DAILY REPORT : Levy’s Advice to Bills: Cooperate, Have Fun

Buffalo may have played in the last two Super Bowls, but that did not stop Coach Marv Levy from giving his team advice this week on how to handle this year’s Super Bowl media hype.

“I told my players to be cooperative, to be pleasant and to have fun,” Levy said. “And if you get a rankling question, you have to realize that it is meant to set you off. So don’t let it get to you.”

Levy wants the Bills to enjoy Super Bowl XXVII on and off the field.

“The Super Bowl consists of fans, players and the media,” Levy said to his players. “You are going to have to deal with it on your own terms. Don’t be irritable.”

One reason why Buffalo is given a good chance to end the AFC’s eight-year Super Bowl losing streak is its defense.

The Bills’ rushing defense was ranked second in the league and has three new starters from last year’s Super Bowl: second-year end Phil Hansen, third-year linebacker Marvcus Patton from UCLA and second-year strong safety Henry Jones, who had eight interceptions in the regular season.

Since Warren Moon’s four touchdown passes in Buffalo’s opening playoff game against Houston, the Bills’ defense has given up only one touchdown and three field goals. They also have had 15 sacks, six interceptions and four fumble recoveries in their three playoff games.

Buffalo is the second team to play in three consecutive Super Bowls. Miami played in Super Bowl VI, VII and VIII. But if the Bills lose, they will become the first team to lose in three consecutive years. . . . Buffalo will be the visiting team in this year’s Super Bowl. In the previous 26 Super Bowls, the visiting teams have won 15 times. However, the Bills will be wearing their blue home jerseys with Dallas in white. The teams wearing white jerseys have won 14 of the 26 Super Bowls.

The Bills are scheduled to arrive at Long Beach Airport today at 3 p.m. They will stay at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Despite early problems with rain, the USC practice field--which was re-sodded this past week--will be ready for the Bills.