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A look at whether each AFC East team has been a winner or a loser in free agency.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills have been losers in free agency mostly due to inactivity. Buffalo made just one signing: linebacker Manny Lawson. With a new head coach and new schemes on offense and defense, the Bills need a lot more than one linebacker to be competitive next season. Most importantly, they need to find a quarterback after cutting former starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Buffalo also lost starting guard Andy Levitre, linebacker Nick Barnett, veteran safety George Wilson and receivers Donald Jones and David Nelson. The team has yet to fill those holes. Interestingly, the Bills were major players in free agency a year ago. They signed defensive end Mario Williams to a $100 million contract and made several other signings. However, Buffalo finished 6-10 in 2012 and decided to take a much quieter approach in 2013.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are big winners in free agency. They landed the best wide receiver on the market (Mike Wallace) and the top linebacker (Dannell Ellerbe). Miami also signed a pass-catching tight end (Dustin Keller) and an additional, athletic linebacker (Philip Wheeler). Miami’s roster looks much stronger and more dynamic than it did heading into the 2012 season, when the team went 7-9. Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said it was his goal to close the gap with the New England Patriots. Ireland deserves a lot of credit for a solid game plan and executing it well. The Dolphins still have holes to fill at cornerback, left tackle and at pass-rusher. But Miami still has cap room to spend and 11 total draft picks next month. The Dolphins are not finished adding talent.

New England Patriots: The Patriots have had mixed results in free agency. But overall I would just barely put them in the winners' category. I do not like what they've done on offense, where they lost two starting receivers: Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd. The pair accounted for 192 receptions, 2,265 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. That's a lot of lost production that Danny Amendola and Donald Jones -- New England's two free-agent signings at receiver – will not be able to match. The Patriots also haven't re-signed starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who remains a free agent. New England must patch these two holes offensively. On the other hand, I like what New England has done defensively. The Patriots solidified their secondary by signing former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and re-signing No. 1 cornerback Aqib Talib. They also re-signed backup corners Kyle Arrington and Marquice Cole and added exciting kick returner Leon Washington on special teams.

New York Jets: The Jets are huge losers so far in free agency. They lost talented players much faster than they can replace them. Former New York starters Shonn Greene, Keller, LaRon Landry, Yeremiah Bell, Sione Pouha, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace were either recently released or signed with other teams. The Jets are hamstrung by a tight salary cap. Therefore, first-year Jets general manager John Idzik has been forced to bargain shop. New York made several low-cost signings, such as tailback Mike Goodson and guard Willie Colon. But overall, the Jets have more holes than they can fill in one offseason.

There is bad news and good news for the Buffalo Bills on Monday.

The bad news is Buffalo lost two starters for an extended period: Receiver David Nelson is out for the season with a torn ACL and tailback Fred Jackson will miss at least a month with a knee sprain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

But the good news is backup tailback and former first-round pick C.J. Spiller is more than ready to be a focal point of Buffalo's offense. He was the biggest positive in the Bills' 48-28 blowout loss to the New York Jets this past Sunday. Spiller exploded for 169 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries when Jackson went down.

Spiller is entering his third season and this is his time to take over the offense. He's always had the talent but not the opportunity. That changed last season when Jackson went down with a knee injury and Spiller did a nice job to prove he's ready for a starting role.

Jackson is one of the leaders on offense. But Spiller is a bigger home-run threat who is more athletic and dynamic. Even if Jackson didn't get injured, many would make the case that Buffalo would be doing a disservice not to give Spiller a lion's share of the carries after his Week 1 performance.

Spiller has the potential to take over Buffalo's starting tailback job for good. Jackson has surpassed the infamous age of 30 for running backs and now he's injury prone. Spiller is in his prime.

Jackson is still good enough to add something to the Bills when he returns in a month or so. But it's time to pass the torch.

This is Spiller's time to shine in Buffalo.

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 1 in the AFC East:

