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Bills look to take command in AFC East against rival Jets

Nov 2, 2008 - 2:06 PM NY JETS (4-3) AT BUFFALO (5-2), 1:00 pm EST

ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- Tom Brady's season-ending injury was sure to alter the landscape in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills and New York Jets have yet to change a whole lot.

Looking to take command of the tight division by bouncing back from a deflating loss, the Bills host the Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In the wake of the Patriots losing their All-Pro quarterback in their season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills rattled off four consecutive victories to start the season. However, Buffalo has dropped two of its last three contests - including a 25-16 loss to the Miami Dolphins last week.

Buffalo committed four turnovers and yielded 18 unanswered points en route to falling into a tie with New England (5-2) atop the division.

"What is frustrating is that we didn't play our best game," Bills quarterback Trent Edwards said. "I'd rather walk off that field today (with) us playing the best game we can and still losing that game. I'd feel a lot better."

The Bills have won three straight against the Jets, including a 13-3 victory on October 28, 2007 in the last matchup between the divisional rivals. Buffalo also won, 17-14, on September 30 of last season.

New York has not defeated Buffalo since recording a 28-20 victory on September 24, 2006.

Also considered one the most improved teams in the league, the Jets have failed to gain any long-standing momentum. After earning two convincing wins, they fell in overtime, 16-13, to the Oakland Raiders on October 19 and barely escaped with a 28-24 victory over Kansas City Chiefs last week.

"We don't want to go into (the Buffalo) game playing the way we played (against the Chiefs)," Jets safety Kerry Rhodes told the New York Post. "If we play that way against a lot of teams, it won't be a good thing. It may not be a good outcome.

"Now (everyone) will come out and they can talk about how bad we are and it'll take pressure off us. It should be fun to be in that role - coming out to prove something and not be expected to win."

Running back Leon Washington racked up 274 total yards from scrimmage (67 rushing, 34 receiving, 71 on punt returns and 102 on kickoff returns) and scored a pair of touchdowns this past weekend for New York.

Brett Favre was picked off three times - including one which was taken back for a 91-yard touchdown - and has now thrown seven interceptions in his last three games since a six-touchdown effort against the Arizona Cardinals on September 28.

In three games since their bye week, the Jets have a minus-8 in turnover ratio against the Cincinnati Bengals, Raiders and Chiefs, who are own a combined record of 4-17.

"We have to tighten it up," Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins told the Post. "The fans know that, the coaches know that and the players know that."