The Jets were favored â€” think the Bills knew that?

Bills coach Doug Marrone, in his pregame talk with his players before they routed the Jets 43-23, did not make a big deal out of the fact that his 4-3 team was an underdog to the 1-6 Jets on Sunday.

But he did mention it, pointing out that it marked the first time since point spreads were made for NFL games that a team with a winning record was an underdog to one that was 1-6.

"That's crazy,'' Bills defensive tackle Stefan Charles said. "For a team to be 1-6 and we're still the underdog at 4-3 is disrespectful.''

Bills tight end Lee Smith, who caught a touchdown, said, "We don't care about point spread, but it's kind of like somebody calling your wife ugly. You know she's pretty, but it still pisses you off.

"So yeah, of course, as a team that has worked as hard as we've worked, won games against good teams, and to come in here after winning four games and being a underdog, of course we take it a little personal. But that's what has fueled this team so far, so hopefully they keep making us underdogs so we keep getting that fuel.

"Right now, we've won five games, and if we want to be respected we need to keep winning. We need to turn that five into 10 or 11 wins and people will have no choice but to talk about the Buffalo Bills.''

Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who had an interception, said: "They think we're just the same old Bills. We love being the underdog. I'd rather be the underdog, because we like to prove people wrong. It's motivation for us. Keep doubting us.''

Las Vegas handicapper and former oddsmaker Joel Staniszewski told the Buffalo News before the game: "You look at any analytical site with power rankings and all those things, the Bills should be favored in this game. There's no reason why the Bills are a three-point dog.

At minimum, it should be a pick 'em. I think the line is wrong. The Bills plus-three probably is the smartest bet on the board.

"The reason the Jets are favored is because oddsmakers and bettors don't have the same thought process as Bills fans. That's a good thing for business. It's mostly just the thinking that the Jets are a better team than their record shows.''

How did that theory turn out?

"You're like a guy that's in my neighborhood not too far from here, The Bronx, [where] they're like, 'Hey, the line's moving. You guys are in trouble, one way or another,' '' Marrone said when asked about being the underdog. "Yes, we brought it up. I'll do whatever it takes to get this team ready and motivated. If I can find a piece of information to get it, I'll use it.''

Charles said Marrone "just put that in our minds'' about the point spread.

"But, we already knew,'' he said. "A lot of guys in this locker room have been underdogs, so we feed off that stuff. We're going to make all the naysayers eat their words at the end of the year, because I don't think we've gotten any respect that we've deserved. We're going to stay grounded and keep proving these people wrong.''