Published: November 01, 2009 11:20 pm      

BILLS NOTEBOOK: Woes persist for Buffalo’s run D

Bills rank last in the league at midpoint

ORCHARD PARK — A season-long problem continued Sunday when the Buffalo Bills could not stop the run against a visiting Houston Texans squad that was relying on a career backup.

After giving up 126 yards to Ryan Moats and 186 yards total, the Bills rank last in the NFL in rushing defense in both yards allowed per game (174.1) and opponent’s rushing average (5.1 yards per carry).

Houston’s ability to run at will in the second half was crucial to its 31-10 victory, because the passing attack was struggling without injured tight end Owen Daniels and with star receiver Andre Johnson playing at less than 100 percent.

“That was very disappointing for us defensively because they lost a couple of their stars and they were still able to do that to us,” linebacker Paul Posluzny said.

“We especially had some problems later on. That’s the most discouraging thing. Those long drives, especially when they are just pounding the ball, we have to find a way to stop them and be more physical with the linebacking corps.”

The Bills offense put Posluzny and company in a tough spot by failing to gain a first down for much of the second half, which led to an almost two-to-one time of possession disparity for the game.

“We’re on the field a lot but if that’s the way it’s going to be than that’s the way it’s going to be,” Posluzny said. “We’re going to have to deal with that throughout the year. We want to be out there because we feel like it gives us an opportunity to make plays. And when it’s the third and fourth quarter and we’re on the field and they’re on those long drives, that’s on us.”

“We’re much better than that,” defensive tackle Marcus Stroud said. “We fight much harder than that. I was trying to start some fire, get myself fired up, and get the guys fired up. Whenever we go out there, we’re going to fight to the end. I’m a competitor; I’m going to compete to the end. I never want to walk off the field and feel like somebody imposed their will on us and that’s what I felt they did in the game.”

After next week’s bye, Buffalo travels to Tennessee to face a Titans team that gashed Jacksonville for 305 rushing yards on Sunday.

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Bills owner Ralph Wilson was presented with his Hall of Fame ring in a halftime ceremony.

“In all my exciting years, I’ve given out some rings but I’ve never gotten one,” Wilson said before telling the fans that, “I still want to reward you with a Super Bowl.”

Wilson was scheduled to get his ring at the Oct. 11 home game against Cleveland, according to the Hall of Fame Web site, but chose to have the ceremony postponed.

“The focus on today’s game should be about the team and the fans,” Wilson said in a statement released after the Bills’ 6-3 loss to the then-winless Browns. “I think most of our fans know that I’ve been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Bruce Smith is scheduled to receive his Hall of Fame ring at the next home game, Nov. 29 against Miami.

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A quad injury knocked Keith Ellison out of the game late in the second quarter, allowing rookie Nic Harris to see his first action at linebacker since an impressive preseason. Harris made stops near the line of scrimmage on consecutive plays in his first series, and finished with five solo tackles and one assisted tackle.