• There was an “I told you so” attitude with the New York Jets after their 48-28 blowout of the Buffalo Bills Sunday. Not only did the Jets (1-0) prove a lot of skeptics wrong in Week 1, but they did it against a Buffalo (0-1) team that received a lot of good press and offseason hype. It’s only one game, but the big question now is, “How good is New York?” The Jets were picked by many to be a third-place team in the AFC East and to finish around .500 this year. But they look dangerous when playing complementary football. It was a complete performance by the Jets Sunday where the offense fed off the defense, which also fed off special teams. If this is the type of Jets team we will see consistently, then perhaps the Jets are better than most thought. We could have a better indication of where New York stands next week when the Jets travel to play the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1).
• Also, the Jets’ receiving corps deserves a lot of credit for its production. Santonio Holmes, rookie Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley consistently schooled Buffalo’s young cornerbacks. The Jets had receivers running free regularly on Sunday, even during incompletions. New York quarterback Mark Sanchez did a good job taking care of the football and taking chances deep at the right time. Holmes, Hill and Kerley all had at least four receptions. “It was a great performance by us,” Holmes said. “The game plan went really smooth this week. Guys were paying attention to details. Everything just felt great and we put on a show.”
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  Kellen Micah/ICON SMIMario Williams, right, took issue with the way Austin Howard pass blocked on Sunday.
  How did Jets journeyman offensive tackle Austin Howard keep Bills Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams at bay? According to Williams, Howard cheated. “Pass blocking doesn’t consist of using your hands to the face on every play,” Williams said afterwards. Howard, with some help, pitched a shutout against Williams, who was held to just one tackle with zero sacks and one quarterback pressure. Williams made a point to say Howard illegally and consistently used hands to the face as his primary method. According to Williams, he told the replacement officials on several occasions. “You don’t listen or even call it one time out of the 20 that were there?” a frustrated Williams said. “That’s really disheartening for everyone.” Jets head coach Rex Ryan had a different take. “Austin Howard played a tremendous game,” Ryan said. “Maybe he made a name for himself today.”
• The look on Bills receiver David Nelson’s face said it all in the locker room. I wouldn’t be shocked if Nelson is done for an extended period. Nelson was carted off in the fourth quarter. It was a tough way to go out for Buffalo’s second-leading receiver, who is the best slot option the team has. This probably means rookie receiver T.J. Graham has to step up in Nelson’s place. Graham was inactive Sunday against the Jets.
• Bills head coach Chan Gailey said starting running Fred Jackson’s knee injury wasn’t as serious as Nelson’s. But Jackson didn’t finish the game and his status is in doubt for a big Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs (0-1). Jets safety LaRon Landry went low on Jackson, whose leg got caught in the turf. Jackson walked on the sideline after the game but didn’t return. Backup C.J. Spiller looks more than ready for the increased responsibility. Spiller rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown in relief against a tough Jets defense.
• There may be more good news for the New England Patriots' defense. After pounding young Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker in a season-opening win, Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback John Skelton also was sidelined in Week 1 with a possible high-ankle sprain. That type of injury can keep players out for about a month. But Skelton will most certainly miss next week’s game against the Patriots (1-0) at Gillette Stadium. That paves the way for enigmatic backup Kevin Kolb, who filled in decently on Sunday but has been a bust since signing a big contract with Arizona (1-0).
• Finally, you have to wonder how much Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long's knee is bothering him. He was beat on several plays and looked unusually shaky at times Sunday against the Houston Texans. I’m not worried about Long’s play as much as the injuries piling up. Seventy percent of Long is still better than many left tackles. But it seems the past couple of years Long is playing hurt too often. It’s the second season in a row Long is starting the year banged up. It’s a long season and the Dolphins’ best player already is managing injuries. This is a contract year for Long, and Miami (0-1) has to decide whether it can make Long the highest-paid lineman in the league next season when he’s starting to develop the “injury-prone” label.

Steve Johnson knows a good cornerback when he sees one. He plays twice a year against the best corner in football: Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets.

So when Johnson talks up Buffalo rookie corner Stephon Gilmore, it’s not something to take lightly. In fact, it should be a warning shot to Buffalo's opponents this upcoming season.

"I don't know how to say it, but he's up there with some of the DBs in the league who've been playing for a couple of years, and he hasn't even played one play," Johnson told the Associated Press this weekend. "Really, I don't want to speak too highly, but it's hard to not speak highly of somebody that can play as well as he has from rookie minicamp all the way up until now."

Many people, including the AFC East blog, nodded in agreement when Buffalo took Gilmore with the No. 10 overall pick in April. It was a solid selection that made plenty of sense. The Bills boosted their defensive line in free agency by signing defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. Drafting Gilmore improved the back end.

Gilmore was projected as one of the most NFL-ready players in this year's draft. He's proving it in practice with the Bills and is expected to be a Week 1 starter.

"He's earned our respect already," Bills receiver David Nelson said. "Every time you go against him, you've got to be ready. You know you're going to get everything he has, and it's going to be that way when the ball's snapped until the whistle."

Did the Buffalo Bills fix holes on offense?

The Buffalo Bills, who finished 6-10 and last in the AFC East, get a solid "A" for their offseason acquisitions in free agency and their selections in the draft. General manager Buddy Nix made very aggressive moves to get the team in position to make a run in 2012.

But did the Bills, my sleeper pick for 2012, do enough to plug their holes on offense? Buffalo invested a majority of its free-agent dollars on defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. The team also used its first-round pick on cornerback Stephon Gilmore. But the Bills didn't start to address the offense until the second round.

Buffalo's biggest offseason holes on offense were at left tackle and wide receiver. The Bills used their second-round pick on offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and their third-round pick on receiver T.J. Graham. Buffalo hopes both rookies can fill these important positions in Week 1.

Glenn is a solid prospect, but there are questions whether he can handle playing left tackle in the NFL. He split time at guard and tackle at Georgia. That helps in terms of versatility, but the Bills hope Glenn can fill the open left tackle spot full time.

Graham has a chance to compete for the No. 2 receiver position opposite Steve Johnson. Graham does not have prototypical NFL size (5-foot-11), but he does have very good speed to blow the top off the defense. A deep threat is something Buffalo's offense lacks. Graham will have a chance to compete with David Nelson and Donald Jones to be the No. 2 receiver. Nelson is more suited to the slot, and Jones has durability questions. Can Graham, a third-round pick, beat out a pair of veterans?

Here are some thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys' 44-7 blowout victory over the Buffalo Bills:

What it means: Buffalo continues its slide down the standings in ugly fashion. The Bills are 2-4 since their 3-0 start. The last two weeks Buffalo was drilled by Dallas and the New York Jets by a combined score of 71-18. Expect plenty of doubters to start writing off the Bills as a true contender to win the AFC East. They certainly didn't look the part on Sunday. Dallas dominated the game from the beginning, taking a 28-7 halftime lead, and Buffalo never had a chance. It was a disappointing start for the Bills in their pivotal, three-game road trip.

What I didn't like: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had a field day against Buffalo's inconsistent pass defense. Romo started the game by completing 18 of his first 19 passes and threw three touchdowns in the first half. The Bills did a poor job of pressuring Romo and covering the Cowboys' receivers, who were without starter Miles Austin. Buffalo's spread offense also didn't produce. The Bills and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick registered just 98 total yards in the first half. By the start of the second half Buffalo was down three touchdowns and never got back into it. Fitzpatrick, who has a reputation for being streaky, continued his downward spiral. He threw for 146 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Fitzpatrick took several big hits in the game and looked very rushed and shaken by the pressure by the second half.

