Two Bills Drive

‘This is as close as Testaverde, nothing but class all season, has come to saying he can accept the backup role and is leaning toward working out a deal to stay with the Jets next season. It will mean renegotiating a cut in salary for cap reasons, but Testaverde seems to understand that the Jets have found their quarterback of the present as well as future.’

‘Henry, who entered the game ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing with 874 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, was held to 83 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the Jets’ 31-13 victory at Giants Stadium. Henry broke off a 20-yard run in the third quarter, but the Jets held him in check for most of the game.’

‘”Anytime you hold the Bills to 13 points, that’s a good day, but even at that we felt we could’ve done better,” Cowart said of that crucial juncture. “We huddled up on the sideline and said, ‘Listen, man, do we want to be a great defense? We’ve got to go out and slam the door.'” Mission accomplished as Bledsoe was sacked by Mo Lewis and Sam Garnes, blitzing out of their “Mohawk” dime front, which features three down linemen. Bledsoe fumbled, with Josh Evans recovering at the Bills’ 48. One final three-and-out closed the deal.’

‘Had Pennington not gotten into the end zone, the deficit would have remained at 11 and the Bills, while taking over at their own 1, would have had the extra boost from a goal-line stand in their tanks. So it was an important decision by coach Herman Edwards, and an important play call by Hackett.’

‘The Jets were almost machine like, both offensively and defensively, in the way they subdued and dismantled Buffalo 31-13 before a sellout crowd at Giants Stadium yesterday.’

‘”Give New York credit — they played well, they executed well,” the coach said. “We obviously believe that we made too many mistakes. We had some opportunities, though, and we’ve got to capitalize on those when we’re down in there. We’ve got to do a better job at not turning the ball over and New York, they played well.”‘

‘After amassing a season-high 189 yards on the ground against the Detroit Lions last week, the Jets torched the Buffalo Bills’ 26th-ranked run defense for 155 yards in yesterday’s 31-13 triumph.’

‘The same team that had blown a 21-3 lead and lost to the Browns a month ago was now trifling with the Buffalo Bills, who can score points in a hurry.’

‘TURNING POINT: With the scored tied early in the second quarter, Bills cornerback Chris Watson flattened Jets kicker John Hall on a successful field-goal kick. The Jets, with new life and a first down, scored on their second try from the 1.’

‘”I think it’s just a reflection upon our team, the type of mentality we have right now,” Pennington said. “Whatever it takes to get the job done. Pretty, ugly, it doesn’t matter.”‘

‘The Jets didn’t laugh their way through their 31-13 win over Buffalo, though they dominated the Bills with one of their most complete games of the season.’

‘The Jets limited Bledsoe to 181 passing yards while sacking and intercepting him twice. “The key to football is not giving up the big plays,” said Jets cornerback Aaron Beasley, who made one instead.’

‘After watching Bills’ quarterback Drew Bledsoe repeatedly team up with receivers Peerless Price and Eric Moulds in the season-opener, the Jets shut the trio down yesterday.’

‘The Jets now appear to be the team that they – and many others – believed themselves to be coming out of training camp.’

‘People say the defense is better, but it didn’t change players. The offense did. It changed quarterbacks, and the Jets simply aren’t beating themselves as they did two months ago.’