Two Bills Drive

‘"We knew it would be tough sledding in there but they lost a couple of players throughout the course of the game. That helped us a little bit."’

‘Buffalo linebacker Sam Cowart could be sidelined for a month after spraining his ankle in the Bills’ 31-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.’

‘Warrick Dunn became the first runner to gain 100 yards on the Bills (7-5) this season, rushing for 106 and two touchdowns, while Karl Williams scored on a 73-yard punt return for the Bucs (7-5).’

‘The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Bills (7-5),

who outgained the Bucs, 433-181, but allowed a 100-yard rusher

for the first time this season.’

‘If Rob Johnson thought he saw a pass rush on the road last Sunday at Kansas City, wait until this afternoon.’

‘It probably needs to be dominating, because the Bills’ offense is likely to struggle against a Tampa Bay defense that has been the best in the NFC over the past two years.’

‘When in doubt, trust the Bills’ linebackers. It’s an old tradition.’

‘The undrafted free agent nobody wanted to waste a draft pick on is now tied for the AFC lead in interceptions with five. He has picked off three passes the past two games, including one to ice last week’s victory in Kansas City.’

‘Bucs 16, Bills 10.’

‘Now in his 17th year as an NFL assistant and third season as the Bills secretary of defense, Cottrell has done a masterful job of putting players in position to make plays.’

‘Miami, Buffalo, Indianapolis and the New York Jets could all be tied by late this afternoon with 8-4 records should the Bills beat the Buccaneers, the Jets beat Chicago and Indianapolis beats Miami.’

‘Although a victory today in Tampa Bay would be huge, a loss would not kill the Bills because the Bucs are a NFC team and this game would not matter in the myriad of playoff tiebreakers.’

‘"I expect to run the table, starting with Buffalo," ferocious Bucs tackle Warren Sapp said this week. "Whatever stadium they let us play in, let’s go get it done."’

‘"The saddest part is we play at the highest professional level of football and a high school team has more bare (offensive) plays than we do."’

‘The Bucs have 43 sacks, one off the team record (44 in 1997). Odds are, the new record will be set today against the Buffalo Bills at Raymond James Stadium.’