What I liked: There wasn't much to like from Buffalo's perspective. But tailback Fred Jackson had a productive homecoming. Jackson, who grew up in Arlington, Texas, rushed for 114 yards. Dallas native and Bills receiver David Nelson also caught four receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter. After the score, Nelson gave the football to his girlfriend, who is a Cowboys cheerleader. But those were the few highlights for Buffalo.

Big injury: The Bills lost starting center Eric Wood to a right leg injury in the third quarter. Wood needed help coming off the field and didn't return. Buffalo has been hurt on the offensive line all season. Losing Wood for any amount of time would be a huge blow.

What's next: Buffalo's next two games against a pair of division opponents could determine its season. The Bills will continue their three-game road swing next week against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills also have a rematch against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands on Nov. 27.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- If you're a Dallas Cowboys fan, only one thing happened in the first half today to make you mad, and it involved a cheerleader. Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson caught a second-quarter touchdown and then jogged the length of the field to give the ball to his girlfriend, who is a Cowboys cheerleader. The two shared a hug, and some meanies on Twitter started talking about how she should be fired.

Other than that... man, it's been all Cowboys. They've done absolutely everything they've wanted to do on offense. Tony Romo completed his first 13 passes and is 18-for-19 for 237 yards and three touchdowns. DeMarco Murray has 71 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. They've converted all seven of their third-down chances. All four of Dan Bailey's kickoffs have gone for touchbacks. It's been a dream game for the offense and a pretty great one for the defense, which has tackled well and even been able to contain star Buffalo running back Fred Jackson in the run game and the screen game.

The was one little cause for concern just before halftime, as Murray left the field after his 25-yard run up the left side. The team has made no announcement about his condition, and we'll keep you posted, of course. But assuming nothing bad has happened to the rookie running back, the Cowboys headed into that halftime locker room off as impressive a first-half performance as they've had all year.

Now, some folks here in the press box were saying it reminds them of the Detroit game, which the Cowboys led 27-3 early in the third quarter and ended up losing. So if Romo starts having interceptions returned for touchdowns in the third quarter, maybe there's reason to be worried. But unless the Bills know something I don't, Calvin Johnson's not walking through that door.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Here are five nuggets of knowledge about Week 10:

Battle in the trenches: If you're looking for a big-time matchup in Sunday's AFC East grudge match, look no further than the battle between New York Jets Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and New England Patriots Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. These are two of the best at their positions, and both have a lot of respect for one another. It's no secret the Jets want to ground-and-pound New England's struggling defense. The winner of the Mangold-Wilfork matchup will have a lot of say in who wins this game.

Greene picking up steam: One of the biggest reasons for the Jets' turnaround is the increased production of starting tailback Shonn Greene. The third-year player has 188 rushing yards in New York's past two victories against the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. He is averaging 4.82 yards per carry in those games, well above his season average of 3.8 yards. Greene, a power back, is known for having his best games late in the season. The Jets hope he turns it on again in November and December to help New York make a playoff run.

Another week, another Ryan: The Bills get another tall task in facing Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His twin brother, Rex Ryan, gave Buffalo's offense fits last week in a 27-11 trouncing by the Jets. Dallas also runs a 3-4 scheme with some similar concepts. The goal for the Cowboys is to pressure and confuse the quarterback. That happened last week to Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He had his worst game of the season against Rex Ryan's Jets defense, throwing for 191 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Homecoming for Jackson, Nelson: The Bills will have a homecoming in Texas for a pair of key players. Buffalo star tailback Fred Jackson grew up a Cowboys fan and was raised in Arlington, Texas, where Dallas' new mega stadium was built. Jackson is excited to return home and play against his childhood team. Bills receiver David Nelson also grew up Dallas. And here is an interesting wrinkle: Nelson's girlfriend is a Cowboys cheerleader.

Bringing life to Sun Life Stadium: Will the Miami Dolphins finally win a home game? Miami is 1-12 in its past 13 games at Sun Life Stadium and hasn't won at home since Nov. 14, 2010. The Dolphins (1-7) have a winnable game Sunday against the struggling Washington Redskins (3-5). Miami plays three of its next four at home and has a chance to gather some momentum.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" blasted throughout Ralph Wilson Stadium in the final minutes of the Bills' 31-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The song was a fitting tribute to Buffalo's surprising start to the 2011 season.

The no-name Bills are 4-1 and first in the AFC East. The uber-talented and high-powered "Dream Team" Eagles are 1-4 and have a slim chance to make the postseason.

Who would have thought?

"We were a home [under]dog today at 3-1 against a 1-3 team," Bills center Eric Wood said. "You don't put a lot of stock into it. But you know it, you talk about it, and it ticks you off. But keep picking us to lose. We like it. It helps keep the chip on our shoulder. We don't need to be the media darling that we were two weeks ago before we lost."

Memo to NFL media and fans: It's time to take these Bills seriously.

Stop punishing Buffalo for past mistakes. Forget about last year's 0-8 start and 4-12 season. This season's Bills are young, scrappy, fearless and fun to watch. Most importantly, this season's Bills have staying power and are a legitimate threat for the playoffs in the AFC.

Buffalo still has a long way to go to become elite. For starters, it must improve a porous defense that has allowed 450-plus yards in each of the past four games. But you can lump the Bills in with the "very good" of the NFL. And in this topsy-turvy league, that's a position a lot of teams wish they were in after five games -- including the desperate Eagles.

"We got talent, too," Bills safety George Wilson (11 tackles, one interception) said defiantly. "We don't back down from any challenge."

Buffalo didn’t go Frank Gore on the Eagles. But the Bills’ offensive players were not shy to admit that they believed they would have their way with Philadelphia’s struggling defense. The Eagles were ranked No. 30 against the run entering Week 5.

