Bills vs. Patriots "Will The Bills Break There 15 Game Losing Streak"

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There's a moment captured in NFL Films' "Bill Belichick: A Football Life" in which the Patriots squeak out a 17-10 win in Buffalo late in the 2009 season and New England's coach tells his son on the sideline, "We sweated that one out, like we always do against these guys."

It wasn't exactly the truth.

Not only have the Patriots won 15 straight regular-season meetings against the Bills -- the fourth-longest streak in NFL history -- they haven't lost in Buffalo since opening day in 2003 (Lawyer Milloy's revenge game). During those seven straight wins in Orchard Park, N.Y., the Patriots have won by an average of 23 points per game, including a 56-10 thrashing in 2007 and a 34-3 throttling last year.

But it's a new season, and it's more likely that Belichick showed his troops clips from that 2009 game than any of the 39 touchdowns or 4,105 yards that Tom Brady has thrown for in 18 career games against Buffalo (tops of any opponent he's faced).

"It doesn't get any easier for us," sighed Vince Wilfork. "We're going to have to go on the road and play some good football if we want to walk away with the W. But it's going to be tough, I guarantee you that, because this is a new Buffalo Bills team. They're 2-0. Looking at them on film, they're making big plays after big plays. They actually look pretty good. It's not smoke and mirrors with them. They're the real deal, and that's how we approach it.

"Right now, no consecutive games, how many we won against them, that doesn't have anything to do with this year. It's going to be a tough-fought football game."

There are certainly reasons for the Patriots to be wary of Buffalo. The Bills boast the league's top rushing and scoring offense through two games. After throttling Kansas City in Week 1, Buffalo clawed its way back to top Oakland, showing more resiliency than has been spotted in recent years.

Alas, New England's toughest opponent might be the injury bug. The Patriots emerged battered and bruised from last Sunday's win over the Chargers. After putting two players -- center Dan Koppen and defensive lineman Myron Pryor -- on injured reserve this week, the team's final injury report still contained 15 names, including three players who are officially out (tight end Aaron Hernandez, offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer and defensive lineman Mike Wright) and eight who are questionable.

The injuries have forced the Patriots to scramble a bit, making a handful of roster moves in order to add depth in thinned areas (defensive line, secondary). Heck, New England isn't even certain if Zoltan Mesko (questionable, left knee) will be able to punt on Sunday, which could force some interesting fourth-down decisions.

"That's football," Belichick said with a shrug. "Every team has guys on the injury list. Every team has guys on injured reserve. You play with what you've got."

Offensively, there are fewer concerns, but the absence of Hernandez means the Patriots will likely have to make changes. After running 125 of their 151 offensive snaps with multiple tight ends, injuries -- and a lack of available tight ends -- might force the Patriots to open things up a bit. That could lead to opportunities for wide receiver Chad Ochocinco to assert himself after all the scrutiny he endured from tweeting his "awe" of the Patriots' early season efforts.

[+] EnlargeChad Ochocinco
Elsa/Getty ImagesChad Ochocinco has just three catches for 59 yards in two games.

Up front, the loss of Vollmer will press rookie Nate Solder back into a starting role. He performed admirably in Week 1 in Miami against the likes of Pro Bowler Cameron Wake, showing glimpses of why he was the 17th overall pick in the draft. The Patriots do lose the ability to utilize him as a blocking third tight end, a luxury enjoyed last week against San Diego with Vollmer able to suit up.

Defensively, it's a bit more daunting. The secondary is ailing. Rookie cornerback Ras-I Dowling (hip) and safety Patrick Chung (hand) are part of the group listed as questionable. The Patriots were forced to bring in former 49ers corner Phillip Adams as emergency depth, while Antwaun Molden, signed late in the preseason, could be thrust into a larger role than he had seen in three seasons with Houston.

The defensive line is dinged up, but that group can take some pressure off the secondary with a sustained pass rush, something that wasn't always there against San Diego. New England's defensive front will face its biggest ground challenge this week with Buffalo's rushing attack led by Fred Jackson.

Throughout the week, the Patriots showered Buffalo with praise, but Sunday's game might ultimately hinge on their own health and being able to overcome attrition.

And don't even bring up that 15-game winning streak.

"That doesn't really mean anything," Belichick told the Buffalo media on a conference call. "I mean, most of the players that played in those games will be watching them on TV, so I don't think that really matters."

Added Brady: "I'll tell you, [the streak doesn't mean] anything for this game. It doesn't matter if you have won 100 in a row. The team that is going to win this weekend is the team that plays the best. It has nothing to do with the team in '07 or the '05 game. None of that matters. The team that is going to win is the team that makes the most plays, that plays well under pressure [and] that does the right thing consistently over the course of 60 minutes.

"This is a dangerous team that is very talented and very explosive in all phases of the game. They have a great punter, great kicker; they're very good on special teams; [they have] a damn good defense and an offense that's scoring a ton of points. Certainly, we would never think that this team is not a threat."

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs Gameday Preview Sept. 11 2011

The Buffalo Bills are hoping they have made the correct moves to revamp a defence that ranked dead last against the run in 2010.

Those moves will be put to the test in a big way this Sunday when they travel to Kansas City.

Head Coach Chan Gailey will bring his Bills into Arrowhead Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff with the Chiefs, the team that fired him before the 2009 season.

“I want to win them all,” Gailey told reporters Wednesday. “But when you’ve been somewhere and they’ve fired you? Yeah, if you said it didn’t mean a little more you’d be lying.”

The team’s off-season moves were made to beat teams like the Chiefs. Gone are former high draft picks Aaron Maybin and Paul Posluszny. In are Kirk Morrison, Nick Barnett and third-overall draft pick Marcell Dareus.

Though Bills fans haven’t had much to be excited about for the past three losing seasons in Orchard Park, the six-foot-three, 340 pound Dareus gives them hope.

Mike Mayock, the NBC College Football analyst and NFL Draft guru, rated the defensive lineman out of the University of Alabama his No. 1 defensive player in this past year’s draft class.

Dareus’s athleticism and size allow him to play anywhere on the line of the Bills 3-4 defence.

“He’s exactly what we thought we were going to get,” Gailey said. “He’s a big strong individual who plays with an edge … I think he’s going to be a very good football player for a long time in this league.”

Dareus will join with Kyle Williams and Dwan Edwards to be much more stout at the point of attack, hopefully clogging the running lanes for the Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, who combined to rush for a league-best 2,363 yards last season.

“You have to get where you’re supposed to be, and you gotta get there fast with this guy,” Williams said about Charles. “If he gets a step, nobody’s gonna catch him.”

Charles primary concern

In his third season, Charles accumulated 1,467 yards on the ground, and another 468 through the air. He is most certainly the primary concern for the Bills defence.

