Two Bills Drive

‘Cowart’s and the defense’s fortunes turned during the bye week. After that, coordinator Ted Cottrell began calling more of the undershifted front that Cowart excelled in with the Bills. And he is blitzing more (unofficially, seven times the last four games to four in the first six) and making more tackles behind the line.’

‘Randy Thomas sprained his right ankle in the third quarter against Detroit, an injury that has him listed as questionable for Sunday’s rematch with Buffalo.’

‘But the Jets feel better prepared defensively to handle the Bills this time around. “We have to improve on what we’ve been doing,” Jets safety Sam Garnes said. “Our tackling has improved, we’re moving around a lot faster because we know where we’re going and we’re confident. We’re not worried that somebody is going to make a play against us and it’s over. I think that’s the way it was at the beginning of the season.”‘

‘More important, Pennington, 26, is delivering on the Joe Namath-like self-assurance he expressed when Edwards benched Vinny Testaverde, 39. “I’m going to be a winner, bottom line,” Pennington said.’

It was a sagacious move by the Bills who get a top-shelf defensive end for next season, if Jones is fully recovered, but who have very minimal financial exposure if he can’t make it back to the field. Essentially, Buffalo is paying Jones less than $200,000 this year to get ready for next season.

‘One reason Morton hasn’t broken another runback is that many teams are kicking away from him. While the third-year running back best known for his work on kick teams takes that as a sign of respect, he would much prefer a head-on challenge or two. Some opponents have bunched up their coverage. Others have chipped the ball short to one of the blockers. Anything to keep it out of the speedy Morton’s hands.’

‘The Buffalo Bills have six games remaining, but the next three are likely to determine their playoff fate, regardless of what happens in the final three.’

Moulds believes he and Price are close to being as dangerous as any duo in the NFL…”I am not sure that in our first year together having these types of numbers, that guys are going to say they are the best tandem in the league. I think that we have to prove it over and over again, come back next year and be able to do the same things. Then people will start to consider us in that same breath.”

‘Jones was placed on the Bills’ injured reserve list Wednesday, and is expected to have surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee as early as this week.’

‘From the Bills perspective, being 5-5 is a huge disappointment after being 5-3 just a couple weeks ago.’

London Fletcher (knee, probable) is the only player on it.

Two other Bills lead the conference in Pro Bowl voting at their respective positions. Eric Moulds is the AFC’s leader at wide receiver with 295,152 votes and is also #1 among all NFL receivers. Among all AFC punters, Brian Moorman is #1 with 78,668 votes.

Jones goes on IR, McDonnell gets called up, Clarence Coleman joins the practice squad.

Henry now has 874 rushing yards (ranks fifth in the AFC and sixth in the NFL) on 186 attempts in 2002 (4.7) and is 126 shy of his first career 1,000 yard season. He would become the 8th different Bills player with a 1,000-yard season.