The Patriots' offensive line is thin to say the least. After losing starting right tackle Tom Ashworth for the season with a back injury and his backup, Adrian Klemm, for the season with a foot injury, the Patriots are down to their No. 3 right tackle in Brandon Gorin, who has started the last two games. The club worked out street free agents Jeff Roehl, who has played in 12 NFL games with two starts over two years after a collegiate career at Northwestern, and Sammy Williams, a seven-year veteran who was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 1998 and played for Baltimore, Kansas City, San Diego and Jacksonville in his career, making 14 starts while playing in 29 games. It signed neither.

The only move the Patriots made to add depth to the line was adding tackle Lance Nimmo to the practice squad to fill the vacancy left by Earthwind Moreland's elevation to the active roster. Nimmo, 25, was Tampa Bay's 2003 fourth-round draft pick and spent the spring of 2004 playing in NFL Europe. The 6-5, 303-pounder actually spent 2003 with the Jets, but was inactive for all 16 games. He was released at the end of the preseason this year and signed with the Browns practice squad, but was released by Cleveland on Oct. 6.

The Patriots have no true backup tackle on the active roster, and coach Bill Belichick and his players are mum on who would play the spot in the event that either Gorin or left tackle Matt Light went down.

"We'll have seven at the game," Belichick said. "Those players will be backed up one way or the other. We're not committed."

The linemen, for their part, were evasive in answering questions, offering such statements as; "I'll play wherever they want me to."

Right guard Stephen Neal moved out to right tackle in Pittsburgh on Oct. 31 when Light was dinged up and he would presumably move again if needed.

PLAYER/PERSONNEL NOTES

--WR Troy Brown was non-committal about his role on defense this week, but it's unlikely that he will see as much, if any, action at cornerback against the Bills unless the score is weighted heavily in New England's favor, eliminating the run as a possibility for the Bills - an unlikely scenario given the quality of Buffalo's third-ranked defense. With Buffalo expected to run the ball early and often, Brown will not be used beyond obvious long-yardage, passing situations.

--S Rodney Harrison did not play on special teams in his first year in New England last year, but has been covering kicks since the Patriots' dismal day in Buffalo back on Oct. 3 when Terrence McGee returned a kick 98 yards for a score. "No one had a harder time against them in the kicking game than we did," Belichick said this week. While Harrison was relieved of his special teams duties back around 2000, he first made his name in the kicking game. "Early on I was a beast on special teams," he said. "That's how I established myself. I stopped playing special teams probably in my eighth year, but when (Coach Belichick) told me he wanted me on special teams, I welcomed it."

--WR Deion Branch could return to action this week. He made a rare appearance in the locker room last week when it was open to the media, a sign that he was closer to returning. This week, he was upgraded to questionable on the injury report after being listed as doubtful for the last six games, all of which he missed. Branch caught eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown in a game-and-a-half of action before injuring his knee.

--LBs Mike Vrabel and Roman Phifer could be used to cover kicks this week if Matt Chatham is unable to play. Chatham is questionable with a hamstring injury and missed a portion of practice Wednesday.

--CB Asante Samuel should be in the starting lineup Sunday night against the Bills. He injured his shoulder on the second defensive play of the game last week in St. Louis and missed most of the game until returning in the fourth quarter. He will start opposite undrafted rookie free agent Randall Gay while Earthwind Moreland plays as the nickel back.

--LB Ted Johnson figures to see a bulk of the snaps at inside linebacker this week ahead of Roman Phifer, who saw extended action against the Rams last week. Tedy Bruschi has developed into a more full-time player while Phifer and Johnson play more situationally - Johnson in running situations and Phifer against the pass. Johnson had a strong game in the first meeting with 11 tackles.

GAME PLAN
Offensively, the Patriots have to retain the balance that has made them so effective this season, but that will be tough against a formidable Bills front that has big bodies Sam Adams and Pat Williams inside. If Deion Branch is back in the lineup, look for New England to use a lot of three- and four-receiver sets featuring Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens and David Patten. If Branch does return, it will be only the second game all season in which the team's top four wideouts were healthy and able to play together. Charlie Weis will certainly look to use that to his advantage. The Patriots probably won't go with much five-wide empty formation looks because they will need the help in protection against a blitzing Bills defense. Either running back Corey Dillon or tight end Daniel Graham will be in pass protection on most plays. The Patriots may try to run out of a three-wide look to spread the Bills defense somewhat and maybe force Buffalo to play with a nickel back instead of an extra run-defending linebacker. Don't expect the Patriots to line up in a pro set and just run it at the Bills front seven because that will amount to a long day facing third-and-long situations.

Defensively, the Patriots will mix in cover-two looks designed to help the inexperienced starting cornerbacks with a steady diet of controlled blitzes to get after Drew Bledsoe without being too aggressive and susceptible to big plays on the ground. Rodney Harrison's positioning on a given play could dictate how Buffalo plays the down, but if New England plays with seven men in the box, it would have a tough time stopping Willis McGahee. But if Harrison is the eighth run defender, the pressure will be on safety Eugene Wilson to cover the deep part of the field to give the corners needed help on Eric Moulds and Lee Evans. New England will have to mix it up and disguise their coverages to keep Bledsoe guessing.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Patriots CBs Asante Samuel and Randall Gay vs. Bills WRs Eric Moulds and Lee Evans. The Bills have a major advantage in these matchups and will look to exploit the young corners down the field. Samuel is making his sixth career start while Gay is making his second. Ty Law usually locks up with Moulds, but Samuel and Gay will likely play left side/right side as opposed to matching up with specific receivers. Moulds has 47 catches with four touchdowns while the speedy Evans is averaging 20.1 yards per catch and emerging into the replacement for Peerless Price that Buffalo hoped Josh Reed would be.

Patriots LB Mike Vrabel vs. Bills RT Marcus Price. The Patriots might not be happy that Mike Williams is likely out of the lineup since he has been a disappointment since Buffalo used the fourth pick in the draft on him. The Pats are unfamiliar with Price, but he will have his hands full in protection against the savvy Vrabel, who has 3 sacks so far this season and is on pace for a career high 88 tackles.

Patriots WR David Givens vs. Bills CB Troy Vincent. Givens has emerged into a top receiving threat and has posted 100-yard receiving games in each of the last three weeks. Of his 37 receptions, 36 have resulted in a Patriots first down. Only four wide receivers in the NFL have more first downs than Givens. The veteran Vincent was hurt early in the first meeting but should be back in action for the first time this week. Because Brady looks to Givens in key spots, this matchup will be critical.

Patriots RT Brandon Gorin vs. Bills DE Chris Kelsay. Gorin is learning on the fly and has needed help on the right side of the line from tight end Daniel Graham, who has been limited in the passing game because of his use on the line of scrimmage. Kelsay is coming on of late and had one of his two sacks last week against the Jets.

INJURY UPDATE
The good news for Patriots fans is that Corey Dillon is off the injury report. Also, Deion Branch has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable and there were indications last week that Branch might be available for the Bills game. His return would give the Patriots a full complement of healthy receivers for the first time since he was injured in Week 2. Cornerbacks Tyrone Poole and Ty Law are both out of the Bills game and will be replaced by Asante Samuel and Randall Gay while Earthwind Moreland slides into the nickel back role ahead of Troy Brown. Special teamer Matt Chatham is questionable with a hamstring that has given him problems this season while Larry Izzo is probable with a knee ailment that he played through last week. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Jim Miller remain probable as they have been listed all season.

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