Buffalo defense targets win
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

The Buffalo Bills defense, featuring Chris Kelsay (90) and Takeo Spikes (55) will look to pressure Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre this week. Favre has thrown five interceptions and been sacked nine times in six games this year. Photo by Patrick McPartland

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre may be considered a living legend in some circles of the football world, but the Buffalo Bills defense only sees him as the latest bull's-eye.

And come Sunday, the Bills will try to make the future Hall of Famer look like a rookie. And in doing so, they'll get one of those much-needed check marks in the win column.

Buffalo heads into Sunday's contest in desperate need of a win to end its three-game losing streak. Having been outscored 88-30 in the past three games, including blowout losses to Chicago, 40-7, and New England, 28-6, the Bills need a strong defensive effort.

That's where the pass rush comes in. Green Bay is eighth in the league in passing with 233 yards per game. Running back Ahman Green is 24th in the league with 439 yards. He's averaging 4.5 yards per carry and 87.8 yards per game.

Buffalo's defense is ranked 15th in the league in yards allowed at 314.3 per game. That's a far cry from just two years ago when Buffalo had one of the top three defenses in the NFL.

But despite the numbers the defense has seen this year, the Bills are not giving up on the rest of the season. They think things can still turn around, beginning this weekend.

"We're capable of going on a run," safety Donte Whitner said. "There are teams that are hot right now that are going to cool off, and teams that are not hot right now that are going to catch fire. We want to be one of those football teams that catch fire and hopefully make it to the playoffs."

Buffalo would need a streak of wins similar to the one the Sabres used to open the hockey season. The Bills need to get to at least 8-8 to think playoffs, but 9-7 or 10-6 would be more likely.

"You have to get one victory before you start a streak," London Fletcher-Baker said. "We need to get that victory this Sunday. It's a big game for us. We can't afford to lose many more games."

After this week, the Bills have one of the toughest tests of the season when they travel to Indianapolis to face the undefeated Colts. After that, it's a resurgent Houston team, back home for the Jaguars and Chargers, a pair of games against AFC East rivals Jets and Dolphins, before closing out the year against the Titans and Ravens.

If Buffalo is going to pile up the wins and secure a playoff slot, the road is long and hard.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com