Two Bills Drive

‘Sunday was one of those old-fashioned AFL shootouts, between two AFL originals, the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. And the Raiders had the last shot.’

‘Well, Bledsoe has been kicked out of only one NFL city. Gannon has been sent packing by four NFL teams, beginning with the Patriots, who drafted him in the fourth round in 1987 and got rid of him two weeks later. Gannon then played for Minnesota, Washington and Kansas City with such success that he didn’t suit up for almost two full seasons.’

‘Raiders tight end Roland Williams played his high school ball at East High in nearby Rochester and went on to star at Western New York’s Syracuse University. Williams only had one catch for 14 yards, but he led the team in two other categories. Tickets supplied: 50. Wings bought: Two huge cases of Buffalo chicken wings for the team’s drive bus ride to the airport.’

‘Drew Bledsoe’s passing statistics are spectacular ones. The defense’s weekly yields are not.’

‘Bledsoe and his offensive mates traded punch for punch with the Raiders’ Hall of Fame-caliber attack. But the Bills’ defense once again proved it is not ready for prime time.’

‘The Bills also are paying the price for playing two inexperienced players at safety with Wire and Prioleau. Both had coverage breakdowns that led to touchdowns.’

‘"I was just trying to read his eyes," Buchanon said. "I kind of read his eyes a little bit, and he kind of telegraphed it a little bit. You know, that’s Drew Bledsoe. He can put it just about anywhere. Maybe he saw something different. I don’t know. I was just trying to do my job."’

‘The Raiders piled up 495 yards. They had 10 plays of 20 yards or more. Five of their touchdown drives took 2:12 or less. Those weren’t drives. They were Olympic sprint relays.’

‘The Raiders are hurting, all right. They’re hurting every opponent that gets in their way.’

‘"It’s always tough to swallow when you lose," Price added. "When you feel you’ve played well enough to win, it’s even tougher."’

‘The teams combined for 974 yards and 80 points. They combined for 73 points after the first quarter. They had 512 yards before halftime. The over-under of 53 points was obliterated by the third quarter.’

‘As for history, the Raiders have never started 5-0 — but get that chance Sunday at shockingly winless St. Louis.’

‘Playing most of the time as the slot receiver against Bills safeties Pierson Prioleau and Coy Wire, a rookie, the deceptively strong, 6-foot-2 Porter surpassed his career highs for receptions (six) and yardage (62), set Sept. 15 against Pittsburgh.’

‘"They wanted to do a little roughhouse out there," Rice said. "I was taking shots from behind and to the head. I wanted to let them know I wasn’t going to take it."’

‘"It wasn’t easy out there," Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon said. "It comes down to a couple of plays. That’s how it is in a game like that."’