Two Bills Drive

‘And make no mistake, Bledsoe was bad Sunday. It was obscured by the halfback option and the sorry running game, but he was awful. In fact, it might have been the worst game of his 11-year career. Bledsoe was 10 of 25 for 98 yards, no TDs, and two interceptions. It was the fewest yards he’s ever had in a game in which he threw at least 18 passes.’

‘Add in the three interceptions by struggling quarterback Donovan McNabb, and the Eagles have eight turnovers in two games. That’s one-third as many turnovers as the 24 the Eagles had in each of the last two seasons when they advanced to the NFC championship game.’

‘Bills running back Travis Henry is hurting and questionable for Sunday’s game. Questions persist regarding the toughness of the Bills’ offensive line. Coaches are being interrogated about their play-calling, and with the loss in Miami, Buffalo lost sole possession of the AFC East lead. This all qualifies as motivation for the Bills. No team wants to lose two straight. And no one should be more motivated than Bledsoe, one week after aiding his team’s demise.’

‘Yesterday, it was offensive coordinator Brad Childress’ turn to explain why the team’s three top running backs have carried the ball just 21 times for 65 yards in two games.’

‘No longer is Buffalo dismissed as the NFL’s Siberia, a place shunned by big-ticket free agents who, all things being equal, would prefer relocating to a Sun Belt city where they can work on their tans and golf games even during winter. The chance to win makes for a wonderful overcoat, and Bledsoe (who came from New England via trade) aside, many of the Bills’ more valuable pickups are playmakers on defense.’

‘You need him back as soon as possible to help save a season that already is hovering on the edge of a cliff. Then you read those comments from his agent. Comments, by the way, that Taylor did not bother to dispute.’

‘Bills 24, Eagles 20.’

‘”We’re trying to pick that up right now,” said safety Clinton Hart, who will start again in Brian Dawkins’ spot Sunday, as Dawkins recovers from a Lisfranc foot sprain. “We’ve been out there in practice hyping things a little bit more. After big plays, we have to start relishing those moments, and getting other guys hyped up.”’

‘It clearly isn’t Andy Reid’s first choice. But for people who paint him as stubborn and unyielding about this stuff, you really haven’t been paying attention. When it isn’t working the other way, Reid will run – and last year proved it.’

‘”Dirk’s proved that he can punt in the NFL, under high-pressure situations,” Harbaugh said. “When your job’s on the line – David Akers talked about this his first year here, he felt like in some ways he was being evaluated every week for 16 weeks; he was just waiting to see if he was still on the team on Tuesday. I’m sure Dirk feels that way. But Dirk has punted great. He’s proved he can do it.”‘

‘”In a no-wind situation, perfectly calm conditions, I say David can go 60, 65 yards,” Eagles special-teams coach John Harbaugh said. “If the wind is at his back, I’m not sure he can’t go farther. He’s capable of breaking the record for sure.”‘

‘McNabb was poor the first two games. He completed 37-of-82 passes (45.1 percent) for 334 yards with three interceptions, two fumbles and no touchdown passes in losses to Tampa Bay (17-0) and New England (31-10). His 41.4 rating is the lowest in the NFL. He is the only starting quarterback who has yet to throw a touchdown pass.’

‘This week, Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe must think he can do at least as well as Brady and Tampa Bay’s Brad Johnson have done against the Eagles. In fact, the young defensive backs are bracing for an aerial assault. “Why not?” said Brown, a second-year cornerback when asked if he expected to see Bledsoe put a lot of balls in the air Sunday. “We got two rookies out there, and I’m sure they think they can throw on us.”‘

‘One of the big questions surrounding their game against the Bills this week is whether the Eagles will try to run the ball more than they have in the first two games, both of which ended in losses.’

‘But two games – two losses – into the 2003 season, Smith and McMullen have combined for a grand total of zero catches.’