Two Bills Drive

‘Mo Lewis yesterday racked up his second knockout of a quarterback in the past three games — and this week’s victim, Rob Johnson, thinks it was a cheap shot.’

‘Smartest play: The Bills opened the game with an onside kick by Jake Arians, which was recovered by DB Lance Brown at his own 41. The Bills ended up losing the ball on a fumble by RB Sammy Morris two plays later, but you have to love the aggressive attitude coach Gregg Williams brought into the game.’

‘"That gave us all a jolt," said defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell in his first visit to Buffalo since leaving the Bills to join Edwards’ Jets staff this year. "And we responded very positively. We got the turnover and that helped our offense."’

‘And backup quarterback Alex Van Pelt replaced starter Rob Johnson late in the first quarter and at times looked more comfortable in running the West Coast offense than either Johnson or the Jets’ Vinny Testaverde. The Bills gained 473 yards overall, 376 coming on Van Pelt’s watch.’

‘On the opposite sideline, the other AFC East team with a rookie coach and first-year West Coast attack is searching for answers. The Buffalo Bills fell to 0-4 after their 42-36 defeat to the Jets on Sunday, getting Buffalo off to its worst start since 1985, when Vince Ferragamo was the team’s starting quarterback.’

‘The Bills took solace in that they didn’t give up. The 36 points were one more than they scored in three previous games combined.’

‘The Buffalo Bills were in a giving mood and the New York Jets were eager to accept.’

‘Buffalo Bills quarterback Rob Johnson, struck in the back of the head by an elbow from Mo Lewis, pinched a nerve in his neck in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.’

"It’ll be strange coming up there and being on the other sideline, and dressing in the other locker room, and that’ll be strange for me," Cottrell said Thursday. "I’m quite sure I’m going to have some feelings. I don’t know what type of feelings, but I’m sure they’ll be some type of feelings going on."

‘Buffalobills.com sat down with Bills Director of Pro Personnel John Guy to find out what fans should look for and who to watch from the New York Jets Sunday. Guy, who advance scouts the opposition for the Bills, will provide some tips on what fans should look from New York and all throughout the 2001 season.’

"If you score three points, that can fall on more than just one person," Williams said. "I thought we played more of a wide open ballgame in the Indianapolis ballgame, and I think you’ll see him coached better [this week.] I’ve put it back on my own self and make sure he can’t be afraid to make a mistake in this game. He’s thrown four interceptions, and just one of them has been a bad throw – three of them should have been caught. That’s other people doing their specific job also, and I’ve got to a better job with him."

‘Both teams started the season with new headcoaches who were defensive specialists, with Buffalo hiring Gregg Williams from Tennessee, and New York hiring Herman Edwards from the Tampa Bay organization. With the new coaches bringing in new systems on offense and defense, the teams have sputtered out of the gate, and are looking to put all the pieces together this Sunday.’

‘The Bills’ 29th-ranked, no-name defense is led in tackling by cornerback Antoine Winfield, which tells the Jets all they need to know. Expect Vinny Testaverde to take aim downfield for receivers Wayne Chrebet and Laveranues Coles, who played the best of any Jet in Monday night’s loss to the 49ers.’

‘He could use one for numerous reasons: It might pacify a stadium full of fans growing skeptical of his ability to get the job done; it would increase the confidence level of teammates in him and the Bills’ offense; and, perhaps most importantly, it would bolster his own confidence.’

‘The Bills and Jets also have many of the same problems. Both have inconsistent offenses that have trouble scoring and their defenses rank at or near the bottom of the NFL in several categories.’