Pirate Galaxy » Lynx controlled the boards with a 46-32 r

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Rex Ryan was stumped when asked if he knew how long its been since the Buffalo Bills last won at Oakland.Fifty years ago? Phew, the Bills coach said Monday when informed of the answer before correctly guessing Jack Kemp was the quarterback in that 31-10 win in 1966. Thats amazing. Woof. You talk about a drought.Not including a 1-2 record against the Los Angeles-based Raiders, the Bills have lost their past eight games at Oakland. That includes Buffalos most recent visit, a 26-24 loss in 2014 that eliminated the Bills from playoff contention.As if Ryan and the Bills (6-5) needed another reminder of how daunting their bid might be to manufacture a late-season playoff push that resumes at the AFC West-leading Raiders (9-2) on Sunday.I dont know if its extra motivation that this teams got this record or whatever. Theyve got that record because they earned it, Ryan said. We know our backs are to the wall regardless of who we play. So theyre going to get our best shot one way or the other.The Bills have shown perseverance in overcoming a rash of injuries and second-half deficits to win each of their past two games. Buffalo followed a 16-12 victory at Cincinnati by exchanging leads five times in the second half to pull out a 28-21 win over Jacksonville on Sunday.Ryan acknowledged the Bills havent been perfect. And yet, hes not complaining about how his team has bounced back from a four-game skid to have a winning record through 11 games for just the fourth time since the Bills 16-season playoff drought began in 2000.I liked the fact that we were resilient, we stayed the course and we found a way to get it done, he said.It wont get much easier this weekend given how depleted the Bills might be as a result of injuries. Ryan was unable to provide any definitive updates on the status of players hurt against Jacksonville.Its a group that includes starting cornerback Ronald Darby (concussion protocol), starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (strained abdomen) and backup receiver Walt Powell (left ankle). And then there are receivers Robert Woods (left knee) and Percy Harvin (migraines), who were sidelined the previous week.On the bright side, Ryan said backup running back Mike Gillislee is expected to return after missing one game with a hamstring injury. He was also encouraged by how receiver Sammy Watkins and running back LeSean McCoy performed despite their injuries.Watkins had three catches for 80 yards, including a 62-yarder, in his first game in nine weeks since aggravating an injury to his surgically repaired left foot. McCoy had 103 yards rushing and scored twice a week after having surgery to repair a dislocated left thumb.With 153 yards rushing, Buffalo continues to lean heavily on its running attack, which has topped 150 yards in each of its past four games. The Bills havent had a five-game streak of more than 150 yards since the first five weeks of the 1975 season.Trailing 7-0, Buffalo overcame a four-point deficit for just the second time in two seasons under quarterback Tyrod Taylor.On defense, the Bills gave up three touchdowns and failed to get a takeaway for the fourth time in five games, but they limited the Jaguars to 301 yards offense.Game notesThe Bills 20 touchdowns rushing this season are already tied for fourth on the team list, and are six short of the franchise record set in 1975. ... Buffalos six giveaways are the fewest through 11 games in league history, breaking the old record of eight shared by five teams. ... 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Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off.MINNEAPOLIS -- Los Angeles Sparks coach Brian Agler had just finished with a split in the first two games of the WNBA Finals in Minnesota and was asked about his feeling heading back home for two games.The home-court advantage in the series had seemingly flipped in Los Angeles favor when the Sparks took Game 1 with a buzzer-beating, game-winning shot by 12-year veteran Alana Beard. Following the Game 2 loss, Agler didnt seem at ease despite heading to Los Angeles with a split.You know, Im glad we won a game, Agler said, almost tentative of his teams chances against the defending champion Lynx. Youre sitting back and saying, Well, that team has got to win on the road. Thats going to be very important, and it is, theres no question about it. But from my seat now, I dont really look at it that way. I just sort of focus on the next game...Our focus right now is to win one more game. Thats what we want to do. We want to win one more game, and then well see where we stand and well go from there.Minnesota won Game 2 on Tuesday night, 79-60, finally pulling away in what had been a close series until the second quarter on Tuesday. Game 3 is Friday at the Galen Center.Aglers hesitancy is fitting a series against the Lynx, who are seeking their fourth championship in six years. Last year, Minnesota lost the first game on its home court before beating Indiana in five games. The Lynx won Game 2 at home before going on the road and taking back the home-court advantage with a Game 3 win in Indiana.We have a lot of confidence, Minnesota guard Seimone Augustus said after 14 points in Tuesdays victory. Like you said, we were in this position before, last year. And, I mean, the thing for us is we know what we needed to do.The Lynx have been in a similar position not only in recovering from a blown Game 1. Minnesotas core has been around during their championship runs.Augustus, Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson have been key players on each of the championship teams. Evven relative newcomer Sylvia Fowles has played nine WNBA seasons and was on last years title team, winning the Finals MVP.ddddddddddddLos Angeles features one player with Finals experience in seldom-used center Ann Wauters.The inexperience might have shown on Tuesday when the Sparks couldnt counter the Lynx big runs.Everybody just kind of has to do a better job of helping one another, Los Angeles guard Kristi Toliver said. Sometimes its hard in an environment like this, and it just feels like everything is going a mile a minute. You kind of just have to take a pause sometimes, and I think (Tuesday) we didnt take that pause.Los Angeles led the league during the regular season by shooting 48.7 percent from the floor. On Tuesday, the Sparks shot just 32.9 percent (23 of 70). League MVP Nneka Ogwumike took just six shots, making five in a 14-point performance.Meanwhile, the Lynx controlled the boards with a 46-32 rebounding advantage.I think theres only one statistic that maybe theres a separator between the two teams, and its rebounding, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. So, we might as well try to use it to our advantage, and it gives you the extra possessions. We got some good hustle plays.Moore, who was third in MVP voting behind Ogwumike and New Yorks Tina Charles, was the star of Game 2. Moore scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the game, and keyed a 17-3 lead in the second quarter as the Lynx took control of the game and changed the outlook of the series.Its a series, Toliver said. I said after Game 3 when we lost in Chicago (in the semifinals) that we werent going to sweep them, and were not going to sweep now in the Finals. Were still a confident group. We still feel good.We came here to do what we wanted to do, and that was to get one (win). We feel pretty good about that, and now we need to take care of business at home. ' ' '