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What an Erie time of year

What an Erie time of year

By Rob Longley

When the 2007 NFL schedule was released, a Buffalo at Cleveland date in mid-December seemed more like a more compelling weather story than a sports-related one.

Like how bad would the lake effect snows blow in off Lake Erie and onto a pair of teams going nowhere?

Instead, Sunday’s match at the city once known as the mistake by the lake, has serious intrigue for a pair of franchises who haven’t had much to celebrate this decade let alone this season.

Yes, the Bills and Browns are both in AFC wildcard mix and this week’s game will go a long way to deciding the future of both.

Making the assumption that the Jacksonville Jaguars will lock up the first of the two WC spots in the conference, the second entry will go to either the Bills (7-6), Browns (8-5) or Titans (7-6).

The one certainty is that if the Browns win this week, the Bills will be done. But beyond that, the rest of the possibilities are a crapshoot.

For the Bills, Browns and their fans - who are separated by a two-hour drive or so along the Erie shore - it is a rare chance to enjoy a meaningful game this late in the season.

“We’d be having fun if we were matched up with anybody (and) we’re still in (the playoff race),” Bills coach Dick Jauron said this week, speaking of his team’s surprising ability to stick around despite injuries, offensive struggles and a couple of unlucky late defeats earlier in the season. “You’re still in it and playing, but to be matched up with neighbours ... we both have struggled. I don’t know if either team would say it makes it more interesting, but it’s kind of nice.”

Nice especially for the long-suffering supporters of both. The Bills haven’t been to the post season since the 1999 season and neither team has won a playoff game since 1995.

“All of our fans deserve this,” says Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius, who grew up in suburban Cleveland. “The city deserves to at least have this opportunity.”

The Browns are considered solid favourites Sunday both because of their home-field edge and the fact that they have one of the most productive offences in the league.

But the encouraging play of rookie quarterback Trent Edwards, who tossed four touchdown passes last week in a thrashing of the Miami Dolphins, has moved the growing team from beyond just the fringes of the race.

“I always had confidence, but now that it has happened on a Sunday, hopefully we can continue to do it,” Edwards said.

A Bills win would not only pull them even with the Browns record-wise, it would also give Buffalo the edge in tiebreaking scenarios because of head-to-head play.

Meanwhile, the Browns could still win the AFC North as they sit just one game behind the Steelers.

For Bills safety Donte Whitner, the game will have added meaning. Like fellow Cleveland native Jurevicius, he grew up as a frustrated fan in the double-crossed sports town.

“The Browns always found a way to mess it up,” Whitner said. “Same thing with the Indians, one out from winning the World Series, they found a way to mess it up. The Cavs go to the NBA finals, find a way to mess it up.

“I’m looking at it from both sides - as a fan and as an opponent. I don’t want the Browns to go to the playoffs.”

Out Like a Lion:

Despite a five-game losing streak the Detroit Lions are just a game behind the 7-6 Minnesota Vikings for the final NFC wild card.

And what a wild race that is considering Arizona, Washington and New Orleans are all lumped at a mediocre but still breathing 6-7.

Needless to say, the late-game collapse at home against Dallas last week could be a haunting memory. The road is far from easy including this week’s game in San Diego and a trip to Green Bay in Week 17.

Border Notes:

The Vikings hope to disrupt a disturbing trend on Sunday when they play the Bears at Soldier Field. The last time Minnesota defeated Chicago on the road was in 2000 ... Despite a rough afternoon last week, rookie Vikings running back Adrian Peterson continues to lead the NFC with 1,200 yards on 198 carries and a 6.1 average per carry. The last back to lead the conference with an average of six yards or more was Detroit Lions great Barry Sanders in 1997 ... Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild announced he will leave the team after the season to take the head coaching job at Colorado State. Unlike Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, who announced he is leaving to take the job at Arkansas, Fairchild will remain until the end of this season ... The Vikings, the sixth seed in the NFC going into Week 15, have outscored their past three opponents 110-34 while winning five of their past six.