Two Bills Drive

‘It was the surprise retirement of his jersey, the first time in the 41-year history of the franchise a number was officially taken out of circulation. It wasn’t Simpson or Shaw or Sestak that moved owner Ralph Wilson to break club policy. It was Kelly. And fittingly so.’

‘Eric Moulds is finding out that being the highest-paid player in Bills history carries significant responsibility. Lately, Moulds hasn’t been very responsible.’

‘He looked comfortable out there.’

‘Coaching: Had a game plan good enough to win on both offense and defense but turnovers and killer penalties — the story line of this 1-8 season — sabotaged any chance of securing the win. B’

‘The Kelly game has generated bobblehead sales in the few thousands and the other two, honoring Levy and Smerlas, only sales in the mid-hundreds.’

‘"I talked to (Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams) a little before the game," Holmgren said. "And (the Bills) are going through some things we had to go through last year as far as salary cap and that kind of stuff. They’ll get it going."’

‘Unfortunate timing has plagued the Bills in both the macro and micro. If not for bad luck, etc.’

‘Pretty? Not exactly.’

‘"We threw the ball effectively today," said Van Pelt, the first quarterback to have a 300-yard passing performance against the Seahawks this season. Van Pelt was able to do what Rich Gannon (twice), Brian Griese, Mark Brunell and Donovan McNabb could not. Of course, Van Pelt wasn’t able to beat the Seahawks, either.’

‘With quality NFL receivers such as Price, Eric Moulds and fullback Larry Centers, the Bills should have taken better advantage than they did. But teams are 1-8 for good reasons, and failing to exploit a youngster such as Fuller can be advanced as a reason good as any.’

‘Even though the Seahawks defense gave up 372 yards to the 1-8 Bills, the NFL’s second-youngest team, it made crucial red-zone stops to hold Buffalo to three second-half points until a late touchdown drive after the Seahawks had a 23-13 lead.’

‘The TV cameras caught the Seahawks coach venting his frustration at special teams coach Pete Rodriguez along the Seattle sideline at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The problem? The Seahawks almost allowed the 30-second play clock to expire before getting off the kick that proved to be the difference in their 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills yesterday.’

‘Seattle trailed in every meaningful statistical category, yet none that seemed to matter.’

‘Buffalo lined up to punt, Seattle sent Charlie Rogers deep to receive the kick, then the Bills snapped the ball to the up man, reserve running back Sammy Morris. Morris tucked the ball under his arm and ran right, cutting past lunging and diving Seahawks for a 9-yard gain and a first down.’

‘But on the last nice day of the year in Buffalo, the wind brought hope and joy and momentary salvation for the Seattle Seahawks. It was a wind that gusted just hard enough to push Rian Lindell’s last field goal over the bar, yet howled strong enough to stop Bills kicker Jake Arians’ field-goal try just inches short of the goal post. Two kicks, six points, 14 mph from the southwest. It was the difference in the game.’