They must also be conscious of the Chiefs’ passing attack, a unit led by quarterback Matt Cassel and his number-one wide out Dwayne Bowe.

The two hooked up on a franchise-record 15 touchdown passes last year, the best combination in the NFL, and added a proven receiver in Steve Breaston.

One way to disrupt the passing attack is with an effective pass rush, and that’s where the Bills’ rejuvenated Shawne Merriman expects to make an impact.

“Lights Out” went to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years of his career, accumulating 39 1/2 sacks with the San Diego Chargers. But he suffered a season-ending knee injury early in 2008, and it has plagued him ever since.

The 27-year-old has totaled just four sacks over 18 games the past three years.

But with apparent good health and a strong pre-season under his belt, Merriman may be primed to wreak havoc on Cassel, who was rumoured to have fractured a rib in the final pre-season contest, but has said he will play regardless.

On the other side of the ball for the Bills, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will have to keep a keen eye on Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali, whose 14 1/2 sacks were second in the league last year.

Many are anxious to see how two young stars develop in the new season.

Fourth-year receiver Stevie Johnson came into his own in 2010, hauling in 1,073 yards and 10 majors. Running back CJ Spiller had a quiet rookie season after getting drafted ninth overall in 2010, but appeared to make strides late in the season.

Combined with veteran Fred Jackson, the Bills may have a dynamic back field duo of their own in the making.

What to watch for on offence: Will Donald Jones be able to fill the void left by the trade of Lee Evans?

What to watch for on defence: If the front seven holds up against the Chiefs running attack, how will the secondary play when tested?

Last Meeting: Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop made a 35-yard field goal with the clock showing zeros in overtime, giving Kansas City a 13-10 win in Week 8 last year. Charles ran for 177 yards in a game that saw both Succop and Bills kicker Rian Lindell miss potential game-winning kicks in OT.

Buffalo Bills Blitz Prediction: Bills 17, Chiefs 21.

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs Free Pick Sunday Sept 11, 2011

Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs NFL Free Pick: This game has really jumped around. I believe it opened at -7 then went down as far as -5, maybe even 4.5 – I got it when it was -5 at each book that I follow, and I thought that was really right on the money. The Buffalo Bills couldn’t really stop any kind of rushing attack last season and the Chiefs just ran the ball on anybody and everybody they lined up against on Sunday. Jamaal Charles had an amazing season, averaging over 6 yards per rush and breaking big play after big play.

But has their been some sense of “fat and happy-ness” going on with the Chiefs? Nobody expected them to do anything last year and suddenly they’re in the playoffs. It didn’t go so well from there, but regardless, making it to the playoffs is definitely success. This preseason, they’ve been playing like a team that already won, and therefore they’ve been garbage. They were so bad that their head coach played them the entire 4th preseason game, a contest where most starters hardly play, if at all.

The Bills may not have a chance to win 10 games this season, but they’ve been fighters for a while now. Still, I went with the Chiefs because of their impressive home field advantage, and their solid running game against a bad run defense. But I’m far from cashing this check before I watch the entire game.

Buffalo Bills Cut down to 53 Man Roster, Roosevelt And Jasper Could Be On Practice Squad

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - The lack of experienced depth along the Buffalo Bills offensive line grew even thinner after veteran center Geoff Hangartner was among the team's cuts in establishing its 53-player roster Saturday.

Hangartner was among 22 players released four days after telling The Associated Press he had assurances from the Bills' coaching staff that he would make the team. He's a six-year NFL veteran who had lost his starting job at center to Eric Wood this offseason.

Coach Chan Gailey said he never provided Hangartner any assurances.

"I've never said that," Gailey said.

Hangartner wasn't available for comment. His agent, Eric Metz, declined comment except to say, "After 27 years of this, it's all about actions, not words."

The move was considered a surprise, especially after both Gailey and general manager Buddy Nix expressed concern about the line's lack of experience during training camp.

Hangartner was the Bills' most experienced and highest paid lineman. He was scheduled to make $2.55 million this year, and $5.35 million in base salary over the final two years of his contract.

The Bills open at Kansas City on Sept. 11. They went 1-3 in the preseason in which their Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense was inconsistent. And they're coming off a 4-12 finish last year.

"Each individual decision is on its own merits," Gailey said. He added that the moves were made based on "knowledge, insight and opinion and what we feel is best for the opportunity to beat Kansas City and for the future of our football team."

Buffalo also cut three more offensive linemen, second-year tackle Cordaro Howard, third-year guard Mansfield Wrotto and rookie center Michael Switzer. Second-year tackle Ed Wang (shoulder) was one of four players placed on the waived injured list.

Those moves leave the team with three tackles, including rookie fourth-round pick Chris Hairston, who is currently serving as the lone backup. Starting guard Andy Levitre also has experience playing the position.

Wang made headlines in becoming the first player with direct Chinese ancestry to be selected in the NFL draft last year, when the Bills chose him in the fifth round out of Virginia Tech. He missed much of last season with a thumb injury, and was then sidelined for part of training camp last month with a shoulder injury.

Third-year safety Jon Corto (shoulder) was also waived/injured, while running back Bruce Hall was placed on injured reserve.

Receiver Craig Davis failed to make the best out of his second chance. A first-round pick in 2007, Davis had four unproductive seasons before being released by the San Diego Chargers this year and signing with the Bills early last month.

Davis was beaten out by Ruvell Martin, a fifth-year player who had signed with the Bills 10 days earlier.

"First of all, he did a great job of picking up the offense quickly," Gailey said of Martin. "And he played well on special teams. It was a good combination to have coming in on short notice."

Cornerback Reggie Corner, a 2008 fourth-round draft pick, was among the players cut. His departure leaves the Bills with five cornerbacks, including two rookies: second-round pick Aaron Williams and seventh-rounder Justin Rogers.

Also cut was rookie defensive tackle Michael Jasper. At 6-foot-4 and 383 pounds, Jasper was considered a project after being selected with the second of the team's two seventh-round picks out of Bethel University.

Gailey described Jasper as "a viable candidate" to be placed on the Bills' practice squad should he go unclaimed on waivers.

Second-year tight end Shawn Nelson was also cut in a move that didn't come as a surprise. He's been hampered by an assortment of injuries and opened last season missing the first four games while serving an NFL-imposed suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He appeared in only five games last season before being placed on the reserve/injured non-football injury list as a result of migraines.

A fourth-round pick out of Southern Mississippi, Nelson then missed most of training camp last month with a leg injury.

Two rookie undrafted free agents made the roster: linebacker Robert Eddins (Ball State) and tight end Zack Pianalto (North Carolina). Eddins had a solid training camp, while Gailey said Pianalto showed enough potential despite being slowed by a hamstring injury.

