The Bills, meanwhile, are 3-0 for the first time since 1992 and in first place in the AFC East this late in the season for the first time since Week 13 of 1996. It’s an excellent head start on putting a halt to an eight-season playoff drought, the longest in franchise history, and achieving only their second winning record since 1999.
Buffalo is a young team gaining confidence after consecutive comeback wins. The Bills scored 17 points in the final eight minutes to beat the Raiders 24-23 last week on Rian Lindell’s 38-yard field goal as time expired and edged the Jaguars 20-16 in Week 2.
Quarterback Trent Edwards, who won the job as a rookie midway through last season, is 8-4 in 12 career starts while directing a balanced attack. He’s been at his best down the stretch, going 21 for 29 the past two weeks for 268 yards and two touchdowns, helping revive an offense that totaled a franchise-low 20 touchdowns, not including returns, last season.
"Boy, I knew he was a really good player coming out," Linehan said. "I didn’t know how long it would take him, but he’s really skyrocketed to one of the better young quarterbacks in the league."
Buffalo’s defense, next to last in the NFL in yards allowed last year, has been stingy with the additions of tackle Marcus Stroud and linebacker Kawika Mitchell. Buffalo leads the league in third-down defense, holding opponents to 7 for 39, and has yet to allow an opponent 100 yards rushing.
Buffalo is a young team gaining confidence after consecutive comeback wins. The Bills scored 17 points in the final eight minutes to beat the Raiders 24-23 last week on Rian Lindell’s 38-yard field goal as time expired and edged the Jaguars 20-16 in Week 2.
Quarterback Trent Edwards, who won the job as a rookie midway through last season, is 8-4 in 12 career starts while directing a balanced attack. He’s been at his best down the stretch, going 21 for 29 the past two weeks for 268 yards and two touchdowns, helping revive an offense that totaled a franchise-low 20 touchdowns, not including returns, last season.
"Boy, I knew he was a really good player coming out," Linehan said. "I didn’t know how long it would take him, but he’s really skyrocketed to one of the better young quarterbacks in the league."
Buffalo’s defense, next to last in the NFL in yards allowed last year, has been stingy with the additions of tackle Marcus Stroud and linebacker Kawika Mitchell. Buffalo leads the league in third-down defense, holding opponents to 7 for 39, and has yet to allow an opponent 100 yards rushing.
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