FanHouse NFL Season Preview: Buffalo Bills - Can Trent Edwards Get Them to the Playoffs?

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: The J.P Losman era has come to its logical conclusion. Which is to say, he probably won't be around after this season. Trent Edwards, the team's 2007 third-round pick is now the starter, and if the Bills are to have any chance to improve on last year's 7-9 record, it will lie largely with him. Heat Index: 5

Running backs: Marshawn Lynch had a relatively quiet offseason until he accidentally ran over a pedestrian and bonked out before the cops showed up. The case has been settled, and he won't miss any time, which is great news for a Bills offense that can't afford to lose one of its best players. I suspect the hit-and-run victim might feel differently, however. Fred Jackson is more than capable behind Lynch. Heat Index: 8

Receivers: Lee Evans is still looking for a new deal, but in the meantime he'll be Edwards' go-to guy. Evans has put up impressive numbers during his four-year career, particularly when you consider some of the guys who have been throwing him the ball. Roscoe Parrish will finally have his breakthrough, injury-free season and rookie James Hardy finally gives a Bills QB a huge downfield target. Heat Index: 7

Offensive line: This conversation begins and ends with Jason Peters, who's currently holding out for more coin. The Bills, in response, have moved Langston Walker from right to left tackle, which should give J.P. Losman hope of seeing some playing time this season. Actually, the o-line was respectable last season, but without Peters they're just average. Heat Index: 6

Defensive line: Marcus Stroud provides a run-clogging presence in the middle and he should free up Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay to put more pressure on the quarterback.. Heat Index: 7

Linebackers: Good news: Paul Posluszny is fully recovered from a broken forearm that shortened his rookie season. Bad news: he can't play all three linebacker posisitons at once. John DiGiorgio and Angelo Crowell are both good players, but aren't difference makers, which is what the Bills need. Heat Index: 5

Secondary: A lot of folks panned the Bills for drafting safety Donte Whitner with a top-10 pick in the '06 draft. As it turns out, it was a great selection. The organization is hoping it has similar success with this year's first-round pick, cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Heat Index: 6

Special teams: Special teams coach Bobby April has made this unit arguably the best on the team. Rian Lindell and Brian Moorman rank among the league's best at kicker and punter, and the coverage and return units are second only to the Bears. Heat Index: 9

Coaching: Dick Jauron has had a renaissance of sorts in Buffalo. Whether it's enough to get this team back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 is another issue, but the coaches, scouts and front office-types have gone about assembling a very good roster while facing some daunting financial restraints. Heat Index: 6

Intangibles: This club has gobs of potential, plus, no Bledsoe + no Losman can only help. Heat Index: 4

Total Heat Index: 63
If the Bills were in, say, the NFC West, they'd be much more likely to make a playoff appearance. Unfortunately, Buffalo is located in the Northeast and the AFC East, while not a particularly tough division, does have the New England Patriots. If the Bills are going to have a shot at the postseason, they'll need to have a winning record at home and play no worse than .500 on the road.