Two Bills Drive

‘It was the day the Music City miracle died. Any possible reprise at the Ralph ended with a wide and short 60-yard field goal attempt by strong-legged punter Craig Hentrich which helicoptered left as drained Bills defenders held heads in hands and spun to the ground in relief. The demons were finally exorcised, winging skyward in the exact opposite direction from where four pre-game parachutes had descended.’

‘Tennessee had no game-ending miracle this time, as a last-ditch, 60-yard field goal attempt by Craig Hentrich sailed wide left and appeared short. The Bills won, 16-13, exacting at least a small measure of revenge for the Music City Miracle as Steve Christie nailed a 32-yard field goal with :35 on the clock.’

‘The Titans wanted to pay tribute to their special teams coach, Alan Lowry, who didn’t make the trip here after chest pains prompted a heart procedure midweek. So Tennessee didn’t introduce its offense or its defense, but its special teams last night before kicking off the regular season with a rematch of last season’s Wild Card Game matchup, won with the Music City Miracle. Those who recognized it at sold out Ralph Wilson Stadium surely saw it as the Titans taking advantage of one last opportunity before kickoff to rub Home Run Throw Back into Western New York’s collective face.’

‘Steve Christie’s 33-yard field goal with 31 seconds left was the difference, but in the end dropped balls, mental errors and overall lackluster play on the offensive end prevented the Titans with a chance to start the season on a positive note. "It was very frustrating," Titans quarterback Steve McNair said. "They did a lot of things to stop us and we just could never get started. But Buffalo has a good defense and you have to give them credit — they did what we had to do and we didn’t."’

‘But for all of Johnson’s talent — a powerful arm to go with good mobility — he will stand in the pocket until he is virtually out of time. In his previous 16 games before last night, he had been sacked 37 times — that’s 2.3 sacks per Johnson game. That isn’t counting all of the hits he has taken on throws that actually made it out of his right hand. "You see what [Johnson] went through," Van Pelt said. "He’s as tough as they come." "I think Rob has shown us he’s our quarterback," said Bills linebacker Sam Cowart. "Just with the way he has approached things. We know he’s going to be there and try to make some things happen."’

‘Home Run Throw Back now has been replaced by Buffalo Bills’ payback. Next, we’ll see how the Titans come back.’

‘After the Titans tied it with 9:44 showing, Alex Van Pelt replaced a gimpy Johnson and eventually drove the Bills down for a Steve Christie field goal with 31 seconds left. It went down to the wire. This time, the Titans were fresh out of miracles.’

‘Of all the variations on the theme, the best sign inside Ralph Wilson Stadium was hand-lettered on a large piece of cardboard: "Home Run Throw Up!" First runner-up: "NFL — No Forward Laterals."’

‘Rushing offense – F – Ineffective night for Eddie George (17 carries for 37 yards). The Titans were too stubborn with it when things didn’t open up late in the game. On their own 14-yard line with 2:37 they ran him three times and punted.’

‘New season. Same drama. New outcome. Finally, perhaps, the Buffalo Bills can look ahead and stop replaying "The Music City Miracle." "I hope so," Bills quarterback Rob Johnson said Sunday night after Buffalo edged Tennessee 16-13 in a rematch of last year’s AFC wild card playoff game, won by the Titans on the final play. "How sweet it is," Buffalo coach Wade Phillips said. "Not revenge, but victory."’

‘With the Buffalo Bills watching in horror, the Tennessee Titans almost provided a flashback to "Home Run Throwback." The Bills survived Derrick Mason’s long kickoff return and held on for a 16-13 victory over the Titans in a rematch of their thrilling and controversial playoff meeting from last season.’

‘When the league formula dictated that the Bills and Titans would meet this season, the game was booked for the first week … reintroducing that bizarre finish, but at least getting it out of the way in the opener. Even now, some Buffalo fans swear the Bills were jobbed on the play … that Wycheck’s toss was illegal and not a lateral at all. And they’ve found in ally in coach Wade Phillips who has his own name for the memorable play: "Home Run Throw Forward." But, of all people, he has a sympathizer in his Tennessee counterpart. "I just think it’s just his opinion of the play," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher when asked if Phillips’ contention smacked of sour grapes. "I often times put myself in (his) shoes and can only imagine how he feels. After playing the way his team did … having the season his team had … and the expectations they had… to come down to what they thought it took to win the ball game and have it end like that … I could only begin to understand how he feels. I’m sure a lot of people in that organization haven’t had a good night’s sleep since it happened." Especially, since Fisher thought the game was lost with 16 seconds to go.’

‘The electricity on the sidelines was enough to make one’s hair stand on end. The Buffalo Bills had taken what seemed like the best haymakers the Tennessee Titans could throw for three hours. They had seen teammate after teammate get carted off the field. Both starting tackles were injured. Running back Antowain Smith hobbled off. Linebacker Marlo Perry broke his leg and went off on a stretcher. Yet they had hung together. They had fought back. Here they were, in the loudest stadium in the NFL, Adelphia Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn. It had been a madhouse all afternoon, but all of a sudden it was dead quiet. Half their teammates on the sideline had just mobbed Steve Christie, whose 41-yard field goal gave the Bills a 16-15 lead. Sixteen seconds remained as they gathered to hear special teams coach Bruce DeHaven tell them how Christie would kick off. Their adrenaline was off the charts. "Everybody was jacked," said Christie. "I had another coach in the league tell me that if you think those guys heard anything you said in that huddle before you went out, you’re crazy," said DeHaven this week from his San Francisco 49ers office. "I’m not sure I totally agree with that." What happened next, of course, is NFL history.’

‘A victory over the AFC Champion Tennessee Titans would do a lot more than exact a tiny measure of revenge for last January’s Music City Miracle. It would give a surprising boost to the Bills’ expectations for the season and send a message to the football world that they are serious playoff contenders.’

‘Antowain Smith can almost hear the whispers coming from the fans. He knows there are two younger players pushing from behind. They might have better instincts. They might have more ability. They might take his job someday soon. Everywhere he turns, he knows there are people doubting whether he should still play a significant role for the Buffalo Bills this season, as if his time here has come and gone. It seems everyone in his world is lurking, waiting for him to make one false move, so they can replace him with Shawn Bryson or Jonathan Linton. No doubt, this is a pivotal year in Smith’s career. He started thinking about the importance of this, his fourth NFL season, moments after the Tennessee Titans ended the Bills’ season last year with that fluke kickoff return. His effectiveness this year could very well decide whether he has another one with the Bills. And nobody is more clear about Smith’s future than Antowain Smith himself.’