Two Bills Drive

‘The gaudiest statistic of the young NFL season, not counting Terrell Owens’ false starts, is this: The Broncos’ defense ranks first in the league against the run. If this doesn’t tell you what’s coming, you haven’t been paying attention. Or, possibly, you sit in the club section and haven’t left the bar in a while. The last time the Buffalo Bills played a team that could stop the run – Minnesota, for example, which ranks first in the NFC for some reason – Drew Bledsoe threw the ball 49 times.’

‘The Broncos’ defensive brain trust might not mind facing Gilbride’s wide-open aerial circus – as long as they sack Bledsoe four or five times, intercept two or three of his passes and don’t allow any of his throws to result in Bills touchdowns.’

‘Davis is scheduled to undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee today at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail. He will be unable to walk for two months and will need six months of rehabilitation.’

‘"The reception I’ve received has been outstanding," he said. "It was almost comical how crazy these people went when we came in here. They had a pep rally. The hardest part about that was having all the excitement and all the things that go with that, then not being able to go out and play for a few months. Now that we’re going, I’m really enjoying myself."’

‘"In years past, basically Ed (McCaffrey) was the only guy going in motion," Sharpe said. "Now we have Ed going in motion, myself going in motion, Rod (Smith) going in motion, we have backs out of the backfield. We try to keep it complex, because we never want the defense to know what’s coming next. We’ve done a great job of that the first two games of the season. Hopefully we can keep it going."’

”’Drew has so much presence in the huddle,” said Centers, in his 13th NFL season. ”In every game, there’s a lull in your mentality, a time when you’re doing your job, but you’re just chugging along. That’s when the quarterback steps in and makes sure that everybody’s light is turned on. That’s what they mean by ‘field general.’ Drew’s got all that and then some.”‘

‘Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week, while teammate Mike Hollis won the award for special teams and Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter was honored for defense.’

‘Once, rosters were so fixed that DeHaven estimated half of his coverage units on Buffalo’s Super Bowl clubs had at least five years of experience. In fact, there was so little mystery to DeHaven’s units that special-teams coach Mike Westhoff — once with Miami, now with the Jets — told DeHaven he didn’t bother previewing videotapes of the Bills. He knew the players, and he knew what they’d do.’

‘"It’s exciting, (the offense) scoring 35-40 points a game, making it easy for us," Winfield said. "Giving up 30-some points a game, you’re not going to win many games on the field like that."’

Bills have no injuries to report. Broncos have five players listed as probable.

Nelson not only beat the odds and made the Bills, but he started every game, totaled 168 tackles and was named to the All-Rookie team. Two seasons later with Buffalo using a 3-4 defensive alignment, he racked up an incredible 192 tackles and anchored the middle next to Jim Haslett, who was in his first year. Add another rookie, nose tackle Fred Smerlas, and Western New York became home to its own ‘Bermuda Triangle.’

By now you’ve seen the league’s new uniforms, which range from the good (the Texans and the Redskins’ 70th-anniversary throwback home unis) to the very bad (the Seahawks) to the mixed bag (the Bills, whose unsightly new home duds are offset by their sharp new road outfits).

Question from chat with Mark (UB2SF)

Mark (SF): How do you like Buffalo’s chances against Denver this weekend? I think it will be another physical, heartstopping shootout for the Bills, with a decent chance of a “W”. Keep up the great work, Mort!

Mortensen: The Bills have been lighting it up, but it’s tough to win in Denver. I think it probably depends on how intense the Broncos come out after two very good, tough games against the Rams and 49ers. The Bills will make everybody they play pretty uncomfortable.

The winner is determined entirely by fan voting on NFL.com which ends later today. As of this morning, Josh was the leading candidate with 38.6% of the vote and was ahead of Chargers LB Ben Leber (20.4%), Panthers DE Julius Peppers (19.6%), Saints WR Donte Stallworth (12.2%) and Giants TE Jeremy Shockey (9.2%).

Two Bills players have earned AFC Player of the Week honors for their performances in last Sunday’s 45-39 overtime victory at Minnesota. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week while kicker Mike Hollis earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors.