Two Bills Drive

‘Despite ranking just 27th in the NFL in total yards allowed, the Chiefs lead the league with 20 takeaways and are first in the AFC with 13 interceptions. They have returned three of those turnovers for touchdowns.’

‘”We’ve been covering punts fairly well, except for the one game that we were disappointed with,” said cover man Coy Wire. “There’s no question he’s the best returner in the league and we have a challenge on our hands, but I think we’re looking forward to it. There’s nothing to be scared about. He’s going to play his best game, and so are we.”‘

‘What makes the Arrowhead effect so unique is that it’s all natural. In many of the ear-splitting domes, the noise is artificial through the use of recorded sound effects and music. But at Arrowhead, the din is generated almost solely by the crowd.’

‘Much of Vermeil’s success can be attributed to his uncanny ability to get the most from unheralded players. He did it in St. Louis with Bills linebacker London Fletcher, who went undrafted in 1998.’

‘”They don’t blitz a lot,” Bledsoe said. “But when they do, they’re very effective with it. Even when you have the linebackers accounted for with your scheme, they’re very good pass rushers and can shed a block and still get pressure. The Chiefs’ defense will force us to not only account for those guys, but then to block them effectively.”‘

‘Buffalo defensive end Pat Williams raised some eyebrows and provided the Chiefs with some bulletin-board material this week when he appeared on wide receiver Eric Moulds’ television show and declared that the Bills are going to “shut down” Priest Holmes on Sunday night.’

‘Longtime Chiefs announcer Bill Grigsby will miss the Chiefs-Bills game this Sunday because of health issues.’

‘”You watch them on film and you see they’re very sound in what they do,” Bledsoe said. “There are no easy plays to be made, no weaknesses you can exploit. You have to execute all the way up and down the field. And if you get sloppy, you make turnovers.”‘

‘What allows Vermeil to so rapidly build championship teams? “He has a unique ability to motivate not only players but coaches and football support people to perform at a level that I think sometimes they don’t even think they can perform at,” Peterson said. “Dick finds a way to get the best out of these people, whoever they might be, whether it’s the first player or the 53rd player (on the team). I don’t know anybody who does it better.”‘

‘The receiver says he’s been taking it slow and then he gives it a push now and then. Moulds thinks the only thing left, is to get the power back in it. He’ll work Friday and Saturday before making a determination on Sunday.’

‘Reese received the fine because he knocked over an official while trying to make a play. He is expected to appeal the fine.’

‘Moulds is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest against unbeaten Kansas City. He has already missed games against the New York Jets and Washington Redskins the past two weeks.’

‘Moorman has gone from playing two seasons in NFL Europe and interviewing for part-time teaching jobs in support of his wife’s pursuit of a law degree, to emerging as one of the NFL’s top young punters. It began when he joined the Bills just before the start of training camp in 2001, an 11th-hour pickup by a salary-cap strapped team gambling on an unproven player.’

‘One thing Vermeil has always liked about Baker is his ability to tune out the noise and chaos and concentrate on the task at hand. His net average of 34.9 yards through seven games is not the best in the league. But it tops the net of 31.9 that the Chiefs’ opponents have averaged.’

‘I know the have said they want to run the ball. But, I hope it remains the priority when Moulds returns. If Henry is the first focus for the Bills, it will only help Moulds. It sure looked in losses to Miami and Philadelphia that those teams realized if they took Moulds out of the game they would win. Both teams did a good job of neutralizing Moulds. The test will be the next time they struggle with the run, and whether or not they will stick with it.’