Opponent Preview: Buffalo Bills
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
When: Sunday, December 31, 4:15 p.m.
TV: WJZ-TV (Channel 13); Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf
Radio: WIYY-FM (97.9); Gerry Sandusky, Rob Burnett, Stan White
ABOUT THE BILLS
7-8, third place, AFC
After an inconsistent start to his career, former Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman has thrown 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Losman has completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 2,814 yards.
Running back Willis McGahee has rushed for 967 yards and six touchdowns. Backup Anthony "A-Train" Thomas has 375 yards and two scores.
The Bills' receivers have some of the surest hands in the league. They dropped only 11 passes through the season's first 14 games. Wideout Lee Evans has 75 catches for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns. After free-agent dalliances in Atlanta and Dallas, wideout Peerless Price has hauled in 45 catches and three touchdowns, while former LSU standout Josh Reed has 34 receptions and two scores.
Buffalo's offensive line has allowed 44 sacks while the defense has notched 40.
Defensive end Aaron Schobel leads the AFC with 14.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his six-year career. Ryan Denney is second on the team with six sacks and Chris Kelsay has notched five.
Cornerback Nate Clements, a possible free-agent target of the Washington Redskins next year, and linebacker London Fletcher-Baker lead the team with three interceptions each.
Punter Brian Moorman was named to his second straight Pro Bowl this year. He is part of a special teams unit that has ranked tops in the league for two straight years, according to the Dallas Morning News' annual special teams survey.
With 23 takeaways and 26 givebacks, the Bills are mired in the middle of the league pack with a minus-3 turnover ratio.
Head coach Dick Jauron is in his first season with the Bills after having coached the Chicago Bears for five seasons and the Detroit Lions on an interim basis in 2005. His career record is 43-56.
In 47 seasons, the Bills have a cumulative road record of 141-208-4.
In 1999, the Bills won a 13-10 decision over the Ravens on a last-minute Doug Flutie touchdown pass. Flutie converted a fourth-and-16 on a solo scramble to set up the score. Five years later, Deion Sanders' interception return for a touchdown -- one that was turned into a Burger King commercial -- keyed a 20-6 win over the Bills.
The Bills held the AFL draft rights to historic football figures such as coaches Lindy Infante and Marty Schottenheimer, and players Daryle Lamonica, Carl Eller, Ernie Davis and Hall of Fame tackle Billy Shaw. Only Lamonica, Schottenheimer and Shaw actually played for the Bills.
The Bills were 13-13-1 against the Baltimore Colts. In the last game in which a Baltimore team visited Buffalo, the Bills won, 28-23, in 1983. The last time a Baltimore team won there was a 17-12 Colts victory in 1980.
PREDICTION
For the Ravens, this will be another good pre-playoff test against a surging team.
Ravens 23
Bills 13
Issue 1.36: December 28, 2006
