Two Bills Drive

‘"The fans in Pittsburgh were great to me," he said. "And they were great to my family. They always treated us with a lot of respect, and we’ll never forget that. But we’re Buffalo Bills (now). We live in this community. And that’s where our attention is."’

‘Cowher didn’t like being asked on Tuesday if this game had added meaning because of Donahoe. "No," the coach said, glaring at the inquisitor.’

‘After losing their first two games by a combined score of 66-32, after being outgained (856-625), outsacked (9-3) and outclassed, the Buffalo Bills have a more modest goal right now. Win one game.’

‘"I feel pretty confident right now. I’m not down and the team doesn’t feel down. We need that one win and we can get this thing rolling. We’ve got 14 games left. In college had we lost our first two games, maybe yes, you’d be down because you only play 11 or 12 games. We know how crucial losses are in college. But in the NFL, we might go on a streak and win 14 straight. Who is to say we won’t? We just need to stay confident, keep working hard, and it’s going to come."’

‘After losing two games to upper-echelon teams, the Bills will face a Pittsburgh club that, like it, isn’t going anywhere this season. The Steelers have not played in three weeks, so they’re either going to be rusty from the layoff or fresh and eager because of it. If the Steelers are fresh, the banged-up Bills must avoid falling behind early. If the Steelers are rusty, the Bills need to take control of the game.’

‘For the Bills offence to develop some consistency, it may have to come on the back of Henry, a second-round pick from the University of Tennessee. The sooner Henry hits his stride the better for the 0-2 Bills, starting with today’s meeting with the 0-1 Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The Bills are without middle linebacker Sam Cowart, their best defensive player. He’s done for the season with an injury. His backup, Brandon Spoon, is also out. They will start Kenyatta Wright, a second-year, undrafted player from Oklahoma State in the middle of their new, 4-3 defensive scheme. It should be a good place for Bettis to run.’

‘The offensive and defensive systems being employed by new Bills Coach Gregg Williams are still causing the players to think instead of react. However, he knows how to defense the Steelers because he did it when he was the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Cowher and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey will have to make quick adjustments once they determine how the Bills are going to try to stop them.’

‘Today, the two former associates, who together built one of the best teams in the AFC in the 1990s, send their teams against each other at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Donahoe is president and general manager of the home team, the Buffalo Bills. He won’t admit it, but he would like nothing better than to whip Cowher’s team. Cowher remains coach of the Steelers and holder of the keys to the Rooney kingdom through 2005, along with a salary that eventually will approach $3 million per year.’

‘Right about now the Bills are looking like a considerable underdog themselves, but that’s not about to bother Brown. "It’s football to me," he said of all the organization’s changes. "I go out and block and try to do my job. I have fond memories of the times that I spent with the former guys and I cherish them, but those guys are gone. I’m still here and I have to play games and try to win, so I don’t dwell on it. But there is a great history here and we are trying to build on that."’

‘Although it was over in a matter of moments, it hasn’t been forgotten more than a month later. On one hand it was only a practice, a training camp practice at that. On the other hand it was a profound example of just how dominant a cornerback Chad Scott can become when he puts his mind to it.’

‘Their opponents this week, the Buffalo Bills, have played as badly as everyone expected in their first two weeks, and, consequently, have generated very little buzz.’

‘Trips to Buffalo haven’t been easy on the Steelers, but this one figures to be easier than most. The weather should be passable and the opponent – minus Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith and the rest of those Super Bowl Bills that used to give the Steelers fits at Ralph Wilson Stadium – should be much more forgiving. Although road games are never a "gimmie," this is one road game a playoff team ought to be able to win.’

‘Analysts considered Casey Hampton to be something of a "reach" when he was drafted 19th in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers last April.’

‘The Bills’ most critical injury, however, may have been the torn Achilles tendon suffered by middle linebacker Sam Cowart in the opener. Cowart, who made the Pro Bowl after making 181 tackles in only 12 games last season, was expected to be the lynchpin for Williams’ new 4-3 defense. He was replaced last week by rookie Brandon Spoon on running downs and by Kenyatta Wright on passing downs. Spoon was injured in the game and will join Cowart on the sidelines today. "I’m not crying that he’s not playing," said Steelers running back Jerome Bettis. "I never wish injury on a player. I just hope he recovers 100 percent from it. But he’s one of those guys where you kind of give a sigh of relief when you hear he’s not playing."’