Buffalo Bills Trade Lee Evans To Ravens Fourth Round Draft Pick

After saying goodbye to WRs Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Donte' Stallworth and TE Todd Heap this offseason, the Ravens imported more experience at the position Friday, acquiring Lee Evans from the Bills.

He offered an upfront view of his talents last October, burning the Ravens for 105 yards (on six catches) and three TDs in Baltimore.

Evans had spent his entire seven-year career in Buffalo after being a first-round pick in 2004. He has two 1,000-yard receiving seasons to his credit but comes off his least productive campaign in 2010 (37 rec., 578 yards, 4 TDs). He also missed action for the first time in the NFL, going on IR with three games to go after suffering an ankle injury.

But Evans could be just what the doctor ordered in Baltimore. He's a deep threat (career average of 15.7 yards per reception) that should provide a nice complement to bruising WR Anquan Boldin, RB Ray Rice and a young group of tight ends. QB Joe Flacco really had no one to stretch the field last year with speedy Stallworth seeing very limited action.

Evans' departure leaves Stevie Johnson as the clear-cut No. 1 wideout in Buffalo and opens up a starting spot for Marcus Easley, David Nelson, Roscoe Parrish or Brad Smith

2011 NFL Draft: Why Ryan Fitzpatrick Should Be The Buffalo Bills Strating QB in 2011

Jeff Kayer - The ball was snapped on a November afternoon at Orchard Park in an overtime clash between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Having rallied his team from 13 points down and extending his touchdown streak to 12 games, the longest such streak by a Bills quarterback since Doug Flutie in 1999, Ryan Fitzpatrick took the snap from his center and immediately saw something.

New standout receiver Steve Johnson had made a break on his opponent and was wide open going for the endzone. Fitzpatrick threw a perfect 40-yard pass to his streaking receiver who was about to extend the Bills winning streak to three games and get a clutch victory against one of the NFL's best teams.

But as Fitzpatrick had his arms already extended in victory, Johnson, a normally sure handed receiver, inexplicably dropped the ball. The Steelers went on to win the game 19-16.

While this was one of the low points of a 4-12 season for the Bills, it did prove one thing to many people—Ryan Fitzpatrick has game.

The Bills are currently at an all too familiar spot as they approach the draft—an early draft position after another failed campaign. The Bills have not been in the post season since 1999 in which they lost in spectacular fashion to the Music City Miracle.

Since then the team has gone through a long line of coaches, each bringing different philosophies and game plans and, simply put, none of it has worked. As any fan can attest to, it takes time for a new coach to implement his system, especially when he lacks talent. When you see that the team has had six coaches since 2000, it shouldn't surprise many the team has struggled.

That is where we are now with the Bills who pick third in the draft. Though the team is in need of fresh talent in almost every position, many analysts believe the Bills are looking to draft a quarterback, most notably Auburn's Cam Newton or Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.

While both quarterbacks have a chance to become a very strong foundation for a team, the Bills should realize they already have their man for 2011 in Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The Bills did go 4-12 last year but Fitzpatrick guided an offense that showed a ton of promise. Though the Bills ranked 24th in the NFL with 197 passing yards per game, one has to understand that Trent Edwards started the first two games with 139 and 102 yards passing respectively with Brian Brohm starting for an injured Fitzpatrick in week 17, in which he threw for a blistering 106 yards.

Despite not starting three games, Fitzpatrick was tied for 13th in the league with a very respectable 23 passing touchdowns, tying him with Jay Cutler and David Garrard. He threw for 3000 yards with an average of 231 yards per game, ranking him ahead of players like Joe Flacco, Cutler, Josh Freeman, Matt Cassell and Mark Sanchez. He also helped stretch the field with 269 rushing yards.

Is Ryan Fitzpatrick the next Tom Brady? Absolutely not, though neither is Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert.
The Bills have a quarterback who has the talent to throw for over 300 yards per game, which he accomplished that feat on several occasions, the best coming against the Baltimore Ravens in which he torched a top defense for 382 yards and four touchdowns.

We've talked a lot about why Fitzpatrick has proven his worth. Let's now look at other components of the Bills team.

Consider the fact they had the worst rushing defense in the league, giving up nearly 170 yards per game. They gave up the fifth most points in the NFL, had the fourth fewest sacks and tied for the third fewest interceptions.

On offense the team was marginally good rushing the ball at 18th in the league and was 18th at sacks allowed. Their receiving corps got a large boost with the emergence of Stevie Johnson to compliment Lee Evans and Roscoe Parish.

Looking at the stats, it's abundantly clear this team needs to focus on the defensive side of the ball. When you can't stop the run, put pressure on the opponent's quarterback or scare him with quality cornerbacks, you're not going to win games, no matter who your quarterback is.

This why the Bills need to target players like linebacker Von Miller or cornerback Patrick Peterson.

No one is going to argue that Ryan Fitzpatrick is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. But for 13 games, he put up numbers that were more than adequate and if it wasn't for some bad breaks—and failures by other parts his team—the Bills could have won eight games, as they lost four games to 2010 playoff teams by a combined 12 points, two of which in overtime.

Drafting Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert may attract some headlines, which some may argue is even more important for this struggling franchise than actually drafting someone at a bigger need. But for the long term and short term success of the Bills, they need to let Fitzpatrick and the hopeful return of his beard to lead this team next season.

Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns Preview

A pair of last-second victories have appeared to boost the spirits of the Cleveland Browns, who were on the wrong end of a number of close games during their slow start.

Their next opponent knows what it's like to endure those kinds of defeats.

Cleveland will attempt to earn a season-high third straight win by sending the Buffalo Bills to their third consecutive defeat Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Browns were 1-5 in games decided by seven points or fewer during their 3-7 start, but they've won the past two by a combined four points.

Cleveland got a break in the first of those wins Nov. 28 when Carolina's field goal attempt grazed off the left upright on the final play.

After that 24-23 victory, the Browns (5-7) created their own luck in last week's 13-10 win at Miami when safety Mike Adams' interception in the final minute helped set up Phil Dawson's 23-yard field goal as time expired.

"It's about time for us to win some games like that," Adams said. "Two years ago, or even last year, you can remember us losing a game like that. Fortunately, this year, it's turning our way. So a win is a win."

The Bills would probably love to get any kind of win after seeming to regress over the past two weeks.

Buffalo endured three consecutive three-point defeats at the end of its 0-8 start but rebounded for wins over Detroit and Cincinnati last month. The Bills then suffered their third overtime loss this season to Pittsburgh on Nov. 28 before falling 38-14 last week in Minnesota.

Buffalo (2-10) committed a season-high five turnovers and three personal foul penalties against the Vikings. The Bills also lost center Geoff Hangartner and right guard Kraig Urbik to knee injuries.

