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Bills stage home opener against Jets

Sep 19, 2006 - 9:40 PM NY Jets (1-1) at Buffalo (1-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills went 1-1 on the road against AFC East teams to start the season. Now they face another divison rival in their home opener.

The New York Jets, who have not won at Ralph Wilson Stadium since 2002, meet the Bills on Sunday.

It was here in November 2004 when Jets quarterback Chad Pennington was hit in the right shoulder by linebacker London Fletcher after scrambling out of the pocket. Pennington missed the next three games due to a partially torn rotator cuff but returned to lead the Jets into the postseason. After a loss to Pittsburgh in the divisional playoffs, Pennington underwent surgery.

Pennington tore his rotator cuff again last September 25 in a loss to Jacksonville and again underwent surgery. Many questioned if Pennington could ever be effective again.

But Pennington has returned with a vengeance, throwing for 625 yards and four touchdowns in New York's first two games - a 23-16 win at Tennessee and a 24-17 loss to New England.

While the Jets are 1-1 under rookie coach Eric Mangini, the Bills have also split their first two games under new coach Dick Jauron.

After a 19-17 loss at New England in their opener, the Bills posted a 16-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins last week. They sacked Daunte Culpepper seven times, including three by defensive end Ryan Denney.

Willis McGahee accounted for 167 total yards and a touchdown in the Bills' 27-17 win over the Jets here last October 16. Here in 2004, McGahee rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown against the Jets. Last week, he rushed for 91 yards on 25 carries in the win at Miami.

New York yielded 147 yards on the ground in its loss to New England last week.

The Jets have been unable to establish a running game without Curtis Martin, the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher who is recovering from knee surgery. Kevan Barlow has 77 yards on 25 carries and Derrick Blaylock has just 43 yards on 25 carries in two games.

That has forced Pennington to air it out to his receivers. Laveranues Coles is off to a fast start with 14 receptions for 253 yards and a touchdown.

The Jets beat the Bills, 30-26, in the final game of the 2005 season. Buffalo took a 26-23 lead on a 36-yard field goal by Rian Lindell in the fourth quarter but Justin Miller returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown with 5:58 remaining. Mike Nugent kicked three field goals for New York.