The Sports Xchange

ORCHARD PARK, N. Y, — The Buffalo Bills seem to know how to finish what they start, most the time anyway.

The Bills have only ventured into the red zone on offense six times in the first three games, but they scored five touchdowns, an 83.3 percent success rate which trails only Arizona (11 of 12, 91.7 percent).

“That is a big turnaround (from last year when they were 29th in the NFL at 43.4 percent),” center Eric Wood said. “I didn’t realize we were No. 2. Focusing on the week in practice and then going out and executing.

“And I know that sounds very simple, but we have guys making plays and that makes a big difference. The good teams can score down there, and we have to keep executing down there.”

Perhaps more impressive has been the Bills’ ability to score from outside the red zone.

They have seven touchdowns and three field goals for a league-leading 57 points from outside the 20-yard-line.

What both of these statistics show is that the Bills’ offense, with Tyrod Taylor at the helm, is humming with 100 points which ranks third in the NFL.

Buffalo’s point differential of plus-32 trails only Arizona and New England.

“We have a lot of talent, that’s for sure, and I’ve really enjoyed the scheme,” Wood said. “Obviously we’ll keep getting better, and keep developing within this offense.

“Even though we’re scoring some points, each week there’s a lot on film we just wish we could have back, stuff that in practice you do it and then the game is a little faster and you say, ‘Alright, I won’t mess that up next time,’ and we’ve been doing a good job getting better week to week.”

–Head coach Rex Ryan is still stewing over the way the New England Patriots tried to run up the score in the Week 2 meeting which New England won 40-32. The Patriots were ahead 37-13 in the fourth quarter yet continued to pass on almost every offensive play. It was a strategy that actually backfired because it helped the Bills get back into the game, though the rally fell just short.

“What I loved is how we battled back when a team was clearly trying to embarrass us,” Ryan said Wednesday, bringing the topic to the forefront again. “We stood up to them and said, ‘Here we are. We’re going to give you our best shot regardless of what the scoreboard is.’ Again, we’ll play that one down the road. I think the thing you realize, when we talked about building a team that represented our community and the pride that we would take in playing 60 minutes, that showed it right there if anybody ever doubted it.”

–Linebacker Preston Brown was selected the AFC’s defensive player of the week after a performance against Miami that included seven tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned 43 yards for a touchdown. Brown is the first Bills linebacker to win the award since Takeo Spikes in Week 1 of 2003. This was also the 100th occasion a Bills player has been named one of the AFC players of the week.

NOTES: Right guard John Miller sustained a groin injury against Miami and it’s highly unlikely that he will play Sunday against the New York Giants. … Strong safety Aaron Williams was on the practice field Wednesday, but he was not wearing pads and his status is uncertain for the game. … Running back LeSean McCoy did not practice Wednesday due to his sore hamstring and there’s a “real possibility” according to coach Rex Ryan that he doesn’t play against the Giants. … Wide receiver Sammy Watkins sat out practice Wednesday because of a calf injury and there’s a chance he won’t be available for the game. … Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin was a full go in practice for the first time in more than a month since injuring his ribs, and he might be ready to return to action, which would be good timing if Watkins can’t play.