Starting right guard Eric Wood is expected to return after missing two games because of an ankle injury and take over for Hangartner. Ed Wang and Cordaro Howard are slated to split time at right guard in place of Urbik.

"It's no fun to try to create continuity in a situation where there is none," coach Chan Gailey said. "You can't do it in a short period of time. We're just going to have to work and do the best we can to patch a group together that can go play."

Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will likely miss a third straight game with an ankle injury, giving Jake Delhomme another start. The veteran could get some help from running back Peyton Hillis, who is 38 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.

Hillis will face a Buffalo defense that's giving up a league-worst 170.9 yards per game on the ground and has allowed at least 200 in each of the past two defeats.

Delhomme has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 462 yards in McCoy's absence. He didn't throw an interception for the first time this season last week after having two passes picked off in three consecutive games.

Delhomme also had a touchdown to tight end Benjamin Watson, who had a career-high 10 receptions while reaching 100 yards for the first time with Cleveland.

Delhomme threw for 325 yards last season against Buffalo but also three interceptions in a 20-9 loss for the Panthers.

Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't faced the Browns since going 1-1 in two starts for Cincinnati in 2008. He had 211 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in those games, including a career-low 55 yards as a starter in a 14-0 win at Cleveland.

The Bills couldn't get past Cleveland for the third time in as many seasons in 2009, falling 6-3 at home as former Brown Billy Cundiff kicked an 18-yard field goal with 23 seconds left.

The previous season, Dawson converted a 56-yarder with 1:39 to lift the Browns to a 29-27 road victory.

Cleveland has won 10 of 15 all-time meetings, going 5-2 in Buffalo.

Buffalo Bills LB Reggie Tobor Placed On IR

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills starting linebacker Reggie Torbor is done for the season after being placed on injured reserve Friday because of a shoulder injury that will require surgery.

Torbor finished with 41 tackles after signing with the Bills as a free agent. He was hurt in Sunday's overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bills claimed tight end Scott Chandler after he was waived by the Dallas Cowboys to take Torbor's roster spot.

Starting right guard Eric Wood (ankle), cornerback Terrence McGee (nerve behind knee) and tight end Shawn Nelson (migraine) all will not play Sunday when the Bills (2-9) play at the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).

Dropped Pass Not God's Fault, Bills Receiver Steve Johnson Hands

Buffalo Bills receiver Steve Johnson’s T-shirt said it all.

Walking to the microphone before practice Wednesday, Johnson sported a shirt with the words “It’s all good” emblazoned across the chest.

“Yeah I’ve been able to put it behind me,” Johnson said. “I haven’t forgotten about it, but I’m ready to move on from it.”

The “it” Johnson was referring to was his costly end-zone drop in overtime Sunday that prevented the Bills from upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It” also refers to the public storm that engulfed him after the game when he posted a message on his Twitter account, wondering how God could do this to him.

An upbeat Johnson talked candidly Wednesday about the drop and his controversial tweet.

“God is everything,” he said. “I feel like he’s the Creator, and he’s 100 per cent good. I simply just asked ‘Why?’ I was not blaming him or any of that. Why would I? But it happened, and the way people took it, is the way they took it. They can say what they want, it’s fine with me. I’m still going to keep doing what I have to do to keep being a good receiver.”

Johnson’s been much more than a good receiver for the Bills. He’s emerged as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s go-to guy, and he leads the team with 59 receptions, 796 yards and nine touchdowns.

But it’s the would-be 10th touchdown falling out of his grasp that’s taught Johnson that sometimes he isn’t in the driver’s seat with what transpires on the field.

“When plays are called, I just felt like I was in control,” he said. “But when it came down to (making the play), I didn’t. So I’m not in control of that.”

Though the drop has been on countless highlight shows over the last couple of days, Johnson said he hasn’t seen it on television.

“I didn’t try to avoid it,” he said. “I was in the play, so I know exactly what happened.”

Johnson said he’s been getting a tremendous amount of support from his teammates, friends, family, and even Buffalo’s all-time leading receiver, Andre Reed, who called him on Tuesday.

“He just said it happens to the best of us,” Johnson said.

Fitzpatrick once again rallied around Johnson and said he’s confident the 2008 seventh-round draft pick will show no ill-effects Sunday when Buffalo (2-9) plays at the Minnesota Vikings (4-7).

“In the NFL, you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the message that everybody has tried to give to him and the message in general to the team is move on, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

This is the second instance where controversy swirled around a tweet made by a Bill. Rookie running back C.J. Spiller apologized for using a derogatory term toward gays that he posted on his Twitter account last month.

Johnson said he didn’t regret posting his tweet, but he understands that public figures have become more public with social networking.

“We’re an internet generation now, and maybe I shouldn’t have done it,” he said. “It’ll take a while for me to get back into it, but I’ll still be the same person.”

The Bills hope he’s the same receiver that’s been posting big numbers on the field.

Buffalo Bills vs. Minnestoa Vikings Preview Dec 5, 2010

The Buffalo Bills will travel to Minnesota to take on Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings on December 5th. The Buffalo Bills are coming off a gutting

loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers who squeaked out a win over the pesky Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. The Minnesota Vikings scored just enough to take down a tough home team in the Washington Redskins to bring their win total to four wins and seven losses heading into this important home game.

Minnesota Vikings Offense vs Buffalo Bills Defense

Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings offense did not flourish against a weak Washington Redskins defense. Now they come up against a Buffalo Bills team that has won two of their last three and they took one of the best defensive teams in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers to a late overtime loss.

The Minnesota Vikings offense looks to be reinventing itself after the departure of Brad Childress but Brett Favre did look more comfortable to improvise during the game against the Washington Redskins. An injury to Adrian Peterson may be an issue later in the week and the number on this game could be affected. Sidney Rice has returned to the fold but he has not earned Brett Favre's trust yet as Visanthe Schiancoe was the go to receiver when the game was on the line.

The Buffalo Bills pass defense continues to be their strong suit. They are limiting the opposing offenses to just under 210 yards per game but they are also giving up 163 yards on the ground. If Adrian Peterson is healthy for this game it could be his biggest game of the year. The Minnesota Vikings offense has the edge over the Buffalo Bills defense.

Minnesota Vikings Defense vs Buffalo Bills Offense

Jared Allen and the Minnesota Vikings defense have been playing below their high level of intensity in the 2009 NFL season. They are still holding opposing quarterbacks below 220 yards passing per game but they are prone to giving up the big play every game. Mental lapses have done them in several games this year. Run defense for the Minnesota Vikings is still holding opposing rushers under 100 yards per game but they are not intimidating the opposition as they did last season. The defensive line is still one of the

best aspects of the Minnesota defense and they should be able to control the Buffalo Bills run game.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing at a level that could make him a top 10 NFL quarterback. Fitzpatrick has created an an attitude with the offense that gives them a confidence that they can score at will as they did against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was won until Buffalo Bills wide out Steve Johnson dropped the touchdown ball that would have won the game. Fitzpatrick is the wild card in this game and he could be the man do officially finish Brett Favre's career. The Buffalo Bills offense has a slight edge over the Minnesota Vikings defense.

