AFC East - NFL

BUFFALO BILLS

ON HOLD: It appears rookie RB Willis McGahee is not as close to returning to the field as first thought. McGahee's surgically repaired left knee is healed, and he is making strides in practice. But he is not running with the burst and confidence the team needs to see to put him in a game. Team president/G.M. Tom Donahoe and coach Gregg Williams have told McGahee that he should not feel pressure to play. Essentially, the team drafted him to play next season.... Rookie WR Sam Aiken is a player to watch during the rest of the season. Aiken has excellent hands and is developing quickly into an effective route runner. He also is learning how to get clean releases off the line of scrimmage against press coverage. The team is very high on Aiken and plans to work him into the rotation.... Trey "league is one of the more athletic centers in the league. A former offensive tackle, he is good at using his hands and feet to redirect defenders in pass protection. He also is very smart and usually makes proper line calls. He is small for the position (6-5, 292) and generally is not overpowering at the point of attack. He can have problems against bigger defensive linemen. But Teague is a solid player who rarely makes mental mistakes.

OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: Look for a greater commitment to the run. RB Travis Henry has had some strong games in recent weeks and needs 20 to 25 carries per game to be effective. The team has lacked balance for much of the season and relied too much on the passing game. The one-dimensional approach has made it easier for defenses to contain the Bills. Running the ball also would help the offensive line, which is better when it can be physical at the point of attack.--Allen Wilson

ON THE SPOT

RE Aaron Schobel needs to finish the year well. The team has been hurt by the lack of a consistent pass rush. Schobel is not a dominant pass rusher, but he is the best the team has. He is quick off the edge but must become more consistent with his countermoves to beat pass blockers.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

QUARTERBACK OPTION: The team will be faced with a difficult decision at quarterback once Jay Fiedler is healthy. In three starts, Brian Griese has thrown the ball decently--when he has had time to throw. He has been sacked 10 times, contributing to the four fumbles lie has committed and lost. He also threw three interceptions in last Sunday's loss to the Titans. That makes seven turnovers in three games. Fiedler had nine turnovers in six games and was sacked only eight times. With the offensive line struggling, the team needs Fiedler's athleticism. From a pure throwing standpoint, Griese clearly is superior. However, defenses can rush to a spot on the field where Griese is going to set up without worrying about him breaking away. ... The secondary is being challenged by three--and four-receiver sets. The key is how those sets are aligned. Receivers are setting up very close together to prevent cornerbacks from using press coverage. Opponents are running crossing patterns constantly. The Titans were able to jump to a 14-0 lead by doing that throughout the first quarter.

OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: The team has tried to use a lot of two-tight end formations the past two weeks to help LT Wade Smith and open up the running game. This is reminiscent of what the Redskins did in the Joe Gibbs era. However, the results hardly have been similar. The Dolphins get so far behind that they can't grind away with the running game, using No. 2 TE Donald Lee in his most effective role. Another issue is that the line play is so bad that even a second tight end doesn't solve the problems. That said, Lee is progressing nicely in his rookie season, and starter Randy McMichael also is making great strides.--Jason Cole

ON THE SPOT

RB Ricky Williams has criticized himself extensively, saying he simply isn't running as hard as he did last season. That is true, but the problem stems from a weak offensive line. Williams is running tentatively because he doesn't have a good idea where the holes are going to be.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

A FIRST-RATE SECONDARY: Despite playing two rookies in the secondary--starting FS Eugene Wilson and backup CB Asante Samuel--the Patriots have given up only tour touchdown passes, the fewest in the league. Wilson and Samuel have made stone mistakes, but neither has given up a touchdown. Veterans CB Tyrone Poole and SS Rodney Harrison have also been outstanding.... It remains to be seen how long the Patriots can get away with a lack of depth on the offensive line. They've been using only one backup tackle, Brandon Gorin, and two unproven guards, Russ Hochstein and Wilbert Brown. G Stephen Neal (shoulder) appears to be some time away from contributing, if he's able to at all, and he would do nothing to aid the depth at tackle.... WR David Givens is the most improved player on the team. After several crucial drops last year, he suddenly has developed sure hands. Givens is not quick--he runs just well enough. Though he's only 6-0, 212, lie's the biggest wideout on the team. QB Tom Brady will go to him in clutch situations, and he is the team's best run-blocking receiver and an excellent special teams player.

OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: The team's normally conservative passing game has opened up. After completing three passes of more than 40 yards in 2002, the team has completed five this season. WR Deion Branch's improvement in his second year has been a big factor, as has the presence of WR Bethel Johnson, one of the fastest players in the last draft. Givens also can get deep. Another big factor is the health of Brady, who struggled early in the season with elbow and shoulder problems. Now he's throwing more freely.--Mike Felger

ON THE SPOT

K Adam Vinatieri seems to have snapped out of a slump in which he missed five kicks in the first eight games, his most in a half-season since he was a rookie. Given how many close, bad-weather games the Pats likely will play, they need Vinatieri to be more consistent.

NEW YORK JETS

CATCH 'EM NEXT YEAR: The receiving unit is due tot a shakeup. WR Wayne Chrebet suffered a concussion--the fourth head injury of his career--and it could threaten his season or his career. Curtis Conway, a disappointing free agent, won't be back in 2004. Chances are, the team will try to draft a big receiver in the first round, someone it can pair with WR Santana Moss. That will enable Chrebet, if he's healthy, to slip into the No. 3 spot he's most suited for.... FB Jerald Sowell is doing a nice job as Richie Anderson's replacement. Sowell has a flair for slipping out of the backfield on play-action passes, and making important catches on short routes. Sowell, who has 26 catches, is the fourth-leading receiver on the team.... The lets don't surrender a lot of points--only one opponent has scored more than 30--but their poor starts are inexcusable. The run defense routinely is atrocious in the first quarter, suggesting a lack of preparation. The Raiders ran on every down in a 19-play, 80-yard first-half scoring drive last week.... MLB Marvin Jones, 31, is a hard-nosed run defender between the tackles, but he has lost a few steps and is vulnerable in space. He can be exploited by teams that run outside and throw passes into short zones and doesn't play in nickel and dime defenses.

OFFENSIVE SYSTEM CHECK: QB Chad Pennington has a new go-to receiver (Moss) and an improving running attack. Pennington should be able to finish strong, perhaps approaching his remarkable production of last season. When the running game is going, Pennington is deadly with his play-action passes. He has the touch to drop the ball over the linebackers and into intermediate zones.--Rick Cimini

ON THE SPOT

Without WR Santana Moss the Jets would have little perimeter speed and face a barrage of blitzes. Moss keeps defenses honest, reducing the pressure on QB Chad Pennington. If he maintains his remarkable production--eight TDs in nine games--it should create opportunities for others.

Best blitzers

Pierson Prioleau, FS, Bills. Despite no longer being a starter, Prioleau has made a major impact in this area. He has good instincts and timing when attacking the line of scrimmage. He has a knack for finding the soft spots in opposing pass protection and getting into a quarterback's face.

Junior Seau, OLB, Dolphins. He has lost a little bit of his ability to break through the line, but he still has the best instincts of anyone on the team. The Dolphins don't blitz a lot, but Seau can be a threat when he needs to be.

Mike Vrabel, OLB, Patriots. At 6-4, 261, he is the type of tall, athletic outside rusher who thrives in coach Bill Belichick's variable 3-4 scheme, Vrabel consistently exploits matchups against tight ends and running backs and leads the team with four sacks.

Sam Cowart, OLB, Jets. He doesn't have the speed he used to, but he's a crafty player who disguises his intentions well. In the right situation, he can be effective.

WEEK 10 PASSING YARDS 370-D. Culpepper, Min.; 368-T. Green, K.C., 347-P. Manning, Ind.; 307-J. Blake, Ariz.; 277-J. Delhomme, Car.; 275-B. Johnson, T.B.; 269-C. Pennington NYJ

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