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Wednesday, September 22
Updated: September 23, 11:01 AM ET
 
Baxter Bits: Eagles vs. Bills

By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com

The Eagles head to Buffalo for the first time since 1990 as these teams battle in the regular season for just the ninth time ever.

While the Bills and Eagles have split their eight previous battles, Buffalo has prevailed in the last three encounters, including a 24-17 triumph at Veterans Stadium in 1996 in the last clash between these clubs.

The Eagles are 2-2 lifetime at Buffalo, their last visit to Orchard Park resulting in a 30-23 setback in 1990.

Numbers: The Eagles have allowed 133 sacks in their last 34 games (1997-99), including 104 sacks in their last 25 contests dating back to '97. Philadelphia has been limited to 17 or fewer points in 16 of its 18 contests dating back to '98. They have allowed 120 or more yards rushing in 15 of their last 18 contests dating back to '98. The Eagles have allowed 138 points in 9 wins (15.3 avg.), 622 points in 24 losses and a tie (24.9 avg.) dating back to '97.

Including playoffs, the Bills have committed two or more turnovers in 28 of their last 43 games dating back to '96, turning over the football 94 times in those 43 contests

Things To Look For:After a promising start against the Cardinals on opening day, Philadelphia's attack ran into the fury of the Bucs' defense and remembered just how much work still has to be done. Buffalo got its running game in gear last week against the battered Jets, and look for more of the same against a quick but undersized Eagles' defensive unit that figures to be on the field for the majority of the afternoon.

Etc.: The Eagles are 0-2 for second straight year. They have lost five straight games dating back to '98 and they are winless (0-15-1) in their last 16 regular-season road games dating back to '97 (17, including the 1996 NFC Wild Card Game at San Francisco). Including playoffs, Eagles are 12-29-1 in their last 42 games after opening 7-2 in '96. PK Norm Johnson has converted an NFL-record 279 consecutive PATs.

The Bills are 31-12 in the month of August/September since '88 (3-6 since 1997). They are 78-21 at home (including 9-1 in playoffs) since '88. The Bills are 26-10 vs. NFC competition during the regular season since 1990 (3-1 in '98), however they're 0-4 in Super Bowl competition. They are 11-1 vs. the NFC East since 1990 in the regular season, 0-4 in Super Bowls. WR Andre Reed (897) needs 3 catches to become just the 3rd player in NFL history with 900 career receptions. Reed (12,633) needs 88 yards to tie Art Monk (12,721) for 5th place on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list. Reed (86) needs two touchdown catches to tie Don Maynard (88) for 5th place on the NFL's all-time touchdown receptions list. Reed (87) needs one touchdown to tie Don Maynard (88) for 19th place on the NFL's all-time touchdowns scored list.





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