Two Bills Drive

‘"The catches I did get were key," said Ward, who averaged 13.3 yards per catch in his first three seasons with the Steelers but averaged 8.8 yards yesterday. "They kept the chains going."’

‘"Us being off for 21 days had something to do with it, but they added gas to the fire," Flowers said. "We came out to stretch, and they were still doing their kicking drills. That was total disrespect. And there were things said in the paper (by the Bills) about, ‘The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming in, we should win this game.’ We were just (ticked) off, man. We played very physical, we played very mad. "I think (defensive backs coach) Willie Robinson said it best, ‘Play (ticked) off the whole game.’ That’s what we did."’

‘TURNING POINT: Steelers coach Bill Cowher gambles and allows Kris Brown to attempt a 52-yard field goal with 8:55 left in the game and the Steelers nursing a 10-3 lead. A miss would have given the Bills the football only 58 yards from the tying touchdown. When Brown was successful, though, it ended all Buffalo hope. At that point, the Bills’ anemic offense needed two scores.’

‘He was taught, he told us, that when he has nothing good to say about something, he says nothing at all.’

‘They sounded much more resigned than encouraged, which isn’t a good sign. "Hopefully, we’ll get better," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said of a passing game that netted all of 100 yards in a 20-3 victory over the Bills on Sunday.’

‘The Bills lost offensive left tackle Kris Farris, a former Steelers player, to a gruesome broken leg in the first quarter. The injury occurred when running back Travis Henry fell into Farris, who had his back turned and his leg planted on the artificial turf while he was blocking Bell. Farris, whose leg crumpled from the impact, had season-ending surgery last night in which doctors inserted a rod to stablize the limb. He also missed his entire rookie season with the Steelers in 1999 with a foot injury.’

‘Cornerback Dewayne Washington did what the Pittsburgh Steelers offense had trouble doing — scoring a touchdown. It was enough to beat the struggling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.’

‘He was to have surgery Sunday night and could be out for the season.’

‘Jerome Bettis added 114 yards rushing for the Steelers (1-1), who suffocated Rob Johnson and the Buffalo offense en route to their first win of the season.’

‘Play by agonizing play.’

Cornerback Dewayne Washington did what the Pittsburgh Steelers offense had trouble doing — scoring a touchdown. It was enough to beat the struggling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.’

‘The Steelers are a notch below the caliber of the Bills’ first two opponents – New Orleans and Indianapolis – so there is a legitimate opportunity for the Bills to rebound from their 0-2 start before a flag-waving, sellout crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium. But the Bills’ new offense, which is still trying to find its bearings, enters the game hobbling, and the Steelers’ defense is better than a lot of people realize.’

‘If ever there were two teams anxious to get back on the field, they are the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They get their wish today at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The challenge he’s facing now is different than chasing future Heisman Trophy winners or lowering his forearm on some unsuspecting wideout who dared stray between the hash marks. Gray is in his first season as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, a position that places him under an intense spotlight that can be tough to bear. He knew there were going to be doubters when the Bills abandoned the 3-4 defense they had used successfully since 1979 in favor of the 4-3. He knew some people were going to ask questions about the change, especially after the Bills had the third-ranked defense last year following a season in which they were ranked No. 1. Molding the unit in his resilient image is even more daunting minus steadfast veterans like Marcellus Wiley, Ted Washington, John Holecek and Sam Rogers. Now Sam Cowart, the pulse of the group, is down for the year with a partially torn right Achilles tendon.’

‘I have to cackle at Buffalo Bills’ fans. One medium-sized pratfall and they think the football world has gone into permanent eclipse.’