Two Bills Drive

‘"As tough as it is to lose a ballgame like this at the end," Williams said, "I thought our guys grew up today. But we’re still our own worst opponent."’

‘Johnson had to work for every point and almost every yard the Bills got. With Buffalo’s running game stuck in neutral and its offensive line alternately missing blocks and getting caught holding, he had to overcome obstacles emanating from both huddles. Flutie got a huge break late in the third quarter, when he was ruled down at the 1-yard line on Bryce Fisher’s sack, which clearly put both his knees and the ball in the end zone. Referee Tony Corrente’s mysterious decision (how does one possess “forward progress” when tackled while going backward?) kept the Chargers up by three and prevented a huge momentum shift.’

‘"I thought Rob played better than Flutie today," he maintained, adding, "besides the last play that Doug made." Of course, to Flutie fans, that’s like saying the Titanic had a marvelous voyage…except for the iceberg.’

At worst, Rob Johnson battled Doug Flutie to a draw in Sunday’s quarterback derby at Qualcomm Stadium. Unfortunately for Johnson and the rest of the Buffalo Bills, most of the rest of the key plays in San Diego’s 27-24 win were made by men wearing Chargers uniforms. “This is right up there with the Tennessee game — it hurts that much,” Johnson said. “This game was huge for us. We were playing a lot of our old teammates, with Mr. Butler there and his scouting department — it’s Bills West.”

‘Bills owner Ralph Wilson: If this really was his Super Bowl, at least he’s used to losing them.’

‘Sunday was Conway’s to carry the load. In every department, it was a splendid day for the USC graduate. His team won, while Buffalo’s Rob Johnson —- his quarterback for two years with the Trojans —- had a remarkable individual performance in defeat. "Rob’s a friend of mine," Conway said. "He did a great job. I’m happy for him."’

‘"But it was just special to see those guys. To see your friends, your homeboys —- people you used to be with for four years now, and then you get a chance to go against them. It was really great."’

‘Whatever perceptions lingered about Johnson —- a laid-back Southern California boy —- as too soft and injury-prone for the NFL should have been left on the Qualcomm Stadium turf Sunday, right next to the quarterback’s sweat and blood.’

‘While Buffalo and the Chargers played a corker of a football game here Sunday, nothing was decided between the two quarterbacks. If anything, it reinforced the decisions that each club made prior to the season. Buffalo was correct in keeping Rob Johnson. The Chargers are ecstatic that Doug Flutie is running the show here.’

‘Seau was on his game, collecting seven tackles, a sack and a pass defensed. He did much of it limping around like a guy with a rock in his shoe.’

‘Shaking off a foot injury and the effects of some vicious tackles, Johnson led Buffalo from a 10-point deficit to a 24-20 lead with 1:30 to play. Poor special teams play, a foolish penalty, Flutie and a blocked field goal ruined his big day.’

‘It turns out Ralph Wilson called it last spring. Sunday’s Buffalo Bills-San Diego Chargers game WAS like a Super Bowl. In fact, it was better than most Super Bowls. And it ended just like a Super Bowl for the Bills: It was a heartbreaker.’

‘First, it was Home Run Throwback. Now this. Oh, those Buffalo Bills’ special teams.’

‘"It’s very disheartening," Johnson said. "Our guys battled. It seems ever since I’ve been here, the Bills really battle. Everyone fights. Nobody gives up. We didn’t start off too well, but then we stepped it up. We pretty much dominated the rest of the game and unfortunately we didn’t win. "If we play that way every game, you have to think we’ll win a lot of games," he said. "And I think we will. We’re coming together as a team."’

‘Ralph Wilson and John Butler may not have much to say to each other, but they agreed on one thing Sunday – Sunday’s contest between the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers was one for the ages.’