Two Bills Drive

‘It is no surprise three-quarters of the way through the season that Coy Wire and Pierson Prioleau are suffering through growing pains.’

‘Sunday’s game is sold out, but there may be some tickets available at the box office today and Friday if the Miami organization returns some seats from its allotment for the game.’

‘What is frustrating for the receivers is that the majority of the throws are underneath routes because the deep routes are being choked, so Bledsoe has opted against going long in favor of taking what the defense is giving him — the short passes, many of which have been directed at the backs and tight ends.’

‘Both teams will enter the game pretty healthy for late November. The only player listed on Buffalo’s injury report is CB Antoine Winfield with a lower leg ailment, and he’s probable.’

‘In the last 31/2 games, Buffalo hasn’t commenced a single drive in opposing territory … that’s 33 possessions without starting on the opponent’s side of the 50.’

”’There’s snow on the ground today,” Williams said with satisfaction in his voice. “And it’s supposed to snow all week long. I sure hope it snows. I hope it’s Buffalo Bills weather. You play good old-fashioned football in those conditions.” At this point, the Bills are looking for any positives.’

‘Taylor, who leads the AFC with 11 sacks, won the award for the second consecutive month — the first time in NFL history a player has won back-to-back monthly honors.’

‘Just when Lucas seems comfortable behind center, Fiedler returned to the practice field Wednesday and, after taking snaps on the side and participating in several quarterback drills, announced his arm strength at “85 to 90 percent.”‘

‘”You’ll get that chilly lake effect and snow. I don’t mind playing in the cold,” said fullback Rob Konrad, who went to college at Syracuse, also in upstate New York. “You can run all day. It’ll be good football weather.”‘

‘Four years ago Baker was in the Red Eagle Honor Farm Prison, a maximum-security facility in Montgomery, Ala., after he was convicted of drug trafficking. He was given a 15-year sentence, served 10 months and was released on March 22, 1999. He remains on probation through the end of this year.’

‘”Right now I am thinking that he will definitely dress. It is just a matter of how good we feel by Friday and how much he can do. He definitely will not start.”‘

‘”We’re really taking the approach of get him out here today and tomorrow, let him run full speed, let him practice full speed, but really not have him in the heart of the game plan in the event that something would show up Friday and we would use up two days of practice and not be able to play (him),” Wannstedt said.’

‘They named the boy Tobin, which is Kathy’s maiden name. As for the middle name, there’s a football angle. It’s a tribute to former Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood, a Pro Bowl-caliber performer who is best remembered for missing a 47-yard field goal at the end of Super Bowl XXV that would have given the Bills a victory over the New York Giants on Jan.27, 1991.’

”’The way we’re playing, I don’t think we can beat anybody,” receiver Eric Moulds said Wednesday. ”I don’t think we’ve lost our confidence, but swagger, yeah,” added fellow receiver Peerless Price. ”We’ve been shut down, to put it bluntly.”’

”’You think of cold-weather games and sloppy fields, with the power running game being the most effective thing, and that’s Ricky’s game,” Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad said Wednesday.’