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TORONTO -- A December road game against the Buffalo Bills has never shaped up so well for Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons face the Bills on Sunday at Rogers Centre, meaning Ryan and Co. wont have to deal with the wind, rain and snow being forecast for Buffalos home venue, Ralph Wilson Stadium, in Orchard Park, N.Y. It will be Buffalos sixth regular-season "home" game in Ontario as part of the Bills Toronto Series, which began in 2008 and was renewed in January for another five years. The Bills (4-7) are 1-4 at Rogers Centre and 0-3 in December contests there. Whats more, Atlanta (2-9) plays its home games in a dome. "I think obviously playing in a dome this time of year late in the year thats an advantage for both offences," Ryan said. "It can be difficult to go out there and play when its windy and cold and youre either getting hail or snow . . . so I think both offences, it cuts you a little bit of a break." But once again receiver Stevie Johnson and his Buffalo teammates must deal with the disadvantage of being the home team indoors in a different country. "Yeah, they must have fixed the schedule or something out there in Atlanta," Johnson said. "Who put the schedule together to have them come to Toronto?" Buffalos roster features two Canadians: rookie defensive lineman Stefan Charles, a Toronto native who grew up in Oshawa, Ont., and veteran linebacker Jamaal Westerman, who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but grew up in Brampton, Ont. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff grew up in Guelph, Ont., and played at the University of Guelph. Charles, claimed last month off Tennessees practice roster, could see more playing time Sunday as defensive tackle Kyle Williams (back) is questionable. Williams, 30, has a career-high seven sacks and 48 tackles this season. The Bills Toronto Series was unveiled in 2008 as event organizers wanted to show Toronto was a viable NFL city. Rogers Communications Inc. paid US$78 million to stage eight games -- five regular season, three exhibition -- expecting southern Ontario fans to flock to Rogers Centre. But a slow economy, high-priced tickets -- initially averaging over $180 each, compared to roughly US$51 at Orchard Park -- and struggling Bills teams have made it a tough sell. Last year, a series-low 40,770 spectators watched Seattle dismantle Buffalo 50-17. Some ticket prices were reduced to make games more affordable but that hasnt resulted in a sellout. The average ticket price last year was roughly $99. Greg Albrecht, in his second year as the executive director of the Bills in Toronto Series, expects a crowd of about 40,770 on Sunday. But with events planned for the entire weekend, a pre-game show featuring "some surprises from the Department of National Defence," and a half-time performance by The Beach Boys, Albrecht said this has become much more than just a football game. "That is absolutely my goal, to make this the preeminent NFL experience in Canada," he said. The series has been good financially for the Bills as the original deal more than doubled what they wouldve made holding the games at Orchard Park. It has also allowed the NFL club to establish a foothold in Canadas biggest market. But the Bills lose their huge home-field advantage playing late-season games in cold, blustery Orchard Park. Also, fans at Rogers Centre cheer as much -- or more -- for Buffalos opponents as they do the home team. However, Albrecht has a plan to help remedy that. "Were looking for the craziest fans when the Bills are on defence," Albrecht said. "Four of those fans, one per quarter, will be picked and prior to the end of the game were going to do a contest, basically an on-field event, and the two winners will be flown to Barbados for a week with their family. "Its a pretty high-end prize but its just an incentive to get people to really start making a lot of noise and creating that crazy NFL fan experience here in Toronto." The series has also created much speculation regarding the Bills potential relocation to Toronto after owner Ralph Wilson, 95, passes away. Such talk gained more steam last week amid reports that rocker Jon Bon Jovi has aligned himself with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment -- which owns the NHLs Maple Leafs and NBAs Raptors -- to purchase the Bills and move them to southern Ontario. "In my view, this is something were building to create more NFL awareness as well as build up the Bills fanbase and celebrate the NFL in Canada," Albrecht said. "The future of the team, who owns it and where it goes is a little bit beyond my purview. "Im here to make sure were doing what we can from a corporate partnership base, from a fanbase and make this the best NFL event that we can make." But that hasnt stopped some Bills players from criticizing the series. Centre Eric Woods blasted the Rogers Centre after last years contest. "I think that Toronto series has turned into pretty much a joke," Wood told a Buffalo radio station. "Its a bad atmosphere for football. I mean, nobody wants to play there. "I guess for opposing teams it beats the hell out of going in somebody elses stadium and dealing with a bunch of crowd noise. I dont think its turned out the way we wanted, and I hope we dont renew it. That sucked." Woods was signing a different tune this week. "I kind of said that in the heat of the moment after the game last year, and Im looking forward to it," he said. "Hopefully my feelings will change after this game." Buffalo rookie head coach Doug Marrone said the Bills could make Rogers Centre an inhospitable environment for opponents by playing better there and giving Toronto fans more to cheer about. "I think we do have some fans in Toronto and I think if we play well well create more fans," he said. "I think we can over a period of time, with success, really create that type of advantage for us over there." Still, Ryan is preparing for the worse at Rogers Centre. "Well anticipate going into it where its going to be really loud and difficult for us to communicate, and then obviously adjust if its different," he said. "But Im hoping weve got a bunch of supporters up in Toronto and they show up this weekend and are pulling for us." T.J. Jones Jersey . Next years tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer. Tracy Walker Jersey . