Two Bills Drive

‘Sure the Bears team that faces the unbeaten Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field Sunday is 3-1 and leads the NFL in total defense and rushing offense, but that’s not enough.’

‘”Bruce is going to be fired up,” Kelly said with a smile. “I’m just glad I’ll be on his side.”‘

‘According to Bills coach Marv Levy, the injury occurred on one of the Steelers’ two on-side kickoffs in the final two minutes of Buffalo’s 36-28 victory.’

‘Talley, 28, arrested after he apparently objected to Buffalo police treatment of fellow Buffalo Bills player Andre Reed and Reed’s brother and sister during a Sept. 5 bar altercation, is expected to be granted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal.’

‘It’s likely, however, Smith will be in the game when Buffalo goes into its dime pass coverage with six defensive backs in the game. He also will appear on some special teams.’

‘The statistics may be deceiving, however. Three pretty good offenses have taken shots at coach Chuck Noll’s Steeler defense. Pittsburgh’s first three opponents have been Washington (first in the league in pass offense and second in total offense), Cincinnati (second in pass offense and fifth in total offense) and Dallas (fifth in pass offense and sixth in total offense).’

‘”Things started to pick up for Fred halfway through last year when he became more familiar with the system (defensive coordinator Walt Corey implemented before last season) and the adjustments we were making,” says Ted Cottrell, the Bills’ defensive line coach. “It’s really allowed him to turn himself loose now.”‘

‘Bills win, 21-16.’

‘”I was half asleep when I heard the news about the trade,” said J.T. Smith, the veteran Cardinals wide receiver (and no relation to Leonard). “We’re supposed to be building for the future, and then we trade a guy who is all-pro for a backup.”‘

‘”Because I’m a Bills fan, I’m hoping for good weather,” Kennedy answered. “But, of course, it is true that inclement weather helps the restaurants around here on game days. On the good days the fans stay in the parking lot enjoying tailgate parties for hours after the game. That means that some of the people who usually come here after the game don’t come over until later. So what used to be a four-hour post-game crowd is now a two-hour post-game crowd.”‘

‘”The trainers are saying he should be OK, but he wasn’t moving well today,” Bills Coach Marv Levy said.’

‘The ’82 strike seemed to ruin the Buffalo Bills, who were 2-0 going into it, then went 2-5 after the strike and missed the playoffs and struggled through the next four seasons, going 16-48. Last year’s strike, however, seemed to do no damage at all to team morale. The Bills held together and returned to the field without missing a beat.’

‘”The more I learn, I hope to make a run next week, if not the following week. I feel comfortable with myself learning. It’s just a matter of me learning this system and the coaches feeling comfortable with me. Being a reserve is “strictly not my goal,” Smith said, but he added: “They’re not gonna mess up something that is working, that is winning for them, just to get me in there, then I make mistakes. It’s gonna have to be a joint thing. They feel good about me and I feel good about what I’m doing and we’ll go from there.”‘