Two Bills Drive

‘"I told Coach Mora at halftime that we needed to kick into the wind in the third quarter so in the fourth quarter, when I kick the game-winner, we’ll have the wind," Vanderjagt said. "He’s like, "I don’t care how you do it, just go get it done.’ " He said, "I’m gonna kick the winner for ya,’ " Mora said. "I kinda laughed it off."’

‘If Indianapolis’ hair-raising, 18-16, last-play victory over Buffalo could be distilled down to one essential factor, it would be this: Johnson, for all his skills, is not yet up to winning a war of nerves against the Colts’ wonder quarterback, Peyton Manning.’

‘Sunday’s 18-16 win over the Buffalo Bills was a case in point. It wasn’t the greatest day for the Colts’ triplets. But when a pass needed to be completed, when a clutch run or catch had to be executed, they delivered.’

‘Kicker Steve Christie kicked three field goals in the first half, but he was miffed when coach Wade Phillips declined to attempt another on fourth-and-6 from the Colts’ 29 with about four minutes left in the third quarter and the Bills leading, 9-7. After Christie and holder Chris Mohr took a few steps onto the field for the 46-yard field-goal attempt, Phillips waved them back because he wanted to go for the first down. Christie threw up his hands and ripped off his helmet. "I told (special teams coach) Ronnie (Jones) I was ready to go, and Ronnie called for the field goal," Christie said. "But then Wade overruled him and kept us off. I was ready to go. "He said we were going for it and that was it. His call. I’ll just leave it at that."’

‘Unsung Heroes: The Colts’ defense. In spite of giving up the 40-yard TD pass, they held Buffalo to three field goals on first-half trips into the red zone, keeping the offense within striking distance the entire game.’

‘Thurman Thomas fired the first salvos in his upcoming battle with the Buffalo Bills, who visit his new team, the Miami Dolphins, on Sunday. In an interview with the Miami Herald published today, the Bills’ all-time leading rusher said he is itching to beat his former teammates in Miami. And he said he’s especially eager to take a few legal shots at a few teammates with whom he is unhappy.’

“But there are some other guys on that team and some other people in that organization I [Thurman Thomas] will not speak to or shake hands with. Those guys and the organization as a whole, every time I get the ball, I’m going to try to stick it [to them] and let them know I haven’t forgotten what happened this offseason.”…he has particularly strong enmity for three defensive players. Defensive end Phil Hansen, linebacker John Holecek and safety Henry Jones.’

‘"There was one minute, three seconds left," tailback Edgerrin James recalled of the drive that began at the Colts’ 31. "That’s way too much time for us."’

‘But yesterday, under sublime conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium, in a game decided by just two points, 18-16 in favour of the Colts, Bills’ head coach Wade Phillips passed up a 46-yard Christie attempt as the third quarter wound down, choosing unsuccessfully to leave quarterback Rob Johnson in on fourth-and-six from the Colts 29. A confused Johnson looking desperately to the sidelines, finally lined up in the shotgun, fumbling with the play-call. The clock ran out. The Bills were backed up another five yards, making it potentially a 51-yard attempt, still within Christie’s range. Instead, Chris Mohr hoofed a 34-yard punt deep into the endzone. The 12th man was angry. Fans booed. The Colts took over on their own 20 and marched 80 yards in 4:31 for the go-ahead touchdown, a 10-yard pass from Peyton Manning to Terrence Wilkins. They added a disputed two-point conversion, challenged by the Bills. "It was in-between as far as a field goal goes," Phillips explained. "It was fourth and four (sic). I thought we’d go for it. There was still plenty of time. A touchdown would have put them away." Actually, Wade, it was fourth and six. "I told (special teams coach) Ronnie (Jones), I was ready to go," an obviously disappointed Christie said. "But it’s (Phillips) call."’

‘Leading 9-7, the Bills had marched the ball into Colts territory and facing a fourth down and six from the Colts 29, helmet on, Christie looked for the signal for what would have been a 46-yard field goal attempt. Instead, Bills coach Wade Phillips opted to go for a first down, an ill-fated decision that looked sicker when quarterback Rob Johnson let the play-clock expire resulting in a delay of game penalty to force a punt.

"I said ‘yes’ (to special teams coach Ronnie Jones to go for a field goal) and Ronnie looked at Wade and Wade said no," Christie said, shrugging his shoulders. "He said `We’re going for it.’ It’s his call. That’s why he’s the head coach, let’s leave it at that."’

‘Through three quarters, the Bills had hogged the ball for 29 minutes and 56 seconds leaving it to the Colts for just 15:04. "It was tough early, but we hung in there," said Manning, who keyed a last-minute drive to set up Mike Vanderjagt’s 45-yard field goal for a 18-16 win as time expired. "We made just enough plays to win the game."’

‘The Bills were the better team throughout most of the game, which was far more entertaining than the low score would suggest. They fell short in the most crucial area — finishing off drives. The only time they managed to find the end zone was when they absolutely needed to.’

‘Bills center Jerry Ostroski spoke as though he were ready to apologize to his defensive mates. "I feel bad," Ostroski said. "I don’t even want to look our defense in the eye. It’s a damn joke. Our defense held that team to 18 points. That’s the second week in a row that our defense played lights out."’

‘You guys (the media) cloud the issues all the time," Ostroski said. "All that matters is that we have more wins, that’s it. If you win in this league, you’re successful; if you don’t win, you’re not, you’re yesterday’s news. "Personally, I don’t give a damn about the running game. We didn’t run it a lick in the first two games and we won both. I felt a hell of a lot better after those two games than I do right now."’

‘”They made more plays than we did, it’s as simple as that,” free safety Keion Carpenter said. “You can say it’s a good day holding them to whatever points, but obviously it wasn’t enough. We lost.” The Bills’ won the numbers game, but the Colts won the game because of more big plays. They were 2-for-2 in the red zone (inside the 20), with Manning firing two touchdown passes.’