The Bills were correct. Buffalo running back Fred Jackson shredded Philadelphia’s soft front seven for 111 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. The Eagles were blown off the ball and their tackling was horrendous. According to ESPN’s Stats and Information, 59 of Jackson’s 111 yards came after contact. Buffalo ran the ball 35 times and passed 27 times, the second time Buffalo’s offense has run more than it has passed this season.

“We knew that with the running game we’d be able to move the ball,” said Jackson, who also had 85 receiving yards. “We felt like we were bigger and more physical at the line. So we felt like we’d be able to move them off the ball.”

Buffalo’s early success on offense put a lot of pressure on the Eagles, and Philadelphia cracked by making poor decisions. The Eagles tried (and failed) at an onside kick to start the second half. Vick forced the ball into tight spots and threw a career-worst four interceptions. The mistakes added up and, by the start of the fourth quarter, Buffalo held a 31-14 lead.

Philadelphia went into full desperation mode and tried to orchestrate a comeback. But Buffalo, which blew a 14-point second-half lead in Week 4 against the Bengals, learned from last week’s mistakes and held on. After that loss, Buffalo heard all week about how it was a fluke team and couldn’t bounce back against the talented Eagles.

“If we had Tom Brady or a big-name guy, we wouldn’t be so easy to write off,” Wood said. “But we got some talented players and we got a great quarterback to go behind now. We like our chances.”

How far can these no-name Bills go this season? If they play like they did Sunday, Buffalo will make the playoffs.

"This is a different season, a different era and a different team," Nelson said. "We know how to win games and we're continuing to come out and surprising people. But we're not surprising ourselves."

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The NFL's highest-scoring offense may be found Buffalo, but it was hatched in Pittsburgh.

In the mid-1990s, Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey was a wide receivers coach for the Steelers. Gailey realized he had a deep and talented group and convinced Pittsburgh -- primarily a running team -- to use more four-receiver sets.

"We kind of evolved to it, to be honest with you," Gailey said. "Ron Erhardt was the offensive coordinator and we had four really good players. We had Ernie Mills, Andre Hastings, and Charles Johnson and Yancey Thigpen. So we said 'How can we get them on the field at the same time?'"

The concept helped lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl after the 1995 season. Sixteen years later, Gailey's spread offense is tearing up the NFL once again. The Bills lead the league in scoring with 113 points in three games. Buffalo (3-0) averages 37.7 points per game, is third in total offense and is the only undefeated team in the AFC.

Now, instead of Neil O'Donnell, the Bills have fast-rising quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Thigpen's role as the No. 1 receiver in Gailey's offense is filled by Buffalo's Steve Johnson. Charles Johnson and Hastings are replaced by Donald Jones and David Nelson. Receiver Naaman Roosevelt, tight end Scott Chandler and tailback C.J. Spiller share time as Buffalo's fourth receiver.

Even Kordell "Slash" Stewart, who was used on trick plays by Gailey and Pittsburgh's staff, is comparable to Bills receiver/quarterback/returner Brad Smith. But so far Buffalo hasn't used many trick plays.

Gailey's system thrives on several core principles. First, by lining up with four receivers, Buffalo is able to "expand the defense." Buffalo's alignment forces defenses to spread out. It creates bigger seams and makes it easier for the quarterback to read defenses and recognizes blitzes.

Fitzpatrick, a Harvard graduate, is one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league. He’s done a great job of reading defenses pre-snap and changing routes and protection. It's led to Fitzpatrick’s fast start and earning AFC Player of the Month honors. He's thrown for 871 yards and nine touchdowns in three games.

"When he's confident, on top of his game and hot, he's really hard to deal with," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc said of Fitzpatrick. "I don't know if that's going to keep up for 16 games. But he's on fire right now. He's at the pinnacle of his game."

Buffalo's spread also takes defenses out of its comfort zone. Every base defense in the NFL has three or four linebackers. The Bills, with three and four receivers, create tough choices. If opponents stay in their base defense, they have to cover wide receivers with linebackers. If opponents go away from their base defense, some of the better, front-seven players are taken off the field. That makes it easier to run the football. Bills tailback Fred Jackson is fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (303).

It's a Catch-22 opponents have yet to figure out.

"Oakland stayed in a lot of base and we exploited that," Jones said. "David in the middle, if they're going to keep a linebacker on him, that's a mismatch all day. Kansas City did the same thing.

"That's why we do it: To see what the defense is going to do. Are they going to bring in extra corners, or are they going to stay base? We're going to exploit it, whatever it is."

Buffalo's offense works because it defies stereotypes. With spreads, typically you think of big plays in the passing game but also a lot of sacks and struggles running the ball. Fitzpatrick has been sacked just once this season, and Buffalo is fourth in the league in rushing. The Bills average 5.6 yards per carry.

One of the secrets of Buffalo's success has been its receivers' blocking downfield. Buffalo is second in the NFL with six runs of 20 yards or more.

"This is what we tell our receivers: 'Do you want the running back to block the protection when you're running a route so you can catch a pass?'" Gailey explained. "If you do, then when he's running the ball, you block for him because we're in this thing together."

Gailey's selfless team concept is working for the Bills. Buffalo usually sends four receivers out on passing plays, and it's Jackson's responsibility to block the extra rusher.

"I don't know if there's a better pass-protecting back in the league with what he does," Fitzpatrick said. "The fans and everybody watching the game, they see his runs, they see what he does after the catch, but that’s the thing that nobody really talks about and that’s what makes him one of the most complete backs in the game.

"He's taken on defensive lineman, he's taken on defensive ends and he's storming linebackers. Whatever it is, he's the best I've played with in terms of picking up blitzes. There are no stats for that."

