Two Bills Drive

‘Close doesn’t count in the National Football League.’

‘But even as Buffalo left the field after a 23-20 victory over the New York Jets here, with a Bruce Springsteen anthem blaring in the background — perhaps a reminder to the players and fans that this is a franchise whose recent history has been primarily positive — there was a glimmer of hope the 4-4 team might yet amount to something more than just run-of-the-mill Bills this season.’

"Doug probably played his best game ever against the Jets," Phillips said. "He made plays. He showed he’s still got it. And with two minutes to play, he takes us down the field and wins the game for us. That’s the sign of a good quarterback." And a good quarterback – not to mention some semblance of a running game, plus a defense that will stiffen rather than snap down the stretch of games – is what the Bills (4-4) will need to sneak into the playoffs.’

‘The fourth-quarter magic belonged to Buffalo, not the New York Jets, this time, as Steve Christie’s last-second 34-yard field goal gave the Bills a 23-20 victory before 72,861 in Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon.’

‘The New York Jets were in position to write another chapter in their fairy tale season and close the book on the Buffalo Bills’ playoff hopes Sunday afternoon. But then the Bills did what they had failed to do too often the past month – they found a way to win.’

‘Last week, strong safety Henry Jones apologized to the Buffalo Bills’ offense for the defense’s lack of support against the Minnesota Vikings. Sunday against the New York Jets, he made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat.’

‘The Jets’ first-year coach repeatedly referred to his team as "an easy mark" following a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. New York committed four turnovers, including three in the first half by quarterback Vinny Testaverde. Safety Henry Jones returned one of Testaverde’s interceptions 45 yards for a touchdown.’

‘There’s an adage in sports: "If you have a big gun, then shoot it."’

‘The fact is the Jets gradually became overrated. These guys might have been 6-1 going into the game on a sunny Sunday at The Ralph, but they weren’t a 6-1 team.’

‘The Buffalo Bills won a game Sunday, but lost a key member of their defense. Defensive end Phil Hansen suffered a sprained right knee that will sideline him from four to six weeks, according coach Wade Phillips.’

‘Player of the Game: Bills linebacker Sam Cowart recovered two fumbles and recorded a team-high 11 tackles.’

‘This time it was Doug Flutie who made the critical third-down throw. This time it was the Bills’ defense that forced four turnovers that resulted in 13 points. This time it was Bills kicker Steve Christie who came through in the closing seconds.’

‘On one of the biggest plays of the game against the Buffalo Bills yesterday, the Jets’ troubling free-safety position betrayed them once again. Scott Frost, a quarterback-turned-safety who received the starting nod over Kevin Williams, was beaten on a 52-yard bomb from Doug Flutie to wideout Eric Moulds that gave the Bills a first-and-goal on the Jets’ 1-yard line midway through the fourth quarter.’

‘His five catches for 131 yards in yesterday’s 23-20 loss in Buffalo gives Coles 15 receptions for 239 yards in the Jets’ past three games.’

‘"That showed the magic is still there, certainly," Phillips said. "The Jets contained him pretty well. They know a lot about our spreads. But he still made the plays."’