Welcome Back Willis

Willis McGahee's day had all the makings of a stellar return to Buffalo: a season-high 114 yards on only 19 carries, including a tackle-breaking, 46-yard scoring run that announced his arrival as a Baltimore Raven.

For a moment, it was. McGahee's third-quarter touchdown romp breathed new life in a Ravens club that was searching for momentum after a shaky first half. The five-year veteran took the handoff and followed a Le'Ron McClain block to break through the offensive line.

Once into the second level, he broke one tackle, stiff-armed safety George Wilson into the ground and turned on the jets to sprint to the end zone.

There were 70,727 fans packed into Ralph Wilson Stadium, and the touchdown, which made the score a manageable 19-7, quieted a majority of them. The only people cheering were wearing purple and black.

McGahee, whom the Ravens acquired from the Bills for three draft picks this offseason, said that he didn't even realize the drastic change from screams to silence.

"My focus was on the game, I don't pay attention to that stuff," he said. "I just listen to my teammates. I really didn't feed into the crowd."

The crowd was certainly eager to get into McGahee's helmet, robustly booing the former Bills first-round draft pick every time he took the field. While he maintained that such a reception is common wherever he goes, the jeers were directly pointed at the running back on Sunday.

There was also a little trash talk between his teammates, which McGahee managed to quell with his big run, as well.

"They pretty much stopped talking after I got that touchdown," he explained. "I really wasn't talking trash, I don't have anything against them."

McGahee gave the Bills 3,346 yards in 46 games after being selected 23rd overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. But, many residents soured on the University of Miami alumnus when he made comments criticizing Buffalo's nightlife - or perceived lack thereof - and suggested the team move to Toronto.

The Bills are apparently warming up to McGahee's idea, however, as the team is seeking to play a regular season home game in Toronto.

"They can have hard feelings," McGahee stated. "People are going to do what they are going to. When you leave this place the fans get upset, they never want to see players leave."

McGahee had 11 attempts for 40 yards in the first half, gaining the majority of his yards in the second half despite missing six minutes in the fourth quarter while taking an IV of fluids in the locker room.

"I'm not sure what it was but I felt really weak," he said after the game. "I was able to get back out there though."

McGahee now has 146 carries for 639 yards on the ground (4.4-yard average) this season, making him the second-leading rusher in the NFL.

At the end of the day, it wasn't about personal accolades or showing up a fanbase out for revenge. McGahee was more concerned about leaving with a 19-14 loss and correcting the offense's mistakes heading into the bye week.

"We'll leave it here," he said. "We'll just get back to Baltimore and work on what we need to."