off blitzes that weren’t the line’s fault – and was hit on virtually every throw. And, on the ground, the Bills totaled a mere 89 yards (2.6 per carry) with feature back Antowain Smith held to an anemic 17 yards on a dozen attempts. "I was a little disappointed that we didn’t run the ball better," admitted Buffalo head coach Wade Phillips, "especially late in the game when we could have run out the clock." But while the line has to answer for the failings of the ground attack, the pressure on Johnson involves everyone. "I think it’s on all of us," said Riemersma. "You can point somewhat to the offensive line but by no means is it all their responsibility. "We have to take responsibility as an offensive unit – to get our hot reads, to get our blitz pickups – and make it one of our goals that Rob doesn’t get hit like that."’

‘Among there were quarterback Jack Kemp, wide receiver Elbert Dubenion, guard Billy Shaw, center Al Beimiller, defensive end Ron McDole, defensive backs Butch Byrd, Booker Edgerson and Hagood Clarke, tight end Ernie Warlick, running backs Wray Carlton and Ed Rutkowski and linebacker Mike Stratton.’

‘When asked if the Bills’ defense was better than he thought they would be, Favre slowly shook his head. "Yep," he said. "They’re big and fast. I couldn’t tell who’s who. I know they’re good, and I know their names. And I’m pooped out right now."’

‘Buffalo Bills quarterback Rob Johnson again took a pounding but threw three touchdown passes. The Buffalo defense was outstanding once more, and special teams finally made a big play. Those are just three reasons the Buffalo Bills are 2-0 today after Sunday’s 27-18 triumph over the Green Bay Packers before a sellout crowd of 72,722 in a hot (81 degrees) and steamy Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘It was far from a perfect performance for Johnson or the Bills. But a sellout crowd of 72,722 at The Ralph hardly could have asked for any more from their quarterback or their young team after two weeks of the NFL season. The Bills are 2-0. In their first game, they beat the odds-on favorite to win the AFC. In their second, Johnson outplayed the Packers’ three-time NFL Most Valuable Player. And in both games, the Bills’ defense – the unit that lost four starters from last year and was supposed to take a step backward – has looked even better than last season, when it led the league.’

‘Cowart is a major reason the Bills may have the premier defense in the NFL again. Yet you have to wonder if the rest of the country fully realizes how good he is. It’s hard to argue with Cottrell’s assertion that Cowart should have made the Pro Bowl last year after leading the Bills with 186 tackles. Cowart, one of the most humble players around, said it would be nice to earn a trip to Hawaii, "if people think I’m worthy." "But the decision is out of my hands," he said. "It’s up to the people who vote." It’s a pretty good bet that he has the Packers’ vote.’

‘"(If) you win a ball game like this, it kinda makes the aches and pains feel a little bit better. But when you lose, it feels like they’re twice as bad," Favre said, peering out from a blue baseball cap. "As frustrating as it is to lose a football game, any football game, I felt like I did everything I could do and left it out on the field. Sometimes it’s, I guess, not enough. I’m just hoping I don’t fall off this podium."’

‘On a day when he again was a second-degree assault victim, when his running game went south once more, and when Brett Favre accomplished something that eluded illustrious Packer quarterbacks from Arnie Herber to Bart Starr, Rob Johnson was the difference in the game as the Buffalo Bills got off to a 2-0 start. Johnson’s performance won’t be enshrined at the Buffalo Historical Society, but it was more than good enough to gouge a Green Bay defense handicapped by injuries and collaborate with the defensive unit for a victory that was close to being easy.’

‘John Fina, the son of a physician, earned numerous academic awards when he played football at Arizona. He majored in psychology and could talk for hours about the human mind. But sometimes, it all comes down to mathematics. "You know, when they have eight or nine guys on the line of scrimmage, you can only block six or seven of them," Fina said late Sunday afternoon. "That’s how the math works." Simple arithmetic also says the Bills beat the Packers, 27-18. It says they’re the only 2-0 team in the AFC East. Rob Johnson put some impressive numerals on the stat sheet, completing 18 of 26 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Still, Fina has a point. Despite putting 27 points on the board, the Bills had a serious math problem. For the second week in a row, they were outnumbered by the opposition blitzes. Football is essentially a game of blocking and tackling. Buffalo is doing just fine in the tackling department. It’s the blocking that leaves a lot to be desired.’

‘Eric Moulds should gripe more often. Moulds spent part of the past week voicing his displeasure about the Buffalo Bills’ offense and his role in it. But the fifth-year wide receiver let his hands and legs do the talking on Sunday. After catching just two passes for 46 yards against the Tennessee Titans last week, Moulds responded with seven receptions for 103 yards in the Bills’ 27-18 win over the Green Bay Packers at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Moulds made all kinds of catches, including a spectacular one-handed diving grab for 42 yards. He also made Green Bay defensive backs look silly with some dazzling runs after the catch. "We just wanted to get out there and make some plays," said Moulds, referring mostly to himself. "When I was asking for the ball, I’m challenging my teammates, I’m challenging myself and trying to get us ready to play. "You can see the explosiveness on this offense. You’ve got Peerless (Price), (tight end) Jay Riemersma and then Jeremy (McDaniel) coming into the ball game. All the guys are making plays. If you’ve got that type of skill people out there, you’ve got to give them the ball."’

‘Big Picture: For at least a day, the Buffalo Bills sit atop the AFC East standing after their 27-18 win over the Green Bay Packers. Since Indianapolis and Miami both lost, the Bills, at 2-0, are first in the division. The Jets (1-0), however, host New England (0-1) tonight. For the Packers, life’s a little more dismal. This is Green Bay’s first 0-2 start since 1992.’

‘The Packers bumbled and fumbled their way to their second straight defeat Sunday, losing to the Buffalo Bills 27-18 at Ralph Wilson Stadium at Buffalo. Green Bay lost three fumbles while starting the season 0-2 for the first time since 1992.’

‘You knew things had gotten pretty bad for the Green Bay Packers when the team chaplain got kicked out of the postgame team meeting.’

‘Sherman, the likable, detail-oriented first-year coach, wasn’t about to take a barrel over Niagara Falls just because his team lost. But he was more realist than optimist after this defeat. "I really thought we could come up here and I really thought we could win a football game, in spite of the fact that this is a great football team," Sherman said when asked in what direction he thought the Packers were headed now. "We had a great week of practice. I think we addressed issues during practice that needed to be addressed. But for whatever reason, we didn’t get it done up here today. We have to look and analyze that. I’m not happy being 0-2. We didn’t perform well enough at any phase."’