Cool Brees

QB Drew Brees is well ahead of last year's 5,000-yard pace and has nine touchdown passes

while operating an offense that has looked unstoppable in two wins. He spreads the ball around

to a deep receiving corps led by WR Marques Colston, TE Jeremy Shockey and RB Reggie Bush.

Deep threats Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem average more than 20 yards per catch. The

Bills had great success blitzing Tampa Bay QB Byron Leftwich. But that won't be as easy

against the poised Brees, who gets rid of the ball quickly. He was sacked only 13 times in 635

pass attempts last season. But Bills DE Aaron Schobel draws a favorable matchup in

inexperienced LT Jermon Bushrod, who replaces injured Pro Bowler Jammal Brown. Generously

listed at 6-feet, Brees sometimes has trouble seeing over linemen, so the Bills must get their

hands up while they push the pocket.

Lost and found

The Bills finally got the ball downfield to WRs Terrell Owens and Lee Evans last week. But

after his 32-yard first-quarter touchdown, Evans didn't catch another pass, and Owens was a

non-factor before getting open on a 43-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Either O-coordinator

Alex Van Pelt hasn't been able to get his top receivers involved or QB Trent Edwards isn't

looking in their direction enough. The Bills can't afford prolonged disappearing acts by Owens

and Evans today. Big plays might be available against Gregg Williams' aggressive, blitz-happy

Saints defense, which has forced six interceptions but has given up a 60-yard pass play in

each game.

Shorten the game

Perhaps the best way to slow the Saints' offense is keeping it off the field. RB Fred Jackson

is capable of doing that. Should the Saints keep their safeties deep, as New England and Tampa

Bay did against the Bills, Jackson could find creases in the defense. If he can grind out

yards and keep the chains moving, the Bills can control time of possession. The Saints' front

seven isn't super stout, but MLB Jonathan Vilma is a playmaker. The Bills might use the

wildcat formation, which Philadelphia used with some success against the Saints last week.

The bell tolls for Thomas

RB Mike Bell, who rushed for 229 yards in two games, is out with a sprained knee. RB Pierre

Thomas, last year's leading rusher, is back from his own knee sprain and must shake off the

rust so he, Bush and possibly first-year backup Lynell Hamilton can give the Saints' offense

some balance. The Bills' run defense has been stout, particularly inside with DTs Kyle

Williams and Marcus Stroud, who will face talented Saints RG Jahri Evans in a must-see

matchup.

Return threats

Bills return aces Leodis McKelvin and Roscoe Parrish are overdue for big games, and it could

happen against a Saints coverage team that allowed an 87-yard kickoff return and a 43-yard

punt return in the season opener against hapless Detroit. The Bills' coverage unit has its

hands full with Courtney Roby and Bush, who has just 8 yards on five punt returns this year

but is always a threat to break a big one.

Prediction

It could go either way, but Brees brings more big guns to this shootout. Saints, 34-28.