Buffalo Bills 2009 Season Preview: When Reality TeeVee Takes Over

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Offense -- It's almost impossible to decide how this team will perform in 2009. I have high hopes for Trent Edwards, being that he's a Stanford man and all, and frankly, I can't shake the feeling that Terrell Owens is going to return Lee Evans to superstar mode this coming season. After all, teams have to cover Owens, even if he's getting older and could be hurt half the time; with a second-string CB manning up on Evans as he streaks down the sidelines, well, I like his chances. In terms of running the ball, you also have to think that Marshawn Lynch's three-week absence because of suspension is going to hurt the Bills ... until you realize that Fred Jackson will be highly motivated and might just come out gangbusters to start the season. Which means that Dick Jauron will probably just give the carries to Dominic Rhodes. Heat Index: 5

Defense -- Getting Aaron Maybin in was huge, and hopefully not too late -- with the first-year pass-rusher on the field to help out a front seven that already features Kyle Wiliams, Paul Posluszny and Marcus Stroud, the Bills defense will be better than people want to give it credit for. (Of course, since he probably won't play right away, I'll just conveniently guess that Aaron Schobel will get hurt in the first quarter of the first game of the season, thanks for asking.) and an overall improved defensive front to allow Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin to really shine. Heat Index: 6

Special Teams -- This unit is pretty solid overall; Brian Moorman, when he's not being KTFO in the middle of Pro Bowl games, is a great punter and Rian Lindell is underrated, likely because he spells his first name in the most unimaginably stupidest way possible. Heat Index: 8

Coaching -- Jauron wrapped up his third straight 7-9 season (woo, mediocrity!) last year, and despite his complete inability to capitalize on what was a highly-winnable AFC East -- especially after the Bills started 5-1 -- he was asked to return by Ralph Wilson. How-EVA, if the team fails to bust over .500 this year (and it seems like a pretty good chance that they will not), Jauron will probably be gone. Which, really, is probably the best thing for everyone involved. And we'll just leave it at that. Heat Index: 2


Intangibles -- Now, here's where the Bills shouldn't be making up any ground. They play home games in another freaking country, they could be prepared to LEAVE for another freaking country so the NFL can be international and the roster features Lynch and Owens, who aren't exactly model citizens, TO's Alzheimer contributions and super-awesome and popular reality television show aside. Oh yes, and they play in the same division as the New England Patriots, the up-and-coming Miami Dolphins and the Jets, who no longer feature Brett Favre. Barring a tremendously large surprise from the Bills this year, you can expect to see more of the same "consistency" they've flashed the last two years. But, hey, at least with Owens in town it'll be mildly annoying entertaining. Heat Index: 1

Total Heat Index: 22/50
Yes, it's a low score and yes, it might be a touch insulting. But hey, they're the first team we're previewing and rather than act like* Captain Optimistic, I'm going to do what I've done my entire life: set the bar low. Of course, then again, when you're coming off of three straight 7-9 seasons, what's the use in expecting a big year?

*It's worth noting I was also quite high on the 2008 version of the Bills.