Two Bills Drive

‘After watching Bills’ quarterback Drew Bledsoe repeatedly team up with receivers Peerless Price and Eric Moulds in the season-opener, the Jets shut the trio down yesterday.’

‘The Jets now appear to be the team that they – and many others – believed themselves to be coming out of training camp.’

‘People say the defense is better, but it didn’t change players. The offense did. It changed quarterbacks, and the Jets simply aren’t beating themselves as they did two months ago.’

‘”I would’ve thought that, as a team, we would have a bit more of a sense of urgency,” said Buffalo guard Ruben Brown. “We didn’t overcome. But we know we have talent. We know we have good players. We just have to start getting the job done."’

‘The Jets (6-5) completed a sweep of their AFC East rivals and remained in second place, one game behind the Miami Dolphins (7-4). The loss was the second in a row for the Bills (5-6), who fell into last place in the division and host Miami next week.’

‘The Jets really sealed up Bledsoe and his receivers most of the day. Bledsoe passed for only 181 yards and Eric Moulds, one of the best receivers in the NFL, was held to two catches for 24 yards. Defensive tackle Josh Evans recorded his fifth sack of 2002 and continues to be a force. On the other side of the ball, the Bills let Coles (7-78-1)victimize their secondary.’

‘Pennington, however, made the most memorable move of the game. He sent linebacker Eddie Robinson tumbling to the turf with an inside fake on a rollout, then trotted into the end zone for a 1-yard TD to make it 31-13. On fourth down, no less.’

‘Meanwhile, Buffalo’s Drew Bledsoe was intercepted twice and fumbled once. Both of his interceptions led to touchdowns.’

‘"We don’t need any extra motivation for this one," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "This is a pivotal game in our season. All three (division games) will determine for us where we stand. If we go on a three-game win streak right here, then we’re firmly in control."’

‘”It’s a challenge,” he said. “I follow the backs throughout the league and each week I’m competing, whether it is Priest or Curtis or Antowain. Week in and week out, I’m just going out and trying to compete and show my talent.”‘

‘What the Bills need now is more cerebral help from their head coach, Gregg Williams, than they have gotten so far.’

‘Still, if Cottrell was getting bashed during the bad times, he has to get a lot of the credit for the Jets’ defensive turnaround. The man didn’t become stupid all of a sudden. His Bills defenses were perennially ranked near the top of the National Football League. But this is as good a job as he’s done in his coaching career.’

‘”We’re obviously way ahead on talent than we were last year,” Wilson said this week from his home in Michigan. “I didn’t think we’d be 5-5 at this point. . . . I said originally it would take us three years to get back to respectability, so we’re ahead of schedule.”‘

‘Denney has been inactive for eight of the 10 games, played a handful of snaps in the other two. But it will change this week against the New York Jets. He’s expected to play a significant amount today for the first time in his career.’

‘The Bills have seen good recoveries by numerous injured players following major surgeries in recent years – Shawn Bryson, Tony Driver, Jerry Ostroski, John Holecek and Sean Moran among the many. Owner Ralph Wilson praises the work of team orthopedist Dr. John Marzo.’