Two Bills Drive

‘As for the game itself, the 49ers (8-2) would do well to take the Bills (1-9) seriously. For one thing, it’s not that long ago that they resided in the same low-rent neighborhood in the standings that Buffalo currently inhabits. Additionally, the Bills nearly knocked off Miami last week before falling 34-27. And the Bills have a pair of dangerous receivers in Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, who have combined for 71 catches for 1,187 yards.’

‘"We’ve been playing physical the last several weeks and we’ve got to go out and do it again," Williams said. "That’s the mark of being a pro, playing hard each week and hopefully gaining some experience with our younger guys."’

‘"Maybe before the ballgame there will be some feelings of nostalgia, but really as we get going it becomes a football game, so we’re competing and we want to win."’

‘[Q:] When you were drafted, what word came immediately to mind when you heard you were going to Buffalo? [A:] "Cold. But to tell you the truth, I’d rather be cold than hot. I hate the heat."’

‘The Bills are merely a blip on the 49ers’ screen and they could be ripe for a letdown.’

‘Can the Bills’ solid run defense (?) slow down the Garrison Hearst comeback parade? I don’t see the Bills slowing Hearst down. The Niner OL is doing a great job, and Hearst is having an amazing year catching the ball out of the backfield.’

New Billls kicker Shayne Graham took time out of getting adjusted to Buffalo to answer some e-mails from fans.

Buffalo Bill Larry Centers spent his evening off this week supporting the Marine Corp Reserve Annual Toys for Tots program at the Walden Galleria Mall. Joined with several members of the local Reserves, the Bills fullback autographed team pictures and helped collect toys for needy children this holiday season.

‘"Last year, we were in sort of the same situation (as the Bills), and we started to turn it around," 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson said. "So this could be their turnaround point, and hopefully we can shut them down and make sure they don’t get too much confidence."’

‘"I think it ended up pretty good for me. I had no complaints at all. I didn’t think I’d get fired, but in this league, they like to point fingers and find somebody to blame for those things. You would hope that 13 years of fairly good work would make up for one play. But you move on."’

‘GMs around the league must be kicking themselves, wondering how they missed on this guy.’

‘Maguire, a former Bill who still lives locally during the season and hosts a local cable show, isn’t surprised by the team’s collapse. But did he really expect this much of one? "When I looked at what they did in the preseason and saw the guys go down with injuries, yeah," said Maguire. "If you don’t have an offensive line, you can’t play. And they don’t."’

‘Williams is almost as futile (1-7) on challenges as his team (1-9) is in games.’

‘"I tell you, all that this family has gone through, Jeff has kept us together," Bob Garcia said this week in an interview. "I don’t know how he handled it so well, but he did. "He always stayed positive and that’s probably the biggest reason he’s been able to handle everything so well in his life. He has worked tremendously hard for it."’

‘Back in the lineup after two seasons and no less than four surgeries to repair his left ankle, Hearst has emerged as the comeback story of the NFL season. With 776 yards on 147 carries through 10 games, Hearst is giving the Niners offence the versatility it lacked while he sat out recovering from a blood disorder that essentially caused a portion of his ankle bone to die.’