2000

Cincinnati 20
Bills 21

Attendance: 37,242

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- When rookie linebacker Corey Moore went up to block Doug Pelfrey's last-second field-goal attempt, his confidence rose as well.  

Moore, down on himself for having a poor training camp, blocked the 29-yard attempt as time ran out, and the Buffalo Bills hung on for a 21-20 preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night.

"I'm looking forward to practice. I've got a lot of improving to do," said Moore, drafted in the fourth round out of Virginia Tech despite being the most decorated defensive player in the NCAA last year.

Shawn Bryson's 73-yard reception off a screen pass 1:13 into the fourth quarter stood up as the game-winner in the preseason opener for both teams.

Third-string quarterback Mike Covington moved the Bengals to the 13-yard line, setting up Pelfrey's field goal attempt with four seconds left. But Moore, one of a number of Bills to break through the line, got his hands up to block the kick.

"The snap was good. The hold was good. I thought the kick was good," said a dejected Pelfrey.

Second-year running back Nick Williams scored both Cincinnati touchdowns -- both on one-yard plunges -- as the Bengals lost their sixth straight preseason game, dating back to Aug. 22, 1998. Cincinnati also got two field goals -- a 26-yarder in the first quarter by Pelfrey, and a 20-yearder by rookie Neil Rackers late in the third.

"We beat them every which way but loose, but they won on the scoreboard," Bengals coach Bruce Coslet said. "We'll take the positives out of it and move on."

The Bengals got promising performances from quarterbacks Akili Smith and backup Scott Mitchell.

Smith, playing his first game since injurying his toe last Oct. 31, went 12-for-18 for 104 yards in the first half. Mitchell -- playing mostly against the Bills second- and third-string defenses -- went 8-for-12 for 112 yards.

The Bengals also got strong play from second-year receiver Craig Yeast who made five catches for 75 yards and was also solid as a return man.

Rookie receiver Peter Warrick, the fourth overall pick, caught two passes for 31 yards.

Receiver Avion Black had a 34-yard touchdown reception, and running back Antowain Smith a 16-yard scoring run for the Bills.

Bills starting quarterback Rob Johnson, limited to only three first-quarter series, went 2-for-5 for 42 yards, and drove the Bills 72 yards capped by Smith's touchdown on their opening drive.

"We started really well," Johnson said. "We were obviously happy with that first drive. After that we sputtered a little bit. But I think it was little stuff that can be easily corrected."

Van Pelt went 5-for-12 for 54 yards in passing, including the touchdown toss to Black. Third string quarterback Mike Cawley hooked up with Bryson on the game-winning touchdown 1:13 into the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati was missing top receiver Darnay Scott(broken leg), center Rich Braham(right knee), tailback Michael Basnight(fractured right wrist) and contract holdouts running back Corey Dillon and rookie cornerback Mark Roman.

Before the game, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn indicated that the team hoped to sit down personally with Dillon and/or his agent Marvin Demoff. But, Blackburn added, "nothing is set in stone" as far as the meeting goes.

On Thursday, the Bengals notified Dillon that he will be ineligible to play the the first regular season game unless he signs and reports in time for Cincinnati's next game, Aug. 11 at Atlanta.

Blackburn also discussed the status of Roman, who's talks are stalled on length of contract.

Asked if the second round pick's holdout was an interesting situation, Blackburn said: "Interesting isn't the right word. I don't know what word I would put on it. It'd like to say it was done, but it's not." Pausing, she added, "Maybe interesting is the only word you can put on it."

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