Two Bills Drive

‘The current Buffalo Bills remain in contention for a playoff berth but a relatively easy 2003 schedule could help the improving team become a legitimate Super Bowl contender next season.’

‘”I talked to Jim Kelly the other day and he talked about even in (Buffalo’s) Super Bowl years there would be one or two games that they would get their butts kicked,” quarterback Drew Bledsoe admitted of the Bills’ Hall of Fame QB. “That happened to us, and I think the bye week came at a good time.”‘

‘”I think he’s arguably playing as well as any offensive player in the NFL right now,” Bills coach Gregg Williams said earlier this week. “And if you’re not willing to make sure you’re committed to stopping Priest Holmes, he’s been able to take it to the teams that haven’t.”‘

‘But the Bills have slumped. Their last three games have been their lowest-scoring of the season.”We’ve had some opportunities, and we just haven’t capitalized on them in the same way that we had earlier in the season,” Bledsoe said. “The (open date) came at a good time for us because we could go back and polish up some things. I would anticipate that production would pick back up for us here soon.”‘

‘”There are some good wings right around the corner here at a place called the Big Tree,” Bledsoe said. “Most of the country, you go and order wings and you have to order ’em extra hot to get ’em to where they burn a little bit. Around here, all you have to do is order ’em regular and they are plenty hot.”‘

‘Aside from a 49-yard screen pass to Holmes against Oakland, Green has not hit a pass play longer than 27 yards in the last two games.’

‘The Chiefs are wondering about Morton, too. They invested a $5.5 million signing bonus for, through nine games, 16 catches and one touchdown?’

‘The Chiefs need a lightning rod, a personality that riles up the team and the fan base. Yes, the team got out of control a few years ago when Marty Schottenheimer recruited 25 percent of the team from a halfway house. Dick Vermeil has done a nice job cleaning up Marty’s mess and reshaping the image of the Chiefs. But this team is too nice and too humble.’

‘Chiefs’ opponents have a combined 46-35 record — the last four opponents alone are a combined 30-12.’

‘”We’ve got to get to him and not allow him the time to pick you apart the way he can do,” said Hicks, Kansas City’s sack leader with five of the team’s 15. “We have to get after him and take some of the pressure off our secondary.”‘

‘”People hold him — tackle him! — so much. I’ve seen him spun around 360 degrees to get into the route and it’s not called.”‘

‘But when the Bills’ offense stalls, it turns to a Sedgwick native, Larry and Jeannie Moorman’s son, to punt. And like Bledsoe, Moulds, Price and Henry, Brian Moorman is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season.’

The Bills’ offense, particulary its second-ranked passing attack, will be a huge test for the Chiefs, who are still last in the NFL in total defense. After holding Oakland to 10 points and San Francisco to 17, the Chiefs’ success this week will be based more on execution rather than doing anything fancy.

Drew Bledsoe is surrounded by quality personnel, with Eric Moulds, Peerless Price, Josh Reed and Larry Centers. Facing a multitude of talent is more of a problem for the Chiefs than the Bills’ scheme. The Bills have more than one or two players to throw to. The Chiefs will have to play a balanced style of defense. If they get too focused on one or two players, the Bills have three others who can burn them.

In the NFL, once one team finds a strategy that works against a tough opponent, other teams will try it, too. So if the Bills do happen to face a zone defense designed to limit Bledsoe to short passes, they'll have to rely on quick passes and steady running. Against the Patriots, Bledsoe threw for 300-plus yards, but the Bills' ground game was virtually grounded. Thus, Buffalo managed only seven points.

This is an interesting matchup as both teams are hungry for the win. The Chiefs are in danger of falling out of the playoff picture despite being better than their record indicates. The Bills should be real focused for a solid performance as they have had two weeks to sit and stew over what happened against New England. The Bills have never played real well in Arrowhead despite a win there two years ago. Despite the struggles in Kansas City, this team is a good road team and very hungry for a win. The two porous defenses will allow a lot of points:
Bills 34, Chiefs 31