NFL
Bills coach finds no extra motivation in opponents
by CHRISTOPHER GORDON Orchard Park Editor

Dick Jauron

Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron may have been a National Football League Coach of the Year with this past Sunday's opponent, the Chicago Bears, as well an All-Pro safety with this week's opponent, the Detroit Lions, but facing two organizations where he spent a combined 12 seasons ranging from player to assistant coach and head coach does not give him extra motivation. Winning is motivation enough.

"There's no extra incentive on my part," said Jauron, who said it was never discussed as a motivational tactic to beat the Chicago Bears.

Jauron knew his team had an uphill battle to climb to beat arguably the league's best team in a stadium in which they had allowed less than 10 points to their opponents in eight consecutive regular-season games. That statistic increased to nine in the Bills' 40-7 loss to Chicago.

"We're disappointed, but not discouraged," said Jauron, who was the 2001 NFLCoach of the Year with the Bears after guiding them to a 13-3 record.

"They're good on both sides of the ball and special teams," he said, adding that turning the ball over five times alone is a recipe for disaster.

After Bills quarterback J.P. Losman completed a couple of passes and reached the Bears' 40-yard line on their opening drive, Buffalo began a series of disastrous events that seemed to set the tone to their day.

First, a false start call on fourth-and-inches moved the ball back five yards and punter Brian Moorman lined up and bobbled a snap that was intended to be a fake. Chicago fell on the ball inside Bills territory and set the stage for the Bears' dominating performance. Buffalo trailed 27-0 at halftime and 40-0 late before wide receiver Lee Evans scored Buffalo's lone touchdown with just over a minute remaining.

Jauron said the team must "correct the errors that we've made" and move on to play the Lions.

The Bills coach played for Detroit from 1973 to 1977 after being drafted as a safety in the fourth round from Yale, earning All-Pro status in 1974.

He also served as Detroit's defensive coordinator from 2004 and 2005, finishing as interim head coach for the final five games in 2005.

Bills running back Anthony Thomas was drafted by Jauron from the University of Michigan in 2001 and was NFLRookie of the Year after rushing for 1,183 yards.

Jauron coached him during his first three seasons in the league and Thomas said the coach's only motivation is making the players on the Bills better. "That's how the NFLworks,"

said Thomas. "We just want to go and win games. You've just got to start faster and minimize mistakes."

Thomas said during the week, Jauron never alluded to beating Chicago and Thomas added that it really does not matter who the opponent is.

With the Bears' game behind them, the Bills now need to focus on Detroit. Thomas said he will have family and friends in attendance. His wife is from the area and Thomas played his college ball in Ann Arbor, which is about 45 minutes away.

The Bills will look to even their record to 3-3 against the 0-5 Lions at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Lions are looking for their first win after losing a 17-3 fourth quarter lead against Minnesota before dropping a 26-17 decision.

e-mail: c g o rd o n @beenews.com