Two Bills Drive

‘A virtuoso running performance by O.J. Simpson led Buffalo to a startlingly easy 30-21 victory over Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. In what many observers called Simpson’s best day ever, the Juice ran around and through the vaunted Steeler defense for 227 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown jaunt in the third quarter that put Buffalo on top 23-0.’

‘Maddox was twice named the Associated Press Player of the Year for North Carolina and was a consensus choice as the nation’s best high school running back his senior year.’

‘Bills, 17-13.’

‘The Bills-Eagles game this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is sold out and will be televised locally.’

‘"Right now Burns will take the snaps. We’re going to continue to go on the fact that Travis will be ready to go. Joe Burns will take the significant share of snaps. We have a practice squad guy, (Ken) Simonton, that’s done well with us. He’ll take some snaps too in practice. But Joe will take the bulk of the snaps."’

‘"Joe Burns came in and played well for us last week when Travis (Henry) was out. Injuries are a part of this game. That’s the way it is. If a guy goes down then the next guy has to step up and play for us. It’s unfortunate that that’s part of life and this game. If you’re going to continue to win in this league you have to have guys step up when injuries happen. Every team that goes through a season is going to deal with some injuries. The teams that are able to deal with those missing players the best are the teams that ultimately win most consistently."’

‘The other injured Eagles – cornerback Bobby Taylor, defensive end Jerome McDougle and safety Brian Dawkins – won’t play Sunday. Taylor’s out with a foot injury, McDougle with an ankle and Dawkins with a foot.’

‘From East Rutherford to Irving, Texas, from his first season as an NFL starting quarterback until now, this has been the mark of Donovan McNabb: It didn’t bother him. Every time he had to, every time the Eagles needed him, he reaffirmed his resiliency. They need him now more than ever, one more time.’

‘We’ll start by defining big plays as turnovers, sacks, offensive plays or punt returns of 20 yards more or kick returns of 40 yards or more. Through two games, the Eagles have seven. Their opponents have 24. Which says it all.’

‘"I’m licking my chops to go after any team, not just Buffalo," said Buckhalter, who has just one rushing attempt this season. "Whatever team I am facing up against every week, I am licking my chops to get the ball and run at them."’

‘”I play football because I love the game. I try to prepare to be the best at what I do. I never let anything put me off-course from what my goals are. I never let anybody tell me what I can’t do. Boos are just minor (distractions), it’s a motivation process that everyone goes through as an athlete and the way to overcome it is to go out and execute.”‘

‘"I love running between the tackles," Burns said. "I love power football. That’s what drives me. I love contact. I want to go and hit it in there and try to get what I can."’

‘Bledsoe will come back and play well again. But Sunday was sadly reminiscent of his second-half swoon of 2002.’

‘Last year, the Eagles ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and second in points allowed. They were ninth against the run and seventh against the pass. This year, the Eagles defense played pretty well in the 17-0 loss to Tampa Bay. It yielded 255 passing yards to Tom Brady in a 31-10 loss to New England in Week Two.’

‘So the Bills play the AFC South this year and again in 2006. They face the NFC East this year and again in 2007.’