NFL Odds Preview: 2010 Buffalo Bills

Trent Edwards is part of the Buffalo Bills training camp QB battle.

Over the last decade Buffalo has been the model of mediocrity with only one winning season. The Bills have not been awful as they have actually averaged close to seven wins a season during that span. They just have not been good.

Last season the team finished with a 6-10 record, leaving them in last place in the highly competitive AFC East.

A reversal of fortunes in 2010 does not seem likely in light of the fact that the three other teams in their division have improved, while the Bills have pretty much maintained the status quo. This is reflected in their current NFL odds of 20/1 to win the AFC East, while New England is 5/4, New York is 7/5, and Miami is 3/1.

The Bills are 50/1 longshots to win the AFC and have 100/1 odds to win the Super Bowl. The current 'over/under' on a projected win total is not even encouraging at 5.5.

Much of Buffalo’s problems can be found on the offensive side of the ball. Last season the team finished 30th overall and 28th in scoring per game at 16.1 points. The passing game ranked 30th, averaging just 157.2 yards per game, and the rushing offense averaged 116.7 yards per game, ranking the Bills 16th.

According to new head coach Chan Gaily, the team’s starting quarterback position is still up for grabs with Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm all vying for the job. Edwards and Fitzpatrick split most of the playing time last season, but which of these three players will be the starter Opening Week against Miami is still anyone’s guess.

Terrell Owens and Josh Reed are gone, so that leaves Lee Evans as the only receiver on the team with any real experience.

One thing the Bills should be able to do is run the ball. Fred Jackson, who led the team last year with 1,062 rushing yards, and Marshawn Lynch are back and joined by first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller in what promises to be a crowded but talented backfield.

The Bills defense wasn't that bad in '09, especially against the pass where it ranked second in the league. The problem was the unit could not stop the run, giving up an average of 156.3 yards per game on the ground. The team also used the draft to address this area of need by selecting DT Torell Troup in the second round and DE Alex Carrington in the third to add some depth to a very thin defensive line.

Buffalo's kicking game does have a wealth of experience. Placekicker Rian Lindell enters his 11th season in the NFL and punter Brian Moorman is entering his 10th. Last season Lindell connected on 28 of his 33 field goal attempts and was a perfect 24 for 24 on PAT’s.

Buffalo is counting of a number of things to go right to avoid another losing season. Unfortunately, the overall talent level on this team does not give the Bills a fighting chance to turn things around overnight. With the quarterback position unsettled and no passing game to speak of, they will have to rely on a strong defense and running game to try and win. All this in my book adds up to a four- or five-win season and another last place finish in the AFC East.