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EVEN WEATHER WORKS AGAINST BUFFALO AS PREPARATIONS FOR 2002 BEGIN

By David Staba

Technically, Sunday's game between Seattle and Buffalo is the Bills ninth regular season contest of 2001.

In reality, it marks the start of the 2002 preseason.

Playoff hopes disappeared for all but the most optimistic in late September. The primary goal for the rest of the season -- building a functional offense around Rob Johnson, making a decision possible on whether the quarterback is worthy of the contract restructuring and extension that salary capenomics mandate -- crashed to the turf at Foxboro Stadium last Sunday afternoon.

That leaves a number of lower profile, but only slightly less important, objectives for the final eight weeks:

Despite Van Pelt's flashes of success in the preseason and in relief appearances, he's not likely to mastermind an offensive renaissance. His best days have come with the Bills trailing badly and opponents rushing three or four linemen and dropping everyone else in coverage. In the only victorious start of his career, a 1997 win over Miami, he threw for 89 yards and Buffalo didn't score a touchdown.

That 9-6 squeaker came on a gusty, rainy November afternoon. If there were a similar forecast for Sunday, the Bills would be a tempting choice as a three-point underdog.

But there isn't. Temperatures are expected to rise near 60 Sunday, without significant wind.

That's great for fans, many of whom will come out largely to see Jim Kelly's No. 12 emblazoned on the Wall of Fame.

And for Seattle.

Seahawks, 27-16.

Indianapolis at New Orleans (-5 1/2): Edgerrin James is out for the year. And Peyton Manning thinks his jaw hurts now. Saints, 30-20.

N.Y. Jets at Miami (-6): The Dolphins only blow leads against the Jets at the Meadowlands. But they're not going to win by a touchdown, either. Dolphins, 16-13.

Philadelphia (-7) at Dallas: With a chance to send his first start with Dallas into overtime, Ryan Leaf threw a killer interception against Atlanta. He won't have to worry about that kind of pressure situation this week. Eagles, 34-10.

San Francisco (-7) at Carolina: The Panthers shouldn't have any problem keeping pace with the Bills in the derby for the No. 2 draft choice. 49ers, 30-7.

Tennessee at Cincinnati (-2): The Bengals in a meaningful November game? Time for a collapse. Titans, 22-9.

Atlanta at Green Bay (-10): The only real suspense here -- will Brett Favre decimate the Falcons through the air, or will Ahman Green do it on the ground? Or both? Green Bay, 40-13.

Chicago at Tampa Bay (-5): After two miraculous overtime wins, the Bears barely blew a chance to prove they're for real last week. Time for a letdown. Bucs, 19-13.

Cleveland at Baltimore (-8): Beating the Ravens in Cleveland was one thing. Doing it again in Baltimore is something the Browns aren't quite ready for. Ravens, 16-14.

San Diego at Oakland (-9): The Raiders didn't tackle very well last week in Seattle. The Chargers, coming off a pair of decidedly un-magical whuppings, are in for a long afternoon. Raiders, 35-19.

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (-5 1/2): The Steelers have to score a touchdown or two eventually. Steelers, 23-6.

Washington at Denver (-8 1/2): So much for the Redskins' little revival. Broncos, 30-13.

Detroit at Arizona (-2): If the Lions don't win this one, they have a very realistic shot at 0-16. And that No. 2 pick. Lions, 29-25.

St. Louis (-8) at New England: Let's see -- Tom Brady tries unsuccessfully to hand last week's game to the Bills, thereby keeping a medically cleared Drew Bledsoe on the bench. Throwing for 107 yards isn't going to cut it against St. Louis. Rams, 37-17.

N.Y. Giants at Minnesota (-2): The Vikings gave up 89 points in losses at Tampa Bay and Philadelphia (not to mention 41 on the road against the Giants in last year's NFC title game). But they're 3-1 at home. Vikings, 26-20.

(Last week: 12-3 overall, 9-5-1 against the spread. Season: 79-48 overall, 57-64-1 against the spread).