The Buffalo Bills (1-1) have been dreadful away from Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Having last won a road game on Sept. 11, 2011, Buffalo looks to snap this streak on Sunday when they travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns.
“That is not a good stat,” Ryan Fitzpatrick said of the streak. “Hopefully we break that trend, because if you don’t win on the road, you aren’t going to be successful.”
Fitzpatrick led the Bills to a 35-17 win over Kansas City last week after throwing three interceptions on opening day. He threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout victory.
Cleveland (0-2) has had a rough start to this season. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden struggled in his NFL debut, registering a QB-rating of 5.1. Much like his counterpart, Weeden rebounded well last week, throwing for 322 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort.
This Sunday, the Browns will rely heavily on another rookie, running back Trent Richardson.
Held to 39 yards on 19 carries in a 17-16 season-opening loss to Philadelphia, Richardson ran 19 times for 109 yards and a TD in a 34-27 loss at Cincinnati last Sunday.
The rookie also had a 23-yard TD reception to become the first Browns rookie to rush for 100 yards and score on a run and a pass in the same game.
Buffalo counters with the league’s leading rusher, CJ Spiller, who has been electric this season. Spiller is filling in for injured starter Fred Jackson, who will be out for the next few weeks with a strained knee.
Spiller leads the NFL with 292 rushing yards and 364 yards from scrimmage after running for 123 and two majors Sunday.
His 10.1 yards-per-carry average is the highest by a player with at least 25 carries through the first two games since Cleveland’s Jim Brown averaged 11.3 to begin 1963.
“It is just a humbling experience, to be mentioned in the same breathe as one of the greatest to ever play this position.” Spiller said in regards to his comparison to the Hall of Famer.
In recent meetings, these two squads have struggled to put up points against one another. In their last matchup, Buffalo ended a three-game losing streak in the series with a 13-6 win Dec. 12, 2010. Prior to that, the Bills lost a snooze-fest 6-3.
Notes: Bills DT Marcell Dareus returned to the team after being with his family in Alabama, after his younger brother was shot and killed during a burglary … Bills safety Jarius Byrd (right ankle) returned to practice and is expected to play … LB Nick Barnett (knee) is expected to play this Sunday. Buffalo is tied for their fourth-longest road losing streak in franchise history.