Two Bills Drive

‘The Jets have reached deep into their stash of magic dust this season. They sprinkled it liberally over four fourth-quarter comeback victories and buried the Dolphins with it last Monday night. When the Jets went for another handful today, they came up empty.’

‘Yesterday the Jets fell behind a desperate Bills team but, after tying the score, ran out of comebacks. Was this a blip or an omen?’

‘Coach Al Groh of the Jets expressed concern about the play of his safeties last week, and today he made a change in his lineup by giving Scott Frost, a former quarterback, his first start at safety after a three- year conversion process. Frost took over for Kevin Williams, who had won the job after a three-way competition in training camp. But Williams struggled in the regular season and was dropped to third in the rotation today, behind Chris Hayes. The switch did not solve the Jets’ problems in the secondary. Frost and Marcus Coleman were defending Bills receiver Eric Moulds when he split them and caught a 52-yard pass down the left side. Coleman said both he and Frost were at fault. That led to a field goal that put the Bills ahead by 20-17 in the fourth quarter.’

‘Sure enough, when the Jets reached into that trusty top hat of theirs, they pulled out a skunk, not a rabbit. "We couldn’t make that miracle run this time," strong safety Victor Green after the Jets’ 23-20 loss.’

‘The Bills didn’t expect rookie Laveranues Coles to catch five passes for 131 yards yesterday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Truth is, they didn’t expect him to do much of anything.’

‘Bills coach Wade Phillips will be faced with the same dilemma he had last year before the playoffs, when Flutie had guided the team to a 10-6 record in place of an injured Johnson but Phillips sent Johnson out against Tennessee in the playoffs.’

‘But on a day when they didn’t need any heroics or pyrotechnics to secure a victory, when an ordinary, mistake-free football game would have been enough, the Jets came up short. Like a wet roman candle, the Jets fizzled after they had sizzled against Miami on Monday night.’

‘Jets coach Al Groh, who made it clear last week that he was disenchanted with the play at both safety positions, benched FS Kevin Williams and started Scott Frost yesterday against the Bills. Frost, in his first NFL start, was victimized on one of the biggest plays in the Jets’ 23-20 loss at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Frost was burned by WR Eric Moulds on a 52-yard reception in the fourth quarter, resulting in a Buffalo field goal. Frost, responsible for deep coverage, let Moulds get behind him. CB Marcus Coleman also was involved in the coverage.’

‘Curtis Martin had no running room, but that’s no excuse for his killer fumble in the fourth quarter. It’s never easy for him against the Bills.’

‘The Jets’ charmed-life magic carpet ride tumbled to earth yesterday, much like a barrel helplessly free-falling down nearby Niagara Falls. The Jets’ 23-20 loss to the Bills at jam-packed Ralph Wilson Stadium was proof that, late in the game with the result hanging in the balance, it is possible to shoot the Jets dead.’

‘Laveranues Coles is fast becoming a legitimate pro receiver and a significant factor in the Jet offense. The rookie receiver had a career day in yesterday’s 23-20 loss to the Bills, catching five passes for 131 yards.’

‘The Jets are a better team than the Bills, but the better team did not win yesterday, and the better team deserved to lose, 23-20, at the bitter end.’

‘Martin, too, was held to a season-low 46 rushing yards on 18 carries (a paltry 2.6-yard average). When Al Groh was asked why the Jets had so much difficulty running the ball, he said, "They (the Bills) beat the blocks. That is what usually stops runs."’

‘The "Team of Destiny" was doing it again. A 10-point deficit had been erased. The stage was set for another flick of the green-and-white magic wand. But someone forgot to pack enough stardust and trick- play potion for this trip to Buffalo. Just when the Jets appeared ready to put the finishing touches on another storybook ending, they ran out of magic. Either that, or Doug Flutie and the Bills hijacked their supply.’

‘"One of the things I believe is turnovers will cause you to lose," Jets coach Al Groh said. "That was confirmed today. Every time one goes on the ground, I feel like it’s a step in that direction. It’s hard to overcome four of those."’