Two Bills Drive

”’We always believed we could run the ball,” said Westbrook, a second-year pro from Villanova. ”We’re capable of running it. We have three pretty good running backs and we have a great offensive line that can block, and when we have the opportunity, we’re going to run the ball.”’

‘How bad has it been? Buffalo’s last two opponents have managed more first downs by penalty, eight, than the Bills have had on the ground, one each in their last two games.’

‘Bengals running back Corey Dillon is expected to miss next weekend’s game at Buffalo because of a strained groin.’

I don’t want to hear any excuses for the Bills loss on Sunday to the Eagles. No one cares that Travis Henry is hurt. Run the ball. No one cares that the Eagles were due for a win. The Bills were coming off a humiliating loss in Miami. No one cares that a few calls went against the Bills. The referees don’t drop passes and miss tackles.

‘On Friday, October 3, 2003, The Official Buffalo Bills Autographed, Life-Sized Buffalo will be auctioned off during the ESL Animal Scramble Live Auction at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center!’

‘Completed 27 of 43 passes for 296 yards, one TD and zero INTs…now has 34,954 career yards and ranks 13th in NFL history after passing Jim Hart and Jim Everett yesterday; is 513 yards away from 12th ranked Jim Kelly.’

‘"This was a must win for us," Lewis said. "This was a playoff game for us."’

‘Though Moulds and Shaw each had eight receptions Sunday, neither was much of a factor until the fourth quarter. By then, the Eagles had built a 16-0 edge. That said, given Sheppard’s performance two weeks ago against New England, when he was burned for two touchdowns and picked on repeatedly by quarterback Tom Brady, keeping Bledsoe out of the end zone for so long has to qualify as a successful performance by such a young group.’

‘DEFENSIVE ZERO: Bills cornerback Nate Clements gave up several big plays, most notably Trash’s critical fourth-quarter catch.’

‘The Eagles weren’t great yesterday, but they were good, and good is progress after the first two games. The Bills made some timely mistakes, and the Eagles settled for an Akers field goal once too often, but they were better where they needed to be. Their quarterback was better. Their offensive line was better. And in a game they had to have, they didn’t make a big mistake.’

Were the officials from Philly? Not only did the Birds play better yesterday, but they also had two questionable calls go their way.

The first came in the first half when Lawyer Milloy was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Milloy barely pushed center Hank Fraley after the whistle but got tagged anyway. The penalty gave the Birds a first down and led to a FG. The second call came late in the third when Takeo Spikes was flagged for holding when replays showed TE Chad Lewis basically ran right into him. That flag also led to a field goal.

‘These guys wreaked havoc in the Bills’ backfield all day on a variety of blitzes, with Brown forcing a drive-killing Bledsoe fumble as the Bills struggled to get back in the game during the third quarter. By the time the Eagles had built a 16-0 lead through three quarters, a battered defense had held a good offense to five first downs and 134 yards. The Bills made it interesting during clock-bleeding time, but with the game was on the line, Philly made enough plays to win.’

‘You can question plenty of Gilbride’s decisions — calling for a rather slow-developing pass play on Buffalo’s first offensive snap was particularly puzzling, and a pair of throws on two third-and-1 situations in the second half didn’t fool anyone — but any coach is only as good as the players he’s directing.’

‘You know it’s going to be a bad day when your team’s best play is an open-field tackle by a security guard on a fan.’

‘While the flawed decision didn’t cost Buffalo the game, at a time when the Bills are struggling on both sides of the ball, the last thing they need is a mental vapor-lock by the coaching staff. Yet it’s happened three straight weeks.’