Two Bills Drive

‘So will the fickle fans at the Ralph acknowledge that effort, plus the one from a week earlier in Jacksonville where Johnson was solid in a 13-10 win over the Jaguars? "I’m looking forward to coming home and playing and getting some crowd response," Johnson said yesterday. "I think they see what we are doing here and how we are competing and trying to win. I think they will respect that and give us a good homecoming."’

‘Despite Manning’s presence and productivity, the Colts’ success since 1999 mirrors the leaguewide trend. Consider they’re: 4-5 when Manning has thrown for 300 yards, a record that includes a 3-0 mark when he’s eclipsed 400 yards; 20-4 when James has rushed for 100 yards.’

‘Admit it. With the talent on this team, there was no way in the world you thought someone would say something like this: Man, the Colts desperately need Jerome Pathon to come back from his injury.’

‘"I’m assuming he’s playing," Buffalo coach Gregg Williams said Wednesday. "He’s answered the bell every time. That’s the kind of competitor he is."’

‘"A quarterback is not generally known as a tough guy but Rob showed everyone Sunday that he’s every bit as tough as anyone on our team," Centers said Wednesday following the Bills’ practice. "He laid to rest a lot of questions out there concerning his ability to lead us. The Rob Johnson critics have to be quiet now. They really don’t have much to base their criticism on."’

‘Things are going to be different this weekend as far as the Bills are concerned. That’s because they believe this isn’t the same young and inexperienced unit they were at the start of the season.’

‘Nobody at the Indianapolis Colts is saying Edgerrin James won’t play Sunday. Nobody’s saying he will, either.’

‘While listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis, Ostroski’s presence was the first sign of good news for Buffalo’s banged-up offensive line.’

If nothing else was accomplished with the Buffalo-San Diego game, it’s this: The controversy is over. Both Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie played heroically, both played with a lot of character. They fit their teams — be glad the controversy is over. I don’t think either QB came out on top or looking bad, both did great things. Let’s put the manufactured controversy to rest.

After taking a 24-20 lead with 1:30 to play, thanks to a courageous comeback effort by Johnson, the Bills in order: allowed a 72-yard kickoff return, allowed Chargers quarterback Doug Flutie to score the deciding points on a 13-yard run.

The past two weeks is a sign of progress. This young team will be a playoff challenger next season.

Really did treat Grudge Bowl like Super Bowl: They lost.

Some reporters tried to convince Rob Johnson that again Flutie somehow had everything go his way again, as seemed to be the case his entire three years in Buffalo. Johnson disagreed, “He didn’t luck into it. He played well. He’s a competitor. He had an opportunity, we had a chance to sack him, and he spun out of it and made a play. The fact that he got down there by a kickoff and a penalty, that happens. It happened to us against Tennessee."

Even Johnson’s quarterback enemy had respect for his former teammate, “Rob played great.” Flutie said, “He made all the plays with his legs and his arms, and put them right back in a position to tie the ball game at the end. He played his ass off, he played great.” Flutie even went so far as to say the Bills took the game over in the second half, “It felt great early, and then they started moving the ball up and down the field. It felt like they had the ball the whole second half, and we were watching.”

‘After sifting through about 1,100 e-mails since last week, I’d say roughly half were written from people who wanted Doug Flutie as the Bills’ quarterback. The other half wanted Flutie, too – anywhere but here.’

‘"You get caught up in the game when you’re out there," Moorman said. "I was angry that they made it through, I heard him say something to me, and so I just stood up and walked off. I didn’t think I should have been called but it happens and you have to move on. Hindsight is 20-20 and it wasn’t the right thing. I’d love to have it back. I’d love to have that moment back and if I would, I could, but I can’t so I won’t. That’s the way it goes."’