2000 season-in-review team reports —
AFC East
As published in print Jan. 31, 2001
|
| Overview |
| Logic would dictate that a team devastated by injuries and embroiled in a
yearlong QB controversy would produce a terrible record and be a candidate for one of the
top picks in the draft. But the Bills defied logic this year, battling for a playoff spot
with two quarterbacks and a merry-go-round of healthy defenders. Rob Johnson was the
starting quarterback in Week One, but he was injured in Week Seven and missed three-plus
games. A quite capable Doug Flutie took over and won three of four contests. Johnson was
then reinstated in Week 12, but the controversy never went away. On defense, the Bills
lost several key players, including LBs Sam Cowart and Sam Rogers, but the unit remained
respectable. |
| Turning point |
| The Bills’ ultimate demise came in their 31-17 loss to the
Buccaneers in Week 13. The Bills had been playing very well, winning four in a row. But
this game began a four-game losing streak that knocked them out of the playoff race.
Injuries were the culprit vs. Tampa Bay. QB Rob Johnson left the game with an injury, the
second time he had been forced from a game this season, and LBs Sam Cowart and Sam Rogers
followed in kind. |
| Offensive MVP |
| The Bills will be in a precarious position when WR Eric Moulds becomes an
unrestricted free agent in March. Moulds should command much attention, having established
himself as one of the best receivers in the game. With no stability at quarterback, no
solid No. 2 receiver and no consistent running game, Moulds caught 94 passes for 1,326
yards this year — almost twice the production of the closest Bills receiver (Peerless
Price, who caught 52 passes for 762 yards). |
| Defensive MVP |
| Sam Cowart was having such a stellar year that had he not been hurt, he
might have challenged the Ravens’ Ray Lewis for the MLB spot on the AFC Pro Bowl
team. But in Week 13, Cowart suffered a sprained ankle that ended his season. Cowart had
5½ sacks and led the team with 181 tackles, 122 of which were solos. |
| Biggest surprise |
| In the fifth round of the 2000 draft, the Bills added depth to their
backfield by selecting FB Sammy Morris. By midseason, Morris was the featured back. With
the other backs playing poorly, Morris made the most of his chance. He didn’t lead
the team in rushing, but he gave the Bills a much-needed threat out of the backfield.
However, Morris suffered a high-ankle sprain and wasn’t as effective in the second
half of the season. |
| Biggest disappointment |
| Rob Johnson had his chance to prove this year that he was the Bills’
quarterback of the future and forever put to rest the claims that Doug Flutie deserved the
starting job. Johnson played well for the most part — when he was healthy. If Johnson
proved anything, however, it was that he remains prone to injury. He missed four full
games, as well as parts of others. |
| Rookie recap |
| DE Erik Flowers (first-round pick) didn’t see a lot of playing time,
but he showed some promise. LB Corey Moore (third round) didn’t get a chance to play
every down because of a high-ankle sprain, but the Bills remain high on him. Sammy Morris
was exceptional. The Bills were high on DT Leif Larsen (sixth round), but he didn’t
get much playing time. LB DaShon Polk (seventh round) played because of injuries and
performed better than the Bills had expected. FS Travares Tillman also played because of
injuries, but he didn’t perform as a second-round pick should. WR Avion Black was
inactive most of the time, wasting a chance to step into the No. 2 WR spot opposite Eric
Moulds. The Bills have struggled to find another receiver to hold down the fort at that
spot. |
| Free-agent/trade review |
| The Bills faced the same salary-cap troubles last offseason that they
will face this offseason. Thus, they made no significant free-agent or trade acquisitions. |
Top of page
|
Regular-season record: 8-8
|
| Team leaders |
|
Rushing — Shawn
Bryson, 591 yards on 161 carries, 3.7 avg., 0 TDs.
Passing — Rob
Johnson, 175-306 attempts for 2,125 yards, 12 TDs, 7 interceptions, 82.2 rating.
Receiving — Eric
Moulds, 94 receptions for 1,326 yards, 14.1 avg., 5 TDs.
Scoring — Steve
Christie, 109 points on 31 PATs and 26 FGs.
Kickoff returns — Chris
Watson, 44 for 894 yards, 20.3 avg., 0 TDs.
Punt returns — Chris
Watson, 33 for 163 yards, 4.9 avg., 0 TDs.
Punting — Chris
Mohr, 95 for 38.5 avg., 31.4 net, 5 TB, 19 inside 20, 1 blk., 57L.
Interceptions — Keion
Carpenter, 5 for 63 yards, 12.6 avg., 0 TDs.
Sacks — Marcellus
Wiley, 10½. |
| Results |
|
| Pointspread Shown Refers to Buffalo. |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
Tennessee |
(0) |
16-13 |
| Sept. 10 |
Green Bay |
(-6) |
27-18 |
| Sept. 17 |
At New York Jets |
(0) |
14-27 |
| Sept. 24 |
BYE |
|
|
| Oct. 1 |
Indianapolis |
(-2.5) |
16-18 |
| Oct. 8 |
At Miami |
(0) |
13-22 |
| Oct. 15 |
San Diego |
(-9.5) |
27-24* |
| Oct. 22 |
At Minnesota |
(+5.5) |
27-31 |
| Oct. 29 |
New York Jets |
(-5) |
23-20 |
| Nov. 5 |
At New England |
(+1.5) |
16-13* |
| Nov. 12 |
Chicago |
(-7.5) |
20-3 |
| Nov. 19 |
At Kansas City |
(+3) |
21-17 |
| Nov. 26 |
At Tampa Bay |
(+3.5) |
17-31 |
| Dec. 3 |
Miami |
(-3) |
6-33 |
| Dec. 11 |
At Indianapolis |
(+6.5) |
20-44 |
| Dec. 17 |
New England |
(-5.5) |
10-13* |
| Dec. 23 |
At Seattle |
(+3) |
42-23 |
| * Overtime |
|
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