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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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.
|  | | Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Erik Flowers (96) sacks Cincinnati quarterback Scott Covington, forcing a fumble during the third quarter of Buffalo's preseason victory Friday. |
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.
"One thing this game has helped me with is get my confidence
back," he said.
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.
Ahead 21-20, the Bills appeared in control of the game until
running back Lennox Gordon fumbled fourth-string quarterback Phil
Stambaugh's pitch. Corey Hall recovered, giving the Bengals the
ball on Buffalo's 40-yard line with 2:10 remaining.
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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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Buffalo Clubhouse
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