Two Bills Drive

“But there are some other guys on that team and some other people in that organization I [Thurman Thomas] will not speak to or shake hands with. Those guys and the organization as a whole, every time I get the ball, I’m going to try to stick it [to them] and let them know I haven’t forgotten what happened this offseason.”…he has particularly strong enmity for three defensive players. Defensive end Phil Hansen, linebacker John Holecek and safety Henry Jones.’

‘"There was one minute, three seconds left," tailback Edgerrin James recalled of the drive that began at the Colts’ 31. "That’s way too much time for us."’

‘But yesterday, under sublime conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium, in a game decided by just two points, 18-16 in favour of the Colts, Bills’ head coach Wade Phillips passed up a 46-yard Christie attempt as the third quarter wound down, choosing unsuccessfully to leave quarterback Rob Johnson in on fourth-and-six from the Colts 29. A confused Johnson looking desperately to the sidelines, finally lined up in the shotgun, fumbling with the play-call. The clock ran out. The Bills were backed up another five yards, making it potentially a 51-yard attempt, still within Christie’s range. Instead, Chris Mohr hoofed a 34-yard punt deep into the endzone. The 12th man was angry. Fans booed. The Colts took over on their own 20 and marched 80 yards in 4:31 for the go-ahead touchdown, a 10-yard pass from Peyton Manning to Terrence Wilkins. They added a disputed two-point conversion, challenged by the Bills. "It was in-between as far as a field goal goes," Phillips explained. "It was fourth and four (sic). I thought we’d go for it. There was still plenty of time. A touchdown would have put them away." Actually, Wade, it was fourth and six. "I told (special teams coach) Ronnie (Jones), I was ready to go," an obviously disappointed Christie said. "But it’s (Phillips) call."’

‘Leading 9-7, the Bills had marched the ball into Colts territory and facing a fourth down and six from the Colts 29, helmet on, Christie looked for the signal for what would have been a 46-yard field goal attempt. Instead, Bills coach Wade Phillips opted to go for a first down, an ill-fated decision that looked sicker when quarterback Rob Johnson let the play-clock expire resulting in a delay of game penalty to force a punt.

"I said ‘yes’ (to special teams coach Ronnie Jones to go for a field goal) and Ronnie looked at Wade and Wade said no," Christie said, shrugging his shoulders. "He said `We’re going for it.’ It’s his call. That’s why he’s the head coach, let’s leave it at that."’

‘Through three quarters, the Bills had hogged the ball for 29 minutes and 56 seconds leaving it to the Colts for just 15:04. "It was tough early, but we hung in there," said Manning, who keyed a last-minute drive to set up Mike Vanderjagt’s 45-yard field goal for a 18-16 win as time expired. "We made just enough plays to win the game."’

‘The Bills were the better team throughout most of the game, which was far more entertaining than the low score would suggest. They fell short in the most crucial area — finishing off drives. The only time they managed to find the end zone was when they absolutely needed to.’

‘Bills center Jerry Ostroski spoke as though he were ready to apologize to his defensive mates. "I feel bad," Ostroski said. "I don’t even want to look our defense in the eye. It’s a damn joke. Our defense held that team to 18 points. That’s the second week in a row that our defense played lights out."’

‘You guys (the media) cloud the issues all the time," Ostroski said. "All that matters is that we have more wins, that’s it. If you win in this league, you’re successful; if you don’t win, you’re not, you’re yesterday’s news. "Personally, I don’t give a damn about the running game. We didn’t run it a lick in the first two games and we won both. I felt a hell of a lot better after those two games than I do right now."’

‘”They made more plays than we did, it’s as simple as that,” free safety Keion Carpenter said. “You can say it’s a good day holding them to whatever points, but obviously it wasn’t enough. We lost.” The Bills’ won the numbers game, but the Colts won the game because of more big plays. They were 2-for-2 in the red zone (inside the 20), with Manning firing two touchdown passes.’

‘In order to win, teams have to score touchdowns, not field goals, in the Red Zone.’

‘Phillips eschewing the field goal in the third quarter might have been one of his most dubious decisions in his Bills’ tenure. The Bills were leading 9-7 and Christie — who had already made three field goals — would have had about a 47-yarder to make it 12-7. Maybe Christie would have missed, but maybe he would have made it and those three points could have been the difference.’

‘With time winding down and no room for error, the Manning-led offense turned preparation into production. It needed just seven plays and less than a minute to maneuver into position for Mike Vanderjagt’s 45-yard field goal as time expired.’

‘Really, this one should count double. Because it wasn’t enough for the Indianapolis Colts to beat the Buffalo Bills once Sunday. They had to do it twice. With 2 minutes to play, they had them beat. And when that was wiped away, they went out and beat them again in the final seconds.’

‘Vanderjagt meandered up to Jim Mora in the locker room and informed the Colts’ coach it would be a good idea for the team to kick into the wind in the third quarter. " . . . So in the fourth quarter when I kick a game-winner, we’ll have the wind," Vanderjagt said, retelling his brief dialogue with Mora. So, in the fourth quarter, with the wind at his back, Vanderjagt did precisely that. His 45-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Colts to an 18-16 victory over the Bills.’

‘Though the new wave of quarterbacks — led by Daunte Culpepper, Cade McNown, Donovan McNabb, Shaun King and Akili Smith — all are superior runners, none even approaches Manning as a quarterback. Even so, Manning has added a little mobility to his game. He’ll run when he must. Only then does he resemble a dinosaur.’