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Jets could secure .500 season with win over Bills

Dec 5, 2006 - 7:13 PM Buffalo (5-7) at Ny Jets (7-5) Sunday 4:15 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Eric Mangini has the New York Jets in a position not many people thought they would be in.

Under their first-year coach, the Jets could secure at least a .500 season Sunday when they meet the Buffalo Bills in an AFC East matchup.

After the Jets went just 4-12 in 2005, this was expected to be a rebuilding campaign under the 35-year-old Mangini, who served as defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots last season.

However, the Jets are in the thick of the playoff race, two games behind New England in the division and one of five teams in the conference with a 7-5 record.

Seeking their first three-game winning streak, the Jets are coming off their most impressive performance of the season, a 38-10 victory at Green Bay.

Against the Packers, Chad Pennington completed 22-of-29 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns with two touchdowns. Cedric Houston also rushed for 105 yards and two scores.

Pennington threw for 183 yards and touchdown in a 28-20 victory at Buffalo on September 24. Laveranues Coles had 10 receptions for 78 yards and safety Kerry Rhodes recorded two sacks and forced two fumbles.

In the first meeting, the Bills received big performances from running back Willis McGahee and wide receivers Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish. McGahee rushed for a career-high 150 yards, Evans had eight receptions for 108 yards and Parrish added four for 104 and a TD.

McGahee managed just 26 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in the Bills' 24-21 loss to San Diego last Sunday. Buffalo was seeking its first three-game winning streak of the season.