When the Cleveland Browns acquired Peyton Hillis in the offseason, it appeared his biggest contribution would be that of a blocking fullback.
Twelve games later, Hillis is on the cusp of reaching a milestone achieved by only two running backs in the franchise's storied history.
Hillis will be looking to go over 1,000 yards rushing for the season when the Browns visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
With the game having no postseason implications for either team, personal milestones and the chance to finish the season on a strong note are the primary goals for the Browns (5-7) and Bills (2-10).
Hillis needs 38 yards to reach 1,000, which would put him alongside the legendary Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly as the only Cleveland running backs to rush for 11 touchdowns and 1,000 yards in a season.
This from a back who had a mere 13 carries in 14 games for the Denver Broncos last season. Hillis won the starting job in the preseason and has not looked back.
A seventh-round pick of the Broncos in 2008, he had scored a touchdown in 10 of the team's 12 games and has four 100-yard games, including a career-high 184 in a 34-14 victory over the New England Patriots.
Hillis also has developed into a reliable option out of the backfield, hauling in 53 receptions for the season. He has 19 catches in the last three weeks.
Cleveland will be looking for its third consecutive win, coming off victories over Miami (13-10) and Carolina (24-23) in the past two weeks.
Jake Delhomme will make his third straight start at quarterback for the Browns. He was 24 of 34 for 217 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win in Miami. His favorite target was tight end Benjamin Watson, who had a career-high 10 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.
The Bills will be looking to rebound from a 38-14 mauling at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings last week.
Although it started the season 0-8, Buffalo had shown signs of turning things around prior to last week’s debacle. The Bills had gone 2-3 in their previous five games – with all three losses coming by three points.
Despite knocking out Brett Favre on the first series of the game and taking a 7-0 first-quarter lead, Buffalo gave up 38 unanswered points and surrendered 107 yards and three touchdowns to Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
The Bills’ only offensive touchdown came with under five minutes to play. That performance aside, Ryan Fitzpatrick has been solid since taking over at quarterback in Week 3.
Fitzpatrick has thrown for 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and was a dropped pass in the end zone away from leading Buffalo to an overtime win over Pittsburgh two weeks ago, which would have been the Bills’ third straight victory.
The teams are meeting for the fourth straight season. Cleveland has won the previous three matchups.