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Jets-Bills Preview

Dec 2, 2009 - 2:49 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

The Buffalo Bills' once-woeful offense may be coming together just in time to impress the team's prospective fans in Canada.

The New York Jets' resurgent defense, however, will be trying to help resuscitate the club's slim playoff hopes when the AFC East rivals tangle in Toronto on Thursday night, playing the Bills' second in a series of regular-season home games at Rogers Centre.

Seeking to reach out to fans across Lake Ontario, Buffalo is scheduled to play a total of five contests in Toronto - one per season through 2012 - but the experiment did not begin well last year, with many in attendance supporting Miami in the Bills' 16-3 loss on Dec. 7.

"I think you're always hoping to have a little bit more of an electric atmosphere for the home team," punter Brian Moorman said. "We'll see what happens with the Jets. But obviously, we'd like for the people across the border to be Bills fans."

On the heels of four straight losing seasons and a 3-7 start, the Bills (4-7) gave their home fans reason to cheer during a 31-14 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.

After averaging 12.3 points in the previous eight games, Buffalo broke out with 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a 51-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Terrell Owens - the second time the duo hooked up for a lengthy score in the last two weeks.

"It was nice for our team, I think it'll give us a boost," Fitzpatrick said. "I guess there's a renewed optimism."

A coaching change has apparently helped, with interim coach Perry Fewell earning his first win in the second game after replacing Dick Jauron. Fewell, who has never been a head coach at any level, may have limited time in the role with the Bills reportedly chasing former Denver coach Mike Shanahan.

Fewell had been the defensive coordinator, but has fostered a more aggressive offensive philosophy while the defense has continued to force turnovers. The Bills had four interceptions against Miami, boosting their takeaway total to 25 - tied for third-most in the NFL.

They picked off the Jets (5-6) six times in a 16-13 overtime road victory Oct. 18, with New York rookie Mark Sanchez all but throwing the game away with five interceptions. Sanchez has continued to struggle, tossing two touchdowns and seven interceptions in the last three games.

Earlier this week, first-year Jets coach Rex Ryan reached out to New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi to teach Sanchez how to slide better, in hopes of helping the quarterback avoid injury.

"He's too valuable and he needs to understand that we need him out there and people are going to take shots at him if he doesn't start sliding," Ryan said of Sanchez. "I really did want to make an emphasis to Mark and get the best guy that we can in the area."

Sanchez was 13 of 17 for 154 yards and just one interception Sunday, enabling the defense to carry the Jets to a 17-6 victory over Carolina, snapping a three-game losing streak. The Panthers were held to 179 total yards - an effort resembling New York's stingy play during its 3-0 start.

Ryan's club quickly faded after that, dropping six of seven before Sunday's win, but the Jets remain one game out in a crowded AFC wild-card race and two back in the division chase.

"We can't focus on the future and what could happen five or six weeks down the road," fullback Tony Richardson said. "We need to focus on what's in front of us. Right now is another opportunity to go out and try to play well against a Buffalo team that really put it on Miami."

The game may have special meaning for Ryan, who was raised in Toronto by his mother between the ages of 3 and 15.

"I think it's going to be great," he said. "I'm glad we're doing it. We just want to win. We don't care if it's in Toronto, in Buffalo or right here. Makes no difference to us. We're going to do whatever it takes to get a win."