Two Bills Drive

‘Linton, who has not carried the ball yet this year has been limited to special teams play while recovering from a rib injury, will take over for Antowain Smith following the bye week when the Bills host AFC East Division rival Indianapolis on Oct. 1. "We wanted to give Jonathan the opportunity," coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday. "We’re fortunate to have a number of quality backs that can help us win games and this is Jonathan’s chance to show what he can do as the starter."’

‘While the Bills rushed for only 80 yards in New York, significantly they averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Even more prophetically, it appears there’s been a switch at feature back. Against the Jets, Antowain Smith had only five carries for 13 yards, none in the final 28 minutes of the game. His place was taken by Shawn Bryson, last year’s third-round draft choice, who had 12 carries for 40 yards and lost a 21-yard run on a procedure penalty that had nothing to do with the gain. Through three games, Smith has a microscopic 72 yards on 34 carries and you get the idea the coaching staff is growing weary of making excuses for him.’

‘Tight end Jay Riemersma, one of Buffalo’s most consistent clutch receivers, is expected to miss 4-to-5 weeks recovering from a damaged left knee ligament, his agent Jack Wirth said. "If there’s no complications, it’s probably going to take 4-to-5 weeks," Wirth told The Associated Press on Monday evening after Riemersma underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging exam earlier in the day. The good news, Wirth said, is that it appears surgery will not be required to repair the medial collateral ligament, and that Riemersma can begin rehabbing immediately. However, Wirth added, "You never know how these things go."’

‘"I think we made mistakes in just about every area you can make mistakes in," [Special Teams Coach Ronnie] Jones said. "(The players) have got to do a better job, I’ve got to do a better job and we’ve got to get it done in a hurry."’

‘Collins will replace tight end Jay Riemersma, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sunday in the Bills’ 27-14 loss to the New York Jets. The Bills won’t know how severe Riemersma’s injury is until they get the results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam, which could happen today. However, it is believed he will miss 4-6 weeks.’

‘With a bye week available to get him ready for Indianapolis, the guess here is that it is Bryson’s time, that "running back by committee" may be over.’

‘Despite their obvious struggles, the Buffalo Bills will continue to use young, inexperienced players on special teams. Coach Wade Phillips said he has no choice. "They have to play," he said. "I think a lot of them are going to be good, so we’ve just got to keep going with them."’

‘Tight end Jay Riemersma, one of the team’s few reliable offensive threats, suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee that will sideline him at least four weeks, general manager John Butler said.’

‘I don’t know how Polian could have prevented the special teams breakdown that cost the Bills last season’s playoff game against Tennessee. I believe Phillips is doing a decent job (23-13 regular-season record) and I would describe Butler more as a life jacket than an anchor. The Bills had the NFL’s second-best record in the 1990s and Polian left after the 1992 season, which means most of the current Bills came aboard under Butler’s watch.’

‘Did the Bills play the New York Jets on Sept. 17, or did they just play themselves in some intra-squad scrimmage? Apparently, it was an intra-squad scrimmage because most of the Bills said they beat themselves after the 27-14 loss in Giants Stadium to fall 2-1 on the year.’

Straight from the coaches and players…

Photos from the Bills/Jets game.

‘"We made mistakes, certainly," Phillips said. "We felt like we could’ve won the game. Certainly, we could have if we don’t make the big mistakes that we made. … You can’t do those things and win. But those things are correctible, easily correctible in my opinion."’

‘For the first time since 1966, when a fellow named Namath was their quarterback, the New York Jets find themselves 3-0. :That’s a long time to not be 3-0," Jets cornerback Marcus Coleman said with a grin Sunday shortly after his team dumped the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills 27-14, a win in which Coleman was an unlikely hero. "But I’ll tell you what. We’re not going to stop at 3-0. We’re going to keep this thing going."’

‘Come November, this is one of those games the Buffalo Bills will look back on with regret. The scoreboard at Giants Stadium on Sunday afternoon read: Jets 27, Bills 14. But Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson didn’t see it as a New York victory. "We feel we gave the game away," he said. "We didn’t lose it."’