Terrell Owens played just one season in Buffalo, but left with good feelings about his time with the Bills.

A number of fans showed the veteran receiver how much he's missed Saturday night when his old team faced his new one, the Cincinnati Bengals, at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

This was the third stop on the T.O. tour of teams he has played for. The Bengals opened the preseason against Dallas in the Hall of Fame game and hosted Philadelphia last week. The Bengals and Bills play again on Nov. 21 in Cincinnati.

Owens' time in Buffalo was a lot more tranquil than his tumultuous stints in Dallas and Philadelphia.

His signing here last year energized the Bills' fan base and was a financial boon for the franchise, which capitalized on his star power by selling more tickets and merchandise.

While Owens didn't have much individual or team success, he has fond memories of the friendships he made with players and staff.

"We all had a rapport with each other and we all had fun," he said this week. "I got to know a number of the guys in my short stint there. We'll send each other text messages from time to time."

Owens also spoke fondly about Bills fans, who embraced him from Day One.

"I think the fans were willing to welcome me back," he said. "I think everybody knows what I brought to the table, what I could have brought to the table. My ability speaks for itself. It wasn't the fans that decided not to re-sign me."

Owens said the reason the Bills didn't re-sign him was first-year coach Chan Gailey, who felt it was better to move forward without a receiver who turns 37 in December.

"As a head coach, you come in and evaluate the talent you have and you make those moves," Owens said. "When I left, I definitely mentioned I would have been willing and open to come back, and that didn't happen. I'm here, looking forward to another opportunity."

Owens signed a one-year contract with the Bengals prior to training camp, but not before languishing on the free agent market for months.

The Bengals were among the teams that passed on him in the spring, choosing instead to sign Antonio Bryant to a four-year, $28 million contract.

But concerns about Bryant's slow recovery from knee surgery prompted a change of heart by the Bengals, and Owens can thank Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for playing a part in that. The former Bengal gave Owens a ringing endorsement.

They had a chemistry Owens never established with Trent Edwards last year. Of Owens' team-high 55 catches, 31 were from passes by Fitzpatrick.

"What he brought to the table more so than Trent was experience," said Owens. "We developed chemistry in practice. When I was on the field and Fitz got his opportunity, I think he realized some of the things that we did in practice well, and we just tried to transfer that to game days and I was able to be successful with it."

In Cincinnati, Owens has joined forces with close friend and fellow reality show host Chad Ochocinco, who dubbed the pair Batman (Owens) and Robin (Ochocinco). Both are out to prove two guys who crave attention can share the spotlight.

"The things we're doing now and the way we practice is definitely going to pay off throughout the season," Owens said. "We push each other without even saying it. Us having super powers, being super friends, Batman and Robin, it's that quiet confidence we have in each other."

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For some Bills players, Saturday was their last chance to make an impression on the coaches. The first cuts will take place Tuesday when teams must reduce their rosters to 75. The Bills have 78 players, so only three have to be waived to get down to the NFL minimum. The final cut down to 53 players is next Saturday, two days after the Bills' final preseason game.

"Decisions are going to be tough in a lot of places," Gailey said. "There are some places that are pretty much locked up, but the backups there are some great fights for those spots."

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Rookie running back C.J. Spiller ran for 52 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday, but all he wanted to talk about after the game were his mistakes. He was tackled for losses of 7 and 11 yards on two of his first three carries, and he wasn't thrilled with his pass blocking either.

"I liked some good things I did, but there are some things that I need to get corrected before the season starts," he said. "That was a fast defense and we knew that coming into the game. They were playing me to want to go east and west. Fred [Jackson] did a great job of letting me know that I have to go north and south. That's when the outside plays started to open up for me. I think I was trying to shake too much [Saturday night]."

Spiller was especially disappointed in his pass protection. He missed a couple of blocks that allowed defenders to get pressure on Edwards.

"I have to work on my pass protection," Spiller said. "I have to get that better. That was a great win, but ... I know I've got to get that better. Teams are going to see that on film and when I'm in the game they are going to test me and see how I'm going to do. It didn't have anything to do with not knowing who to block. I just have to get it done."

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Left tackle Demetrius Bell played into the second quarter and right guard Eric Wood finished the first half. The Bills have limited their work this preseason because both are coming back from serious injuries.

"I thought they held up extremely well," Gailey said. "I was very pleased. They played more plays than they'd played. We're going to not push it, but let it develop."

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Backup running back Chad Simpson was involved in a scary collision with Bengals safety Brandon Ghee near the Bills' sideline. Simpson got up after a few minutes, but Ghee had to be helped on a cart and taken off the field. The Bengals said Ghee suffered a head injury, but he had feeling in his extremities.

"I just saw him and thought to myself that I have to get this first down," Simpson said. "[I] ducked my shoulder, kept churning my legs and the next thing we're on the ground. I don't like hurting guys and I don't like to see guys hurt. It's a rough game and unfortunately things like that happen. But the good news is he got up and I heard he's going to be OK."

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Rookie nose tackle Torell Troup got his first start of the preseason as starter Kyle Williams was held out after missing some practice time due to being banged up.

"I felt a little more comfortable than in previous games because I've got more practices under my belt," Troup said. "I'm taking it a day at time because it's a big adjustment to this level. I'm just trying to play fast and play physical."