ORCHARD PARK - Of all the Bills fans surprised to find their team still in playoff contention 14 weeks into the season, one person stands out: Ralph Wilson.
The Associated Press
The Bills' George Wilson flips into the end zone for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Dolphins quarterback John Beck during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday.
The Bills' George Wilson flips into the end zone for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Dolphins quarterback John Beck during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday.
The Bills owner was happily making his way out of the locker room after Buffalo's win over woeful Miami on Sunday, when someone congratulated him on the team's sudden run of success.
“You know what,” Wilson said with a laugh. “At the start of the season, I never thought we'd win seven games. But you never know. You never know.”
The Bills (7-6) are making believers out of nearly everyone. They've answered their skeptics, by overcoming a lot of adversity and a revolving door at quarterback to find themselves preparing for what is likely a make-or-break showdown at Cleveland on Sunday.
On a 6-2 run, the Bills are a game behind the Browns (8-5) in the race for the AFC's sixth and final playoff berth. A win would keep Buffalo in the hunt, while a loss would end their hopes.
Ramifications aside, what's remarkable is finding Buffalo still playing meaningful games in December after the already young team lost nine players - including four starters - to season-ending injuries within the first month, and after getting off to a 1-4 start.
Buffalo has already matched its win total from last season and has an opportunity to end a seven-year playoff drought, matching the longest in franchise history.
The Bills are getting it done with a patchwork lineup that, on offense, is led by rookie third-round pick Trent Edwards at quarterback, and features a defense that has four regulars on injured reserve, and another two - defensive end Chris Kelsay (ankle) and safety George Wilson (ribs) - out indefinitely.
“It's really rewarding,” coach Dick Jauron said Monday. “And the reward for us is when you come into that locker room and see and feel the excitement and joy and the look of accomplishment on their faces.”
It won't take much from Jauron to get his players ready to face the Browns.
“We've played ourselves into an interesting position, and we've got a huge game right in front of us,” he said. “That's a good feeling to be playing for something late in the season.”
It's difficult to judge the Bills' progress based on their 38-17 victory against the winless and unraveling Dolphins (0-13).
What's evident is how Buffalo has bounced back to win its past two games, including a 17-16 victory at Washington, after consecutive blowout losses to New England and Jacksonville.
The Bills defense has allowed an average of 284 yards in its past two games, while combining for eight sacks, including a safety, and generating seven turnovers, including Wilson returning a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown against Miami.
The offense has been more productive in the past two games since Edwards reclaimed the starting job ahead of veteran J.P. Losman.
Edwards, over that stretch, has combined to go 33-for-59 for 422 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. That's an improvement after he had only one touchdown passing and five interceptions in his first five appearances, including four starts, earlier this season. Edwards has won four straight starts, the best run since Tennessee's Vince Young won six in a row last year. With four touchdowns passing against Miami, Edwards became the first Bills rookie to throw that many in a game, and first NFL rookie to do so since Chicago's Cade McNown did it against Detroit on Dec. 19, 1999.
The Bills running attack has also started providing a punch behind rookie starter Marshawn Lynch, who returned against Miami after missing three games with a sprained ankle, and Fred Jackson, who's taken over the backup role in place of injured Anthony Thomas.
Jackson had 115 yards rushing and Lynch 107 against Miami, the first Bills tandem to have 100 yards in the same game since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas and Darick Holmes did it in 1996.
Unlike the Bills owner, general manager Marv Levy refused to be surprised by the team's turnaround.
“It's certainly ahead of the start we had, but I can't say, ‘Oh, I'm flabbergasted,”' Levy said. “I'm pleased and gratified.”
“You know what,” Wilson said with a laugh. “At the start of the season, I never thought we'd win seven games. But you never know. You never know.”
The Bills (7-6) are making believers out of nearly everyone. They've answered their skeptics, by overcoming a lot of adversity and a revolving door at quarterback to find themselves preparing for what is likely a make-or-break showdown at Cleveland on Sunday.
On a 6-2 run, the Bills are a game behind the Browns (8-5) in the race for the AFC's sixth and final playoff berth. A win would keep Buffalo in the hunt, while a loss would end their hopes.
Ramifications aside, what's remarkable is finding Buffalo still playing meaningful games in December after the already young team lost nine players - including four starters - to season-ending injuries within the first month, and after getting off to a 1-4 start.
Buffalo has already matched its win total from last season and has an opportunity to end a seven-year playoff drought, matching the longest in franchise history.
The Bills are getting it done with a patchwork lineup that, on offense, is led by rookie third-round pick Trent Edwards at quarterback, and features a defense that has four regulars on injured reserve, and another two - defensive end Chris Kelsay (ankle) and safety George Wilson (ribs) - out indefinitely.
“It's really rewarding,” coach Dick Jauron said Monday. “And the reward for us is when you come into that locker room and see and feel the excitement and joy and the look of accomplishment on their faces.”
It won't take much from Jauron to get his players ready to face the Browns.
“We've played ourselves into an interesting position, and we've got a huge game right in front of us,” he said. “That's a good feeling to be playing for something late in the season.”
It's difficult to judge the Bills' progress based on their 38-17 victory against the winless and unraveling Dolphins (0-13).
What's evident is how Buffalo has bounced back to win its past two games, including a 17-16 victory at Washington, after consecutive blowout losses to New England and Jacksonville.
The Bills defense has allowed an average of 284 yards in its past two games, while combining for eight sacks, including a safety, and generating seven turnovers, including Wilson returning a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown against Miami.
The offense has been more productive in the past two games since Edwards reclaimed the starting job ahead of veteran J.P. Losman.
Edwards, over that stretch, has combined to go 33-for-59 for 422 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. That's an improvement after he had only one touchdown passing and five interceptions in his first five appearances, including four starts, earlier this season. Edwards has won four straight starts, the best run since Tennessee's Vince Young won six in a row last year. With four touchdowns passing against Miami, Edwards became the first Bills rookie to throw that many in a game, and first NFL rookie to do so since Chicago's Cade McNown did it against Detroit on Dec. 19, 1999.
The Bills running attack has also started providing a punch behind rookie starter Marshawn Lynch, who returned against Miami after missing three games with a sprained ankle, and Fred Jackson, who's taken over the backup role in place of injured Anthony Thomas.
Jackson had 115 yards rushing and Lynch 107 against Miami, the first Bills tandem to have 100 yards in the same game since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas and Darick Holmes did it in 1996.
Unlike the Bills owner, general manager Marv Levy refused to be surprised by the team's turnaround.
“It's certainly ahead of the start we had, but I can't say, ‘Oh, I'm flabbergasted,”' Levy said. “I'm pleased and gratified.”