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. 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Are they a better team without him? In addition to acquiring some valuable cap flexibility, what impact will the four incoming players have this season and beyond? Click here for the Dec.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Sonny Grays fastball wasnt as sharp as it usually is, and the Oakland Athletics young pitcher even had a quirky replay go against him. A rediscovered curveball, stellar defence behind him and timely hitting on offence made it all a moot point. Grey allowed four hits over seven innings to bounce back from his worst start of the season and the As beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Thursday night. "The idea is to really get that (curve) going again because I think the last five or six starts its been OK, but it hasnt been a big factor for us," said Gray, who walked three and struck out five. "We did some things a little different this week and I was able to find that again and get it going, especially early in the game." Gray (8-3) was knocked around in his previous start when he was tagged for five runs in five innings against Miami on June 28. He was much sharper this time around and got some help from Oaklands defence which turned three double plays, including one in the eighth after Josh Tholes leadoff single. Jose Reyes hit a fly out to deep right and Oaklands Brandon Moss made a strong throw back to first baseman Nate Freiman, who tagged out Thole trying to get back to the bag. "Hes still a little spotty with his fastball," As manager Bob Melvin said. "That kind of makes him at times who he is, too. He can paint you on two pitches and then miss by a foot. His curveball was a big factor today." Grey might have been in line for a shutout were it not for an odd replay in the second inning. After Toronto loaded the bases against Gray with one out, Anthony Gose hit a grounder to Freiman. Freiman appeared to tag Munenori Kawasaki as he ran for second base, but umpire Vic Carapazza ruled Freiman missed the tag and Kawasaki was safe. Freiman then threw to catcher Stephen Vogt, who stepped on home plate for a forceout with Edwin Encarnacion, the runner on third, approaching. Toronto manager John Gibbons requested the review, arguing that Kawasaki was out and that Encarnacion should be allowed to score because there would have been no force play at the plate. After a delay of 4 minutes, 27 seconds, the call was overturned and the Blue Jays were given a 1-0 llead.dddddddddddd "We cant put runners back," crew chief Bill Miller said. "We have to go with what happened on the field, and what happened on the field was (Vogt) tagged home plate but he did not tag the runner. Unfortunately that was in direct relation to the call on the field at first base." Melvin immediately came out to argue and the As played the remainder of the game under protest. It didnt matter. Freiman doubled in Brandon Moss in the bottom of the inning, and Vogt scored on a passed ball to put the As up 2-1. Craig Gentry singled off Toronto starter R.A. Dickey (6-8) in the eighth and scored on John Jasos double. Alberto Callaspos sacrifice fly made it 4-1. "We just didnt get anything going offensively," Gibbons said. "They outplayed us, pure and simple." Dickey, who beat the As on May 24, when he allowed two runs over 8 1-3 innings in his best outing of the season, lost his fourth straight start. The knuckleballer struck out six and walked three. The loss drops the Blue Jays into a first-place tie with Baltimore in the AL East. Its the first time since May 21 that Toronto has not held sole possession of the top spot in the division. Dan Otero pitched the eighth and Sean Doolittle worked the ninth for his 12th save. NOTES: Dickey had not lost four straight starts since 2004. ... As slugger Yoenis Cespedes went 0 for 4 to snap a 15-game hitting streak. ... Oakland 3B Josh Donaldson (lower back stiffness) was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game. ... The As activated LHP Eric OFlaherty from the 60-day DL and designated LHP Jeff Francis for assignment. OFlaherty underwent Tommy John surgery last year and hasnt pitched in the majors since May 17, 2013. ... The As reached agreement on a 10-year lease extension with the Oakland Coliseum. As part of the deal, the As will pay $10 million for the installation of new video scoreboards as well as other upgrades to the aging facility. ... Toronto OF Colby Rasmus was held out of the lineup after injuring his right wrist running into the wall during the series against Milwaukee. ... Oakland LHP Tommy Milone (6-3) faces Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman (4-2) on Friday. 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