The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook has made the Minnesota Vikings a six point home team favorite over the Buffalo Bills in a must win game for Minnesota. This game will be down to the wire but in the end it will come down to luck. It is never a good practice to bet on a game that will come down to the last second so when making a play on this only include it on office pools. Take the Minnesota Vikings -6 over the Buffalo Bills. Vikings 34 - Bills 20

Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals - Gameday Preview Nov 21, 2010

The Chan Gailey era has finally begun in Buffalo as the Bills are coming off their first win of the season and it only took them 10 weeks to get the job done. Buffalo was able to fend off the Lions in the fourth quarter of a tight football game to become the last team to register a win this season. The Cincinnati Bengals are starting to feel like the Bills as they have lost the last six games they've played. Last season's Cardiac Cats have returned, but this year they haven't been able to get that final score in regulation to either tie the game or get the win. In six of the Bengals seven losses this season they lost by one score or less with the latest being a six point loss to the Colts in which they came back and had the ball with a chance to take the lead had they scored a late touchdown.

With Chan Gailey finally in the winners column he is now focused on starting a win streak. This week against the Bengals is as good a chance as any to get the Bills second win of the season. Last game the Bills were paced by running back Fred Jackson who ran 25 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. Jackson also caught six passes for 37 yards including a 16-yard pass that resulted in a touchdown from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. While Fitzpatrick only completed 12 of his 24 passes for under 150 yards it was enough as the Bills were able to control the ball and move on with a win. Buffalo's defense allowed Lions QB Shaun Hill to throw for 323 yards, but were able to give up only 76 yards on the ground. The turning point in the game came late in the fourth quarter when the Lions were stopped on a 2-pt conversion try that would have tied the game, but instead gave the Bills their first win of the season. This week, the Bills will look to do more of the same against the Bengals in their gameplan. Fred Jackson will be a large part of the offense this week most likely carrying the ball 25 times again. Star receiver Lee Evans will need to step up in this one and make a few big plays as well. Evans talent has always drawn plenty of attention from opposing defenses and it has caused him to have few opportunities a game. However, it was also allowed fellow receiver Steve Johnson to step up this season into the role of the top receiver for this Bills team as he leads the team with 44 receptions for 591 yards and 6 touchdowns. The defense is going to need to focus on being successful against the run this week just like they were last week allowing those 76 yards on 26 carries and no touchdowns. Through the air it will Owens who will be shadowed as he is having one of the best years he's had in a while, and he is also playing his former team.

With Terrell Owens playing against another former team of his it should be interesting to see how he treats them in between plays, but during plays the Bengals expect him to be making big ones. In recent weeks T.O. has overshadowed fellow teammate and received Chad Ochocinco and it is apparent Chad is not happy about the recent developments of the ball sharing situation. Carson Palmer has developed a liking for throwing to T.O. since he has done pretty much everything with the ball so far this season catching 59 passes for 834 yards and seven scores. Ochocinco has only caught 47 passes for 559 yards and three scores and he is not too happy about that differential, especially since his team has only two wins. Aside from the WR issues this team has failed to close out a game that was close this season since week two and it has cost them arguably up to six wins. If the fourth quarter were to go a little differently for this team it would be a completely different season, but right now it hasn't and the Bengals are staring at a 2-9 start if they can't work together against the Bills who are coming into this game hungry for another win. While Palmer has thrown 16 touchdowns he has also thrown 11 interceptions and some of them have been costly. Against the Bills, the Bengals plan will most likely be to pound the ball with Cedric Benson or see if Owens can slice up the Bills DB's. With Ochocinco's head sometimes out of the game it will be interesting to see how big a role he plays in this game, especially when it gets down to the end. While the Bengals have struggled this season they still have the talent on both sides of the ball to get big wins, and even though they are playing the 1-8 Buffalo Bills this would be a big confidence win for the team.

The Buffalo Bills played scrappy in their last game and it got them the win. The Cincinnati Bengals have scrapped away more wins this season then they would like to remember. As the season gets into the second half teams start to realize that they aren't in playoff contention and for some of them that takes their heads out of the game. Bengals 31 - Bills20

Buffalo Bills Lose Chicago Bears 22-19; The March to 0-16 Continues

TORONTO (Reuters) - Unable to find a victory in the United States, the Buffalo Bills fared no better across the border in Canada as they fell 22-19 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday to remain the NFL's only winless team.

Jay Cutler tossed a pair of touchdown passes and Chester Taylor ran for another as the Bears pulled out of a two-game losing skid to improve to 5-3 while the Bills sank to 0-8.

Making the annual visit to their northern neighbors, the Bills have found no more success in downtown Toronto than they have at Orchard Park, losing all three regular-season games played at the Rogers Center the last three years.

It was also the third consecutive heartbreaker for the Bills who have lost their last three games by three points including two in overtime.

"This one really hurts, I don't know what to say," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick told reporters. "We did some good things out there again but came up short.

"They keep hurting more and more but the guys keep fighting. I know we're 0-8 now but all it takes is one win. We need one win to get over the hump and things will start going our way."

The Bills enjoyed little in the way of home-field advantage with just as many fans in the crowd of 50,746 wearing Bears jerseys.

"It seemed close to 50/50 but that's our responsibility, we have to be a better football team so that these people become Bills fans not just people that want to see NFL football," said coach Chan Gailey.

Chicago opened the scoring with a grinding eight-minute, 81-yard scoring drive that bridged the opening two quarters, Cutler finding Greg Olsen in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.

Buffalo answered with 13 seconds left in the half, Roscoe Parrish latching on to a 14-yard laser throw from Fitzpatrick to send the teams into the intermission deadlocked at 7-7.

The Bears stormed out after the break, Cutler engineering another long scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Taylor only to watch the battling Bills hit back immediately with Fred Jackson rumbling over from four yards.

The Bills kept up the pressure in the fourth quarter, converting a Cutler fumble near mid-field into a one-yard Corey McIntyre touchdown plunge and a 19-14 lead.

However, Bears cornerback Tim Jennings jumped in front of a Fitzpatrick pass and returned it deep into Bills territory to set up Chicago's winning score, a two-yard touchdown strike from Cutler to Earl Bennett.

"I don't have any new words to tell you guys, it feels like someone has kicked us in the stomach," said Gailey. "It hurts.

