Jets ground Bills literally

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Once LaDainian Thomlinson -- remember him? -- got going, he and the New York Jets had the Buffalo Bills on the run.

Showing at 31 that he's still got much of that old "L.T." spark in him, Tomlinson scored twice, broke the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in nearly two seasons, and passed Tony Dorsett on the NFL rushing list. Add it up, and it was more than enough in a 38-14 rout of the winless Bills on Sunday.

And suddenly, there's no need to question Tomlinson if he's too old or was, perhaps, washed up after the San Diego Chargers cut him this offseason.

"I know what age I am. It doesn't mean I can't play," Tomlinson said. "I never lost confidence. I always knew I could do it. It was just about having an opportunity."

That opportunity came courtesy of Rex Ryan, the Jets coach, whom Tomlinson credited for having the confidence in him.

"You want to run through a brick wall for him," Tomlinson said.

The Bills' banged-up and porous run defense won't be mistaken for a brick wall, but it'll do.

Tomlinson and the Jets (3-1) combined for 273 yards rushing, while tight end Dustin Keller scored twice in exposing many of Buffalo's weaknesses to win their third straight, all against AFC East rivals.

New York blew the game open by scoring three times in a span of 3:29 on its first three possessions of the third quarter. The surge began with Keller scoring twice 1:33 apart to put the Jets up 31-7 with 4:36 left. Tomlinson then put it away 1:56 later on a 26-yard touchdown run, to go with his 1-yard plunge to open the game.

He finished with 133 yards rushing to register the 47th 100-yard game of his 10-year career -- and first since he had 105 on Oct. 26, 2008, when he was with San Diego.

"I thought he was going to be outstanding," Ryan said, referring to what he expected from Tomlinson when the Jets signed him. "But he's better than that."

The Bills, meantime, are playing well below even their own modest expectations. And the frustrations are beginning to show on a rebuilding team that's off to its third 0-4 start since 2001 and eighth overall.

"I'm calling out myself and I'm calling out my teammates," safety Donte Whitner said before expressing his anger further by using several profanities. "If we continue playing the way we've been playing, we're not going to get a win."

It looked that bad on both sides of the ball for Buffalo.

The defense allowed 444 yards, a week after allowing 445 -- including 200 yards rushing -- in a 38-30 loss to New England. Add in a 34-7 loss at Green Bay two weeks ago, and Buffalo has now allowed 30 or more points in three straight games for the first time since 2000.