There’s nothing like having a gut-check game in the third week of the season.
The Buffalo Bills will chase their first 3-0 regular-season start since 2008 when they host the New England Patriots (2-0) Sunday.
While the Bills are trying to break a 15-game losing streak against their division rivals, the Patriots are firing on all cylinders coming into Buffalo, leading the league in total offense and passing behind Tom Brady, who has had two thrown for nearly 1,000 yards in two games.
Coming off an impressive come-from-behind victory last week against Oakland, Buffalo has proven its offensive potency, especially on the ground, with Fred Jackson leading the league in rushing. Against the Patriots, though, as head coach Chan Gailey noted this week, Buffalo will have to be near perfect.
“They’re very good at what they do,” Gailey told the media Wednesday. “They’re very solid in every phase of the game; special teams, defense, offense. If you expect to beat them you’ve got to go play well on all three phases.”
When the Bills have the ball
Jackson's production on the ground has no doubt made things easier for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, as Jackson has put up more than 100 yards rushing in both games thus far. Jackson gained 81 yards rushing in the Bills' December loss to the Patriots at home.
“We’ll definitely have to make some plays, including myself have to make some big runs,” Jackson told reporters Wednesday. “... The offensive line is looking forward to the challenge of blocking (New England’s defensive line).”
Buffalo’s passing game has also been clicking. Fitzpatrick is sixth in the league in passer rating and has only thrown one pick to his seven TDs. The Pats, like the Bills, haven't been shy about giving up points in their two wins, sitting last in the league in points allowed.
“Every week is different,” Fitzpatrick told the media Wednesday. “Both those teams (Miami and San Diego) are coming from behind, throwing a lot of yards when the score was stretched out a little bit. I don’t know if that’s a true indication of the talent they have back there. They do have some very good corners.”
Steve Johnson practiced toward the end of the week, which is a good sign for the Bills, who can't afford to lose any more receivers. Buffalo moved Naaman Roosevelt to the active roster this week after putting Roscoe Parrish on injured reserve, the second Bills receiver this year to see that fate.
When the Patriots have the ball
Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is listed as doubtful going into Sunday's matchup, having sprained his MCL last week against the Chargers. That takes away one potent threat, though expect to see fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski get his fair share of touches.
“You know they’re going to make their yards,” Gailey said Wednesday. “You’re trying to make sure you don’t give up the big play. You’re trying to make sure you’re playing great red zone defense. You have to try to make sure you limit the run game and make sure you don’t give up the big plays. You just make them earn it all the way down the field.”
The Bills will look to improve a bit on their run defense, which has come leaps and bounds from dead-last in the league last year. Buffalo's front has proved its worth so far, showing success against two solid rushing teams in Kansas City and Oakland. The secondary has been effective as well but has not seen a passing attack like New England's yet this year. Gailey's message to them this week was simple: Be aggressive.
“Go out and expect to be great in the game," he said. "We’ve got to go compete for the ball when the ball’s in the air. We’ve got to study what they do. We have to be good tacklers. All those little things that make a secondary good, that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Notes: The Pats averaged 36 points in their two victories against the Bills last year; Linebacker Kirk Morrison and cornerback Terrence McGee will sit out Sunday's game for the Bills with hamstring injuries; Weather in Buffalo will be optimal at game time, mid-70s and sunny.
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