Two Bills Drive

‘Tonight, with their playoff hopes flickering in the cold night air and AFC East rival Buffalo in town, the Colts can speak to ABC’s national audience. Their on-field oratory, though, may fall on deaf ears when it comes to earning a postseason berth.’

‘In order for the Colts to make the playoffs, the following things have to happen, in this precise order: The Colts have to win every game. Everybody else has to lose every game.’

‘Last season, nothing seemed to knock them out of sync. If they fell behind, they would rally. If they got the lead, they would put opponents away. Not any more.’

‘Phillips’ country-boy manner makes him an easy target. His responses

to media queries sometimes meander around the point and sometimes miss it

altogether.’

‘"I think Wade has done a very good job," Wilson said this week. "He made the playoffs the first two years he was head coach. I think maybe for some people, if you don’t make the playoffs every year, then you fire the coach. Hah. Well, I don’t feel that way. I think he’s done a very good job, particularly with all the players we lost in the offseason."’

‘It just so happens that Flutie never has had a single beer in his life. And Johnson never has had a chicken wing. Not one.’

‘Colts 34, Bills 17.’

‘Many view this as Johnson’s golden opportunity to show a nation of sports fan why there was a quarterback controversy in Buffalo to begin with. Why he deserved to start over folk hero Doug Flutie.’

‘Vanderjagt would embrace Pro Bowl recognition, but for a third consecutive year he is bracing himself for also-ran status. He was snubbed the past two seasons despite being more accurate than the players selected — Miami’s Olindo Mare in 1999, Elam in ’98.’

‘"He’s a speed rusher around the end, but he’s good against the run as well."’

‘As a result, Monday night’s game means a little more to the winner

than the loser. But not much.’

‘…the Indianapolis Colts were the choice of many prognosticators to repeat as AFC East Division champions and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. So much for predictions.’

‘Smith’s replacement, Marcellus Wiley, the shining light of the Bills locker room, has been every bit as productive a player as he is a quote machine for the media.’

‘So, when the Colts play AFC East rival Buffalo in the RCA Dome on ABC’s Monday Night Football, Belser will be on hand to hit from the secondary. It will mark the 100th consecutive start of his nine-year career.’

‘If last weekend was a baptism of fire for many Bills youngsters filling in for five injured starters, the challenge doesn’t get any easier.’