Windsor Star

Buffalo Bills the toast of New York

State’s only NFL team has chance to make playoffs

- BARRY WILNER

New York’s only NFL team — that would be the Buffalo Bills — are on the longest playoffs schneid in any major pro sport.

The last time they made the postseason, the calendar was turning from the 20th century to the 21st.

This year, the Bills are zeroing in on ending that string of futility. They’ve won four of five heading into Thursday night’s game at the New Jersey Meadowland­s against the Jets, a team they’ve already beaten this season.

Which means little, according to coach Sean McDermott.

“It’s really all on ... getting ourselves fresh and ... the second objective at this point, this part of our preparatio­n is to understand our plan,” McDermott said. “Anything outside of that at any other thing becomes noise at this point.”

At 5-2, the Bills seem to be ignoring the noise. With a win they can move into a tie atop the AFC East with idle New England.

But to think the Jets (3-5) will be an easy mark is foolhardy. Though they’ve lost three straight, they could have won all of them. Simply put, they can’t finish.

The Bills are a 3.5-point favourite. Sounds about right. Bills 23, Jets 20 L.A. More another Best Rams bet: turmoil Giants Rams, (minus in 26-13 CB Meadowland­s 3.5) gets at suspended. N.Y. Giants as Detroit Monday Packers (minus night coming 3) at off Green bye, Bay, getting Hundley Upset Washington special: ready (plus Packers, for 6.5) slumping 20-16 at Seattle Lions. Team beats banged-up from Washington team from (state) Washington Seahawks, (D.C.) 27-19 Denver Fly, Eagles, (plus 7.5) fly. at Got Philadelph­ia to ride that wave. Eagles, 24-13 Tampa Orleans Bay (plus 6.5) at New Good times are rolling in Nawlins. The Bucs can’t stop them. Saints, 30-15 Cincinnati Rested Jaguars (plus in 5.5) thick at Jacksonvil­le of division race. Not so for the Bengals. Jaguars, 30-17 Atlanta (plus 2.5) at Carolina Can’t figure out either of these recent NFC titlists. Falcons, 28-27 Arizona (minus 2) at San Francisco If the Niners are going to win, might need to be this week or next. OK, this week. 49ers, 20-17 Kansas City (plus 2) at Dallas Zeke or no Zeke, we’ll go with the Chiefs. Chiefs, 26-23 Oakland (minus 3) at Miami Two 2016 playoff teams struggling. Raiders, 23-21 Indianapol­is (plus 11) at Houston After that show vs. Seattle, Texans won’t be slowed by sinking Colts. Texans, 30-13 Baltimore (OFF) at Tennessee Would’ve been a toss-up game even with point spread. Titans, 16-13 2017 Record Last week: Against spread, 7-5-1; straight up, 9-4 Season totals: Against spread, 5557-2; straight up, 74-45 Best bet: 4-4 against spread, 6-2 straight up Upset special: 6-2 against spread,

6-2 straight up

 ??  ?? Sean McDermott
Sean McDermott

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