THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Rex Ryan enjoyed a triumphant return to Toronto on Thursday night.
The New York Jets’ colourful rookie head coach was all smiles after watching his club capture an entertaining 19-13 win over the Buffalo Bills at Rogers Centre in the city he spent 12 years growing up in (1965-77).
"That was great," Ryan said. "I’m undefeated in here Canada.
"Hopefully we can play a lot of games here because I feel comfortable here."
The game was the third of eight the Bills will stage at Rogers Centre through the 2012 season. Buffalo played an exhibition game and regular-season contest last year and will do the same in 2010.
But not even the presence of Sanchez and flamboyant Bills receiver Terrell Owens (three catches, 31 yards) could hide the patches of empty seats. A total of 51,567 attended the game, less than the 52,000-plus that watched Miami beat Buffalo last year and well short of the 54,000-seat capacity the stadium has for football. None of the three games in the series thus far has sold out.
And that’s disappointing to the Toronto-based group that secured the games — dubbed Bills Toronto Series — hoping to showcase the city as a viable home for a full-time NFL franchise. The expectation when the series was unveiled two years ago was that football fans here would clamour to Rogers Centre to watch Buffalo and be willing to pay just about any price to do so.
But that’s not been the case, especially when Canadians can drive to Buffalo for Bills games and pay an average ticket price of $51.
After fans complained last year event organizers, who are paying the Bills an average of $9.75 million per game, slashed ticket prices by an average of 17 per cent. They also offered more than 11,000 tickets for less than $99 compared to just 4,700 for that price last year.
Still, the prevailing talk Thursday night was event organizers were forced to buy a lot of tickets and distribute them free of charge in the hopes of boosting the attendance and making the stadium look much better to an American television audience. Thursday’s game was broadcast live in the U.S. by the NFL Network.
What’s more, Rogers Communications also offered partial refunds to those who had bought seats in 2008 and were affected by the price reduction.
Adding to Ryan’s comfort level was knowing he’ll have rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez for next week’s game against Tampa Bay. Sanchez left Thursday’s contest in the third quarter with a right knee injury after diving head-first to get a first down.
That drew Ryan’s ire because the Jets have been trying to teach Sanchez to slide when scrambling, going to far as to hire manager Joe Girardi of the World Series-champion New York Yankees to work with the former USC quarterback.
"He’s competitive and trying to get the first down," Ryan said. "If he would’ve slid he wouldn’t have got the first down but we wouldn’t have had our quarterback get hurt either.
"He’s got to understand that it’s in the organization’s best interests to slide and that was disappointing. I love the kid but he’s got to grow up and understand that he represents our entire organization. We want what’s best for him."
Sanchez, the Jets’ ’09 first-round draft pick, was 7-of-16 passing for 104 yards and a touchdown to Braylon Edwards before sustaining the injury. He had his right knee examined on the sidelines, then walked walked to the dressing room and didn’t return as backup Kellen Clemens took over. Ryan said Sanchez suffered a mild sprain and expected him to start against Tampa Bay.
"I know Rex wants me to slide," Sanchez said after the game wearing a knee brace. "In the heat of the moment, I don’t know how else to explain it.
"I was trying to get the first down and advance the chains and that is just the way I play. I regret obviously not doing it (sliding)."
The Bills were the home team and, unlike in last year’s regular-season loss to Miami when fan loyalties were split equally, there was no doubt this time they had the support of the Rogers Centre gathering. While there were spectators donning Jets jerseys in the stands, they were easily outnumbered by those wearing Bills merchandise who were very boisterous in their support for their team.
But Owens didn’t quite see it that way.
"You know, it was a neutral site," he said. "There was a lot of excitement just by the game itself being here in Toronto.
"I saw an array of jerseys from all across the league so I don’t think either team had an advantage but there was definitely some excitement."
Edwards, who finished with three receptions for 45 yards and a TD, was impressed with the crowd.
"There were some empty seats but overall I think it was a good crowd," he said. "I think Buffalo had the majority of fans, which is understandable.
"They cheered hard and it was a nice atmosphere to play in. They weren’t too negative or obnoxious. I thought it was a nice crowd."
Edwards’ TD catch in the first half was sweet redemption for a botched play in the first. Edwards had got behind the Bills secondary and was wide open but lost the ball in the lights and had it bounce off his helmet. Had Edwards made the catch, he would’ve easily scored on an 84-yard play.
After pulling to within 19-13 in the fourth, Buffalo had a chance at a game-winning drive, starting at its 23-yard line with 2:32. But after Shaun Ellis’s sack for a 10-yard loss, Darrelle Revis intercepted Bills starter Ryan Fitzpatrick to cement the win.
Fitzpatrick struggled, completing 9-of-23 passes for 98 yards and the pick. He added 32 yards rushing on five carries.
Jets tailback Thomas Jones ran for a game-high 109 yards on 23 carries (4.7-yard average).
Thursday’s game was the second meeting of the year for the two clubs, with Buffalo winning 16-13 in overtime Oct. 18. The contest also involved two Canadian players, with third-year defensive end Corey Mace of Port Moody, B.C., leading the Bills on to the field and rookie linebacker Jamaal Westerman of Brampton, Ont., in uniform with the Jets.
Buffalo (4-8) remains last in the AFC East. While still mathematically alive, the Bills appear destined to miss the NFL playoffs for the 10th straight year. New York (6-6) assumed second in the division behind first-place New England.
The Barenaked Ladies performed the U.S. national anthem. Laura Cavacece sang the Canadian anthem and was joined by much of the crowd.
The Rogers Centre roof was closed and the game was played in balmy 22 C temperature in contrast to the rainy, cool conditions outside. While there were no corporate logos on the artificial turf — just the Bills crest at centre field and their team name in both end zones — what was especially noticeable was the 10-yard end zones on an NFL field compared to the 20-yard end zones in Canadian football.
Another difference, too, was the presence of large banners covering the hotel windows that overlook the field, preventing guests from watching the game. People staying in those rooms during Toronto Argonauts home games can take in the CFL contest from there.
Marshawn Lynch scored Buffalo’s touchdown. Rian Lindell booted the convert and two field goals.
Jay Feely kicked four field goals and a convert for New York.
Edwards’ 13-yard TD grab at 14:16 of the second earned New York its 16-10 half-time lead. It made up for the embarrassing drop Edwards had in the first when he had got behind Buffalo’s defence and had a shot for an 84-yard touchdown.
Lynch’s 15-yard TD run at 4:35 of the second quarter put Buffalo ahead 10-6 before New York settled for Feely’s 31-yard field goal at 8:51. It came after David Clowney’s 13-yard TD grab was ruled out of bounds.
