AFC team-by-team notes

Baltimore: The Ravens' normally-stout defense ranks 27th in the NFL, allowing an average of 404 yards, but linebacker Ray Lewis isn't concerned about a two-week sample. "We always say, 'Find us at the end of the year and you know where we're going to be,'" Lewis told the team's website. "At the end of the year, every year, is when you always pay attention to stats."

Buffalo: Head coach Chan Gailey is known for his spread formations and creative play-calling, but the Bills are averaging 198 rushing yards per game and Gailey would run the ball "every snap" if he could.. "It is a tough, hard-nosed game," Gailey said. "It is a tough game for tough people. I think if you run the football, you can impose your will on other teams. It is different. The game is different than it was 10 to 15 or 20 years ago. You change. You change with the times and you adjust. You do what you have to do."

Cincinnati: Coach Marvin Lewis agreed with the Giants' Tom Coughlin that defenses shouldn't attack the "Victory Formation" and potentially cause an injury on a meaningless play. "That's one of our favorite plays, we run it every week in practice," Lewis said of the kneel-down play. "I hope we run it 14 more times this year.

Cleveland: Rookie QB Brandon Weeden admitted his confidence is growing with a 322-yard game in Week 2 following up his four-interception performance in the opener. "I think it just shows me that I can play at this level," he said. "We scored more points in that game than we probably scored offensively as ones the entire preseason so confidence-wise it was good for me."

Denver: The Broncos have allowed just 142 rushing yards on 54 attempts through two games, and the 2.6 yards per carry average is tied for second-best in the NFL. "(I credit) the players and the coaches involved," said head coach John Fox. "I think guys are buying into what we're doing and they're doing it with good technique."

Houston: GM Rick Smith is one of several people in the Texans' organization with strong ties to the Broncos as Houston prepares to travel to Denver this week. "There are some festivities that we're actually going to go back a day or so early and attend and represent this group of folks that maybe not have the opportunity to go back," Smith said. "It'll be fun. We're going back with the express purpose to win a football game."

Indianapolis: After a difficult injury-plagued rookie season, LT Anthony Castonzo hasn't allowed a sack through the first two games while battling Bears DE Julius Peppers and Vikings DE Jared Allen. "I think he's playing excellent," said Colts coach Chuck Pagano. "I think he's doing one heck of a job both in the run game, he's a hammer in the run game, and then again coming off the injury, knocked the rust off early and I think he's doing a great job in pass protection."

Jacksonville: Coach Mike Mularkey spoke to the Jaguars on Wednesday, reminding him of some of the great teams that have responded to 0-2 starts in the past "Regardless of whether you're 0-2 or 2-0, you're going to have a sense of urgency," running back Maurice Jones-Drew said. "We just have to continue to work and prepare. It's going to be a tough game up there. We understand why we are 0-2 and we're the ones who have to fix it."

Kansas City: Head coach Romeo Crennel also serves as the defensive coordinator, but disputed the notion that his divided focus has hurt a defense that has already allowed eight touchdowns. "I've done both jobs before; I haven't done both of them at the same time before," Crennel said. "I've been a defensive line coach and a defensive coordinator before, so I've done dual roles in the past. I kind of understand what it takes. I think that going forward, we will get better. If we play the play that we need to play the way we need to play it, then you wouldn't even be asking the question."

Miami: RB Reggie Bush earned AFC Player of the Week honors following his 197 yards of total offense last Sunday, and has impressed coach Joe Philbin with his work ethic. "He's a quiet guy, comes to work and I like the way he comes into the building," Philbin said. "He doesn't say a whole lot, he seems to be serious about his trade and he works to improve. I was in the chow line and he was still out on the practice field working today after practice I noticed. He's a diligent worker and it's important to him and he wants to contribute and do well."

New England: The Patriots re-signed WR Deion Branch and added TE Kellen Winslow three days after the offense struggled against Arizona. "We feel like they'll be able to help us in the roles that we can put them in, which are obviously the roles that they've been performing in in the past," head coach Bill Belichick said. "We'll see how Kellen fits in. I've never coached him before, don't have any background with him, but [we] feel like he might have a chance to help us so that's why he's here."

N.Y. Jets: Jets coach Rex Ryan said backup QB Tim Tebow "probably" will play more snaps at Miami on Sunday, but isn't revealing his plans. "I'm certainly not gonna let (the Dolphins) know, 'Hey, by the way, Tebow's gonna play 50 snaps this week.'" Ryan said. "I'm never gonna give you a legitimate answer. I think I know the answer, but I'm not gonna give it to you."

Oakland: The Raiders signed CB Brandian Ross off Green Bay's practice squad. He was an undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State in 2011, and spent all of his rookie season on the Packers' practice squad. Oakland has been looking to increase depth in the secondary following Ron Bartell's broken scapula suffered in Week 1.

Pittsburgh: RB Jonathan Dwyer leads the Steelers with 71 rushing yards and a 3.4-yard average, Isaac Redman has 45 yards and a 2.0 average and Rashard Mendenhall isn't expected to return until after the team's Week 4 bye. "We haven't run the ball as well as we have liked," coach Mike Tomlin said. "I'm not interested in assigning blame in that regard. I will take responsibility for it. The reality is we've got room for growth."

San Diego: RB Ryan Mathews (clavicle) and TE Antonio Gates (ribs) returned to practice Wednesday. Mathews is expected to make his season debut against the Falcons on Sunday after taking part in limited practice the past two weeks. Gates was injured in Week 1 and sat out last Sunday's victory over Tennessee.

Tennessee: The Titans are averaging only 11.5 points and 248 yards of offense per game, but TE Jared Cook said it's imperative the coaches and players avoid a blame game. "I don't think it's somebody. I think it's just the whole team," Cook said. "I think, collectively, everybody has to get on the same page and start making things happen offensively. You can't be a successful team by having one guy doing his job here, one guy doing his job here and a couple of guys not doing their job."