ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.— You know how certain pieces of trivia lodge in your brain and stay there decades for no apparent reason?
Here’s one that has stuck in my head for 28 years … John Fourcade.
In 45 seasons covering the Bills, I’ve written about countless bad losses.
So why him?
It was 1989, the year of the “Bickering Bills,” and coach Marv Levy’s crew was trying to overcome its own internal strife for a second straight playoff berth.
In Game 14, Buffalo caught a break, New Orleans’ starting quarterback Bobby Hebert was hurt, handing the job to Fourcade, the living embodiment of the phrase journeyman QB.
But on this day, the former Mississippi star had the game of his brief NFL career, going 15-of-27 through the air for 302 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Saints to a 22-19 victory at then-Rich Stadium.
It was the middle defeat of a 3-game losing streak and forced the Bills to beat the Jets in the season finale to finish at 9-7, holding off Miami and Indianapolis, both 8-8, to win the AFC Eastern Division.
My thoughts flashed back to that game because, on Sunday, New Orleans returns to what is now New Era Field, this time in a 5-way tie for the NFL’s second-best record, and their starting quarterback is a Hall-of-Fame-bound veteran named Drew Brees.
At age 38, in his 17th season, Brees has the Saints at 6-2, tops in the NFC South, and on a 6-game win streak.
This season he ranks as the NFL’s No. 3 quarterback (after KC’s Alex Smith and the Pats’ Tom Brady) with a 105.0 passer rating featuring 13 touchdown passes with four interceptions.
He and the Saints, with the NFL’s second-most prolific offense (393 yards per game), will be looking to deal a serious blow to the Bills playoff hopes, 5-3 record notwithstanding.
To be sure, Buffalo’s coaching staff and veteran players have particular awe for the player who makes New Orleans’ offense go.
“I’ve gone up against Drew a lot and I’ve got all the respect in the world for him,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “He gets the ball out so fast. His quarterback rating is going to be high and sacks are going to be low. He’s a talented quarterback in a good system with a good coach. That’s why they’ve been who they’ve been over the years.
“He’s not a tall player in terms of his height (but) he’s extremely smart. Anticipates. He knows the game and he’s well-coached. I’ve been able to watch him up close for a number of years and was at the Pro Bowl with him a year or two … and just to watch his habits. You watch what he does when he’s practicing and it’s by no mistake or accident that he’s had the success he’s had to this point.”
And Brees, generously listed at 6-feet, got the attention of Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor long ago.
And with good reason.
The 10-time Pro Bowler’s 476 touchdown passes — including 78 with San Diego — are third all-time behind only Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.
“Drew is one of my favorite quarterbacks of all time,” Taylor said. “He’s somebody that I definitely watched growing up. I had a chance to meet him a couple years ago, and actually see some of the things he does in the off-season … how he works and how he approaches the game.
“He’s somebody that I admire, but this week, we get a chance to go against each other, team-wise, and I’m excited for the matchup.”
The Bills’ third-year QB added, “He’s talented. Just from a size factor, he’s somebody that I can compare myself to (Taylor is listed a 6-foot-1) as far as moving in the pocket and finding throwing lanes, and actually playing the game from the pocket.
“Drew’s just a hard worker; he’s going to try to outwork anybody and everyone. He brings intensity to the workouts, a very disciplined guy, and he wants success for his guys. He’s that example whenever he leads the workout.”
Even Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy is a fan.
“I don’t really watch a lot of offense while the defense is on the field,” McCoy said. “(But) certain players, I’ll watch. I watch (Adrian) Peterson, I watch Le’Veon (Bell), AB (Antonio Brown) and Drew Bees The first time I saw him play in Philadelphia, he was throwing like bullets. Guys are covered, only his guys are catching.
“I remember at one of the Pro Bowls I went to, it’s like a hang out. Guys are hanging out. We’re at the pool, and all the guys have margaritas, having fun, and he’s over there studying the plays.”
McCoy added. “I was like ‘Wow, we’re not even in practice,’ he’s like ‘Hey Shady, you got this?’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, yeah, I got it’. Just seeing that type of preparation in like a Pro Bowl, that setting, that environment, just hanging out and having fun. It shows you that competitive nature he really has.
“You want to win, you want to be a leader and legit … so I’m a big fan of his. We’ve got to win (Sunday), but I appreciate his work.”
And there’s quite a body of it.
(Chuck Pollock. a Times Herald sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)
