Two Bills Drive

‘How bad are the Bills? Pittsburgh committed 12 penalties for 125 yards … and won. The Steelers failed to score an offensive touchdown until there was 3:52 left in the game … and won. And quarterback Kordell Stewart completed 15 of 22 passes for a pathetic 107 yards … and the Steelers won. But only because as bad as the Steelers were, the Bills were worse.’

‘Thanks in part to a three-week layoff, it took the Steelers nearly a month to score their first touchdown of the 2001 season. And it was fitting that the touchdown was scored by the defense.’

‘Some fans from Canada might have had trouble getting to the stadium, and some fans from Pittsburgh, the Bills’ opponent, might have had trouble getting into the stadium, but new security measures instituted at the stadium did not seem to bother most, on a day when the home team limped off the field after a 20-3 shellacking.’

‘Fans at the Bills-Steelers game Sunday donated nearly $20,000 to firefighters collecting money for the families of firefighters lost in the World Trade Center tragedy.’

‘"It ain’t good," nose tackle Pat Williams said. "I’m just mad. I’m frustrated. . . . We can’t quit. I’m not quitting. I don’t want to lose any more. I’m tired of losing. It hurts."’

‘"I don’t think words can describe how I feel right now," Moulds said in a somber locker room. "It’s like I’m out there running around for nothing. It’s ridiculous."’

‘So it wasn’t a huge surprise that the Steelers’ offense appeared as bewildered as a tourist in the middle of Siberia without a map during Sunday’s 20-3 victory over the Bills. It helped that Buffalo, which was missing starting offensive tackles John Fina and Jonas Jennings, looked even more lost than Pittsburgh.’

‘Let’s put it right out there: Could the Buffalo Bills actually be the worst team in the NFL right now?’

‘The question was never whether these Bills are better than these Steelers. Such musings became impertinent once Buffalo reached two more rungs down the depth chart to plug the holes in what was already a makeshift offensive line. Can’t run, can’t win, the day’s only remaining mystery being why it took Pittsburgh so long to file away an opponent clearly inferior. No, the question was never which team is better. What’s worth considering, though, is which team is better off?’

‘The Buffalo Bills’ list of walking wounded grows longer each week. Quarterback Rob Johnson, offensive tackle Kris Farris, defensive end Phil Hansen, wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel, defensive tackle Leif Larsen and defensive back Tony Driver left with injuries during Sunday’s 20-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.’

‘There were so many flags thrown it was a wonder that no one slipped and fell. The teams combined on 18 penalties for 182 yards. The Steelers had the most infractions with 12 for 125 yards. "I’m not going to answer anything about the officiating," said Steelers coach Bill Cowher. "I was told a long time ago that if you have nothing good to say, you say nothing at all."’

It’s time to say what the coaches have refused to admit. The Bills are not a good football team.

The Bills’ offense is a mess. They can’t get the ball to their top player, WR Eric Moulds, and they’re running game has become virtually non-existent. Granted, the team has gone through some devastating injuries on both sides of the ball. But there is no excusing such a bad showing at home on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers left the Buffalo Bills physically and emotionally devastated.

The Bills not only lost 20-3 on Sunday to a rusty Steelers team coming off a 21-day layoff, but they ran into further injury woes, leaving the rest of their year in question.

‘"We did not play well enough to win this football game, we did not play well enough in all areas," he continued. "Guys have to play better and coaches have to coach better in order for us to get this thing going."’

‘From coach Gregg Williams right down to the 53rd man on the roster, the Bills were angry at themselves. Probably angrier than the fans were at them. It’s about time.’