"I truly believe this team will get there and I don't just mean win a game, I think we have a chance to be a decent football team."

Buffalo Bills Or Dallas Cowboys: Who's Worst Team In The NFL

Once upon a time this was an easy question to answer but now due to the obvious circumstances it takes some serious thought as to who is worse, the Buffalo Bills or Dallas Cowboys.

To think that 16 years ago both of these teams represented their divisions in the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season seems like a distant and insane memory.

The Buffalo Bills are a young and inexperienced team that doesn't possess much talent and is still currently without a win in the 2010 NFL season. As for the Dallas Cowboys, they are a team loaded with talent that many picked as a Super Bowl favorite and currently sit at the bottom of the NFC East at 1-7.

On paper the Dallas Cowboys are worlds above the lowly Buffalo Bills. They are above the rest with their new Cowboy's Stadium, bringing in revenue, and marketability. As for the Bills they are one of the small market NFL teams and they have to travel to Canada just to bring in double the amount of revenue that they would playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Just take a look at an NFL store catalog or any NFL catalog and try to find that awesome pillow that comes representing the Dallas Cowboys, but not for the Buffalo Bills. Sadly the market isn't there and neither is the popularity that the Dallas Cowboys have.

The Buffalo Bills may be 0-8 but have made strides and improvements to a struggling team. Ralph Wilson, the 92-year-old owner of the Bills, has entrusted his faith in Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix who have moved RB Marshawn Lynch, rid themselves of QB Trent Edwards, and picked up LB Shawne Merriman and are trying to do something to help the Buffalo Bills win.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hasn't done a thing to improve the Dallas Cowboys since the beginning of the season and is watching his team fall apart and hit new lows that Dallas is unaccustomed to.

The Cowboys are playing the worst football possibly anyone has seen and it all starts from the top. This time the dysfunction of the Cowboys can't be blamed on Terrell Owens as Wade Phillips can't get this team to actually give a damn.

Who would have thought that the Cowboys could get any lower than their performance against Jacksonville last week only to be crushed by the Packers 45-7? It's pathetic to see this team miss tackles, not continue on plays, and actually just give up. Watch the Dallas Cowboys play and tell me they are giving 100 percent?

One the other hand the Buffalo Bills have done everything they possibly can to win the last three games. Both games against Kansas City and Baltimore went into overtime and it took everything Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears had to knock them off in Canada. The Bills play with their heart on their sleeve and refuse to give up each and every Sunday.

While the records of the two teams might be somewhat similar they are two completely different teams. The Buffalo Bills fans can at least hold their heads up high knowing that they aren't quitting each and ever week and that when you go against Buffalo you better be prepared for a fight.

The Dallas Cowboys may be dubbed "America's Team" but the Buffalo Bills, as the struggling underdog, represent "America" much better than a quitter.

Buffalo Bills Monday Mourning QB Oct 25, 2010

BY THE NUMBERS
506 -- Net yards gained by the Bills against Baltimore, the eighth-highest total in team history, but the most ever in a Buffalo loss. It was also the most yards yielded by the Ravens since 2000.

LINEUP WATCH
Aaron Maybin, Buffalo's first-round draft choice in 2009, was inactive for the first time in his 22-game NFL career. And what really made this tough to swallow for the struggling linebacker is that the Bills were playing in his hometown of Baltimore. PLAYER NOTES

--QB Ryan Fitzpatrick set new career highs with 374 yards passing and four TDs. It was the ninth-best passing yardage total in Bills history.

--WR Steve Johnson set career highs for catches (eight) and receiving yards (158), plus he scored a touchdown for the fourth game in a row.

--WR Lee Evans became the first player in Bills history to achieve a second game with three TD receptions. He also did it in 2005. The Bills lost both of the games.

--SS Donte Whitner led the Bills with eight tackles, but he had a rough day as he was beaten for two TDs by Todd Heap and dropped an interception that might have been a pick six.

--K Rian Lindell made both of his field-goal attempts including a game-tying 50-yarder with four seconds left in regulation.

--KR C.J. Spiller fumbled a kickoff late in the first half that set up a Baltimore touchdow

Buffalo Bills Show Heart In Losing Effort To Ravens. "March To 0-16 Continues"

Buffalo, off to their worst start in 25 years, squandered a 14-point lead but came back with a gritty effort before losing 37-34 on a 38-yard field goal four minutes into overtime.

"We showed we can compete with one of the better teams in the league, scratch and claw and fight back," said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had four touchdowns in the loss.

"But every single one of those guys in that locker room is disappointed that we didn't come out on top."

The Bills lost their sixth straight game despite racking up 506 yards, the most the Ravens have allowed since 2000.

Buffalo stunned the crowd of 72,000 at M&T Bank Stadium as Fitzpatrick helped steer the league's 30th-ranked offense to a 14-point lead in the second quarter.

The Bills then self-destructed and allowed 10 points during the final minute before halftime to take a slim 24-20 lead into the locker room.

The Ravens scored a touchdown sixteen seconds into the third quarter to take a 27-24 lead and added another during the final minute of the quarter for a 10-point cushion. But the resilient Bills fought back to force overtime on a 50-yard field goal by Rian Lindell with four seconds to play.

"I'm really proud of the way we fought back. There's no quit in this football team. It's frustrating, especially to lose that way," said Fitzpatrick.

"We're going to get over the hump."

Cundiff's game-winning kick was set up when Baltimore's Ray Lewis stripped tight end Shawn Nelson of the ball at the Bills 45. An unnecessary roughness penalty to Buffalo after the play moved the ball to the Bills 29 and sealed their fate.

Still in search of their first win, Buffalo travels to Kansas City next week to take on the 4-2 Chiefs.

"In this locker room, we don't feel like an 0-6 team," said running back Fred Jackson. "We feel like we are better than that. The reality is we're 0-6 but we're going to keep plugging at it.

Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens Week 7 Predictions And Betting Odds

NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds: The Baltimore Ravens host the Buffalo Bills, Sunday Oct 24, as the Bills look for their first win of their season. These two haven’t met since the 2007 season. NFL oddsmakers have the Ravens as -13 point home favorites over the Bills while the game's total has been posted at 43 points.

