Two Bills Drive

‘No one is claiming all the potholes seem repaired off one early-August exhibition game. There are no prophecies about a repeat as No. 1. But judging from some promising cameo appearances, the Bills still bear the look of a top 10 defense, which isn’t bad for starters.’

‘The 228-pound back looked nearly unstoppable in a 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the preseason opener before 37,282 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium. "The biggest thing is I’m healthy again," Smith said. "You couldn’t ask for a better start. Last year, I was slow out of the gates with a groin injury. That slowed me down. Then came the toe. "It feels good to get off to a positive start and see what we have looking forward to with this team out there."’

‘Bryson wasn’t even supposed to play Friday. He hurt his knee at practice earlier in the week and was expected to be held out of the game. "I was particularly happy for Shawn Bryson," Bills coach Wade Phillips said. "All year he’s been waiting. "He came to me the other day after he got banged up and said, "I want to play.’ I said, "I’m not going to play you unless you’re well.’ We worked him out before the game and he was well. "It took him a little while to get the feel, but you could see what he can do, especially in the open field."’

‘Warrick caught two balls for 31 yards in his first pro contest but looked overmatched at times by Bills cornerback Ken Irvin’s constant jams at the line of scrimmage. Still, Warrick was out there playing, doing what he loves to do even though he is as infamous for his off-field exploits as he is famous for his on-field excellence.’

‘Coach Wade Phillips, normally reserved in his responses, was decidedly enthusiastic afterward. "Obviously, we’ve got a lot of things to work on, but I saw a lot of good things out there," he said. "We had a lot of young players who made some plays … all the way down to the end of the ballgame. We had some individuals who played real well for us," Phillips continued, "We have some exciting young players and I think that points toward our future. Our draft choices made some big plays for us."

Buffalo Bills insider, Mike Doser, recaps the Bills’ victory over the Bengals last night in Orchard Park.

Catch some of the game day action in the Shout/TBD photo gallery.

‘The Bengals didn’t tear it up on the ground in their exhibition opener, running 40 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. But the four guys angling to replace the malcontented Dillon – who seems more adamant than ever to sit out through the 11th game of the regular season – put on a pretty good audition against one of the best defenses in the AFC.’

‘Johnson is the starter now. Flutie, when he returns from a severe groin injury a month into the season – as Dennis Miller would say, aren’t groin injuries always severe? – will be on the bench. He will be ready to come in, as good a change-of-pace artist as there is in the NFL. He will get another chance to do his thing, as backup NFL quarterbacks always seem to do. He may even take the Bills back to the playoffs, and spark another controversy for another day. Until Flutie is healthy again, the pressure on Johnson is immeasurably less.’

‘And while there were several less memorable sequences for the Bills quarterbacks, there doesn’t appear to be any need for injured quarterback Doug Flutie, who started the first 15 games of the 1999 season for the Bills, to hurry his return.’

‘When it was over, Buffalo was on the positive side of a 21-20 score as Erik Flowers preserved the win by blocking Doug Pelfrey’s 29-yard field goal on the final play of the game, but that, of course, really didn’t matter. This was a game Bills coach Wade Phillips said he was going to use for individual player evaluations, and he’ll have plenty to evaluate in film sessions over the next two days.’

‘When the Bills selected Tennessee State wide receiver Avion Black in the fourth round of last April’s NFL draft, the scouts raved about his sprinter’s speed. They weren’t exaggerating. Black turned a five-yard catch into an electrifying 34-yard touchdown play at the end of the first half, giving the Bills a 14-10 lead over the Cincinnati Bengals in last night’s preseason opener at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The defense may have been ranked first in yards allowed last season, but it ranked almost at the bottom in takeaways with 21. Nothing last night indicated the Bills have suddenly become pirate-like.’

‘"We put ’em every which way but loose, but they won on the scoreboard," coach Bruce Coslet said. "We’ll take the positives out of, and, boy, we’ve got to learn from some of the boo-boos we made."’

‘Rookie linebacker Corey Moore blocked Doug Pelfrey’s 29-yard field goal attempt with no time on the clock, and the Buffalo Bills hung on for a 21-20 victory in both teams’ preseason opener.’