Two Bills Drive

‘The football gods are finally smiling on the Jets after spending a year showering them with enough misfortune to last a decade. Maybe it’s payback for taking quarterback Vinny Testaverde away from them less than two quarters into last season and striking down several more players with injuries. Maybe it’s payback for taking Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Keyshawn Johnson away from them in one fell swoop last off-season. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because the Jets haven’t had much to cheer about since their 1969 Super Bowl victory.’

‘Keyshawn Johnson last night said Jets head coach Al Groh need not extend his hand to him to exchange pleasantries because he won’t shake it and he said comparing Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet to him is like comparing a flashlight to a star. Also, Johnson said he has nothing against quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who said in the aftermath of the trade that Curtis Martin, not Johnson, was the most valuable player on the team.’

‘The Jets were still toweling themselves dry from their postgame showers yesterday after defeating the Bills, 27-14, at Giants Stadium when their attention was already turning toward their next game this Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Need we tell you? That’s when the 3-0 Jets will go at it with their former Pro Bowl wide receiver, Keyshawn Johnson, and the undefeated Buccaneers.’

‘That’s not to say the Jets are headed to the Super Bowl by virtue of this 27-14 verdict over the Bills, or that Groh will one day match Parcells with two championship rings to his credit. But this was the most impressive victory for Groh’s team to date, against by far the best team it has faced. And his Jets have responded to Groh at every turn. All this with quarterback Vinny Testaverde yet to play worth a damn.’

‘Finally, Marcus Coleman, a defensive player since his days at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, lined up as a wide receiver. He then ran through the Bills defense and into the back of the end zone, making a leaping catch that gave the Jets a 21-14 halftime lead and completely changed their fortunes.’

‘One huge block sprung him past the 15-yard line, a hard stiff arm carried him across the 30. Kevin Williams crossed midfield, made a quick move to his left and then followed rookie linebacker John Abraham into the end zone.’

‘The Jets’ running game managed 91 yards and one touchdown on 36 carries yesterday. Buffalo, with a defensive line anchored by nose tackle Ted Washington (6-5, 330 pounds), entered the game yielding just 46.5 yards rushing per game. "We just tried to run it at them," Jets tackle Jason Fabini said. "It was tough going, but we got the yards when we needed them."’

‘They are 3-0 for the first time since Weeb Ewbank coached Gang Green in 1966. They are in sole possession of first place in the division earlier than any season since 1987. And after vanquishing the Bills (2-1), they take a full head of steam into a matchup with the unbeaten Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their loquacious former teammate, Keyshawn Johnson.’

‘Vinny Testaverde had one minor criticism of Marcus Coleman as an offensive player. "Marcus came running on the field a little late," Testaverde said. Yeah, but his timing was perfect after that.’

‘"I’m not going to get caught up in whatever he says or doesn’t say," Testaverde said as he left the locker room following the Jets’ 27-14 triumph over Buffalo on Sunday. "I’m not worried about proving points to anybody outside of here."’

‘Goat: Chris Watson’s first punt return fumble was swatted out of his grasp from behind by Hayes and recovered by Bernie Parmalee at midfield with 13:05 to play. He muffed the second that Hayes recovered at the Bills’ 26 with 4:35 left to set up John Hall’s final field goal.’

‘Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills have a bye week to dwell on everything they did wrong Sunday, especially a terrible performance on special teams. Kevin Williams returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and cornerback Marcus Coleman’s first career reception was good for a Hail Mary score to close the first half as the Jets downed the Bills 27-14 to gain sole possession of first place in the AFC East.’

‘A lot of players had their gripes about the way things were being approached. But it’s paying off. "Coach Groh has set a course, and the ship has sailed, and we’re heading in a good direction." For a change, the ship isn’t beginning to sink before the turning of the autumn leaves.’

‘Because the Bills were down for so long throughout the late ’60s, much of the ’70s and a good part of the ’80s there is the perception that the Bills were never truly born until the Jim Kelly era began in 1986. For long-time observers that is certainly not the case and many can just as easily recite the names of those AFL championship teams as they could the Bills Super Bowl squads.’

‘But finally, what really sealed the deal for the Bills were turnovers. If the game was markedly closer than the score might indicate, the Bills destroyed themselves by committing three turnovers in the game’s final 15 minutes.’