Two Bills Drive

‘The Buffalo Bills pulled out all the stops Sunday night. They introduced their new mascot, Billy Buffalo. Four parachutists, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, landed on the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf. Shoot, even Sharon Jones, the team’s personal good-luck charm, sang the National Anthem as fireworks lit up the night sky. And did I mention the white pom-poms, which were handed out to the 72,492 wired fans? It was a pregame befitting a Super Bowl. Alas, it resembled one. Offensively, anyway.’

‘Someone get Don King. Find a squared circle in Manilla. The Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills are ready for one more "Thrilla." Sunday, before 72,492 at Ralph Wilson Stadium and a national television audience, the Bills evened what suddenly looks like one of sport’s best rivalries 16-13.’

‘By now, the mode of operation for the Tennessee Titans should be quite familiar. Recent history has taught us that any team coached by Jeff Fisher will rely on a stingy defense, a conservative offense, and the notion that if you keep the game close and don’t make mistakes you can pull the victory out in the end. It didn’t work Sunday night in the 16-13 season-opening loss to the Bills.’

‘This time the Tennessee Titans did not adopt a "show-me" approach. Instead, they decided to show an inexperienced quarterback all manner of pressure to see if he could handle it. He did, but not for a full 60 minutes.’

‘And per usual for the Bills, who led the NFL in overall and passing defense last season, the defense can be credited with the victory. "We’ve got a great defense," Phillips said. "They are capable of doing great things." Indeed, the Bills did just that against the Titans, who could muster only 172 yards of total offense and nine first downs.’

‘The Tennessee Titans’ special teams nearly did it to the Buffalo Bills again. Buffalo avenged its loss in last January’s Wild Card playoff contest 16-13 Sunday but only after it held on against the surging Titans’ special teams.’

‘The popular tailgate T-shirt at Ralph Wilson Stadium read "Wide Right, No Goal, Forward Lateral – Screwed Again." Those eight simple words sum up Buffalo’s infamous history staring at the horse’s rear instead of being perched atop the saddle. The Wide Right refers to Norwood’s field goal from Super Bowl XXV and the "No Goal" references the 1999 Stanley Cup finals when Dallas beat Buffalo on a controversial goal call. The Forward Lateral kept brooding Bills fans waiting for this rematch since the depths of winter, and the game didn’t disappoint.’

‘But, as Phillips concluded, “All games are important … but certainly this one could be down the line if we have the kind of team we want later on. Any tiebreaker, and they’d have to come back here.” But, given their druthers, the Bills have seen enough of the Titans for this season.’

‘The Bills are tied with the New York Giants with the most "home grown" players on their roster with 40. The Bills have 31 draftees on their 53-man squad, plus nine undrafted free agents. Tennessee and Pittsburgh have the most draftees on their rosters, 33. And New Orleans and Miami have the fewest "home grown" players with 23.’

‘It was sweet revenge for the home fans, who saw the Titans end the Bills’ playoff hopes in the first round last year. The faithful came early to the parking lots around the stadium in Orchard Park and partied hearty.’

‘The Buffalo Bills scored a little Throwback Payback Sunday night against the Tennessee Titans. The new-look Bills opened the 2000 season with a dramatic 16-13 victory over the defending AFC champions. But it wasn’t easy.’

‘For those who thought the Buffalo Bills defense was going to take a fall this season, the guys on that side of the football had a rejoinder Sunday night. We’re still standing.’

‘"We looked like the best defense in the league again tonight," said coach Wade Phillips.’

‘Bills linebacker Keith Newman had two sacks in his first NFL start. The second one pinned the Titans deep in their own territory and allowed the Bills good field position in the third quarter. FYI: Gabe Northern, Newman’s predecessor, was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers after training camp.’

‘"Our defense played well the entire game except that one pass to Moulds at the end," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We couldn’t run the ball. We didn’t convert on third down. And we dropped too many passes. "Now we’ve got to dig ourselves out of this hole."’