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The Buffalo Bills are honoring Kent Hull and Steve Tasker on Sunday, an added attraction to the Indianapolis Colts' final annual visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Too bad the Bills can't get Hull and Tasker to suit up. Their respective areas of specialty, the offensive line and special teams, stand as Buffalo's primary areas of concern as the season approaches the midway point.
While Rob Johnson has been able to improve over the last two weeks and stay more or less in one piece, the Bills' inability to run consistently makes the quarterback their sole offensive threat.
Though Buffalo's kicking game shouldn't yet be mentioned in the same sentence as last year's fiasco, Ronney Jenkins' joyous romp through the Bills' kickoff coverage last weekend in San Diego was eerily reminiscent of the dark days of Ronnie Jones.
Both areas had better improve in a hurry if Buffalo is to have any hope of avenging this year's low point to date, the 42-26 thrashing the Colts applied in Indianapolis on Sept. 23. After this season, realignment takes the Colts out of the AFC East, their home since 1970, and ends their twice-a-year rivalry with Buffalo.
The Bills' offensive line has been consistent only in its turmoil. In this week's episode, Jerry Ostroski may return, but John Fina could be sidelined with lingering knee and quadriceps injuries. Ostroski, out with a broken leg since August, practiced this week. If he can play is one question. Where is the second.
A healthy Ostroski could wind up at his customary spot, right guard, replacing first-year starter Corey Hulsey. Or he could end up at either tackle spot. Fina didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, resting the knee that has hobbled him much of the season. And right tackle Jonas Jennings, who missed the game in San Diego, is listed as questionable for Indianapolis. If Fina and Ostroski can't go, Marques Sullivan would start at left tackle with Jon Carman on the right side. That combination was on the field for most of the front line's worst outing to date, a 20-3 home loss to Pittsburgh on Sept. 30.
While the Colts' defense has once again been relatively soft, giving up 130.8 yards per game on the ground and averaging two sacks per outing, Buffalo's offensive line turmoil presents the opportunity for a breakout game. Of special concern is linebacker Marcus Washington, who has 5.5 sacks and right end Chad Bratzke, who had six tackles and 1.5 sacks (his only ones of the season) in the first go-round against the Bills.
And Buffalo special-teams coordinator Danny Smith had best solve the breakdowns that led to Jenkins' pivotal runback last week -- Dominick Rhodes ran a kickoff back 88 yards for a touchdown last week in Kansas City, while Terrence Wilkins went 78 yards with a punt against the New York Jets in Week 1.
None of the above even takes into account Buffalo's biggest problem in the first meeting -- getting anywhere near Peyton Manning and staying remotely close to his receivers. Manning torched Bufalo's over-eager secondary for 421 yards and four touchdowns, including three during a brutal six-play stretch.
The Colts peaked with that performance, subsequently dropping a pair of games to New England and one to Oakland before struggling past Kansas City last week. The Patriots and Raiders used a similar strategy to slow Indianapolis -- deep, soft zones that cut down on Manning's opportunities for the long ball. His impatience led to costly mistakes -- the Patriots returned two interceptions for scores in their first win over the Colts, while Oakland addded another scoring runback.
Manning may not have two of his primary tools available. Edgerrin James, who surpassed 100 yards in five of Indy's first six games, including 112 on just 12 carries against Buffalo, is listed as questionable with a knee injury (though Rhodes proved a capable replacement last week, racing for a 77-yard fourth-quarter touchdown to seal Indy's 35-28 win). And Jerome Pathon, who caught nine passes for 168 yards and a 60-yard touchdown, is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a sprained foot.
Keeping Manning off the field falls largely to Buffalo's running game. Other than Rob Johnson's scrambles, that aspect of the Bills' offense has ground to a halt the past two weeks. Travis Henry had just 91 yards on 37 carries (less than 2.5 per attempt) against the Jaguars and Chargers.
Despite that lack of support, Johnson posted the best two-game stretch of his Bills career, hitting on 47 of 67 throws (70.1 percent) for 548 yards, a pair of scores and one interception.
While the Colts have struggled since dissecting Buffalo in September, the Bills (a five-point underdog) have inched toward respectability over the ensuing weeks, particularly the last two.
A loss as tough as San Diego's 27-24 escape last week can send a young team in wildly different directions. While a collapse is always possible, a contin uation of the Bills' progress looks more likely.
Particularly at home against a battered opponent headed in the opposite direction.
Bills, 23-20.
Jacksonville at Tennessee (-3): Two years ago, the Jaguars and Titans were a combined 27-5. Today, they share last place in the AFC Central at 2-4. Adelphia Coliseum is still a pretty tough place to play, though. Titans, 17-12.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-2): So far, the Steelers have been this year's Ravens. Steelers, 13-6.
Carolina at Miami (-9 1/2): The Miami defense could play all 60 minutes Sunday and have a pretty good shot at covering all by itself. Dolphins, 20-8.
Dallas at N.Y. Giants (-11): Good spot for the Giants to get untracked. Giants, 34-13.
New England at Atlanta (-3): Who needs Drew Bledsoe, anyway? Patriots, 23-16.
Tampa Bay at Green Bay (-5 1/2): The Bucs finally got rolling last week, but they don't win in Wisconsin. Packers, 23-14.
Cleveland at Chicago (-5 1/2): How 'bout them Bears? Bears, 21-10.
Philadelphia (-7) at Arizona: Donovan McNabb can't do it all by himself, after all. But against Arizona, he can do more than enough. Eagles, 30-17.
Detroit at San Francisco (-8 1/2): The Lions lost a pair of close ones at home the last two weeks. That makes this a good place to get blown out. 49ers, 35-20.
Kansas City at San Diego (-5 1/2): The Chargers shouldn't need any magic against the hapless Chiefs. Chargers, 28-16.
Seattle (-2) at Washington: A couple wins by the Redskins shouldn't fool anyone yet. Seahawks, 17-13.
N.Y. Jets at New Orleans (-6): Coming back on St. Louis last week should launch New Orleans. Saints, 33-21.
Denver at Oakland (-5): The Broncos got it together in the second half against New England last week, but the Raiders are the best overall team in the AFC. At least for the moment. Raiders, 31-28.
(Last week: 6-8 overall, 7-7 against the spread. Season: 58-40 overall, 43-50-5 against the spread).