Two Bills Drive

‘Buffalo Bills special teams coach Ronnie Jones says he doesn’t read the newspapers or listen to the call-in shows. Smart man, that Mr. Jones. Because today’s nationwide analysis of his work during his brief time in Western New York would leave him wishing he got into a safer, less visible line of work. Like mortician. Wait. He’s already working with a bunch of stiffs. After yesterday’s 27-14 loss to the New York Jets, though, I’ve got a real good hunch Bruce DeHaven will be reading and listening. And gloating. It’s only right.’

‘No shows…Bills special teams: Horrendous. Pathetic. Pitiful. Pick a word and it fits for this group. There isn’t enough space in this newspaper to chronicle the foul-ups the Bills had in the kicking game, so if you didn’t see the game, take our word for it. Bad coverage, turnovers, penalties, a blocked field goal, forgetting to go on the field, it all happened. And amazingly, this came against the Jets, a team that also has been terrible on special teams this season.’

‘"It was a better 7-point lead," Coach Al Groh said. "The math reads the same but it was better for our heart."’

‘An ever-growing confident tribe that spun Buffalo for a loop, 27-14, yesterday at Giants Stadium. A tribe riddled with questions that so far has produced answers. With a 3-0 record, the Jets thus far are fulfilling a role rarely seen in sports. Off-season turmoil and chaos plus a new head coach nearly always mean slow, sluggish and meandering starts. The Jets, instead, have hit the ground in a peppy and productive stride. They have won three games in a style and manner that indicates the depth of their mentality, their fortitude. Apparently, a true tribe.’

‘Is this the touchdown ball or the game ball?" Kensil asked. "That’s the touchdown ball," Williams said. "I’ve got the game ball here in my bag." "Give me that one, too," Kensil said.’

‘"That’s ridiculous," said Bills coach Wade Phillips, who watched the 6-2 Coleman outjump three defenders in the back of the end zone. "We should’ve had everybody back on the goal line. They should be waiting for the ball instead of jumping for the ball. We just relaxed and it cost us."’

‘”It wasn’t about me,” Groh would say when it was over and the Jets had won 27-14, shutting out the Bills in the second half. “I didn’t do anything.” Sure he did. He coached his team the way he has coached it from the start, as if he has been coaching it for a long time.’

‘Coleman outleaped three Buffalo defenders to haul in a 45-yard floater from Vinny Testaverde on the last play of the first half yesterday, playing the same role Johnson once did in Hail Mary situations. The only difference was, it worked. "I think over in my career, I’ve only completed one Hail Mary pass and that was on the 2-yard line," Testaverde said. "This was the first time I completed one for a touchdown."’

‘If anything, the Jets have proven, in the short term at least, they can win without Johnson. The long term is a story yet to be written. But the Jets can at least play against Johnson with a little swagger knowing they have not crumbled without him and have started 3-0 for the first time since 1966.’

‘There are two ways to look at the Jets’ special teams performance in yesterday’s 27-14 victory over the Bills. Either they really took a step up after two disappointing weeks or they finally met a special teams unit that’s worse.’

‘On the surface, the Jets seem to have overcome the loss of Keyshawn Johnson. But at least one person begs to differ. That person is named Keyshawn Johnson.’

‘Special Teams: A+…A day of redemption. The stars were Kevin Williams (97-yard kickoff TD) and Chris Hayes (forced fumble, recovery).’

‘"Our confidence is pretty high," Jets’ cornerback Ray Mickens said. "I’d be lying if I said it was anything else. We’ve shown we can win on the road, at Lambeau, we’ve shown we’re a tough team."’

‘The Bills, playing all day like a kid sticking its hand in the fire, got burned, 27-14, in a contest decided largely by the kicking game.’

‘All touchdowns are worth six points on the scoreboard, but in the heart, clearly some are worth more than others. Marcus Coleman’s Hail Mary on the final play of the first half yesterday lifted the Jets’ spirits and ripped out the Bills’ guts in a 27-14 Gang Green win at Giants Stadium. Coleman’s 45-yard TD with no time on the clock sent the Jets into halftime with a 21-14 lead, and gave them all the momentum.’