Two Bills Drive

‘No, what the Buffalo Bills did to them yesterday — obliterating Jacksonville 38-17 in the home opener and having Drew Bledsoe rip apart an overmatched defense — was the kind of Sunday punch that requires its victim to take a standing-eight count. And take stock of themselves.’

‘At Alltel Stadium, security measures can be tough. Bo Reed, director of special events and promotions, said security personnel sometimes find fans trying to sneak in illegal materials. Reed said fans have tried to slip video cameras, giant beach balls and large quantities of food through stadium security. “The strangest things include a fish and a beer funnel,” he said.’

‘The Bills’ coaches were so confident that they dressed just six defensive linemen, which was one or two fewer than most teams activate on hot days. “Hydration was the key for us,” Milloy said. “The heat really wasn’t a factor. If you prepare for it, you don’t worry about it mentally. Our coaches did a good job keeping us focused on the Jaguars and not the weather.”’

‘The game was effectively over by the third quarter — a point at which Buffalo held a 25-point lead and had converted 7-of-10 on third downs. But the game was less about deflating Jacksonville’s defensive aim than just simply popping it altogether.’

‘Buffalo laughed at the heat and the home-opening hoopla and everything else Jacksonville threw at it. Which, most notably, did not include a pass rush.’

’19: The number of completions thrown each by Drew Bledsoe and Mark Brunell. 16.5: The average yards gained on Bledsoe’s completions. 6.4: The average yards gained on Brunell’s completions.’

‘While there was plenty to lament, at least one part of Jacksonville’s plan went right. After giving up 122 yards rushing last week to Carolina, the Jaguars were intent on vacuuming up Buffalo RB Travis Henry at the line of scrimmage. And while Henry scored three rushing touchdowns, he only managed 26 yards on 21 carries — a far cry from his Pro Bowl talent.’

‘”We went up against a very good football team, and they were the better team today,” Del Rio said. “My hat’s off to the Bills and Drew Bledsoe. We didn’t do enough to get him out of rhythm.”‘

‘On this day when his quarterback rating soared to 144.2 (the maximum is 158.3), Bledsoe never did go down. He was not sacked. He was not intercepted. His uniform won’t even need to be laundered. Nothing stopped Bledsoe, not security on the way into the stadium or traffic on the way back to the airport.’

‘Bledsoe was not sacked and was seldom under any kind of pressure. His offensive line gave him time to find secondary receivers and allow deep receivers to get open. Eric Moulds caught seven passes for 133 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown bomb, and Josh Reed dropped what would’ve been another Bledsoe touchdown bomb.’

‘One week after allowing some guy named Jake Delhomme to come off the Carolina Panthers’ bench and become an overnight sensation, the Jags made Buffalo’s Drew Bledsoe look 10 years younger in a 38-17 loss at Alltel Stadium.’

‘This game was never in doubt.’

Bills clicking on all cylinders.

This week’s top stars…

‘Let’s not forget the roots of today’s opponent. Two years ago, the Bills were a 3-13 football team. They won one home game all season; a one-point win over a 1-15 Carolina team in the gloom and doom of a Buffalo December; a loser’s December. It was a season Bills fans never want to remember; one of the worst seasons in the franchise’s history. But it was also one of the most important seasons in the Bills’ history because it was the foundation of something that may now be on the verge of greatness.’