Two Bills Drive

‘The Bears are paying Thomas Smith big bucks to stop the opponent’s top receiver, something the veteran cornerback failed to do in Sunday’s 20-3 loss to Buffalo.’

‘With Rob Johnson breathing down his neck, Doug Flutie staked another claim to being the Buffalo Bills’ starting quarterback.’

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‘"The Buffalo Bills organization has supported us. When we were crumbled with grief they were there to pick us up and wrap their arms around us and remember Bob," [Jan] Kalsu McLaughlin said.’

‘The Buffalo Bills’ defense has excelled at making offenses one-dimensional this season. Today it faces an opponent that is used to being one-dimensional.’

‘The 350-pound, 32-year-old Washington has rebounded from what was a down year by his standards in 1999. He’s on pace for 109 tackles, his best total since ’97, and an impressive figure given the fact he is spelled by his backup, Williams, roughly 12 to 15 plays a game.’

‘Behind the polyester jumpsuit, sunglasses, sideburns and guitar of maybe the most distinctive fan in Ralph Wilson Stadium during the Buffalo Bills season can be found a 38-year-old Lockport salesman.’

‘Outlook: The Bills desperately need a win today, because the schedule the next month is a bear. . . . Bills, 24-17.’

‘"If Rob’s in there, I catch passes. If Doug’s in there I catch passes. If they put (backup tight end) Bobby Collins at quarterback and he can throw it … let’s get it done."’

‘What happens next, and what it means to the Bills, is anybody’s guess. But it can’t be good for the overall psyche of a team trying to work its way back into the AFC East race.’

‘In Jauron’s two seasons as their coach, the Bears are 1-6 after victories.’

‘Q — Didn’t the Bills expect to be better than 5-4? A — They lost Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Kurt Schulz and Thomas Smith all at the same time, so they suspected there might be a transition period. They lost consecutive games to the Jets, Colts and Dolphins but believe they have righted the ship.’

‘Allen had 16 carries for 85 yards in a victory last week against the Colts, one of three teams in the NFL (along with the Ravens and Bills) that have not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. The Bears haven’t had a 100-yard rusher in 26 games.’

‘"It’s a very good stadium for the home team, very loud, great fans, some of the greatest fans in football. They get to tailgate before the game, eat, drink and be merry. By the time they get into the game, they’re excited, they really are. They’re very exciting fans, and they really create a 12th man in the stadium."’

‘"That’s our motivation (for the Bills). It’s not that we beat a team that was just all right; like if we beat them we were supposed to beat them. We weren’t supposed to beat them at all, by people’s outlook, but we did. We go out and we beat Buffalo, and that’s two weeks in a row we beat somebody we weren’t supposed to beat."’