by Matt Barr

Win out

The Bills cranked the Rams 37-17 today, and made last Sunday's New England debacle look more like Bill Belichick just has Drew Bledsoe's number than a regression to the mean. The team had won three of its previous four, and now sits at 4-6, with about as favorable a schedule as you could ask for for the final six games.

They go to Seattle, which is as beatable as St. Louis, having beaten the likes of Carolina, San Francisco and Miami in recent weeks but falling to more accomplished St. Louis, Arizona and New England. They go to 1-9 Miami. Home to Cleveland, then Cincinnati and San Francisco on the road, before entertaining the Steelers -- a tough game, unless their playoff seed is wrapped up by then and we see their second string.

For one of the three wildcard slots, the Bills are chasing the 7-3 Jets, who are foundering a little; the 7-3 Ravens, who are extremely tough; the 7-3 Broncos or Chargers, whoever doesn't win that division; and Jacksonville, who ought to be turning into a pumpkin any time now. Also maybe the 5-5 Texans, if they hold on to beat the Packers tonight (13-3 near the end of the first half as I write).

You hear that Anything Can Happen in the playoffs, which of course isn't true; either the Steelers or Patriots are going to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year. But making the playoffs after spotting themselves four losses to start the season would be a tremendous accomplishment in Mike Mularkey's first year.

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