Two Bills Drive

‘The New England Patriots are sick of Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie stealing their thunder.’

‘Bills win if … their defense continues to play superbly against the run, then doesn’t forget that Bledsoe can still be a very dangerous passer. Defensive balance is important today.’

‘The Patriots get a scheduling breather in the second half, but the game they really need to win is today’s against the 4-4 Buffalo Bills, one of the tougher teams they will face.’

‘Prediction: Buffalo 23, New England 18.’

‘Gash said rumors that players didn’t like Doug Flutie were unfounded.’

‘Thurman Thomas is gone. So are Bruce Smith and Andre Reed. Thomas Smith and Kurt Schulz have also departed. Antowain Smith and Jonathan Linton are on the bench and Phil Hansen is sidelined with a knee injury.’

‘Johnson is still Buffalo’s quarterback of the future. And when healthy, he is capable of putting up Pro Bowl numbers. Flutie simply wins more games.’

‘All but unnoticed, as usual, was the role Sam Cowart played in the victory.’

‘Sammy Morris is an unlikely heir to the Buffalo running back tradition of O.J. Simpson, Joe Cribb, and Thurman Thomas, but the rookie from Texas Tech has rushed for touchdowns in each of the Bills’ last four games.’

‘The pick: Bills by 3.’

‘"Every time I step on the field I have to prove to the world that I can play and make the people upstairs (Phillips and general manager John Butler) second-guess themselves," the 37-year-old quarterback said. "After all I’ve done, that’s discouraging."’

‘He was having a game of touch with nieces, nephews, and friends from his hometown of Natick; with relatives, and buddies from Buffalo, and former high-school teammates. "Don’t make a big deal out of this," he said that night, after I’d gone down to the field to talk with him. But it was a big deal.’

‘"He’s mammoth," the 320-pound Woody said of the 6-foot-5 Washington, who clearly is heavier than his listed program weight of 335 pounds. "Seeing someone bigger than me, that’s strange enough. But this man, whew, he’s one of the biggest dudes I’ve ever had to take on."’

‘But inside, the game within the professional game has left its mark. The snubs — whether they’re 10 years old or still fresh — are easily recalled and Flutie’s mind traces them casually like some veteran from a real war might.’

‘Here’s my pick. Pats 52, Bills 7…That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, fable though it may be.’