The success of Buffalo’s offense has permeated the entire team.

Veteran Bills kicker Rian Lindell has seen a lot of bad offenses in his eight seasons in Buffalo. He provided some insight into how this year's offense has changed things.

"I have a kicking shoe that's tighter, so I don't wear it all game," Lindell said. "It used to be, I would wait until we get to midfield or in field-goal range until I put it on. Now, if we get the ball on our own 20, 25 or 30, I say, 'I better put the shoe on. It might be a couple plays and I have to get warmed up.'"

This Bills believe they can score with anyone. They proved it in a 34-31 shootout victory against New England. The Bills fell behind 21-0 in the first half and became the first NFL team to overcome deficits of 18 or more points in back-to-back weeks. Buffalo trailed by 21-3 at halftime of a 38-35 victory over Oakland in Week 2.

The offense is clicking because players better understand the system, Gailey said. In 2010, Gailey's first year in Buffalo, the Bills were ranked No. 25 offensively. The Bills got off to a horrendous 0-8 start but finished the second half of the season 4-4. The Bills are 7-4 in their last 11 games.

Surprisingly, Buffalo's offensive playbook is not huge, players say. Gailey puts an emphasis on keeping things manageable. He believes that if everyone knows exactly what he's doing, the plays will work and it's easier to hold players accountable.

Many question whether the Bills, a four-win team in 2010, have the staying power to remain in contention. Much of it rests on this offense's ability to perform at a high level over 16 games.

Through three weeks, Buffalo is on pace to score 602 points this season. That would break the NFL record set by the Patriots (589) in 2007.

"I don't know if we'll set records this year," Gailey said. "But it'd be nice if we did."

Eric Mangini summed up the AFC East showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots best on SportsCenter this week.

"The Bills think that they're good, but they don't really know whether or not that they're good," said the former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach. "And this is going to be the litmus test, because New England is good. So [Buffalo] is trying to figure out where they fit in the AFC East, and this is when they find out."

Buffalo is in search of contender status. League-wide respect is just four quarters away Sunday when the Bills host the Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Bills are a nice, early season story. They are the league's biggest surprise at 2-0.

But nationally, few outside Buffalo's locker room predict the Bills to be a legitimate threat to the big boys. Buffalo is ranked No. 16 in ESPN.com's Power Rankings, behind nine teams with worse records. The Bills are more than a touchdown underdog at home against the Patriots (2-0). The Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady have looked like a machine in their first two games and are a viable Super Bowl contender.

New England has what Buffalo wants. And to be a contender, you have to beat a contender.

The Patriots swept the Bills in two games last season by a combined score of 72-33. Buffalo has lost 15 straight to New England. The Bills haven't beaten the Patriots since the "Lawyer Milloy Game" on Sept. 7, 2003.

Buffalo has to overcome a lot of bad history this weekend.

"This year we're all about changing the attitude. We have to go into this knowing that we're capable of winning this ballgame," Bills receiver David Nelson told the AFC East blog. "We have to know that we have the capability on offense to move the ball, and on defense to stop them and on special teams to make big plays. That's all we can control. We can't control what other people think about us."

Much of Buffalo's success will come down to starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Sunday's matchup is expected to be high scoring. Fitzpatrick will try to keep up with Brady, who is on a torrid pace.

New England's offense is getting most of the hype. But Buffalo's offense is leading the NFL in scoring with 79 points the first two games. The Patriots are third with 73 points, behind the Bills and Detroit Lions (75).

Buffalo's spread offense is giving opponents headaches. But Fitzpatrick has had issues with New England's defense in the past. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 676 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in three career starts against the Patriots. He's 0-3 in those meetings.

"I think that in general they always present a tough challenge for us," Fitzpatrick admitted this week. "Obviously the streak and the number of games we’ve played without beating them, they're tough."

Do the surprising Bills have staying power? Win or lose, that will be the biggest question following Sunday's game.

The AFC East is stacked with three undefeated teams. A strong case can be made that it is the best division in football after two weeks. The Bills have the tough task of competing with the Patriots and New York Jets (2-0) four times this season.

Buffalo has a shot if the offense continues to play well. The Bills have tremendous balance through the air and on the ground. Buffalo running back Fred Jackson leads the NFL in rushing with 229 yards after two weeks. The defense also has improved from last season. It was dominant in Week 1 against Kansas City but gave up a lot of big plays in last week's 38-35 win against the Oakland Raiders.

The Bills are gradually turning their franchise around. Buffalo is 6-4 in its past 10 games under second-year head coach Chan Gailey.

"I think that our guys understand hard work. They understand about going out and getting better each day," Gailey said. "They have learned the systems better. We picked up some good players that have helped us on both sides of the ball, and when everybody gets closer to the same page, you give yourself a chance to be more successful."

The Bills also are the kind of team fans can gravitate to. They're underdogs with virtually no star power. Many of Buffalo's best players were outcasts, people who were let go or overlooked by other teams.

Fitzpatrick, 28, is a journeyman quarterback who was a backup with the St. Louis Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson, 30, spent time in NFL Europe. No. 1 receiver Stevie Johnson was drafted by Buffalo in the seventh round. Nelson, who caught the game-winning reception against Oakland, wasn't drafted.

On defense, Buffalo added veteran linebackers Nick Barnett and Shawne Merriman because their previous teams felt they were too injury-prone. Even Gailey has baggage; he was fired abruptly by the Dallas Cowboys as head coach and by the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator.

"I think we all have a common bond. We're all understanding each other," Nelson said. "We know we have been through so much. I think it motivates us and gives us that special bond to work hard for each other. We want to be there for each other and make this special."

