Reeling Bills face critical test against Jets

Despite their dismal offensive performance last Sunday, the Buffalo Bills can still make headway in the AFC East with a win Sunday on the road against the New York Jets (4:15 p.m. ET)

After their 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo sits in last place at 1-4. But their opponent, the first-place Jets (3-2), are riding a two-game losing streak.

“It’s very tough,” quarterback Trent Edwards said of the Cleveland game.

“It’s easy to say 24 hours, whether you win or lose, you’ve got to get over it. But there’s things sometimes that linger over.”

Struggling Bills looking to make headway in AFC East as they pay a visit to the Jets

[audio:http://torontoobserver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bills-jets-week-5-podcast.mp3]

When the Bills travel to the Meadowlands, they will be facing a team coming off its worst defensive performance of the year.

Last Monday night, the Miami Dolphins put up 31 points on New York, dropping the Jets into a first-place tie with the New England Patriots.

New York is led by a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez and a rookie head coach in Rex Ryan. Despite their struggles in Miami, the Jets still rank ninth in the NFL in total defence and points allowed.

Dick Jauron has felt the heat this week regarding whether he thinks he will continue to be the Bills’ head coach.

“I’ll never respond to the question [of whether a change is imminent],” Jauron said. “It’s not a decision that I make.”

Another burden Jauron and his squad will have to overcome Sunday is Buffalo’s eight-game losing streak against AFC East opponents dating back to Dec. 2007.

While the Bills won’t be able to control what New England does on Sunday against Tennessee, they can knock the Jets down a peg, in addition to boosting their own confidence.

Elsewhere in the division, the Dolphins (2-3) are on their bye week before hosting the New Orleans Saints, giving Buffalo an opportunity to gain a half-game on its division foe.

But the task at hand will be the Jets, who have seen the other shoe fall after a surprising 3-0 start. They are a feisty team that takes on the personality of their head coach.

The injury bug has been problematic for the Bills, but good news could be on the horizon.

Both linebacker Paul Posluszny and safety Donte Whitner practised with the first-team unit on Wednesday. Jauron said both have been medically cleared to play but did not specify whether they would be ready by Sunday.

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By: Michael Seff
Posted: Oct 14 2009 6:23 pm
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