Getting boisterous for Buffalo

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Ever since the Bills began playing regular-season games in Toronto on an annual basis as part of a five-year commitment that started in 2008, fans have been as boisterous for the visiting team as they have for Buffalo. It's taken away the advantage the Bills have enjoyed playing at the Ralph, combined with the weather conditions that play in their favour compared to playing indoors in Toronto.

"In previous years we've seen just as many jerseys for the visiting teams as we saw for our team," Wilson added. "The fans (in Toronto) tend to cheer for any play, whether it's for the other team or our team. We've just got to make sure we're the ones making the big plays, so that we can say all the cheers are for the Buffalo Bills."

Wilson leads the Bills with 57 tackles, which is 10th overall in the league and fifth in the AFC. He said he relishes the chance to come play in Toronto.

"We're ambassadors for the game, helping to globalize the sport, and so it's a great opportunity for us to showcase what our team is capable of doing this season," he said. "I'm just looking at bigger picture. A large percentage of our fan base comes from Canada, so we have to keep that in mind as well, and just grow the sport into a brand. Just looking at the bigger picture, I think it's still worth it."

The Bills come into this year's game more formidable than any other time since they started playing annually in Toronto, where they have yet to beat an opponent in the regular season. It's another reason why people attending the games have opted to cheer for the opposing team.

The Bills, one of the surprising teams so far in 2011, are second in the AFC East with a 4-2 record. The Redskins are tied for second with Dallas at 3-3 in the NFC East and are coming into the game winless in their last two outings.

"Regardless of who we're playing, I don't look at us as being the favourite or being the underdog," Wilson said. "I just see it as an even matchup, and you've got to earn the victory regardless of what the people say before the game who was expected to win. I don't compare our team to anyone else."

The Redskins are physically beat up and will be missing several key players, including their leading rusher, Tim Hightower, sidelined for the season with a knee injury, and receiver, Santana Moss, out five to seven weeks with a hand injury. Wilson said the team is expecting to face quarterback John Beck, who would be making his second consecutive start for the Redskins.

"We're just going to approach it just like we have each of other previous games (this season)," he said. "We're not going to overlook these guys. We know they have more than enough playmakers to win, but we just have to make sure we do our part."

Wilson, a converted receiver who is in his seventh year with the Bills and fifth as a starter, said a big reason for his team's success this year has been a solid start, compared to starting off winless in their first eight games last season under new head coach Chan Gailey. The Bills finished last in their division with a 4-12 record.

"Through that long process you get to learn a lot about yourselves, the coaches, the guys in the locker room next to you," he said. "You really see who's passionate, whose heart is really in it. I really think with the guys we have in the locker room, they have the passion, they have the right attitude and they're willing to come and work day in and day out. We have another year of being in each of our offensive and defensive schemes, where our coaching staff knows what we do well, what we need to improve on and how to apply talents to all the schemes we have in place. It's allowed us to be more comfortable in the systems we have in place."

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.