ly the latest in a string of ugly losing streaks

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel wont start in Buffalos season finale at New England because of a small tear in a left knee ligament that will not require surgery. Coach Doug Marrone revealed the nature of Manuels injury for the first time after practice Friday. Backup Thad Lewis will start Sunday. "The decision process was injury-related, meaning that he was not able to do the things at 100 per cent that, in my opinion, we need to do to win the game," Marrone said. "So at the end of the day, I made the decision to put him out there for no other reason because I thought Thad would give us the best chance to win this game with EJs injury not progressing." Marrone said Manuel has a "small tear" in his lateral collateral ligament, which the first-round draft pick hurt in a 27-20 win at Jacksonville on Dec. 15. The tear is regarded as a minor knee injury. Lewis will start after taking all team snaps in practice Friday. Manuel could still be active and is listed as questionable. The Bills (6-9) have already been eliminated from playoff contention but have a chance to win three straight for the first time since opening the 2011 season 3-0. The Patriots (11-4) have already clinched the AFC East and can secure a first-round bye. The injury is the latest setback for Manuel, who is 4-6 this season. He missed four straight games after spraining his right knee in a 37-24 loss at Cleveland on Oct. 3. Manuel also missed the final two preseason games after hurting his left knee. Its a setback for Marrone as well, who a week earlier had said he was "110 per cent" confident Manuel would play against the Patriots. Marrone began backing off that comment Monday, when he declined to announce a starter. Manuel and Lewis split practice time Tuesday and Thursday, before Marrone determined the injury was limiting Manuels lateral mobility. Lewis is listed as probable because of an injury to his left, non-throwing shoulder, which he hurt in a 19-0 win against Miami last weekend. He has a 2-2 record and has thrown for three touchdowns and three interceptions since his promotion from the practice squad in early October. "I feel very fortunate. Im excited about the challenge," Lewis said. "Its just another opportunity to go out and make the best of it and help this team get a win." The Patriots will be playing Lewis for the first time, after facing Manuel in their season-opening 23-21 road win. "I know hes been playing good. I know he throws the ball down the field," Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib said. "They get a lot of explosive plays when hes in the game, because hes not afraid to throw the ball down the field." Against Miami, Lewis completed a 57-yard pass up the left sideline to Robert Woods despite Buffalo being backed up inside its own 10. The Patriots are expected to play without safety Devin McCourty, who hasnt practiced since sustaining a concussion in a 41-7 win at Baltimore on Sunday. That opens the door for rookie Duron Harmon to start. The Patriots will face a Bills running game that ranks second in the NFL with 2,138 yards, led by C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. "They do have a lot of weapons," Harmon said. "So we know were going to have our hands full." The Bills placed safety Aaron Williams on injured reserve and promoted receiver Cordell Roberson off the practice squad. Williams had already been ruled out because of a rib injury. Roberson provides the team with depth at receiver with starter Stevie Johnson missing his second straight game. Johnson has been excused after the death of his mother, whose funeral was held Friday in Northern California. ------ Yellow Rollie Fingers Jersey .ca. Hello Kerry, After watching Nino Niederreiter clobber Alex Burrows with an open-ice hit on Wednesday, do you think he should have gotten more than the two minutes for interference. Wil Myers Jersey . - Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin is now a free agent. http://www.mlbpadresstore.com/authentic ... es-jersey/. -- Dane Fox scored his 61st and 62nd goals of the season and Brendan Gaunce had a goal and three assists as the Erie Otters downed the Kitchener Rangers 7-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Yellow Tony Gwynn Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Custom San Diego Padres Jersey . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick.ATLANTA -- Portland coach Terry Stotts and his staff were having an informal meeting in the hallway outside their locker room when LaMarcus Aldridge returned from a postgame TV interview. The assistants greeted Aldridge with compliments and high fives. Stotts had only one word for his high-scoring forward: "Thanks." Aldridge had 25 points and 16 rebounds in his return after missing seven games with a lower back contusion, and the Trail Blazers beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-85 on Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak. "It felt good to be back," Aldridge said. "I didnt feel 100 per cent but I did what I could do and luckily I made shots." Damian Lillard added 21 points for the Trail Blazers, who had lost seven of 10 and were in danger of falling out of the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoff standings. Lillard said Aldridge, who posted his team-leading 37th double-double of the season, made the difference. "Were a whole different team with him," Lillard said. "Hes our best player. He brings balance to our team. We had an inside presence and we were able to play inside-out, like we have all year. I just think with him out there we just got more quality shots. "Having him back allows everybody to fall into place. The game just comes easier for everybody." Aldridge said the win was "very important, just for our mental psyche, our confidence ... the standings." The Hawks have lost five straight. They lead the Knicks by only 1 1/2 games in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Jeff Teague, who was scoreless in Wednesday nights loss at Minnesota, led the Hawks with 22 points. Lou Williams had 16 points, including 13 in the final period when Atlanta closed the deficit to six points. Atlantas Kyle Korver missed his fifth straight game because of back spasms and centre Pero Antic sat out after he twisted his right ankle at Minnesota. The Trail Blazers led 53-37 at halftime. The Hawks nnarrowly avoided their season low for points in the opening half.dddddddddddd. Atlanta opened the second half with a 15-5 run, capped by DeMarre Carrolls 3-pointer, to trim the lead to 58-52. Williams had eight points in Atlantas 10-0 run that again cut Portlands lead to six points at 80-74. A three-point play by Aldridge pushed the lead back to double digits at 87-76. Korver, the 3-point specialist, has not played since March 18, when Atlanta beat Toronto for its fifth straight win. The Hawks have not won since losing Korver. Its only the latest in a string of ugly losing streaks for Atlanta the last two months. Atlanta has lost 19 of 25 and had streaks of eight and six straight losses in that span before the latest slump. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said "there were stretches where we really competed" against the Trail Blazers. "We cut some leads and got it to six at one point," Budenholzer said. "The whole group, in trying times and trying circumstances, has given a lot. Jeff Teagues energy throughout the game allowed us to be close. Were finding ourselves. We need to be disciplined and focused. In those stretches where were not, it can hurt us and it can bite us." Portland closed each of the first three periods with 3-pointers -- by Mo Williams, Wesley Matthews and Lillard. Officials needed a review to confirm there was time remaining in the first half when Matthews launched his long 3. Nicolas Batum had 12 points for Portland and Robin Lopez and Matthews each had 11. Mo Williams had 11 assists and eight points. NOTES: The Trail Blazers, who beat Atlanta 102-78 in Portland on March 5, won their first season series over the Hawks since the 2007-08 season. ... Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson attended the game. ... Elton Brand had 11 points and 12 rebounds as the fill-in starter for Antic... The Hawks season low for first-half points was 34 against San Antonio on Jan. 24. ... The Hawks are 10-20 against the Western Conference. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '