Two Bills Drive

When he came to Western New York in 1986, one of the best qualities that Marv Levy’s Buffalo Bills teams exemplified was a never-say-die attitude. This resilience allowed the Bills to accomplish a feat that had never been done before in NFL history, to fight all the way to the Super Bowl in four consecutive seasons despite injuries, changes in personnel and other setbacks that might have derailed other teams.

Talk on Jennings (being our best tackle) and Flowers (trade bait in offseason), about 2/3 down the page

‘A…A…A…A…B…A…A…C-…A…A-.’

The Bills have announced their community events for this week.

Bills Paintfest Art Program – Craig Heimburger

Bingo – Kenyatta Wright

Zweigle’ Jr. Press Conferences – Phillip Crosby & Kenyatta Wright

Lighting of the “Tree of Hope” at Roswell Park – Brian Moorman, Junior Robinson and team mascot Billy Buffalo

Get your beer during 2nd Quarter – The Marv Levy Hall Of Fame ring ceremony will be at halftime this weekend.

Hunter’s Hope Charity Ball held November 30th, 2001 in Buffalo, NY at the Adam’s Mark Hotel was attended by Jack Wheeler, TBD’s Resident Blue Coat.

‘Despite a few pretenders, the race for football futility is pared down to three teams: the Detroit Lions (0-11), Carolina Panthers (1-11) and Buffalo Bills (1-10).’

‘So I’ve decided to put together a list of low points and let you decide for yourselves.’

‘Said cornerback Antoine Winfield: "It was a long flight out here to get blown out like this."’

‘Days later, in timely order, Wilson used the Thanksgiving holiday to announce the Bills, with more than 3,000 unsold tickets, would lift the blackout — another first for them — and allow local television for the Miami Dolphins, the most anticipated home game of every season. Still, among the first reactions heard were, Why didn’t the Bills do this last week when Kelly was honored?’

‘While the NFC East race full of sputtering engines will come down to whoever runs out of gas last, the AFC East is developing into a full-steam bell-lap affair featuring a strong troika of teams. The Bills got out of the fun early — when they picked Door No. 1 and Rob Johnson was behind it, they were left with the NFL equivalent of the clucky chicken gag prize.’

I think the league has bent over too far to protect QBs and we see more of it every week. Eaton’s hit on Doug Flutie was brutal, but it was simply a football play, and he got 15 yards for it. Ditto Flowers for tackling Garcia near the sideline — but not out of bounds. This just continues a trend that is admirable but has just gotten out of control. Everyone wants to see the QB stay upright, but no one wants to see him treated like a piece of china. I think Van Pelt made some of the dumbest throws I’ve seen a QB make in a long time in San Francisco. Rob Johnson, your job looks secure to me.

‘A great team, the pro football adage says, needs a great quarterback. So much for adages. First off, parity rendered the word “great” in relation to National Football League teams as obsolete as the single-wing formation. “Pretty good” would represent a major step up for most. The Buffalo Bills, who embodied the above bromide through the late 1980s and early ’90s, would settle for “not horrible.” Particularly after their pathetic showing Sunday night in San Francisco. Then you look at the guys throwing the passes. Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning come closest, but even they have turned into interception machines the last few weeks. Fans and general managers alike salivate at the thought of drafting a prototypical quarterback like Manning. But more and more, the top passers take Warner’s more circuitous route to stardom.’

‘The Bills had 191 yards in total offense for the game, and they had a mere 29 rushing yards.’

‘Bills quarterback Alex Van Pelt had thrown for 300 yards in each of his past two games. Against the 49ers, he passed for 168. The Rams’ offense is light years ahead of Buffalo’s, but you’ve got to start somewhere.’