Two Bills Drive

Yesterday, the retired wide receiver returned to Orchard Park to watch his former quarterback, Jim Kelly, get inducted onto the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame. Feats like yardage marks and touchdown records are what got Kellys name on the wall. But Lofton, who must have had Plato in his hands, molded the day into something much larger. “Look at a football player”, he said, “and you see a narrow strip of a man.”

The Hawks take a 23-20 win, their first ever in Buffalo in two appearances, and hand the Bills their fifth-straight loss at home this season, and seventh dating back to last season.

‘The Seahawks’ front four failed to mount a significant pass rush most of the game, but Michael Sinclair came up big with the game on the line. Sinclair teamed with linebacker Chad Brown to sack Alex Van Pelt, forcing a fourth-quarter fumble that sailed into the arms of defensive tackle Antonio Cochran. The turnover led directly to the clinching field goal.’

The Bills (1-8) lost sloppily and are off to their worst start in 16 years. They’ve also lost seven straight at home — their longest stretch since dropping eight straight from 1983-84. Van Pelt showed flashes of efficiency in making his first start in four years, finishing 28-for-42 for a career-high 316 yards passing and two TDs.

‘"We have a critical mistake at the most inopportune time…"’

‘"He was the focus of our team. He was the catalyst. He was great in the clutch."’

‘The Bills have allowed six running backs to reach the 100-yard barrier this season so limiting the production of the second-year pro out of Alabama was significant.’

‘Van Pelt was far from perfect, but this was the best the offense has looked all year, even better than the San Diego game.’

‘Yet another great game by Williams was overshadowed by a 23-20 loss to the Seahawks.’

‘"I feel like I let the team down. I want to apologize to all the fans and everybody who came out. I felt it was big-time (disappointing) on my part."’

‘Red-zone malfunctions notwithstanding, he made the offense purr.’

‘Throw in some remarkable November weather and a very beatable opponent in the Seattle Seahawks and you had to think that if ever there was a game this band of Bills was destined to win, this was the one. Think again.’

‘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.’