European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday january 29, 1994 sports Twe stars and stripes Page 37 1-. Bills Are really America s Feam Dave Anderson the salespeople who close their last three some people Call it the super bowl rematch no body wanted but the Bills wanted it and so did every body wearing a red White and Blue Parka in people still Call the Dallas cowboys Ameri Ca s team but in a nation crumbled by an earthquake Frozen by Arctic blasts flooded by midwestern Rivers wearied by the Economy and terrorized by crime the ills Are really America s team. Not rooting for the Bills to get those three superbowl monkeys off their backs is like not rooting for yourself to win the lottery. When the Bills line up for the super bowl xxvii Kickoff against the cowboys in Atlanta on sunday they will be representing much More than the american conference and the chapped citizens behind All those Snow Banks on Lake Erie s shores. Tothe real world the Bills will rep resent All could deals. All the unemployed whenever heard Back from their last three Job interviews. All the waiters and wait resses who got stiffed by their last three customers. " All the schoolchildren who flunked their last three tests. All the Slot machine players who tapped out the last three times they went to Las vegas or Atlantic City. All the cops who could t make their last three collars stick. But mostly the Bills will represent themselves All those players and coaches whose 57-19 record Over thelast four National football league campaigns is forgot ten whose Talent is tarnished by an 0-3 record in the super bowl whose resolve is ignored because the Haven t won the big sadder still the Bills Aren t supposed to win the Bigone on sunday either. Even though the Bills dominated the chiefs 30-13,As soon As the cowboys shattered the 49ers, 38-21, the Point spread out of Las vegas nev., had the Cowboy by 10, a rare double digit line. But remember that because bettors invariably Are More attracted to the cowboys that line reflects the need for a Price that would balance the Money wagered thereby assuring the Vigorith. Whatever the line for the Bills to have a Chance Towin Thurman Thomas must run free. As he did against the giants three years ago with 135 Yards in Only 15 carries when the Bills would have won if Scott nor Wood s 42-Yard Field goal kick had not been wide right. As he didst do against the redskins two year Sago with Only 13 Yards in 10 carries after not being Able to find his helmet on the sideline. As he did t do against the cowboys a year ago with Only 19 Yards in-11carries. But for Thomas to Gallop the Bills offensive line must create the holes it did sunday against the chiefs As he rushed for 186 Yards and 3 touchdowns on 33 car Ries. " the difference was those five Guys quarterback Jim Kelly said of left tackles John Fina and Howard Ballard guards Glenn Parker and John Davis and Cen Ter Kent Hull. They were opening holes you would in pro football s theory of relativity where the coefficient of the foe changes with every game those holes commentary Buffalo s All pro defensive end Bruce Smith tries on his super bowl Cap wednesday in Atlanta. Might not open so easily against the cowboys defensive line. Another difference for the Bills might be the Georgia dome itself. The roofed noise there might muffle Kelly s audible play calling that was so effective against the chiefs in the misty chill of Rich stadium. When you re on the Road especially in a loud stadium Hull said it s really hard to use our audible sys tem. " it s hard to communicate in the time you re allotted. When we re Home it s much easier to do three years ago Kelly s audibles in Tampa stadium had the giants holding their breath until Norwood Smiss created a 20-19 loss. But two years ago in the metronome in Minneapolis the Bills never got rolling against the redskins in a 37 24 loss. And in the Bills biggest embarrassment a year ago in the Rose bowl they were victimized by nine turnovers four interceptions and five lost fumbles As the cowboys romped 52-17. Ever since the Bills have been ridiculed for the three super bowls they lost instead of being respected for what they have accomplished in getting to those three super bowls and now a record fourth. In Buffalo some people try to ease the pain by laughing at themselves. Do you know what Bills stands for they joke. Boy i love losing i Seldom Root. But because nobody deserves a fourth Monkey on their Back i m rooting for the Bills to t 53-17 be Nice the a Yorac times matchup from Page 36 the two most recent additions. The cowboys improved dramatically when they picked up 37-year-old place kicker Eddie Murray 3who was 30 for35 this year on Field goals after being signed in the third week of the also had what he termed the biggest kick of his 14-year-career, a 41-yarder in overtime to beat the giants for the pfc East title. Buffalo s Steve Christie 2 missed two extra Points with a Frozen Ball against the los Angeles raiders in the playoffs. But he a generally reliable and was 23 of 32during the regular season including a59 yarder fourth longest in nil history. That Strong leg has helped on kickoffs. Dallas May also have a slight Edge inputting with John Jett 19v whose net average of 37.7 was a Yara better than Chris Mohr 9 of Buffalo. Jett had 22 of his 56 punts inside the 20 compared to 19 of 74 for Mohr. Rookie Kevin Williams 85 of Dallas who also is the team s third wide receiver returned two punts for touchdowns. But Williams also leads the team wit height fumbles four of which he lost. Russell Copeland 85 returns both punts and kickoffs for the the biggest is the Bills psyche after three straight super bowl losses. They say they re Loose because they have Noth ing More to lose but pressure is always a Factor in games of this magnitude. So they need a Quick Start and have to hold on to the Ball to be 52-17 loss to the cowboys last year included a record nine turnovers who Chin t Likely to happen again. Buffalo won 13-10 at Texas stadium the second week of the season a result the Bills discount and the cowboys reusing for incentive. It was the second of Smith s two game holdout the Cowboy were divided and Lin Elliott Cut after the game missed two Field goals. Smith was signed by the next week and Dallas is 14-2 since. Coaching Jimmy Johnson of Dallas has been master at motivating his players pushing just the right buttons. Last week he predicted a win Over san Francisco a no no in the coaches manual. This week he s doing nothing to aggravate the Bills play ing Down last year s score by noting the turnover ratio. Norv Turner Johnson s offensive coordinator is widely believed to already have accepted the head coaching Job in Washington. His play calling is credited with much of the offensive Success the cowboys have had the last two Davis the defensive coordinator is in his first year but the defense has fallen much it was second in scoring defense in the nil. Marv Levy of Buffalo has been maligned for not winning big games Al though he s 10-2 in playoff games excluding super bowls where he s 0-3. Both coaches tend to Delegate is and of to assistants although Levy Calls offensive plays near the goal line. Walt Corey the defensive coordinator is Low profile but regarded As one of the top half dozen at his Job in the nil
