Two Bills Drive

‘It wasn’t the dominant win they may have wanted, but coming off three consecutive losses to divisional rivals, the Bills needed a win over the supposedly inept 0-6 San Diego Chargers like a starving man needs a free lunch. They almost blew it, giving up four sacks, two turnovers and 103 yards in penalties, performance glitches that offset 424 yards of total offence they were able to run up.’

‘Bills quarterback Rob Johnson will miss two to four weeks after separating his shoulder during Buffalo’s 27-24 overtime win over San Diego on Sunday.’

‘Set up by Henry Jones’ interception of Jim Harbaugh’s pass, Flutie marched the Bills 31 yards for Steve Christie’s 46-yard field goal with 6:34 remaining. Curiously, Christie got a second chance to win the game after his first attempt – which bounced off the right goalpost – didn’t count because the play had been called dead when Buffalo center Jerry Ostroski false-started. Christie’s second attmempt just sneaked over the bar.’

‘Flutie replaced starting quarterback Rob Johnson, who left after

landing on his right shoulder following a hit by Chargers

defensive end Neil Smith on the Bills’ first possession of

overtime. After the game it was revealed Johnson will be

sidelined two to four weeks with the injury.’

‘Cornerback DeRon Jenkins knows the Chargers were counting on him to be their version of a stopper after signing him to a three-year, $9.6 million deal in the offseason. He was supposed to shut down the opposing team’s leading wide receiver, or at least limit the number of big plays the receiver made. But more often than not Jenkins has been the one walking off the field with his head down and his spirits low during the game.’

‘And, really, is there a better poster boy for the 2000 Dead Bolts than the 2000 Conway? Like the Chargers, he entered the season with hype and hope. Like the Chargers, he has been unable to deliver on either count.’

‘Suddenly, Buffalo’s primary mission is just making the playoff … forget home-field advantage.’

‘[The Buffalo Bills] are 10-point favorites to end their three-game losing streak. But there’s no way [Junior] Seau will let the Chargers roll over and die.’

‘Maybe multiple formations are not the way to go with this lightly experienced bunch. Maybe doing away with the traditional fullback and using the tight ends as H-backs was too radical a change. Young pro players need a lot of coaching help. Joe Pendry, the Bills’ offensive coordinator, should have come to grips with this weeks ago.’

‘Outlook: Hard to see Chargers offense doing much. . . . Bills, 23-14.’

‘It’s only a matter of time before Doug Flutie is back in place as the Bills starting quarterback, even though there is no big push in western New York for him to replace Rob Johnson…Although Johnson has seven touchdown passes and only two interceptions, he’s been getting drilled with regularity, causing questions about his ability to remain healthy.’

‘No one is suggesting Wade Phillips, who has a 23-14 record as head coach in Buffalo, is on the way out. But a loss by the 10-point favourite Bills would seriously dent the playoff hopes of a team well known for its resilience.’

‘The Buffalo Bills haven’t won a game in four weeks. Their quarterback has taken too many hits. Their most proven running back wants out. And the offensive line is under fire. Looks like someone just answered 911. The San Diego Chargers are in town.’

‘"We’re not a good enough team right now to take anything for granted, and I hope myself, along with the coaches and the rest of my teammates understand that," [Phil] Hansen said.’

‘It’s Monday night in Rochester and time for the Wade Phillips Show on WHAM 1180, where fans have the only direct pipeline to the man in charge of the Buffalo Bills…It’s easy to speak to fans when things are going well, but when your team has lost three games in a row for the first time in two years, the natives can get restless. "Hopefully, this is the worst it gets," Phillips says. "But there are still people, the media, everybody, who will always say something is wrong, even when we’re winning. That’s just the way it is in society."’