Two Bills Drive

‘The 43-year-old Williams had only streaks of gray when he was hired in February. Now his head is all shades of gray.’

‘What the remaining six games will involve is the judging of Williams’ staff.’

‘Williams has been Captain Bligh, head-strong and, judging by the running critical commentary of his players, imperiled by the threat of mutiny.’

‘Talk about the draft is getting louder with every Buffalo loss.’

‘But the Rams’ offensive numbers of the past three years eclipse almost all of the Bills’ numbers.’

‘This year, the Lions are in a race — and leading it — for the No. 2 pick in next year’s draft. The expansion Houston Texans get the top pick. The worst of the 31 established teams are in a backward race for No. 2. The Lions’ 0-11 record gives them the lead, but there are two solid contenders — Buffalo and Carolina each have one win.’

‘Well-paying jobs are on the line. And the last anybody checked, nobody’s gotten bored with driving Cadillac SUVs or paying for manicures for their poodles.’

‘This afternoon, two members of an exclusive club — the Sad Six — will square off at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘[Q:] You’ve got the image as every man’s player, Alex. But now that you’ve started three games in a row, can you still walk around Buffalo in anonymity? [A:] ”Yes and it’s great. I’m not 6-4 and I don’t stand out. I look like a normal guy. Not many people approach me, so going out in public, that’s still easy to do. I was at the mall the other day, dinner, and the movies.”’

‘"But you are what you are. And that’s the honest truth. We’re 1-11. That’s what we are. They’re 1-10. That’s what they are."’

‘Can you feel the excitement? Probably not.’

‘”Some have gone from apparent greatness to nothing,” Carolina coach George Seifert said. “Others have come from apparent nothing to greatness. I think that’s the thing that we all hang onto.”‘

‘To the rest of the country, the Carolina-Buffalo game is a joke.’

‘Walls, 35, is the team’s second oldest player.’

‘So today, it’s One for the Ages. The only thing that could spoil it is if the teams play to a tie.’