Two Bills Drive

‘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.’

‘Bills rookie fifth-round draft pick Sammy Morris scored the game’s only touchdown on a six-yard second-quarter run. He finished with 142 total yards of offense, including 101 rushing yards.’

‘Christie added two more field goals, including a 33-yarder with 27 seconds left. He was injured on the second kick when Allen Rossum hit him low and late and needed to be helped off the field.’

‘The Eagles finished their four-game preseason with a 16-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills in a battle of second- and third-teamers at the Vet last night. The Eagles managed only four David Akers field goals and were kept out of the end zone by the Bills’ scrubs.’

‘Both teams were set on getaway mode, clearly more interested in killing three-plus hours and getting on to the regular season than in playing football against each other.’

‘About the most intriguing development at the Eagles’ preseason yawn against the visiting Buffalo Bills last night occurred hours before the first snap. A banner was unfurled in a corner once strictly reserved for cynicism and despair. "Big Red Has Restored Competence," it read, and, heralds should note, no one howled. Followers of the Bills might have had trouble with the cryptic message, but surely no fan of the feel-good Eagles could have.’

‘Special teams tasted like a delicacy for the Eagles in the first half of last night’s game against the Buffalo Bills at Veterans Stadium. That was not the case, however, in the fourth quarter.’

‘As expected, Bills coach Wade Phillips didn’t play many of his starters. Quarterback Rob Johnson and star wide receiver Eric Moulds remained on the sideline, as did starting tight end Jay Riemersma. Running back Antowain Smith, who is coming off an injury, saw limited action. Defensive end Marcellus Wiley, the man who made Bruce Smith expendable, also played more because he was coming off an injury.’

‘So the 50,000 or so who stewed in a sticky Veterans Stadium last night saw a lot of Alex Van Pelt, who played a lot as you’d expect Alex Van Halen to play. Football, not the drums.’

‘On the Eagles first play from scrimmage, Antoine Winfield went deep. Donovan McNabb danced in the pocket, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet like the prime Muhammad Ali shadow-boxing. The pass was a 55-yard frozen rope. You could have hung Ed Wade’s bad trades on it. Antoine Winfield made a pretty diving catch. For the Buffalo Bills, that is.’