Two Bills Drive

‘For the most part, their 21 days away from NFL competition was barely noticeable as they did what they had to do to dispatch the injury-ravaged and subsequently hapless Buffalo Bills.’

‘The Bills, depleted by injuries coming into the game, lost six more players, including LT Kris Farris for the season and four others are likely to miss more playing time. Owner Ralph Wilson and GM Tom Donahoe had a brief chat about the situation after the game. "Mr. Wilson just told me he’s never seen anything like it in his 41 years in this league and going back to the old AFL," Donahoe said. "But it’s part of the game, and we’ve got to overcome it. We played a good team today, and you’ve got to take your hats off to the Steelers. They deserved to win."’

‘Beating the beat-up Bills, who barely pass for an NFL team, is nothing to brag about.’

‘"The catches I did get were key," said Ward, who averaged 13.3 yards per catch in his first three seasons with the Steelers but averaged 8.8 yards yesterday. "They kept the chains going."’

‘"Us being off for 21 days had something to do with it, but they added gas to the fire," Flowers said. "We came out to stretch, and they were still doing their kicking drills. That was total disrespect. And there were things said in the paper (by the Bills) about, ‘The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming in, we should win this game.’ We were just (ticked) off, man. We played very physical, we played very mad. "I think (defensive backs coach) Willie Robinson said it best, ‘Play (ticked) off the whole game.’ That’s what we did."’

‘TURNING POINT: Steelers coach Bill Cowher gambles and allows Kris Brown to attempt a 52-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the game and the Steelers nursing a 10-3 lead. A miss would have given the Bills the football only 58 yards from the tying touchdown. When Brown was successful, though, it ended all Buffalo hope. At that point, the Bills’ anemic offense needed two scores.’

‘He was taught, he told us, that when he has nothing good to say about something, he says nothing at all.’

‘They sounded much more resigned than encouraged, which isn’t a good sign. "Hopefully, we’ll get better," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said of a passing game that netted all of 100 yards in a 20-3 victory over the Bills on Sunday.’

‘The Bills lost offensive left tackle Kris Farris, a former Steelers player, to a gruesome broken leg in the first quarter. The injury occurred when running back Travis Henry fell into Farris, who had his back turned and his leg planted on the artificial turf while he was blocking Bell. Farris, whose leg crumpled from the impact, had season-ending surgery last night in which doctors inserted a rod to stablize the limb. He also missed his entire rookie season with the Steelers in 1999 with a foot injury.’

‘Cornerback Dewayne Washington did what the Pittsburgh Steelers offense had trouble doing — scoring a touchdown. It was enough to beat the struggling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.’

‘He was to have surgery Sunday night and could be out for the season.’

‘Jerome Bettis added 114 yards rushing for the Steelers (1-1), who suffocated Rob Johnson and the Buffalo offense en route to their first win of the season.’

‘Play by agonizing play.’

Cornerback Dewayne Washington did what the Pittsburgh Steelers offense had trouble doing — scoring a touchdown. It was enough to beat the struggling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.’

‘The Steelers are a notch below the caliber of the Bills’ first two opponents – New Orleans and Indianapolis – so there is a legitimate opportunity for the Bills to rebound from their 0-2 start before a flag-waving, sellout crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But the Bills’ new offense, which is still trying to find its bearings, enters the game hobbling, and the Steelers’ defense is better than a lot of people realize.’