ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Preparing to face the Patriots offense is as challenging as forecasting the weather in Buffalo for the next three months.

Everyone knows there’s going to be snow, rain, wind and sun, but it’s a matter of predicting which will happen on what day.

“You never know which identity they’re going to come with,” Bills safety Coy Wire said of New England, the team Buffalo hosts on Sunday. “They have their no-back offense, two-back running game. They have multiple identities. It’s just a matter of preparing for all of them.”

Under offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, the Patriots have been an offensive chameleon, able to switch styles on a weekly basis in an effort to capitalize on an opponent’s weakness.

That has been evident in the Patriots’ two wins this season, which extended their winning streak to 17, one short of matching an NFL record.

Against Indianapolis, New England went with several empty backfield formations, concentrating on the passing game to open the season with a 27-24 win.

The following week, the Patriots had newly acquired running back Corey Dillon rush 32 times for 158 yards in a 23-12 win over Arizona.

What are the Bills expecting?

Anything and everything, perhaps, considering defensive coordinator Jerry Gray turned down interview requests this week.

“They can do it all,” safety Izell Reese said. “They might come into the game and figure they want to run the ball 30-40 times. They might come out and go empty (backfield) the whole game when you weren’t expecting it.”

The Patriots offense might not be on par with that of the highly explosive Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts, but they present their own set of unique challenges.

It begins with quarterback Tom Brady, who has proven efficient in a short-passing attack, while also capable of throwing the deep ball on occasion. In two games this year, Brady has combined to go 41-of-64 for 554 yards passing, with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

And he’s managed to spread the ball around to New England’s stable of capable – but not high-profile – receivers.

Led by David Givens’ 10 catches for 200 yards, 10 Patriots players have caught at least one pass already this season, including tight end Daniel Graham, who leads the team with three touchdowns.

The versatile passing attack has opened up New England’s running game, which is lead by Dillon, the former Cincinnati Bengals star acquired in a trade last April. With 244 yards on 47 rushes this season, Dillon is averaging a heady 5.2 yards per carry.

The addition of Dillon, who has seven 1,000-yard seasons in eight years, bolsters a Patriots’ ground game that lacked punch in the past under Antowain Smith, who’s now a backup at Tennessee.

“He gives them more confidence, which you wouldn’t think was possible,” Wire said of Dillon. “But he makes them feel even better about the team they have.”

The Bills defense has been strong so far this season, limiting opponents to a combined 26 points and 498 yards of net offense in consecutive 13-10 losses to Jacksonville and Oakland.

The unit had Jekyll and Hyde outings in two games against New England last year. They intercepted Brady four times in Buffalo’s season-opening 31-0 win, and then unraveled in a season-ending 31-0 loss.

The key for Buffalo on Sunday will be staying composed against whatever the Patriots present.

“They give you some things that you’re going to have to work on,” linebacker Jeff Posey said. “We’re going to have to rely on what we do.”

Notes: New England leads the all-time series against Buffalo 47-40-1, marking the most Patriots’ wins against any opponent. New England has also won six of the last seven meetings. … The two teams meet again at New England on Nov. 14.

AP-ES-09-30-04 1645EDT