Two Bills Drive

‘For the first time since 1966, when a fellow named Namath was their quarterback, the New York Jets find themselves 3-0. :That’s a long time to not be 3-0," Jets cornerback Marcus Coleman said with a grin Sunday shortly after his team dumped the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills 27-14, a win in which Coleman was an unlikely hero. "But I’ll tell you what. We’re not going to stop at 3-0. We’re going to keep this thing going."’

‘Come November, this is one of those games the Buffalo Bills will look back on with regret. The scoreboard at Giants Stadium on Sunday afternoon read: Jets 27, Bills 14. But Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson didn’t see it as a New York victory. "We feel we gave the game away," he said. "We didn’t lose it."’

‘Jones, the Bills first-year special teams coach emphasized he’s not one to make excuses. But he did have some explanations why his unit gave up a 97-yard kickoff return to Kevin Williams. “It’s really a trickle down effect with special teams when you lose someone off the starting units,” Jones said. “For instance, we lost Sam Rogers, so Corey Moore becomes a starter. Then he gets hurt. Now, you’ve got guys shuffling around playing different positions that they haven’t taken reps at. “Because you’re very limited on your numbers going into a game, so you’re coaching guys on the run,” he continued. “(On the touchdown return) it was a breakdown of one player that didn’t read the return right. It’s a return we worked on all week, there was nothing tricky about it. “Everyone came down and worked to the right, one guy worked to the left, there was a crease there, then a missed tackle or two and it’s off to the races,” Jones added.’

‘When the Buffalo Bills’ special teams unraveled in last season’s playoff game, low-lighted by the ‘Music City Miracle’ kickoff return that turned victory into defeat, there had to be a scapegoat. Sure enough, shortly afterward, DeHaven became the ex-Bills special teams coach. And when his replacement, Ronnie Jones, was hired, head coach Wade Phillips made it clear that he would be ‘more involved’ in that aspect of the game. Thank goodness. Imagine how badly the Bills would have lost on Sunday afternoon had he not had a hand in the not-so-special teams.’

‘Maybe it shouldn’t have been, but it was an easy victory for the New York Jets over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. That’s because the Bills made it easy. "We shot ourselves in the foot too many times," Bills safety Keion Carpenter said.’

‘As the Bills players looked around the locker room afterward, they were forced to admit one thing: We have found the enemy, and the enemy is us.’

‘Nobody has to tell Ronnie Jones what’s coming this week. He knows. The Buffalo Bills’ rookie special teams coach expects to be the target of criticism from the media and fans after his unit contributed greatly to the team’s 27-14 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. However, Jones claims he won’t see or hear any of it. "No offense, but I don’t read newspapers, which is probably a good thing this week," he said outside the Bills’ locker room. "I don’t listen to talk shows. I’m not a total idiot, so I know when we didn’t do well." Saying the Bills didn’t do well on special teams is putting it mildly. The kickoff coverage, ranked 29th in the NFL before Sunday, has been lousy since the preseason and it does not appear to be improving.’

‘Before the Bills went to training camp, coach Wade Phillips said he intended "to become involved in the special teams." Wade wouldn’t want to have his fingerprints discovered on this game.’

‘A bad day for the Buffalo Bills was made even worse as tight end Jay Riemersma and linebackers Corey Moore and John Holecek left Giants Stadium with potentially serious injuries.’

‘Big Picture: The Bills are out of first place in the AFC East, out of the undefeated ranks and, for 13 days, out of chances to redeem themselves for a shoddy performance in the Jersey Meadowlands.’

‘It was as if the Jets’ determined grab for their first 3-0 start in 34 years took on human form. There was cornerback Marcus Coleman, streaking out of the slot on the last play of the first half and out-leaping five Buffalo Bills defensive players to pull down Vinny Testaverde’s 45-yard heave. It was a Keyshawn Johnson-type catch made by a fifth-year cornerback who now counts as many touchdown catches this season as the team’s former receiving star. Though the Jets would get two John Hall field goals in the second half, it was Coleman’s game-turning touchdown that lifted the Jets to their feel-good, 27-14 victory yesterday.’

‘Last year, Kevin Williams was lying in a hospital bed. He wasn’t wondering if he was going to play football again. He was worried that he was going to die.’

‘The last time the Jets were 3-0, Star Trek was a hot new show on television and William Shatner was a slim young star with a full head of hair.’

‘"Well, obviously it was a disastrous game for us," coach Wade Phillips understated. "I don’t think I’ve been in a game where we’ve made quite that many mistakes." Good thing, because Phillips’ insides would be devoured by ulcers.’

‘Despite having seven men in the secondary, including three surrounding Coleman in the end zone, the Bills somehow allowed Coleman to catch the ball which provided the Jets a 21-14 lead at the intermission.’