Mike Rodak, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

W2W4: Bills at Jets

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills (4-3) will look to string together back-to-back wins as they travel to face the New York Jets (1-6) on Sunday.

Here is what to watch for:

1. Addressing the backfield: By far the biggest story coming out of Western New York this week was a reshuffled backfield following injuries to C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. As far as how the Bills will split carries, let's keep it simple: They know what they have in Anthony Dixon and he's been productive when called upon this season (5.1 yard average on 27 carries), so the Bills aren't suddenly going to turn away from him. Rather, expect Dixon to be the "lead" back and for Bryce Brown to work into the mix. If he shows well, he could get more carries; if he doesn't, he probably won't.

2. Getting ahead on scoreboard: The Bills' offense hasn't started a drive with a lead for their last 46 possessions, or since EJ Manuel was intercepted by J.J. Watt in the third quarter of Buffalo's Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans. That means Kyle Orton has gone under center either trailing or locked in a tied game. In general, that has created more of a dependence on the passing game, so if the Bills fall behind again Sunday it won't matter whether Dixon or Brown is receiving carries; what matters will again be Orton's ability to move the ball through the air.

3. Containing Harvin: The greatest challenge for Jim Schwartz and the Bills' defense will be to figure out what the Jets are doing with Percy Harvin, their new offensive chess piece. Even if he doesn't touch the ball, it would make sense for the Jets to use Harvin in as many formations and motions as they can. The big-play threat that Harvin poses might be enough to draw the Bills defense's attention away from other players. Something to consider, however: Schwartz, as coach of the Detroit Lions, coached seven times against Harvin when he played for the Minnesota Vikings. There's a level of familiarity there for Schwartz that could translate to a higher comfort level in scheming against Harvin.

Here's a deeper look at how Harvin has fared against Schwartz:

Harvin against Schwartz-coached defenses (seven games):

Receptions per game: 5.4

Receiving yards per game: 51.9

Yards after catch per reception: 5.8

Pass targets per routes run: 35.6 percent

Rushing yards per game: 17.6

Harvin against all other defenses (53 games):

Receptions per game: 5.0

Receiving yards per game: 58.3

Yards after catch per reception: 6.5

Pass targets per routes run: 33.7 percent

Rushing yards per game: 12.3

4. Finishing first half strong: After going winless in their final game before the bye week for more than a decade, the Bills snapped that skid last season with a 37-14 win over the Jets. Another win over New York could pull the Bills even in the AFC East again if the Patriots lose at home to the Chicago Bears. If the opposite happens, and the Bills drop to 4-4 while the Patriots improve to 6-2, the Bills will return from their bye week in a tough spot, effectively down three games in the division with eight remaining.

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