Bills-Jaguars Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Buffalo Wins In Jacksonville, 20-16

SCOUTING REPORT

Wounded Jags will struggle with BillsBuffalo and Jacksonville entered the season with lofty expectations, but only one walked away with a win in Week 1. The offensive philosophies of these teams are similar in that both lean heavily on the run game to take pressure off their quarterbacks. But with both defenses also featuring stout interior fronts, the run games will be tested in this matchup. Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter loves to attack downfield off play-action, but a banged-up receiver corps and a questionable offensive lne will make that more difficult this week. Bills coach Dick Jauron is helping to bring respectability back to a franchise that should be eager to prove that last week's blowout of Seattle was no fluke. Both teams play in tough divisions, so this meeting could have an impact on wild-card possibilities late in the season.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BUF	7-9	336	342	3-5	4-4	0-6	5-7
JAC	5-11	302	367	2-6	3-5	2-4	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Buffalo Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Fitzpa... 55.9 1422 9 10 Edward... 60.1 1169 6 7

Jacksonville Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Garrar... 60.9 3597 15 10 McCown 33.3 2 0 0

Buffalo Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 237 1062 4.5 2 Lynch 120 450 3.8 2

Jacksonville Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones-... 312 1391 4.5 15 Garrar... 77 323 4.2 3

Buffalo Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Owens 55 829 15.1 5 Evans 44 612 13.9 7

Jacksonville Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Sims-W... 63 869 13.8 7 Holt 51 722 14.2 0

Full Player Stats: Buffalo | Jacksonville

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BUF	305.0
	JAC	319.0
Yards Passing	BUF	190.0
	JAC	208.3
Yards Rushing	BUF	115.1
	JAC	110.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BUF	326.1
	JAC	330.9
Pass Yds Allowed	BUF	204.4
	JAC	224.1
Rush Yds Allowed	BUF	121.6
	JAC	106.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Buffalo leads 4-2
Nov 25, 2007	BUF 14, JAC 36
Nov 26, 2006	BUF 27, @JAC 24
Sep 12, 2004	BUF 10, @JAC 13
Sep 14, 2003	BUF 38, JAC 17
Oct 18, 2001	BUF 13, JAC 10

For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't even look like a playoff-caliber club in their season opener.

The Buffalo Bills did, and after a key injury to a division rival, they're suddenly looking like contenders in the AFC East.

Buffalo goes for a 2-0 start on Sunday when it travels to Jacksonville, where the Jaguars are hoping to rebound from an ugly offensive performance.

The Bills were 7-6 last December and flirted with an AFC wild card spot before fading down the stretch, losing their final three games and winding up nine games behind undefeated New England in the East to extend their playoff drought to eight years.

The expectations for this year's team may be raised after Week 1. While New England quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury, the Bills were thrashing Seattle at Ralph Wilson Stadium, using a punt return and a fake field goal to help blow out the four-time reigning NFC West champions 34-10.

Buffalo also forced two Seahawks turnovers, using a complex scheme that occasionally called for no down defensive lineman to confuse Seattle's offensive line.

"That gives a team a lot to prepare for," Bills defensive tackle Marcus Stroud told the team's official Web site. "You never know what you're going to get."

Stroud was a three-time All-Pro with Jacksonville, where he spent the first seven years of his career. In his Buffalo debut, he had three tackles and a half-sack, part of a five-sack day for the Bills.

On the other side of the ball, Jacksonville was a more effective rushing team than any in the NFL over the last two years. Led by Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars averaged 154.1 yards per game on the ground in 2006 and 2007.

However, Jacksonville managed only 33 yards on the ground in the opener, a 17-10 loss at Tennessee. Neither Taylor nor Jones-Drew could get going, and there's reason to believe that may not be an aberration. The Jaguars lost both of their starting guards in the opener -- Maurice Williams for two months or more with a ruptured biceps, and Vince Manuwai for the season with a torn ACL.

"Any time you lose multiple players at one position, it presents a problem," coach Jack Del Rio said. "That'd be for any team in the league. There's only so many guys, numbers-wise, you keep and take into the season."

Jacksonville was already without backup tackle Richard Collier, who was shot less than a week before the season opener and remains hospitalized. The Jaguars signed veterans Milford Brown and Chad Slaughter on Tuesday to add depth, but will rely on backups Tutan Reyes and Uche Nwaneri to step into starting roles.

They'll need to play better than they did in Tennessee, when the line allowed quarterback David Garrard to be sacked seven times.

The Jaguars are also thin at wide receiver. Dennis Northcutt (back) and Troy Williamson (thigh) missed practice Thursday, leaving them with just three healthy players at the position -- Matt Jones, Reggie Williams and Mike Walker.

Jerry Porter, though, is expected to make his Jacksonville debut after having surgery to repair a torn right hamstring in mid-July.

The Jaguars defense, meanwhile, could have used Stroud to help stuff the run. Tennessee rookie Chris Johnson averaged 6.2 yards on 15 carries and the Titans ran for 137 yards.

"What happened last week, we've got to turn the page and move forward, get ready for the Bills," Taylor said. "They don't feel sorry for us. They don't care about the so-called distractions."

Buffalo's offense relied on the run primarily in 2007, led by rookie Marshawn Lynch, who had 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns in only 13 games. Lynch had 18 carries for 76 yards and a score against Seattle, but the Bills also weren't afraid to let Trent Edwards throw.

The Bills threw fewer passes than all but two teams in 2007 -- Edwards' rookie season -- but gave him more of a green light in the opener. He responded by going 19-for-30 for 215 yards and a touchdown.

Life may soon get easier for both Lynch and Edwards soon. All-Pro tackle Jason Peters, a training camp holdout who signed just one day before the opener, is practicing with the team and may play against Jacksonville.

Taylor ran for 104 yards against Buffalo in a 36-14 Jaguars home win last Nov. 25.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Source: Bills hire Whaley to be assistant GM

The Buffalo Bills have hired Doug Whaley as their assistant general manager, a source has confirmed to ESPN.com.

Kim brings new tips to Bills' defenders

The Buffalo Bills have a martial arts expert working with their players this week.

Bills' Maybin offers path to success

Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin asked a question of about 180 high school football players getting ready to practice at the team's fieldhouse Tuesday evening.

BILLS: Road back for Bowen nearly complete

The road has always been long for Alvin Bowen. Originally, Bowen's football odyssey took him from New Jersey to a Kansas junior college, then later to Iowa State - a long way from a New York City suburb.

BILLS: Corner not afraid of competition

Good thing Reggie Corner isn't afraid to come back clawing and scratching after getting picked on.

To Help at Receiver, Buffalo Adds Fire to Ice

Count Lee Evans as a fan of Terrell Owens . With teams preparing for the coming season, keep up with all the off-season news on the Times's pro football blog.

Jaguars coach blasts Henderson for leaving workout because of 'minor' shoulder injury

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionJaguars defensive tackle John Henderson grabs his left shoulder during an organized team activity session Monday at the practice fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Safety McCree set to rejoin Jaguars

DON BURK/The Times-UnionMarlon McCree , with San Diego in this 2007 photo, is set to return to the Jaguars.

After lost season, Jags seek how to put 'train' back on track

Among the league's most disappointing teams last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars never came close to meeting expectations as a chic preseason Super Bowl pick.

NewFull-speed ahead for Jaguars safety Nelson

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson breaks up a pass intended for Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco during the Jaguars' 21-19 loss in Cincinnati on Nov.

Ex-Jaguar pleads not guilty to drug charges

Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith pleaded not guilty to several charges Thursday including possession of cocaine and marijuana.