Fitzpatrick agrees that being overlooked as individuals helped Buffalo come together as a team.

"We're a team full of guys looking to make a name for themselves. We're looking to make a name for our team," Fitzpatrick said. "Although most of us are unheralded, nobody really knows us, we think that we're pretty good and we think that we've got a lot of talent on our roster."

Upsetting New England would give the Bills the respect they are looking for. Most trends point to the Patriots. But this season's Bills have defied the odds.

It's been a special week for Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson.

Undrafted in 2010, Nelson is now in the national spotlight after making the game-winning touchdown catch for Buffalo against the Oakland Raiders. He led the surprising Bills (2-0) with 10 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Nelson spoke with ESPN.com's AFC East blog this week to discuss a variety of topics, including his draft experience and Sunday's big matchup against the New England Patriots (2-0).

What's this week been like after making the final catch?

David Nelson: It's been crazy to tell you the truth. For me, I enjoy interviews and interacting with the media and interacting with the fans. But to be honest with you, I get a little uncomfortable with people calling me the hero of a game or the game winner. There was 10 other guys [on offense] who were doing their job. There's 11 other guys on the defensive side. The special teams was playing unbelievable. So to have some people say "I'm the hero" or "I'm the game winner" makes me very uncomfortable.

What about you draft experience. No team picked you up. How did you feel at that time?

Nelson: It was tough. Obviously we knew my name wasn't going to be called on Day 1. But it was nice to see some of my teammates get drafted that first day. So I was watching and rooting for my college buddies and friends I met through the draft process. The second day was a long shot, but some teams told me you never know what can happen. The second day went and came and nothing happened. The third day was the longest day of my life. Starting with the fifth round and sixth round, teams were calling me and saying they were going to draft me. Then they would come up and my name wasn't called. So it was an emotional rollercoaster. But I knew coming into the draft that it was a good possibility that I wasn't going in the draft, and I wasn't going to let anybody get me down.

How did you end up in Buffalo?

Nelson: It was because of the conversation I had with Chan [Gailey]. Chan called me on draft day. We did our research in anticipation I didn't get drafted. We talked to about three or four teams we felt would be the best fit for me just in case I didn’t get drafted. I had already known about Chan and his offense, and how he used his big receivers and four-wide receiver sets. So after talking with him, he said he was going to give everybody a fair shot. He liked what I did at Florida and he would give me an opportunity to come in and compete. And that's all I can ask for. Going undrafted all I wanted was to come in, compete for a job and show what I can do. Coming in from Day 1, he gave me that opportunity. He was a man of his word.

Are you aware Gailey also is a Gator alum and played there in the 1970s?

Nelson: You know, he mentioned that in the talk. I think he mentioned that he was a Gator and he wanted to get a couple more out here. It was a joke. It didn't have anything to do with my decision, but it was good to know. And I did my research. I know Chan is a good man. He's a man of his word. I talked to a lot of people who played under him and they had nothing but great things to say about him. I wasn't going to go into this decision blindly, and I was excited about getting the chance. When he called me, him and Coach [Bill] Belichick, those were the only two head coaches who called me on the phone. So that meant a lot. From the head person himself, that meant that Chan was going to give me an opportunity to compete.

It’s interesting Gailey and Belichick both called. That leads me to my next question. What's your thoughts on Sunday's game against Belichick and the Patriots?

Nelson: We're excited about the opportunity. It's a division rivalry. We have goals that we want to accomplish. One of those goals is to get to the playoffs. In order to get to the playoffs you have to beat teams in our division. Not only do we have to beat teams in our division, we have to win those games at home. This week New England is coming in. We have a confidence about us winning two games in a row. They're 2-0. This town, this city is buzzing right now. They finally have some hope and the stadium is going to be rocking.

What's it like playing in the slot? Not every receiver can do it.

Nelson: It's a real different speed in the slot, because you have linebackers screaming across your face. You have guys blitzing across you. You got coverages that are changing. You have to use your knowledge of the coverage. Your routes have to be more precise. You have to understand the coverages, and a lot of times for me it's being able to find the hole.

A lot of slot receivers are Wes Welker types, much smaller. You're the exception at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. Why aren't there as many bigger slot players in the NFL?

Nelson: That's a good question, and I don't have the answer to that. I just feel comfortable there. I'm a smooth route-runner. It's something I pride myself in. I'm not a blazing 4.3, 40 [-yard dash] guy. But I do have deceptive speed. I have to rely on my hands because I'm not that 4.3 guy.

Has the game slowed down for you in your second season?

Nelson: I wouldn't say it slowed down. But I do feel more comfortable out there. I do have a little more confidence. When you have more confidence, you play at a higher speed. So I wouldn't say the game has slowed down. I would say that I'm playing a little faster. I'm able to pick up coverages faster. Me and Fitz [quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick] have a better understanding of each other now. He knows where I’m going to be. I know where he’s going to want the ball. So I'd say I'm playing at a faster pace.

Not a lot of people realize Fred Jackson is leading the NFL in rushing after two weeks. How much has he meant to the Bills' offense?

Nelson: The thing that impresses me so much about Fred is his yards after the contact. He's not letting one guy bring him down. He's running through tackles. He's getting extra yards. He's fighting for the first down, and that motivates the team. When you see a guy like that just running through tackles and running through defenders and taking it upon himself, that gets guys jacked up. That motivates our entire team and gets us going. Fred Jackson's our leader. I love that guy to death. I'm so excited for him and so happy with what he's done so far.

Welcome to the "Seven-step drop." Each week we will look back at the games in the AFC East with seven notes and observations.

