PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS

NO. 19

BUFFALO BILLS

The Bills were better than expected last year, amid very low expectations.  And, as a result, expectations are now higher.

Workhorse tailback Willis McGahee is gone and forgotten after an offseason trade to Baltimore; the arrival of rookie Marshawn Lynch already has fans whispering comparisons to Thurman Thomas.

Though cornerback Nate Clement was allowed to leave via free agency, where he somehow found an eight-year, $80 million contract (which actually is a seven-year, $64 million contract), the Bills spent big money on guard Derrick Dockery and tackle Langston Walker.

Other well-known names that are gone include Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher.

So the question is whether the new guys will do better than the old guys -- and whether it'll be enough to propel the Bills to the postseason.

For now, we don't think so.  They will be solid, but the rest of the conference is too good.  They're on the right track, and could make good progress this season.  For now, though, they deserve to be in the bottom of the second ten.

Key departures:  RB Willis McGahee, LB Takeo Spikes, CB Nate Clements, LB London Fletcher, OT Mike Gandy.

Key arrivals:  G Derrick Dockery, RT Langston Walker.

Draft pick most likely to make an impact:  RB Marshawn Lynch.

Coach's current job security:  Three years.