BILLS SHOULD KEEP RIDING MCGAHEE EXPRESS

Last week, the Buffalo Bills proved that, if nothing else, they can smack around equally crummy teams when they’re playing at home.

They’ll be in Orchard Park again Sunday afternoon, but the New York Jets are not to be confused with the Arizona Cardinals, or, as they clearly demonstrated on Monday Night, the Miami Dolphins.

The strength of New York’s vastly improved defense resides up front, in defensive ends John Abraham and Shaun Ellis and tackles Jason Ferguson and Dewayne Robertson. The foursome shut down Miami’s offense in a 41-14 win Monday night, and presents the sternest test of Willis McGahee’s nascent career.

Faced with horrid weather conditions, the Bills’ offensive coaches showed enough common sense to dispense with the assortment of double reverses, throwback screens and naked bootlegs that marked the first six weeks. Instead, they turned things over to McGahee, handing him the ball 30 times.

And guess what. He gained 102 yards, much of it early on when the Bills established their most physical tone of the season, and scored twice. Furthermore, Drew Bledsoe spent most of the day upright, and none of it chasing opposing defenders who had just swiped one of his rushed throws.

Running into the teeth of the Jets’ front four is a daunting task. But allowing them to swarm Bledsoe all afternoon is even less appealing.

Putting the ball, and the game, in McGahee’s hands provides the Bills, a three-point underdog, with their best chance to pull off an upset and nurture the glimmer of hope that 2004 could yet be a season in which the franchise moves forward after spending the first four of this century in neutral or reverse.

Of course, Buffalo will also need to stuff the revitalized Curtis Martin and disrupt the precise Chad Pennington, but a functional running game will help keep the defense fresh enough to do so.

Several readers have emailed recently to gripe that the commentary in this space has been too negative, and that optimism should trump evidence and reason in making the predictions herein.

I didn’t ask who they planned to vote for last Tuesday, but I think I can guess.

So, to those of you seeking a beacon of blind faith, this one’s for you. Bills, 19-17.

Philadelphia (-1.5) at Pittsburgh: Another unbeaten team pays a visit on the Steelers. Yawn. Steelers, 23-19.

Washington at Detroit (-3.5): Explain again why you wanted to come back, Joe Gibbs? Lions, 20-13.

Dallas (-1) at Cincinnati: These might be the NFL’s two biggest early-season disappointments, but the Cowboys look like they might be turning it around. Cowboys, 26-20.

Oakland at Carolina (-7): These two are right there with Dallas and Cincy. Panthers, 19-10.

Arizona at Miami (-3): If you’re going to be in South Florida Sunday, I’ll bet you can get a ticket for this one, very cheap. Cardinals, 9-6.

Kansas City (-3) at Tampa Bay: A win here, and the Vermeils are .500 heading into the second half. Watch out, Broncos. Chiefs, 31-16.

Chicago at N.Y. Giants (-9): The Giants are rolling, and even Craig Krenzel won’t keep the Bears close in this one. Giants, 30-3.

Seattle (-7) at San Francisco: Hate to give this many points to any home team, but Shaun Alexander is rolling again and the 49ers are coming off a loss to the aforementioned Bears. Seahawks, 29-14.

New Orleans at San Diego (-6): Phillip who? Chargers, 33-24.

New England (-1.5) at St. Louis: Time to start a new streak. Patriots, 27-23.

Houston at Denver (-6.5): A touchdown spread? A little respect for Houston, please. Texans, 29-27.

Cleveland at Baltimore (-6): Jamal Lewis returns against a team he shredded for 500 yards in two games last season. Ravens, 24-15.

Minnesota at Indianapolis (-6): The Colts can’t stop anybody, whether or not the Vikings have Randy Moss. Vikings, 37-33.

Last week: 10-4 overall, 9-5 against the spread. Season: 74-42 overall, 61-53-2 against the spread.