• Opponents can't get too caught up in the Buffalo Bills' spread offense, because they're also running the football extremely well. Starting running back Fred Jackson is leading the NFL in rushing through the first two weeks. He has 229 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest thing is Jackson is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. The Bills pass a lot. But Jackson also is maximizing his opportunities.
• Keep an eye on Bills receiver David Nelson. He was the catalyst behind the Bills' second-half rally over the Oakland Raiders. Nelson has good size (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) and hands to play in the slot. He provides a big target in traffic for Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Nelson caught 31 passes last year but had a breakout game against Oakland. He caught 10 passes for 83 yards, including the game-winning touchdown on Buffalo's final drive.
• The New York Jets did something in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars that we haven't seen in a while. The Jets got off to a fast start in the first quarter. Call it the "Jason Hill factor." New York broke a 16-game streak by scoring a first-quarter touchdown. The Jets never trailed in the 32-3 route. Hill caught the Jets' attention with his trash talking, and New York was fired up for this game.
• Cornerback Antonio Cromartie had arguably his best all-around performance in a Jets uniform. Cromartie recorded two interceptions, two pass defenses, three tackles and a pair of kickoff returns totaling 85 yards. It was a nice bounce-back effort for Cromartie. He was shaky in Week 1 against Dallas. New York's No. 2 corner will get tested all season opposite Darrelle Revis. The Jets will be hard to beat if Cromartie consistently plays at this level.
• I don't agree with the way the Miami Dolphins (0-2) are using tailback Reggie Bush. The Dolphins are not getting Bush in the open field. Instead, they appear steadfast on running him between the tackles, which is not his strength. Miami also is being too cautious with Bush not to wear him down. He got six carries and one reception in Sunday's loss against Houston. Here is some free advice for the Dolphins: Give Bush more chances in the open field and also let him return kicks. He's the most dynamic player the team has. Let Reggie be Reggie.
• Miami's defense does not defend tight ends well. That's on the linebackers and safeties. Through the first two weeks, opposing tight ends have caught 16 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins. Texans tight end Owen Daniels didn't get many opportunities but was efficient. He caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown.
• Speaking of tight ends, New England's pair of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez is playing at an extremely high level. Without a doubt, quarterback Tom Brady helps. But both tight ends are making few mental errors and are consistently getting open. The big asset is their ability to score in the red zone. Gronkowski and Hernandez, who are big targets, each had red zone touchdowns Sunday against the Chargers.

At some point, the unlikely collection of NFL teammates struck somebody as unusual, and they began to sort out who the highest draft pick was.

Together last month for a mini passing camp near quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's home in Arizona, eight Buffalo Bills players laughed about their long-shot backgrounds.

Sophomore receiver Marcus Easley was the closest thing to a bonus baby, and he was a fourth-round draft choice with zero NFL games. So who was next in line? Backup quarterback Levi Brown was the answer, a seventh-round pick last year, 209th overall, and unable to make the roster out of training camp.

Wide receiver Steve Johnson went 224th, Fitzpatrick 250th. Running back Fred Jackson and receivers David Nelson, Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt weren't drafted at all.

"This is testament of who we are as a group," Nelson said Tuesday night from his home in Dallas. "We all believe in each other. We all push each other. We all compete with each other. We know we're against the odds. We're a bunch of guys nobody gave a chance to."

The Bills have a couple first-rounders in their offense who didn't attend the workouts. Running back C.J. Spiller and receiver Lee Evans are important components, but it's impressive to consider such a big contingent of overlooked players making up a team's offensive core.

Nelson and the rest of that gang can speak with a little more conviction about their futures in Buffalo now. When they gathered for some casual workouts, there was plenty of doubt about the direction of the offense.

The drafted hadn't taken place yet and the Bills owned the third and 34th selections. There was considerable talk about a quarterback being a serious option. If Auburn star Cam Newton still were on the board, then could the Bills pass him up? Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert might've been a possibility, and it was anybody's guess who would still be on the board in the second round.

"I'm sure Fitz was bracing for something," Jackson said Tuesday of the pre-draft mood. "Everybody had to be."

One thing was for sure among the Bills' players: They were rooting for the front office to stand pat at quarterback.

"We've been talking about it as a receiver group for a while," Nelson said. "We were hoping that they would stay away from quarterbacks in the draft because we have all the confidence in the world in Fitz and what he can do. We like the direction we're headed in with him."

The Bills gave their offensive players a major vote of confidence last month. Of their nine draft choices, only two play offense. They drafted Clemson tackle Chris Hairston in the fourth round and North Carolina running back Johnny White in the fifth round.

The Bills will acquire more offensive players whenever free agency dawns. General manager Buddy Nix has said they will sign another quarterback, but the club sent a strong message about Fitzpatrick's standing when they didn't draft one.

"They showed they have a lot of faith in Fitz," Jackson said. "Me and my teammates all have a lot of faith in him, too. We're excited about that. I'm looking forward to working with him and trying to build on what we did last year and making that playoff push."

Fitzpatrick and Jackson will enter the 2011 season with substantially more juice than they had last summer. Both of them were considered backups.

"You have to say that it had some kind of affect on us," Jackson said. "We weren't on the same page when we got in the lineup, but that's part of the game, and we have to adjust.

"It does hurt to not get the reps, but as long as you mentally prepare like you are the No. 1 guy, you can hit the ground running. Hopefully, now we can get those reps and go into this season as the No. 1 guys and put this team on our shoulders and make some plays."

Fitzpatrick won over the Bills' locker room and much of their fan base last year. Trent Edwards' presence had worn thin everywhere. The man known as Captain Checkdown was uninspiring at best. He was frequently injured and rarely showed a hint of nerve.

New head coach Chan Gailey backed him in the beginning. Edwards took most of the offseason reps and was named the No. 1 quarterback when training camp opened. Edwards started all four preseason games.

