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Stricken Bills try to focus on Steelers

Sep 16, 2007 - 11:09 AM Buffalo (0-1) at Pittsburgh (1-0) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills will try to keep their focus on the field Sunday when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bills still will be praying for reserve tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a "potentially lethal injury" last week in the Bills' 15-14 loss to the Denver Broncos.

The 25-year-old Everett underwent emergency neck surgery Sunday night and may not walk again, according to his surgeon, Dr. Andrew Cappuccino.

Dr Cappuccino said he had told Everett "the chance of making a full neurological recovery are bleak."

"We are never forgetting Kevin and we are never getting him out of our thoughts and prayers," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "You do go on, you do move forward, without him leaving your thoughts. They are a solid group of guys, they like each other, they work hard, they play hard. It is part of the game and we all understand it."

After Everett was taken to the hospital, Jason Elam nailed a game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired to give the Broncos the victory.

Everett suffered a cervical spine injury when he collided with Broncos kick returner Domenick Hixon during the second-half kickoff. Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman admitted his team was down after the game.

"With the amount of injuries and, with one serious injury, possibly, it definitely changes the mood and makes (losing) even worse," said Losman, who was just 14-of-21 for 97 yards with an interception.

The Steelers, trying to get back into the playoffs after last season's sub-par 8-8 finish, got the Mike Tomlin era off to a flying start with a 34-7 drubbing of the Cleveland Browns.

The only coach to win his debut as a head coach last week, Tomlin succeeded Bill Cowher, who led the Steelers for 15 years and guided them to a victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

Ben Roethlisberger, also looking to bounce back from an inconsistent 2006 season, completed 12-of-23 passes for 161 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes.

While the Steelers have a new coach - just their third since 1969 - their approach to the game has not changed. They wore down the Browns with an effective running game and bruising defense - which were Steeler trademarks under Cowher.

Willie Parker rushed for 109 yards on 27 carries while the defense recorded six sacks in holding the Browns to only 46 yards rushing.

I was trying to keep my emotions in check," Tomlin said after the game. "This is not my story; this is the story of the 2007 Steelers."