The Bills (0-5) sat out on a BYE Week after they lost 26-36 to Jacksonville, at home. Against the Jags, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick made 20 of 30 passes for 220 yards with three TD’s. RB Fred Jackson had 12 carries for 73 yards, while WR Lee Evans and Steve Johnson each added a TD. The Bills put up 220 pass yards, so they are capable of airing out the ball. Buffalo allows a league-worst 182ypg, so expect Ray Rice to have a tremendous game. After struggling early in the season, Rice has shown signs of improvement as he's rushed for 221 yards in his last two games. Nobody gets lower than the Rutgers product, and 100-150 yards against the weak Bills defense seems more probable than possible. The Bills 2010 team leaders include; QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completing 52 passes on 85 attempts for 595 yards and seven touchdowns, Marshawn Lynch leads in rushing with 37 carries for 164 yards and Roscoe Parrish leads in receiving with 14 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown. The Bills are ranked 30th overall on offense (251ypg) with a 31st ranked pass game (144ypg) and an 16th ranked ground game (106ypg). They have a 29th ranked defense (382ypg), with a 10th ranked pass rush (200ypg) and the league’s worst ranked rush defense (182ypg). The Bills defense allows the most amount of points per-game (32.2).

The Ravens (4-2) lost in New England 20-23 (OT) and sit second in the AFC North. QB Joe Flacco completed 27 of 35 passes for 285 yards with two TD’s. RB Ray Rice had 28 carries for 88 yards, while Anquan Boldin and Todd Heap each added a TD. The Ravens may have blown a 20-10 lead over the Patriots, but that shouldn't take anything away from this talented Baltimore team. The Ravens showed that their defense is still amongst the league's elite as New England had to fight for every yard. The Ravens ultra tough defense managed three sacks but pulled down two interceptions. The Ravens 2010 team leaders include; QB Joe Flacco completing 97 passes on 170 attempts for 1116 yards and five touchdowns, Race Rice leads in rushing with 87 carries for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Anquan Boldin leads in receiving with 28 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens are ranked 16th overall on offense (336ypg) with a 16th ranked pass game (224ypg) and a 15th ranked running game (111ypg). They have the third best ranked defense overall (280pg), with the third best ranked pass rush (175ypg) and a 13th rank rush defense (105ypg). The Ravens defense allows the second least amount of points per-game (15).

Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bills are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.
Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 10.5 or greater.

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
When: Sun, Oct 24, 1:00 PM E
Pick: Ravens -13

Point-Spreads.com NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds

The Bottom Line: The Bills are the worst. Be sure to get your NFL Week 7 Predictions on the Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens. Ravens 41-Bills 3

Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL Gameday Preview

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson recently celebrated his 92nd birthday. Wilson also came out and admitted that he knows why the fans in Buffalo are angry. The Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999 and the team is off to an 0-5 start this year.

While the betting Bills fans were a little relieved to hear the team owner acknowledge their pain, there was still no solution offered by Wilson for the immediate future. It will be more of the same for Bills fans this season.

It is rare that an emotion such as anger enters into an NFL betting discussion, but Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are angry. Both of the Ravens losses this season were by five points or less, and the most recent loss was in Week 6 in overtime against the New England Patriots.

When the Week 7 NFL scores come rolling in at the end of Sunday’s play, it will be extremely evident how angry Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens are about their two losses this season.

Buffalo back-up quarterback Brian Brohm may get to see significant playing time this week, and if the Bills have a third-string quarterback, then he will probably get into the game as well.

The Bills offensive line has show no ability to stop any pass-rush thrown their way, and aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have the most relentless pass rush in the NFL.

The Bills drafted running back C.J. Spiller because they felt he could make plays. While Spiller has shown signs of promise, behind that terrible Bills offensive line he has not been able to accomplish anything this season.

The Bills traded running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the season leaving Spiller and Fred Jackson as the running back duo in Buffalo. As talented as Spiller and Jackson are, they are not going to get anywhere in the Buffalo offense.

The Ravens offense, and more specifically, quarterback Joe Flacco, has been struggling despite a 4-2 record. Flacco has been inconsistent this season, and while he has been improving, his accuracy problems are starting to cost the Ravens points on the scoreboard. If it were not for the aggressive defense of the Ravens, Baltimore could easily be 1-5.

This week’s Baltimore Ravens NFL pick will see the Ravens have some time to work on their offense. The Bills defense started out impressive, but with the offense unable to stay on the field for any period of time, the Bills defense is getting tired.

The Bills are last in rushing defense allowing an average of 182 yards per game, and they are last in points allowed by giving up an average of 32 points per game. All of these numbers are inflated over the past three weeks as the Bills defense looks like it has simply collapsed under the weight of the offense.

The Ravens need this game against the Bills. The Ravens defense gets a chance to work out their aggression over the Week 6 loss by teeing off against the Bills offense. The Baltimore offense gets a chance to work on their passing game against a Bills pass-rush that offers no resistance at all. The Baltimore Ravens 41-3

Buffalo Bills Have Hit Rock Bottom Following 0-5 Start

Thurman Thomas didn't realize how low his beloved Buffalo Bills had sunk until the Hall of Fame running back walked past four fans wearing paper bags over their heads at last weekend's home game.

It was one thing for Thomas to chuckle at seeing disgruntled fans doing that in places like Detroit or even New Orleans, back when the Saints were still the 'Aints.

But Buffalo?

"The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Are these guys that bad?"' Thomas said a few days after encountering the fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium during Buffalo's 36-26 loss to Jacksonville. "And I got to thinking about it, you know, like, 'Wow, you only really see bags with teams that really stink."'

Hate to break it to you, Thurman.

These Bills are, indeed, really bad - entering their bye week at 0-5, marking their worst start in 25 years and with little sign of things getting better any time soon.

Safety Donte Whitner called the Bills a "laughingstock" while guard Eric Wood didn't dispute the possibility of going 0-16 following the loss to Jacksonville. The Bills once-hearty fans have turned angry or apathetic, with the team facing the prospect of having as many as five non-sellouts at home, including its game Nov. 7 at Toronto against Chicago.

Former coach-turned-TV-analyst Tony Dungy had difficulty determining whether the Bills or winless Panthers were worse during an NBC broadcast Sunday. He said the two teams would play to a 0-0 tie if they met this season.

And even Bills owner Ralph Wilson had few words to describe his team's woes, except to say, "It's bad," and suggest it might take as many as three years to turn it around.

Such is the sad state of a once-proud franchise that's gone from being the AFC's winningest team in the 1990s to one of the NFL's worst since 2000. It's a 10-plus-year stretch in which the Bills have enjoyed one winning season (a 9-7 finish in 2004) and failed to make the playoffs, tying Detroit for the longest active drought.

It's so bad, first-year general manager Buddy Nix said the biggest challenge he and coach Chan Gailey face is addressing the losing culture that's been allowed to fester.

"To be honest with you, it's the hardest thing you have to do," Nix said. "I don't care whether you want to admit it or not, but losing gets to be a habit. And it gets to be something you accept. And we're not going to do that."

This season's start marks the ninth time in 11 years the Bills have had a losing record five games in, a stretch of futility that's been the result of endless coaching and quarterback changes and inconsistent drafting.

