Two Bills Drive

Manning prepared hard for this game. The extra motivation? He remembered what Bills coach Williams did as the DC of the Titans in 1999 when Tennessee eliminated the Colts from the playoffs. In fact, Manning spent a lot of time studying that two-year-old film, and many of his decisions Sunday were based on his studies.

‘And we thought the offense was the problem.’

Down 35-17 at halftime, the Bills, who weren’t completely out of it, never could get entirely back in, either. They went most of the second half without putting up a touchdown, finally hitting on a 40-yard pass from Rob Johnson to Peerless Price on a desperation, fourth-down play with 1:25 left.

‘"In the second half we were able to really push the pocket and make Johnson work harder," said defensive tackle Josh Williams, who had two sacks. "He’s so elusive and we did a good job of getting to him in the second half. It was the key to our win."’

‘On what was an All-America day at National Football League stadiums around the country, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning put on his best All-American performance Sunday in the RCA Dome.’

‘From that point on, the already sketchy officiating went down hill. Example – the final Bill’s TD, a result of a hail Mary pass by Johnson to the left corner of the endzone, was pulled in only after three players from each of the two teams committed every possible interference foul possible before anyone touched the ball.’

‘The comparisons to the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings of 1999 are already flying about like Manning-thrown footballs through the air. And they’re just as on target.’

‘Manning conducted a clinic titled "How to Attack a Blitzing Defense" in the Colts’ 42-26 victory over the Buffalo Bills at the RCA Dome. The Colts’ QB did more skewering, slicing and dicing in three hours than Emeril Lagasse does in a week. In one dizzying nine-minute span of the first half, Manning produced three touchdowns on six offensive plays. In dropping to 0-2, the Bills were filleted for 555 yards, the third-most yards allowed in team history. Manning hit 23 of 29 passes for 421 yards.’

‘Wide receiver Eric Moulds suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder in the first half of a 42-26 loss and did not return. "I took a little shot on it and it started swelling my chest up a little bit," said Moulds, who had a sling on to stabilize his heavily wrapped shoulder. "I couldn’t raise my arm up. I was going to play back on it in the second half, but I couldn’t raise my arm."’

‘It was only one play, but it was enough to show why the Buffalo Bills made cornerback Nate Clements their first-round selection in the April draft. Clements gave the Bills an early 7-0 lead when he intercepted a Peyton Manning pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown.’

‘Most yards allowed by the Bills: 598 at San Francisco W, 34-31 Sept. 13, 1992…559 at Seattle L, 17-56 Oct. 30, 1977…555 at Indianapolis L, 26-42 Sept. 23, 2001…’

‘And boy, did Jerry Gray have a bad day Sunday. The Colts made him look like a Pee Wee coach, like the rookie coordinator that he is.’

‘Armed with a lucrative new contract, the regular NFL officials returned Sunday. They made sure everyone noticed, calling 27 penalties for 192 yards. The Bills tied a team record with 19 penalties, and they deserved most of them.’

‘Indianapolis’ 42-26 victory was an exercise in offensive excess. The Colts piled up 555 yards. They averaged 9.3 yards a play. Aside from the first down of every series, they never huddled. They never punted.’

‘The Indianapolis Colts running back knew Buffalo would crowd the line of scrimmage with defensive manpower Sunday in the RCA Dome. "They weren’t going to let me run the ball if they could help it," he said, referring to the Bills’ tendency to crowd the line with safety support. And James knew one of the by-products of that pick-your-poison approach would be significant one-on-one opportunities for wide receiver Marvin Harrison. "Can’t play Marv one-on-one," said James. "Give him one-on-one, and Marv is dangerous. Today just showed it."’