BUFFALO BILLS

2013 Odds:
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Odds to Win AFC East: 13/1
Odds to Win AFC Championship: 50/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLVIII: 100/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 6.5

2013 Preview:
Offense:
Don’t expect major changes to the running game under new head coach Doug Marrone’s regime. O-Line coach Pat Morris has leaned toward zone blocking over his career. The Bills should continue to rely on a lot of inside zone plays, which were highly effective last year. They’ll continue to utilize both of their talented backs, with C.J. Spiller getting the bulk of the work over Fred Jackson. Spiller has become more of a north-south runner, making him much more effective. They’ll also bring back a fullback sometimes.

Marrone and new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett were together at Syracuse, where they ran a tempo passing game that used a lot of no-huddle and pistol formations. If EJ Manuel isn’t ready Week 1, Kevin Kolb will start and should get to make a lot of decisions pre-snap. Stevie Johnson is the clear-cut No. 1 receiver, and the kind of cerebral, instinctive player who should thrive in this offense. Running backs are also expected to be featured much more heavily than in recent seasons. Spiller showed an ability to pick up tough yards last year and will typically get the first crack near the goal line.

Defense:
The Bills surrendered 35+ points six times last year, but new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the Jets DC in 2012, will try to capitalize on more forced turnovers than Dave Wannstedt’s defense did last year (21 takeaways, T-9th-fewest in NFL). Pettine was criticized for running too conservative of a defense in New York, but has rolled out a hybrid 3-4 scheme in Buffalo. He has plenty of pass rushers in DEs Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, and the team also has two new starting OLBs in Manny Lawson and Jerry Hughes. The quality secondary could miss hard-hitting S George Wilson, but Buffalo gets to face six opponents with bottom-6 scoring offenses from last season.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB Kevin Kolb (Cardinals)
OT Tony Hills (Colts)
LB Manny Lawson (Bengals)
G Doug Legursky (Steelers)
G Antoine Caldwell (Texans)
DT Alan Branch (Seahawks)
LB Jerry Hughes (Colts)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Titans)
QB Tarvaris Jackson (Seahawks)
WR David Nelson (Browns)
WR Donald Jones (Patriots)
G Andy Levitre (Titans)
G Chad Rinehart (Chargers)
DE Mark Anderson (released)
DE Kyle Moore (Bears)
DE Chris Kelsay (retired)
LB Nick Barnett (Redskins)
LB Kelvin Sheppard (Colts)
LB Shawne Merriman (retired)
S George Wilson (Titans)

2013 Schedule (All times ET):
2013 Schedule Strength: 19.88 (24th toughest in NFL)
9/8 NEW ENGLAND, 1:00
9/15 CAROLINA, 1:00
9/22 at NY Jets, 4:25
9/29 BALTIMORE, 1:00
10/3 at Cleveland, 8:25
10/13 CINCINNATI, 1:00
10/20 at Miami, 1:00
10/27 at New Orleans, 1:00
11/3 KANSAS CITY, 1:00
11/10 at Pittsburgh, 1:00
11/17 NY JETS, 1:00
Bye Week 12
12/1 vs. ATLANTA (at Toronto) 1:00
12/8 at Tampa Bay, 1:00
12/15 at Jacksonville, 1:00
12/22 MIAMI, 1:00
12/29 at New England, 1:00

StatFox Take: The Bills have not won eight games in a year since 2004, dropping at least 10 contests in each of their past four seasons. Don't expect a suspect defense and the quarterback duo of Kevin Kolb and rookie EJ Manuel to make this a winning team again. Although only eight clubs have a schedule easier than the Bills, they don't have any gimme wins at home in 2013. Hosting the Jets in Week 11 could be the only time Buffalo is not a home underdog this season.
Prediction: UNDER 6.5 wins (-125)

All NFL Previews

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Monday, August 5
Cincinnati Bengals - Tuesday, August 6
Cleveland Browns - Wednesday, August 7
Pittsburgh Steelers - Thursday, August 8

AFC South
Houston Texans - Friday, August 9
Indianapolis Colts - Saturday, August 10
Jacksonville Jaguars - Sunday, August 11
Tennessee Titans - Monday, August 12

AFC West
Denver Broncos - Tuesday, August 13
Kansas City Chiefs - Wednesday, August 14
Oakland Raiders - Thursday, August 15
San Diego Chargers - Friday, August 16

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys - Saturday, August 17
New York Giants - Sunday, August 18
Philadelphia Eagles - Monday, August 19
Washington Redskins - Tuesday, August 20

NFC North
Chicago Bears - Wednesday, August 21
Detroit Lions - Thursday, August 22
Green Bay Packers - Friday, August 23
Minnesota Vikings - Saturday, August 24

NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Sunday, August 25
Carolina Panthers - Monday, August 26
New Orleans Saints - Tuesday, August 27
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Wednesday, August 28

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - Thursday, August 29
San Francisco 49ers - Friday, August 30
Seattle Seahawks - Saturday, August 31
St. Louis Rams - Sunday, September 1