Two Bills Drive

‘Despite the long ball returning to Buffalo’s offense this preseason under quarterback Rob Johnson, don’t expect the Bills to stop using the run to set up the pass. "We won’t ever be a passing team first. The character of our team is to establish the run and pound it out and throw off that," Johnson said.’

‘After rookie Avion Black had two muffed punt tries last week against St. Louis, coach Wade Phillips used second-year pro Peerless Price against the Eagles. Price, a feared return man at Tennessee, promptly fumbled his first return that Philadelphia recovered to set up a field goal. Phillips wouldn’t say who he’ll use against the Titans, but expressed confidence in Price. "I think we can count on him if we need to," he said.’

‘If you wondered why Wade Phillips didn’t even dress a handful of his starting Buffalo Bills for last night’s preseason finale in Philadelphia, all you had to do was watch the final 27 seconds. That’s when Steve Christie, after kicking a 33-yard field goal, was accidentally hit in the knee by an Eagles’ defender unsuccessfully diving for a block.’

‘The outcome was a triumph for the Bills for a reason more important than the final score. They finished the game without any significant injuries.’

‘There are 4,500 tickets remaining for the Buffalo Bills’ season opener against Tennessee on Sept. 3 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the team reported…The Bills are home in Week Two against Green Bay on Sept. 10. A couple thousand tickets are left for that one. They visit the New York Jets in Week Three and then have a bye. They return home on Oct. 1 against AFC East champion Indianapolis. A few thousand tickets remain for that game as well.’

‘Playoff forecast: Fair to good. Buffalo had a quality team last year and should be talented again. If the Bills find leadership and Johnson proves his worth, Buffalo should be in the thick of the playoff hunt.’

‘Aside from a sprained hand suffered by Antoine Winfield, call it a successful evening for Phillips, and as an added bonus, the Bills defeated the Eagles 16-12. With eight starters — five on offense, three on defense — not even in uniform, the Bills’ reserves had plenty of opportunities to make one last impression before the final cut is made this weekend.’

‘Buffalo running back Sammy Morris, a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas Tech, carried 27 times for 102 yards and caught two passes for 41 yards. He also scored the game’s only touchdown on a 6-yard run.’

‘Indeed, if you blinked — or got caught in traffic — you most certainly missed McNabb, who was gone after all of four plays — among them an interception and a sack, along with a 3-yard pass to Torrance Small. You watched one Duce Staley run — for one yard. For fans forced to shell out an average $50 a pop for their seats for this fiasco, that adds up to $12.50 per play from the starting backfield. What was that line P.T. Barnum said about suckers born?’

‘On a busy off-the-field night when there were talks of a trade and a starter from last year was re-signed, the biggest and most significant move was made on the field by Andy Reid. It happened when the cautiously correct Eagles’ coach wisely took quarterback Donovan McNabb out of the last game of summer with 9:11 left in the first quarter. The second-year quarterback, who can carry the heavy hopes of the franchise on only healthy legs, left the Eagles’ preseason finale after just four offensive plays. Some might argue that was four plays too many in an uneventful 16-12 loss to Buffalo at Veterans Stadium. Bills coach Wade Phillips didn’t play his starter Rob Johnson a snap.’

‘Billy Conaty (Camden Catholic) is the backup center. Conaty, who grew up in Pennsauken, is in his fourth year with the Bills out of Virginia Tech.’

‘If there was a hero in the Buffalo Bills 16-12 victory over the Eagles at Veterans Stadium, it was visiting quarterback Alex Van Pelt, who started and played into the fourth quarter of truly a nothing game.’

‘Last night the Eagles started McNabb, but went to Koy Detmer after just two possessions with one interception and one three-yard completion. Detmer promptly went 0-for-4 in three series, one of which didn’t net a yard on three pops from the Browns’ [sic] 25-yard line, after the Eagles recovered a fumbled punt.’

‘Special teams miscues cost the Eagles a shot at the win. David Akers accounted for all 12 Eagles points with four field goals but missed a 36-yarder in the final minutes. Allen Rossum followed by fumbling a punt.’

‘The game itself fell into the hands of backups. The Bills did not dress starting quarterback Rob Johnson, guard Joe Panos, top wide receiver Eric Moulds and a host of others, including Catasauqua High grad Jonathan Linton.’