Two Bills Drive

‘The already popular Drew Bledsoe made a few more friends when he threw a crushing block on Jets 305-pound defensive tackle Jason Ferguson on a reverse to wide receiver Peerless Price. The only drawback was the play lost 7 yards.’

‘The New Orleans native lives in a recreational vehicle and drives to 45 games a year. Sunday, Cahn’s 2002 Tailgating America Tour brought him to the parking lots of Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.’

‘It was anything but a beautiful day if you were a member of the Buffalo Bills. And if you were Danny Smith, the Bills’ energetic and now beleaguered special teams coach, it was, quite simply, “A very, very disturbing day. It’s the worst day I’ve ever experienced in coaching.”‘

‘Unfortunately for the Bills, they didn’t get the girl at the end of this emotional roller coaster, because Morton got the ball. They should’ve known better than to put the ball back in his hands.’

‘”Drew hung in there; he’s a big quarterback,” said Bills coach Gregg Williams, who looked as if he had just been run over by an equipment truck. “They got him down a few times but he was still able to make plays out of nothing. It was impressive.”‘

‘But when the sting for the Bills wears off later this week, they will look back on their performance and realize that they did some things pretty well, most notably, the way they ran the football.’

‘SPECIAL TEAMS Jets return specialist Chad Morton returned not one but TWO kickoffs for touchdowns, including the game-winner in OT. As if that wasn’t enough, the Bills also had a punt blocked and missed a field goal. F’

‘And even in a 37-31 overtime loss, the quarterback of Buffalo’s future made giant steps to erase memories of those who played the position in the recent past.’

‘”I didn’t know if I had enough gas to make it,” Morton said. “With 30 yards to go, I was thinking ‘at least we are in good field position if I get caught.’ But I made it to the end zone. Game over.”‘

‘It was the Bills game to win, but special teams never gave Bledsoe the chance.’

‘On an afternoon where the Bills accomplished so much offensively — and when a defence lacking in personality knocked Curtis Martin out of the game by halftime with an ankle injury — it was the memory of Chad Morton’s two kickoff return touchdowns, including a 96-yard romp on the opening kickoff of overtime, that stood out in a 37-31 loss to the New York Jets on the opening weekend of the National Football League season.’

‘The defeat, even for a team that lost four consecutive Super Bowl games a decade ago, was heartbreaking.’

‘While the Bills were devastated by their 37-31 overtime loss and the way they lost it — the opening kickoff in OT was run back 96 yards for the winning touchdown after Bledsoe hit Eric Moulds for the tying touchdown with just 26 seconds left in regulation time — they were thrilled with their new quarterback.’

‘The Jets’ defense yielded 149 yards rushing and, 3 rushing touchdowns to Travis Henry. Even in the worst days of the run defense in 2001, the Jets never gave up three rushing touchdowns in one game.’

‘In a blink, Bledsoe had done exactly what Bills management had hoped.’