Two Bills Drive

The Green Bay Packers returned home from their 27-18 loss to the Buffalo Bills not knowing if they’ll ever see right tackle Earl Dotson on the field again. Such was the dramatic nature of Dotson’s departure on the second play from scrimmage. The 6-foot-4, 317-pound veteran had to be helped off the field because his ailing back locked up on him so badly.’

‘Sunday, Brett Favre didn’t look like a quarterback who was totally impaired by an aching right elbow or a re-injured right thumb. He looked like a quarterback who gave it everything he had but still could not keep his team from losing to a superior defensive crew, the Buffalo Bills. He looked, after the game, like a quarterback who was, in his own words, "physically exhausted and mentally exhausted."’

‘The Green Bay Packers basically ran two offenses Sunday. There was the one in which they did not get the ball to Antonio Freeman, and then there was the one in which Freeman actually got the ball. The second one was much better. It must have been much better because it was the only one that scored touchdowns.’

Johnson didn’t play a very vital role last week in the 16-13 win over Tennessee, but he was a key component yesterday. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns, and only because the Bills were playing a soft prevent defense in the final two minutes of the game was Favre able to finish with more passing yardage (25 of 35 for 269 yards and two TDs). "Rob’s a great quarterback and when he has time, he makes the throws," said wide receiver Eric Moulds, who was in a much better frame of mind after this game as he caught seven balls for 103 yards.’

‘Long-snappers lead a lonely life. They normally aren’t noticed unless they make a mistake. That’s why Ethan Albright was basking in the glow of the Buffalo Bills’ 27-18 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Ralph Wilson Stadium yesterday. In a young season where every special teams play is an adventure for Buffalo, Albright scooped up a fumbled Packers’ third-quarter punt and returned it 19 yards to the Green Bay 4. It set up a critical field goal. "It’s fun to contribute to the win," Albright said. "It’s fun to be talking to the media — and not after a bad snap."’

‘Yesterday, the seeds of Moulds’ discontent bore fruit. With 7 catches for 103 yards, he set the pace for a much-improved offensive outing in the Bills’ 27-18 victory over the Green Bay Packers. "The team voted me a captain and the way the offense played against Tennessee, I knew we could do better," said Moulds after his eighth career 100-yard game. "Instead of saying something to the media and lashing out against my teammates, I just walked off and decided not to say anything. I was very emotional and I didn’t want to say anything detrimental to the team. "I know people read it the wrong way. I wasn’t upset about not getting the ball, but rather with the offense (in general)."’

‘Bills LB Sam Cowart: He was all over the field. Whether it was against the run or against the pass, Cowart made plays from sideline to sideline. This, of course, is nothing new. Cowart is playing at a Pro Bowl level.’

‘"We had to run the football, they knew we had to run the football and we couldn’t pick up the first down," Phillips lamented. Four times in the last 11:45, the Bills offenders ran on to the field. Four times they failed to garner even one first down. The Antowain Smith era as the Bills’ marquee back seems over before it ever really started. The Bills said goodbye to Thurman Thomas, confident in the belief that the fourth-year player out of the University of Houston could become the workhorse. Smith, yesterday, rushed for 17 yards on 12 carries. That total included one run of 16 yards. "Everyone’s not on the same page yet," Smith said, referring to his offensive line. "We have too many busted assignments."’

‘Johnson emerged as the winner in a personal duel with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, and earned respect from the fickle fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium. After Johnson was thrown hard to the turf following a third-down incompletion, the Bills went on to recover the fumbled punt return. And when Johnson led the offence back on the field, the packed house of 72,722 cheered. "That was nice to hear," Johnson said. "It showed me that they cared when I went back in the game."’

‘"Yes, we tried to get Eric the football," Bills coach Wade Phillips said. "You could see why we tried to get him the football. Eric had a breakout game."’

‘Green Bay sacked Johnson five times, just as the Tennessee Titans had done last week, and also knocked the quarterback around at every opportunity. But Buffalo’s defence is as good as any in the National Football League and held the Packers and quarterback Brett Favre to below 300 yards of total offence. The Bills accomplished this despite losing four starters from last season to free agency. "We’re not like Jacksonville or Tampa Bay where we do a lot of blitzing. . . . That can take away from a lot of guys’ stats," Buffalo linebacker Sam Cowart said. "But if you do your job, you’ll be in a position to make plays."’

‘While the Bills defense held Favre in check, their offense finally warmed up. Tight end Jay Riemersma enjoyed his second career two-touchdown game, and Jeremy McDaniel scored his first career touchdown as the Bills opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 1996. Steve Christie hit 45- and 20-yard field goals, both set up by Green Bay fumbles.’

‘"We had another all-around effort and played well in a lot of areas," Buffalo coach Wade Phillips said. "Certainly well enough to win."’

‘"The defense played so well (surrendering only 172 yards and one touchdown to a good offense), they might have an opportunity for a letdown," said Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson of the victory over the Titans. "But on offense, we didn’t play that well … there’s no reason for a letdown."’

‘Ted Washington, their two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle, showed up at camp in the 330-pound range rather than 350-plus and seemed set to have a big season. But so did his protege and good friend, Pat Williams, the 312-pound, fourth-year pro. Williams, an undrafted free agent, has been a find. Despite his size, he has uncommon quickness and a non-stop motor that produced six sacks the past two seasons while playing in relief of Washington. Thus, during training camp, it occurred to Cottrell that it would be a novel twist to put Washington and Williams on the field at the same time. He did just that against Tennessee. And the result was that the Titans’ running game was stuffed, managing a mere 53 yards on 20 carries with feature back Eddie George held to only 37 yards on 17 attempts. “I feel like we’re unstoppable when we’re out there together,” said the ever-enthusiastic Williams. “First Ted was pounding on (Titans’ center Kevin Long), then I was pounding on him. And by the end of the game, he didn’t want to play any more … you could see it in his eyes.” And afterward, Long admitted the Titans never expected such an alignment.’