Fitzpatrick, Brown and Brian Brohm fought over the scraps. Fitzpatrick attempted 23 passes before the season.

Asked at the NFL scouting combine in February if he regretted those decisions, Gailey replied, "Shoot, yeah. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have done that."

At 0-2, the Bills made an abrupt change. They waived Edwards.

Fitzpatrick was a jolt to the huddle, to the Ralph Wilson Stadium crowd, to the community. He grew a bird's-nest beard and called himself the Amish Rifle. He wore his wedding ring during games. He actually threw the ball downfield.

He made the games entertaining again, even the defeats. Fans forgave him for occasional reckless interceptions.

Jackson was in a similar situation despite rushing for more than 1,000 yards the previous season.

He was in a crowded backfield with Marshawn Lynch and hotshot rookie Spiller and didn't start the first four games, carrying the ball 20 times for 87 yards through the first quarter of the season.

When the Bills traded Lynch for a 2011 fourth-round draft choice and a conditional 2012 sixth-round pick, the door opened for Jackson again.

"Right now, I feel like I'm the No. 1 guy and C.J. will come in and get a lot of plays," Jackson said. "I feel like I'm going to be the guy that's carrying the load and has got to make that running game go.

"I'm sure C.J.'s working hard and will [have] the opportunities as well, but I just got to shoulder the load and take the pressure of Fitz and make us a balanced offense. I want to be that guy."

Spiller generated preseason buzz for rookie of the year honors, but he had a disappointing campaign (283 rushing yards and no touchdowns, 157 receiving yards and one touchdown) and still has much to prove.

Jackson rushed for 614 yards in the second half of the season, tying with Ray Rice for sixth in the NFL in that span. The running backs ahead of them were Arian Foster, Jamaal Charles, Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Nice company.

The Bills ranked 25th in total offense, 18th in run offense and 24th in pass offense. Not too swift compared to the rest of the NFL.

But all of their best offensive superlatives in 15 categories (points, first downs, yards, etc.) happened Oct. 24 or later. The same can be said about individual player superlatives aside from Fitzpatrick's 71.4 completion percentage in Week 3 against the New England Patriots.

The Bills obviously found enough there to make a commitment, and the players aren't crying for help. They're thrilled the group will stay together.

"We did some good things on offense last year," Jackson said. "We feel like if we could get back on the field healthy and get another crack at this thing, we'll continue to have some success."

The NFL long has been a quarterback-dominated league.

But quarterbacks will be more important than ever in 2011 if a protracted labor stoppage wipes out offseason workouts or encroaches on training camps.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton wrote a column on the topic, stressing teams with stability at quarterback could emerge way ahead of those that do not once a new collective bargaining agreement is brokered.

Several clubs, two in the AFC East, are evaluating their quarterback situations and are open to addressing their needs through free agency, trades or the draft.

We have no idea when free agency will commence or player trades will be permitted. The longer teams must wait on those options, the less time there will be to learn playbooks and develop chemistry with receivers.

With that in mind, let's rank each situation in the AFC East based on how much its quarterback and infrastructure (stability of his supporting cast) will be able to withstand NFL dormancy.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have one of the NFL's most consistent situations. Tom Brady is the reigning MVP, guided his team to a 14-2 record and has all of his receivers coming back.

He and Deion Branch have an eerie chemistry that resurfaced immediately despite 3 1/2 years apart. I don't think Brady and Wes Welker need to worry about getting on the same page, but I wouldn't be shocked if they worked out regularly again like they did last summer, while Welker was rehabbing from his knee injury. Brady proved how quickly he can integrate new blood by the way he used rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Patriots offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien will call the plays for the third season. The Patriots, like the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning, will be just fine if there's a lengthy lockout.

New York Jets


Fact: Mark Sanchez has the second-most NFL starts of any No. 1 quarterback in the AFC East. He's only 24 years old, but Sanchez has started 37 games, one more than Ryan Fitzpatrick and 10 more than Chad Henne.

Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh have been with Sanchez from the beginning. Sanchez also is a self starter in the offseason. He convened a "Jets West" camp for his receivers last summer in California.

A potential problem is that Sanchez will have trouble gathering receivers this offseason because they don't know if they'll be back. Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are free agents. But receiver Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller are on the roster.

Buffalo Bills

Even if the Bills draft a quarterback, a long lockout probably would ensure Fitzpatrick remains the starter by wiping out rookie camps and other critical orientation time. Fitzpatrick is a savvy veteran, a calming influence for the Bills' offense. He incorporates head coach Chan Gailey's concepts and has the support of his locker room.

Based on how Fitzpatrick played as the season wore on, there's no reason to believe the Bills suffered from a lack of chemistry. When receivers Roscoe Parrish and Lee Evans went down with injuries, Fitzpatrick had no trouble getting undrafted rookies David Nelson and Donald Jones involved.

But the Bills still could benefit from informal practices during a work stoppage. Top receiver Steve Johnson told me this week they have none scheduled.

Miami Dolphins


Henne created a stir when he divulged he had been, against the NFL's wishes, going over the playbook with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and new quarterbacks coach Karl Dorrell. The NFL declined to pursue, and that was doubly good news for the Dolphins. They avoided punishment and got a head start before the league turned into a pumpkin.

But Henne would appear to be at a disadvantage despite the extra help. The Dolphins have declined to give him any kind of legitimate public endorsement. He's entering his fourth season, presents more questions than answers and is working with a new playbook. Top receiver Brandon Marshall suggested after the season he had more chemistry with third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen than Henne.

Henne also revealed the Dolphins have informal workouts and a location arranged. That's much easier to do in Broward County than, say, Western New York. Good thing, too, because Henne can use all the help he can get to morph into the franchise quarterback the Dolphins hoped he would be.