After nine games, Rams still mystery team

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Mike Martz knows better than to take any team for granted -- especially one from the AFC East.

Having lost to the division's best, New England, and its worst, Miami, already this season, the Rams coach is well aware the Bills won't be pushovers, particularly outdoors at Orchard Park where the elements could play a factor this weekend.

"It is a reminder," Martz said, referring to how St. Louis unraveled in handing the Dolphins their one and only win this season. "But Buffalo is different. I think Buffalo is a better football team. ... They're on the rise."

In which direction the Rams (5-4) are going remains a question heading into Sunday's game against the Bills (3-6). Even the oddsmakers are hedging, giving St. Louis only a slight edge. It's an indication of how much better the Bills play at home, where they've won three straight, and how inconsistent St. Louis has been.

The Rams might be the among the NFL's most entertaining and befuddling teams. They've played strong in stretches, and last weekend bounced back from two losses to gain the NFC West lead by defeating division-rival Seattle for the second time this season.

And yet the Rams have also fallen to some of the league's doormats, including last month's 31-14 loss at Miami.

"There's a lot of reasons for both," Rams quarterback Marc Bulger said, referring to the disparity in performances. "There's a team that makes plays when we have to and there's one that doesn't. We just need to be the one that makes plays."

The low point for Martz came when the Rams followed their loss to Miami with a 40-22 defeat to New England. It prompted a public outburst from the coach, who placed the blame squarely on his players.

"It wasn't so much of a challenge as it was a refocus to basics," Martz said this week. "It was never, 'I'm mad at you,' or 'You guys screwed this up.' That's not the way it works. ... We had to get back to basics last week, and I think it helped, and they appreciated it."

The Bills have attracted their share of criticism this season, but none of it coming from rookie head coach Mike Mularkey.

That includes this week, when Mularkey maintained an even keel following a 29-6 loss at New England, a game in which the Bills generated just 125 yards of offense and their defense couldn't get off the field.

As a former player, Mularkey believes such a performance -- and not what he has to say about it -- should be motivation enough.

"I think some guys, I would say a lot of them, have taken what took place personally," Mularkey said. "You shouldn't be in this business, coaching or playing, if that didn't affect your character and want to bring out the good in it."

Defensive tackle Sam Adams sure didn't need reminding.

"We were garbage the last time we went out," Adams said. "And we have a lot to prove to ourselves, our families, our community. If we want their support, we have to go out and earn that again."

Except for two losses to New England by a combined score of 60-23 this season, Buffalo has been competitive in its other seven games, with three losses decided by three points or less.

Buffalo's defense was the last this season to allow a 100-yard rushing performance when the Patriots' Corey Dillon managed 151 last weekend. And the Bills seven times held opponents to 20 points or less, and six times allowed less than 300 yards.

The Buffalo offense, when it's not sputtering, has been at it's most effective when running the ball. Willis McGahee has rushed for 100 yards in each of Buffalo's three victories.

The Bills are making no secret of how big a role McGahee is expected to have this weekend against a Rams defense ranked 29th overall and 29th against the run.

A strong running attack would also benefit Buffalo by keeping the Rams' sixth-ranked offense off the field.

Buoyed by last weekend's victory, Bulger said this is no time to look past the Bills.

"I think it's pretty much must win right now," Bulger said. "Coach sent a message to us last week and I think we all understand it, and know the magnitude of each game from here on out."