PITTSBURGH -- The farewells were premature for the Buffalo Bills last season, but yesterday may have been the Bills' final curtain call as one of the league's greatest teams during the past decade.
Buffalo looked old and worn in a 40-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC semifinal playoff game before 59,072 at Three Rivers Stadium yesterday.
The Bills (11-7) gave a good effort, and even made another attempt at a miracle comeback when quarterback Jim Kelly threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Thurman Thomas that cut the Steelers' lead to 26-21 with 11:23 left in the game.
But Pittsburgh (12-5) is a team on a mission. The win was secured by Bam Morris' 13-yard touchdown run with 6:16 left on about as determined an effort as a runner can give, and Morris scored on another run nearly five minutes later.
"Ever since we lost to San Diego in the conference championship a year ago, our desire has been to get to the Super Bowl from Day One," said Morris, who rushed for 106 yards on 25 carries.
"No disrespect to Buffalo because they gave a great effort, but I believe their best days are over and ours are here now," said Morris.
There will be few arguments after yesterday. On a day when defensive end Bruce Smith stayed in Buffalo with the flu, the Steelers either double-teamed or ran away from Smith's All-Pro linemate Bryce Paup. Pittsburgh picked on the Bills' inexperienced secondary for 262 yards passing, 169 in the first half when the Steelers took a 23-7 lead.
Thomas' legs had little life, and Kelly's arm seemed just as tired. His passes floated, his timing was off, and the Bills had no deep threats. Both Thomas (ankle) and Kelly (separation of the collarbone and breastbone) came back from injuries that cost them playing time, but Kelly also threw two interceptions in the game's final seven minutes in addition to the touchdown pass to Thomas.
"Their offense was never in sync," said Pittsburgh inside linebacker Levon Kirkland, who intercepted Kelly's last pass with 3:46 left in the game to set up Morris' final touchdown run. "Their receivers were coming out of the break, but the ball wasn't there. When it was there, Jim was telegraphing the play."
Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell wasn't entirely sharp either, but he was excellent in the first half, especially reading blitzes.
