Two Bills Drive

‘"Teams are playing Cover Two," running back Travis Henry explained Monday, referring to the zone defense that gets its name from the fact that it employs two safeties in the deep zone. "It’s hard to get them matched up one-on-one. We’re going to have to get the short passes. We just have to be solid on offense. We can’t make any mistakes because teams are figuring us out. We have to execute on offense."’

‘The owner, Ralph Wilson, is not inclined to fire him. Neither is Donahoe, the general manager. Williams was his choice. It would be an admission that he’d hired the best interviewer, not the best coach. But if the Bills go into full meltdown – if they finish 6-10 or even run the table in reverse and go 5-11 – what choice would there be?’

‘ “Any game you lose you’re frustrated. You get upset. But I don’t think our confidence in each other as teammates has changed. We know we have talent and good players, but we have to start getting the job done.”‘

‘I know you never bought into this team as a playoff contender, and I have to admit — grudgingly — that you were right. But five wins in the first eight games was a sign to me that this team is moving in the right direction. They’re in a slump now, but you can’t convince me that they’re not going to win another game.’

‘When do the Bills cut their ties with CB Chris Watson?’

‘Despite that, the Raiders are the only team besides the Dolphins that controls its destiny. If the Raiders win their remaining five games, they would have the No. 1 seed in the AFC because they would have beaten the Dolphins, Denver and San Diego and would have a better conference record than Indianapolis.’

‘Buffalo is part proud, part loud and largely paradox. You spot a deer too beautiful to believe on a highway near the airport. Then fans sling garbage against the windows of your team bus going into Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘Randy McMichael’s days as a dancing tight end might be over as quickly as they started.’

‘In successive wins over Baltimore and San Diego, they held Lewis to 47 yards on 17 carries and, Sunday, limited Tomlinson to 45 yards on 14 rushes.’

‘"When Jay’s ready to play and do everything, he’ll be the starter," Wannstedt said. "I have no idea when that’s going to be."’

‘The dark cloud following Lucas recently has disappeared. He has helped the Dolphins to two straight victories and has 94 attempts without an interception. "Same guy physically," Coach Dave Wannstedt said. "Different guy mentally."’

‘In the past two games, Miami has 10 sacks and forced three turnovers while holding opponents to 130 yards rushing.’

‘Holding Eric Moulds and Peerless Price to 8-73 was key to the win.’

‘In losing three straight, the Bills (5-6) have combined for just three offensive touchdowns, while averaging 311 yards of offense over that stretch including a season-low 258 net yards in Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the New York Jets. That’s a dramatic drop from the 3.7 touchdowns and more than 405 yards of offense Buffalo averaged in its first six games.’

‘The Dolphins play at Buffalo on Sunday, meaning Ray Lucas will get another shot at the Bills — who forced him into six turnovers in his first start last month. But after committing nine turnovers in his first three starts, Lucas has played consecutive games without one.’