BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK -- You remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz, the one in which objects -- and witches -- are being blown all over the place, flying past, out of control?

That's what it's like today at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the wind is whipping at speeds gusting to 70 miles an hour.

Among the dangers, for the hardy Bills fans who come out in all kinds of inclement weather, are the large porta-potties being blown around in the parking lots. Of all possible ways to meet one's demise, death by porta-potty has to be very low on the list.

Kicking field goals -- or even PATs -- will be a Herculean challenge this afternoon. Not only are the uprights bending like ship's masts in a typhoon, but the even the crossbar is tilting to the extent that one side is significantly lower than the other. Oddly, both are tilting to the right, even though they're obviously at opposite ends of the field.

Pats deep-snapper Lonie Paxton is on the field early, practicing. When a ball happened to hit the ground at the 30, it started bouncing forward and, propelled by the wind, rolled all the way to the end zone, careening along at a goodly rate of speed.

Without question, the team that has the wind in each quarter will have a significant advantage.