Two Bills Drive

‘The Bengals outgained the Bills 371-228 yards and achieved the balance they like. They had 190 yards passing and 181 yards rushing, including an even 100 by second-year back Rudi Johnson. Johnson averaged 7.1 yards on 14 carries.’

‘Last season, the Bengals allowed an average of 19.3 points a game. The goal for 2002 is 14. The defense allowed 302 yards of offense a game. The goal is 280.’

‘While Bledsoe was in the game, though, the Bills’ first offensive unit looked sharp.’

”’I was pleased with the play of all of the quarterbacks,” LeBeau said. ”It was probably th e highlight of the game. All three of our quarterbacks exhibited poise and the ability to come back from some negative pl ays.”’

‘The reason Cincinnati trailed at halftime was because Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe outplayed all three of his Bengals counterparts. Although he threw an interception, Bledsoe was laser-sharp in completing 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards with two TDs. He found Eric Moulds from 31 yards and Peerless Price from 12 yards for scores.’

‘Bledsoe put on a dazzling show, completing 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns, including a 12-yard TD pass to former Meadowdale High School star Peerless Price, in 18 minutes as the Bills built a 17-7 lead.’

‘Jones entered the Bengals’ 24-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Cincinnati’s first offensive series of the second quarter. He played the remainder of the game. He committed another penalty in the second half, a 10-yarder for illegal hands to the face, but he didn’t allow a sack. And the Bengals rushed for 133 yards on 26 carries in the second half.’

That wasn’t Rob Johnson wearing No. 11 for the Buffalo Bills, and those weren’t boos coming from the stands on Friday night.

‘The Bills lost their preseason opener, 24-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night. But the significance was Bledsoe’s poised performance in his Buffalo debut.’

‘”I’ll be honest, I had a little pregame jitters going on,” Bledsoe said. “I was a little nervous, a little anxious. I was real excited to get out there and get a game under my belt.”‘

Quotes from Bledsoe, Gregg Williams, Mike Williams, London Fletcher, etc…

‘If you’d like to see the glass as half full, consider Bledsoe’s perfect opening drive and his 9-for-11, 136-yard, 2-touchdown evening. If you’re the glass-half-empty sort, you’ll dwell on that interception and the two sacks of Bledsoe, who can still be described as statuesque.’

QB Drew Bledsoe was 9-for-11 for 136 yards with two touchdown passes in his debut with the Buffalo Bills. His 31-yard TD pass to Eric Moulds just 3:34 after the opening kickoff put the Bills ahead, 7-0.

Billy Shaw, the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to play his entire career in the AFL (1960’s incarnation), was one of nearly sixty enshrinees on hand for the 2002 Enshrinement Celebration. He arrived in town and as he sat in the museum’s front office, it was the contents of his duffel bag that made his visit extra special. Many people have been in pursuit of those items ever since the former Buffalo Bills’ all-league guard was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999. Included in the bag were the only pieces from his playing days that he still owned. They included three Buffalo Bills jerseys, an AFL All-Star jersey, his helmet, and shoes.

‘Asked if Bledsoe’s presence gives the Bengals incentive to beat the Bills, Brown didn’t hesitate. "It would be in my mind," he said. "I don’t know if the players will think much one way or the other, but I don’t know if I’ll have forgotten."’