Two Bills Drive

Indianapolis (minus 4) at Buffalo

Rob Johnson is relatively healthy – he’s only suffering from foot, ankle, elbow and shoulder injuries. Clearly this is an upset in the making.

BILLS, 27-24 (ATS: BILLS)

The Buffalo Bills may be counting on Mother Nature to slow down the Indianapolis Colts when the AFC rivals meet at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday.

Buffalo is traditionally one of the NFL’s tougher places to play as the season progresses due to the weather. The Bills should hope for some unfavorable conditions Sunday because they have unable to slow down the Colts recently.

Q: I saw the list of nominees for the Hall of Fame and I was shocked that former Bills center Kent Hull was not on the list. He was the keystone to great Bills teams of the early ’90s and was just as influential to their offensive success. Does anyone honestly think Jim Kelly and Thomas would have been as successful if it weren’t for Hull anchoring the line? — Christina Barrett, Concord, N.H.

MORT — Christina, this is a really good observation. I believe Hull is worthy of HoF consideration. However, those interior lineman usually don’t get nominated until a little later. That doesn’t make it right, just the way it is. Or this could be a classic oversight that needs correction by next year.

‘"I didn’t think playing in the NFL would be easy," said Schobel, who had a school-record 31 sacks at Texas Christian University. "But it’s been a little tougher than I expected. This is a different level and you can’t just run by people here. I’ve got to understand some things and adjust to things I haven’t done in the past. We’re striving to get better each week."’

‘The Monday Quarterback Club plans to honor Tasker and Hull during its luncheon meeting Monday at 11:30 a.m. in HSBC Arena’s Harbour Club Restaurant. There also will be a special salute to the 1961 Bills team, which will be represented by LaVerne Torczon and Tom O’Connell.

Hull, Torczon and O’Connell will also make an appearance at the Bills Alumni Booth in the "Bills Experience" inside the team’s field house Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.’

‘"I don’t think people understand that you don’t call the plays and you don’t sit back there and throw the ball," Price said. "It’s a big misunderstanding when it come to receivers. It also has to do with the company you keep. I’ve got Eric Moulds on the other side and he’s always going to be the go-to guy."’

‘The Bills rank second-to-last in the NFL in yards allowed per first-down play at 6.34. Only winless Detroit is worse at 6.63.’

‘It is the first Bills blackout this season and only the third in the last 21 home games. But four of the last five Bills home games could be blacked out because of lagging ticket sales.’

‘There is one primary, overriding reason that the Indianapolis Colts work so hard on their play-action passing game and call upon it so frequently. It works.’

‘Do I make anything of the Colts’ past problems at Ralph Wilson Stadium? How about the forecast, which includes rain, with a 20 percent chance of a plague of locusts? It doesn’t matter. So here goes: Heads it’s Colts. Tails it’s Buffalo. Tails it is. (Yes, Phil Luckett, it’s tails.) Make mine Buffalo.’

‘James has done some running and cutting under the supervision of the trainers. His status for the game at Buffalo might not be determined until Sunday. If James is unable to play, undrafted rookie Dominic Rhodes will make his first NFL start.’

‘Buffalo Bills first-year coach Gregg Williams is a stickler for details, so much so that when he interviewed for the position he now holds he came armed with a long list of potential assistants he might hire. It went 10 deep at every position.’

‘"They’re hurt by what happened because we’ve instilled some great pride in our players," Smith said. "And I think you’ll see everybody react in a positive manner."’

Guess what? Rob Johnson is winning back fans in Buffalo. Really, he is. What was once regarded as foolish plays in which he risk his body for injury is now being regarded as courage.

Edgerrin James says he will play despite a knee injury but you have to wonder if he will be at his 100-yard self on the turf in cold Orchard Park. This is dangerous game against the Colts, who have a big home game against the Dolphins next week.

How much will Edgerrin James’ questionable status affect the Colts’ offense?

James, who has a sprained knee, is obviously one of the NFL’s finest backs. But rookie Rhodes, who came in for James, looked pretty fresh and hit the holes hard. The Colts do such a good job of distributing the football that I don’t think James’ injury hurts them as much as it would most teams. The Colts have so many weapons. It’s like St. Louis; the Rams lost Marshall Faulk, and Trung Canidate stepped in.