‘Technically, Sunday’s game between Seattle and Buffalo is the Bills ninth regular season contest of 2001. In reality, it marks the start of the 2002 preseason. Playoff hopes disappeared for all but the most optimistic in late September. The primary goal for the rest of the season — building a functional offense around Rob Johnson, making a decision possible on whether the quarterback is worthy of the contract restructuring and extension that salary capenomics mandate — crashed to the turf at Foxboro Stadium last Sunday afternoon.’