Gailey is the team's sixth head coach since Hall of Famer Marv Levy retired following the 1997 season. The Bills have had nine quarterbacks start at least eight games since Jim Kelly retired after 1996. And Buffalo's drafts have produced as many first-round busts - offensive tackle Mike Williams, quarterback J.P. Losman, defensive tackle John McCargo and potentially linebacker Aaron Maybin - as proven regulars, including Wood and receiver Lee Evans.

Caught in the midst of criticism, frustration and ever dwindling expectations is a group of players searching for answers and clinging to what few positives they can, while believing one win could bring a turnaround.

"Our focus is trying to win a football game, getting some confidence back, trying to get a feeling of happiness," Evans said. "We're not trying to say there's nothing bad going on. ... But if we sat up here and thought about everything bad going on, it would make it real hard to come in."

The Bills offense lacks identity, and went through an upheaval after Week 2, when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick took over as starter in place of Trent Edwards, who was released a week later.

Their defense has been even worse, having allowed 30 or more points in its last four games to mark the worst stretch in franchise history. And they can't stop the run, having allowed 689 yards rushing in their past three games.

Defensive end Marcus Stroud is stung by the level of criticism - some of it personal and profane - fans are heaping on the team.

"The fans are relentless. We're hearing it. Some of it is deserved and some of it isn't," Stroud said.

As for those who chose to wear paper bags, Stroud shook his head in wonder.

"If that's how you want to display your anger, that's cool," he said. "But one thing about it, cussing at us and wearing paper bags ain't going to do a damn thing to help turn it around."

Fans such as Mark Burr are fed up. Estimating he's attended more than 300 Bills games, he gave up his club seat season-tickets following the 2008 season and even passed up free tickets to go last Sunday.

"I have just programmed my DVR to record the games and make other plans for Sunday afternoon," Burr said.

Though crediting Wilson for his loyalty to Buffalo 51 years after establishing the franchise, Burr questioned the club's lack of direction.

"The incentive to win finishes a distant second to the bottom line," Burr said. "He has a reasonable expectation to turn an acceptable profit, but the product has suffered more often than not."

Wilson was open to paying for a high-profile coach this offseason, but the Bills were rejected by both Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher. The owner says there's no one else to blame but him for what's gone wrong.

The last time the Bills were this bad was in 1984 and '85, when they finished with 2-14 records.

Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith remembers fans wearing paper bags during his rookie season in '85. What's more memorable is how Smith joined Kelly, Thomas and Levy to form the core of a team that made four straight Super Bowl appearances from 1991-94.

"It's very difficult to see where we once were, and where we are now," Smith said.

Since February 2000 - when Smith, Thomas and receiver Andre Reed were all released - the Bills have always packed up after the regular season. As for this being the lowpoint and the dawn of something special, Smith wasn't sure.

"I hope. I try to be optimistic," he said. "But to be quite honest, since the team was broken up in 1999, we have not had the success that we had hoped for."

Buffalo Bills Lose Jags 36-26. Countdown 0-16 Officially Begins

Despite two takeaways, over 300 yards of total offense and three touchdowns from Ryan Fitzpatrick, it wasn’t enough to secure the first win of the 2010 season for the Buffalo Bills.

David Garrard’s three touchdowns and Josh Scobee’s four field goals helped the Jacksonville Jaguars avoid a big letdown, as the Jaguars downed the Bills 36-26. Jacksonville has won two straight and improves to 3-2, while the Bills remain one of two teams in the NFL without a win so far this season.

The Bills raced out of the gate to a 10-0 early lead thanks to Lee Evans’ first touchdown of the season, a 45-yard strike from Fitzpatrick. Rian Lindell’s 29-yard field goal gave Buffalo the early double digit advantage. With just less than six minutes remaining in the first half and Buffalo on top 13-3, the Jaguars scored 10 straight points. Garrard capped off the first half comeback with a 1-yard pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis that tied the game at 13 with :25 seconds left in the first half.

Out of the locker room, Jacksonville wasted little time pulling ahead of Buffalo, as Garrard again hooked up with Lewis for a 27-yard score to give the Jags the lead at 20-13 with less than two minutes gone in the third. Fitzpatrick ’s five-yard touchdown pass to Steve Johnson got things tied at 20, but Garrard and the Jags would answer back near the end of the third quarter. His third touchdown of the day, this one to receiver Mike Sims-Walker, gave the Jaguars the lead 27-20. Jacksonville would not trail the rest of the afternoon.

Three straight field goals from Scobee (34, 40, 46) helped the Jaguars pull away from the Bills in the fourth quarter. With just over 90 seconds left in the game, Fitzpatrick again hooked up with Johnson on a 7-yard pass but the Bills couldn’t convert the two-point conversion. Jacksonville outscored the Bills 23-13 in the second half, and despite trailing at one point in the game 13-6, the Jaguars went on to outscore the Bills 30-13.

With the Bills still sitting on a goose egg in the win column, picking up their first win next week appears to be a tall order, as the Bills travel to Baltimore to square off against the Ravens.

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 5 Preview

A more confident Jacksonville Jaguars team heads up to play the Buffalo Bills on October 10th. The Jacksonville Jaguars once again owned the Indianapolis Colts to
win their first game of the NFL season and save a couple of jobs in the process. The Buffalo Bills were expected to play the New York Jets tough in their AFC East battle but that is not the way their game went. The Buffalo Bills were blown out of their own building in an embarrassing loss.

Jacksonville Jaguars Defense vs Buffalo Bills Offense

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense has been inconsistent at best and they still gave up 28 points to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in their last game. The corners for the Jacksonville Jaguars are below average but the defensive line has been a surprise early in the 2010 NFL campaign.

The Buffalo Bills Fitzpatrick will have to pick on the Jacksonville Jaguars corners if wants to have success in this game. The Jacksonville Jaguars are very beatable on the edges and down the the field but they are strong in the middle. Fitzpatraick does have weapons at wide out with Lee Evans and Robert Parrish. The Jacksonville Jaguars defense has a slight edge over the Buffalo Bills offense.

Buffalo Bills Defense vs Jacksonville Jaguars Offense

The much maligned Buffalo Bills defense is not as bad as one would believe. They are solid on the corners with Leodis McKelvin and Reggie Corner and they have some strong linebackers in Paul Posluszny and Chris Kelsay. Many teams look to pass on the Buffalo Billd defense but the New York Jets had the right plan against them. The New York Jets pounded the ball inside and rarely threw the ball outside the hash marks.

The Jacksonville Jaguars offense was dormant until they faced the Indianapolis Colts in their last game. David Gerrard looked more confident as the game against the Colts wore on and if can parlay that attitude and bring it when he plays the Buffalo Bills he could win his second game in a row. The Jacksonville Jaguars offense has the edge over the Buffalo Bills defense but it is close. Jaguars 31- Bills 17.