Two Bills Drive

‘"I can’t imagine they’d run,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. ”I think they’re going to stay with the vertical passing game. They want to go deep. I think they would like to run the ball better. We’ll see if they can, but I think their philosophy is to get the ball deep.”’

‘Sunday’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills is a huge deal for the Eagles. And following suit of previous years, the pressure will default to McNabb, who’s never had the luxury of a big-time supporting cast. That’s part of the reason he’s so highly regarded. Such is Donovan’s double-edged sword of success — the good news is that he did it without anybody else before, the bad news is that … he did it without anybody else before.’

‘Williams said Henry’s status for Sunday will be a game-time decision. The coach said Henry won’t wear a flak jacket if he does play.’

‘"Joe is a conscientious guy that has grown up a lot from his rookie year," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said Wednesday at his press conference. "We’re asking him to do a lot but we expect him to step in and do it. I know that if he is called upon to carry that load, he can come in and do it."’

‘But Henry still has a feeling that his show won’t be running in Buffalo after this season. He walks up to his friends on the team, like Moulds, and asks, "Do you think I’ll be here?" His agent, Greg Johnson, told him he should be prepared to be traded. It’s easy to see how Henry would be a tasty piece of bait next off-season. He’s a potential two-time 1,000-yard back with an ’04 base salary of only $750,000. One GM thinks Buffalo can easily fetch a first-rounder for Henry.’

‘Though the Buffalo Bills remain optimistic that running back Travis Henry will be able to play in this Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the actual prospects are getting a bit dimmer.’

‘The Jack Daniel’s Mega Bus will be at Ralph Wilson Stadium this Sunday in search of Buffalo’s top tailgaters. Jack Daniel’s Mater Distiller, Jimmy Bedford, will be part of that search team. Bedford agrees Buffalo has the best football fans. Winning tailgate teams will be awarded a trophy and will be qualified for a trip to the Jack Daniel’s Ultimate Tailgate Party in Houston on January 29-February 1.’

‘In June, McNabb married his Syracuse sweetheart, Raquel Nurse, a former basketball player for the Orangemen. Somehow, some folks are implying, this is all her fault. That’s what they said about Pete Sampras before he won the 2002 U.S. Open.’

‘The Bills have limited the opposition to 17 or fewer points in six straight games.’

‘Police in Hamburg say the suspects made off with 500 dollars worth of Bills jerseys taken from the Dick’s sporting goods store.’

‘Assessing Sunday’s game in Buffalo (2-1), one senior member of the Eagles organization said, "It’s a playoff game. A one-game season. Going 0-3 is not an option."’

‘But the team remains without three key starters — defensive end Brandon Whiting, safety Brian Dawkins and cornerback Bobby Taylor. Reid said Dawkins is officially out for the game, and Taylor and top pick Jerome McDougle, sidelined since the preseason finale, "most likely will not play" and that it will be a "stretch" for Whiting to play.’

‘The Bills rank sixth in the NFL in pass defense but only 23rd in rush defense, mainly because Williams ran 42 times for 153 yards last week, when the Dolphins beat the Bills, 17-7, in Miami. Williams had twice as many carries in that game as all of the Eagles’ backs have in two games.’

‘"Eric Moulds is in a class by himself," Johnson said, "He’s one of the best receivers we’ll face this year, no question about it. When he goes up for the ball, most of the time he comes down with it. The other guys are very productive guys. They’re not in Moulds’ class, but they’re good receivers. Moulds is an exceptional receiver."’

‘"Shoot, I think I’m ready right now," an optimistic McGahee said. "But it’s not up to me. I’m just working hard, taking mental reps and doing what I can do right now until they let me turn it loose."’