Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Bills score early, often in blowout Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 15:07:21 EST Message-ID: Lines: 70 \SE C;SPORTS;PRO FOOTBALL \SS (WS) \HD Bills score early, often in blowout \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - The fans started changing into their rain gear early in the first quarter, about the same time the Buffalo Bills were pouring points all over Atlanta. The Bills scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, then glided to a 41-14 thrashing of the Falcons yesterday. "I've been here on numerous occasions with other teams, and I don't think I've ever seen the Buffalo Bills look any better," Falcons coach Jerry Glanville said. "They might be the class of the league right now." Buffalo's Pro Bowl special teams player, Steve Tasker, got things going on the opening kickoff, knocking Deion Sanders out of midair at the Atlanta 9. The Falcons then went three plays and out, beginning the Buffalo barrage. By the time the first quarter was over, the Bills, 9-2, were up 28-0. It was the most points ever in a first quarter against the Falcons, 4-7. By halftime, the lead was 38-7. "We played the whole first half in their end and that set the tone for the game," Tasker said. Starting at the Atlanta 44, the Bills needed only five plays to score, with Carwell Gardner going over from two yards out to put Buffalo up 7-0 with only four minutes gone. Another three-and-out series for Atlanta led to more good field position for the Bills. Taking over at the Falcon 40, Buffalo scored again seven plays later, with Jim Kelly hitting Pete Metzelaars for a three-yard touchdown. The Falcons finally got a first down on their third possession, but were forced to punt three plays later. Buffalo got the ball on the Atlanta 20 and Kelly found Andre Reed for a 15-yard touchdown pass two plays later. Again, the Falcons went out after three plays and, again, the Bills drove for a touchdown. Thurman Thomas had 44 of his 103 yards on a run that ended at the Atlanta 1, then Ken Davis scored the first of his two touchdowns. Buffalo's offense, ranked second in the league, was putting up the points, but it was the Bills defense that both shut the Falcons down and helped set up Buffalo's excellent field position. "It is like a dream come true," Buffalo linebacker Carlton Bailey said of the early stand by the Bills defense. "You want to have as many three-and-outs as possible." Davis ended up taking over for Thomas in the second quarter and finished with a career-high 181 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yarder up the middle during which no Atlanta defender touched him. Although knocked down by Tasker on the opening kickoff, Sanders still made the play of the game near the end of the second quarter. Offensive lineman Roman Fortin took a short kickoff, lateralled the ball to Tony Smith, who then lateralled to Sanders at the Falcon 27. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM