2002

Cinncinati 24
Bills 17

Attendance:  

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- It took a little more than one quarter for Drew Bledsoe to begin erasing what had been a season of frustration for the Buffalo Bills. 

"If you look really deeper into the situation, you don't have the circus atmosphere that you might have had last year -- the wondering which team was going to show up,'' fullback Larry Centers. "He went out and showed tonight that he is a true professional and he can get it done.''

Responding to fans cheering his name, Bledsoe went 9-of-11 for 136 yards, threw two touchdowns and was intercepted.

It not only provided the first glimpse of what Buffalo's revamped offense is capable of, but also marked a departure from last year's 3-13 finish and Rob Johnson's dreadful four-year tenure in Buffalo.

Unlike the sometimes hesitant Johnson, now with Tampa Bay, Bledsoe was unfazed by the two sacks -- the first on the opening play from scrimmage -- he endured, or the interception -- a lazy pass picked off by Jeff Burris. Both times, Bledsoe bounced back to produce scoring drives.

Eric Moulds fought off Kevin Kaesviharn's weak tackle attempt for a 31-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring four minutes in. Peerless Price, on a fade into the left corner, caught Bledsoe's perfect touch pass for a 12-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

"I was a little nervous, a little anxious, and was just real excited to get out there and get it done,'' Bledsoe said. "Hopefully, we can build on it.''

The Bengals won the game in the second half with the second- and third-stringers on the field. Akili Smith hit Sean Brewer with a strike in traffic for the go-ahead, 8-yard touchdown with 2:42 left in the third quarter, and kicker Neil Rackers added a 34-yard field goal as the Bengals overcame a 17-7 deficit.

The Bengals, who haven't enjoyed a winning regular season record in 11 years, were happy to pull out the victory.

"It's important to win a game, but more important to win it like that,'' Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. "To exhibit some confidence and stick-to-itiveness, we played very well at the end, and that makes me happy.''

LeBeau was particularly pleased with how his quarterbacks performed.

Incumbent Jon Kitna produced the best showing, marching the Bengals on a 13-play, 71-yard scoring drive -- capped by Curtis Keaton's 8-yard run -- on their first possession.

"It was very refreshing to go down to score and to get a win,'' said Kitna, who went 7-of-10 for 51 yards. "If you keep things together, you have a chance to develop some continuity and consistency. Tonight we were very consistent.''

Despite his 9-yard touchdown pass to Peter Warrick, Gus Frerotte struggled in his first game with the Bengals.

Frerotte went 6-of-10 for 67 yards, and threw an interception in a second-quarter stint that began with the Bengals offensive line going offsides on the first two plays from scrimmage.

Bledsoe not only charged up the crowd, but Moulds as well. After making a 9-yard catch for a first down, Moulds' jumped up and pumped his arm in the air.

"We know we have the ability to score points. And we know we have a great quarterback who's smart and proven,'' Moulds said. "When that happens, the confidence level goes up at every position.''

NOTES: Bills K Mike Hollis hit a 36-yard field goal. ... Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (left ankle strain), linebacker Takeo Spikes (right pectoral strain), halfback Brandon Bennett (right ankle sprain) and tackle Jamain Stephens (left shoulder strain) all did not return to the game. ... Bengals' RB Corey Dillon (foot) watched without pads on from the sideline. 

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