Two Bills Drive

NFL Preview of game.

Warning: Joe Theismann ahead, some people like coffee others hate it.

GM Tom Donahoe made the right decision to release Flutie and keep Johnson because the West Coast style suits Johnson more than Flutie. But the problem is that Johnson isn’t getting rid of the ball quickly enough. If he can make decisions, learn the offense and survive the season, he will be fine — and so will the Bills.

Based on the records of the two teams, the Jaguars should be able to get back on track. Tony Brackens will be back to help the Jaguars’ defense.

But the Bills are a desperate team with good skill-position players. The Bills’ defense has been marred by injury, especially to LB Cowart, their best player. They have been close several times to putting things together. Under new head coach Williams, the Bills are really struggling with the system and getting everyone on the same page. The young coaching staff is just taking a little longer than other staffs to get a pulse on its personnel. That’s what they are struggling with. I don’t expect Buffalo to be an easy test for the Jaguars.

QB Johnson holds onto the ball too long and can’t finish games because of injuries. Salary cap problems forced them to dismantle a 3-4 defense that could stuff the run. The Bills have fallen to the bottom of the league. First-year coach Williams hasn’t won over his veterans so far with his aggressive style of coaching.

Grade: F (only F in AFC)

NOTE: Ruben Brown did make all AFC team

‘Jacksonville boasts the player who has the most catches and receiving yards in the NFL over the past five years – Jimmy Smith. Containing Smith, receiving partner Keenan McCardell and quarterback Mark Brunell figures to be a key to the Bills’ chances of getting their first win of the year in the nationally televised game at Alltel Stadium.’

‘Taking over for Chris Mohr, perhaps the best punter in franchise history, Moorman is the AFC’s second-ranked punter at 48.1 yards behind Denver’s Tom Rouen (48.9). The Bills’ single-season record is 44.5 by Paul Maguire in 1969.’

‘Getting Moulds involved would be a start. To borrow an old phrase from his pal, Keyshawn, give him the damn ball.’

‘The outcome of tonight’s game between the Bills and Jaguars will go a long way toward determining which team has a chance to salvage its season and which one can start thinking about its holiday travel plans.’

Moulds now ranks 4th on the Bills all-time receiving yardage list after passing Thurman Thomas last week. He needs 10 receptions to tie Bob Chandler in 5th place on Buffalo’s all-time receptions list and 11 to tie Elbert Dubenion in 4th. He’s currently tied with Frank Lewis for 6th all-time in receiving touchdowns and his next one will tie Pete Metzelaars for 5th best. With a catch against the Jaguars, he’ll also extend his club record of games with a reception to 54.

"He said, ‘No, I don’t want you to go back in,’" Johnson said afterwards. "If you can’t move, you can’t go back in. … I just wanted to make sure my ankle wasn’t broken because it hurt like it was broken. Once I found out it wasn’t broken, I knew I had to suck it up. It’s just something you have to do. My team needed me."

‘"I think (Johnson has) had stretches of playing well, but he has had some unlucky situations," Bills coach Gregg Williams said this week. "He has had stretches where he has executed the offence very well. The breakdowns on offence have not just been the quarterback."’

‘So tonight before a national television audience, Johnson’s goal isn’t to settle an old score. It’s to merely prove the Bills didn’t get fleeced for first- and fourth-round draft picks, something he hasn’t been able to do during his three-plus disappointing seasons in Buffalo.’

‘By coach Gregg Williams’ count, the secondary has dropped seven interceptions so far. Are you guys wearing oven mitts?’

‘Life is good for the young man from Victor who starred at Cornell University and is now carving out a nice little career for himself in the NFL.’

‘This is the Bills’ first visit to Jacksonville for a regular-season game. It is the only NFL city they hadn’t played in.’