Two Bills Drive

‘”It would have been easy for us just to give up and go home,” said Van Pelt. “Ever since I’ve been here, that’s not the way we’ve done things, no matter what the odds are.”‘

‘Given the way the Jets played yesterday and their recent history in critical games, a win over Oakland is hardly a given – but the Raiders’ recent performance doesn’t make them world-beaters, either.’

‘All the Jets needed, after showing no absolutely killer instinct and letting the Bills hang around all day and making Alex Van Pelt throw like Jim Kelly and Shawn Bryson run like Thurman Thomas, was the kind of grace under pressure that champions show you with a game, and, quite possibly, a season, on the line. In other words, the moment seized them instead of them seizing the moment.’

‘The Jets didn’t need a good solider yesterday. They needed a renegade. All they had was Testaverde.’

‘The Jets, who entered the game leading the NFL with a plus-23 turnover ratio and with a league-low 15 giveaways, turned the ball over three times, with Vinny Testaverde throwing two INTs and Craig Yeast losing a fumble.’

‘The Bills won for the third time in 15 games; the Jets provided what must have looked like a blooper film from their forgettable December past.’

‘”Theoretically, it shouldn’t be a problem,” beleaguered offensive coordinator Paul Hackett said about getting off two pass plays to the end zone in 13 seconds. “We don’t make that play call if you can’t make two plays.”‘

‘It wasn’t that the Jets allowed Bryson to break off huge chunks of yardage (he averaged just 3.8 on 28 carries), it was that they allowed Buffalo to gain a nine-minute advantage in time of possession.’

‘Of course, everything would have been fine if the Jets’ defense had been able to slow the Bills’ running attack, which allowed them to keep the ball for 10:15 in the third quarter to the Jets’ 4:45.’

‘Against Buffalo, the Jets didn’t play well in any phase of the game.’

‘No one pinned the Jets’ 14-9 loss to Buffalo directly on Testaverde. But no one was saying he had a banner day, either.’

‘…shouldn’t Testaverde be looking to throw into the end zone when he’s down five points with 13 seconds remaining? “Yeah, but he didn’t,” coach Herman Edwards said. Why not? “Because he didn’t throw it in the end zone,” Edwards said.’

‘Let’s hear this band of compulsive chokers and perennial losers explain why they are deserving of even one ounce of esteem in the wake of this pathetic mess of a 14-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the 3-12 Buffalo Bills, the playing-out-the-string Buffalo Bills.’

‘”This year has to be different from last year,” running back Curtis Martin said. “I believe it will be.”‘

‘Buffalo rushed for 192 yards against a poor tackling defense that didn’t seem ready.’