Buffalo Bills the toast of New York
State’s only NFL team has chance to make playoffs
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. L.A. Rams (minus 3.5) at N.Y. Giants More turmoil in Meadowlands as another Giants CB gets suspended. Best bet: Rams, 26-13 Detroit (minus 3) at Green Bay, Monday night Packers coming off bye, getting Hundley ready for slumping Lions. Upset special: Packers, 20-16 Washington (plus 6.5) at Seattle Team from Washington (state) beats banged-up team from Washington (D.C.) Seahawks, 27-19 Denver (plus 7.5) at Philadelphia Fly, Eagles, fly. Got to ride that wave. Eagles, 24-13 Tampa Bay (plus 6.5) at New Orleans Good times are rolling in Nawlins. The Bucs can’t stop them. Saints, 30-15 Cincinnati (plus 5.5) at Jacksonville Rested Jaguars in thick 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