Can the magic last?

Flutie tries to keep the good times rolling in Buffalo

Is Flutie a fluke? If Doug Flutie can have another breakout year like last season, the Bills could go far in the playoffs. Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport

The Buffalo Bills, surprise playoff contenders in '98, open their 1999 training camp at Fredonia State University in Fredonia, N.Y., on July 30. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Bills this season.

Dr. Z wants to know:

1) Can we, dare we, all us romantics out there, expect another superb year from Doug Flutie?

2) Can Eric Moulds, who averaged an astonishing 49 yards on each of his nine TD catches, pick up some of the possession receptions as well and ease into the role that Andre Reed handled so admirably for so many years?

3) Does the club's flirtation with Lawrence Phillips mean that it's unhappy with featured runner Antowain Smith?

4) Does the inactivity in the free agent market (none acquired, one lost) mean the Bills feel that as long as they get their own people signed they've got enough talent to go deep into the playoffs?

5) Will Antoine Winfield, the tough little Ohio State cornerback, be one of the sleepers of the draft?

The Bills can make the playoffs if: Flutie, at 36, stages an encore, continuing to evade would-be sackers and make plays now that opponents have a season's worth of tape to study; Bruce Smith, at 36, plays like he did the second half of '98, when he looked again like the best defensive end in the league, and not like he did in the first half, which was marred by injury and a contract dispute; and Reed reneges on his threat to hold out or retire and settles into a productive role as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Moulds. The team must find a way to keep two $5 million-a-year quarterbacks happy now that Flutie's contract has been brought in line with Rob Johnson's. The money invested in the QBs kept Buffalo from doing much in the free-agent market this offseason, but the Bills had a strong draft and boast a nucleus of youngsters and old-timers such as Smith, Reed and Thurman Thomas.

Bills Facts 1998 record: 10-6 (second in AFC East) Coach: Wade Phillips (26-22 overall, 10-6 in one season with Bills) Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium (75,339, artificial turf) 1998 rankings: Offense -- third run, 12th pass, sixth overall. Defense -- fifth vs. run, 14th vs. pass, sixth overall. Depth chart 1998 results 1998 player statistics 1999 schedule CNN/SI Projection: 8-8

Pivotal games: Sept. 19 vs. New York Jets; Dec. 26 at New England. The Bills' home opener is the Jets in prime time. Though Buffalo's schedule ranks 25th in the league, the Bills a face reasonably tough stretch of road games in October. A late-December visit to New England could have major repercussions in a tight playoff race -- and offers the Bills a chance to exact some revenge for last season's "blown-call" game in Foxboro.

On the hot seat: A. Smith and tight end Jay Riemersma. The Bills need a back who can get them bonus yardage in late-game situations. Smith gained 1,124 yards last year as the team's main tailback option, but he had only three 100-yard games and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. He's got the size (6'2", 224 pounds) and speed to gain more ground more consistently as the featured back. Riemersma takes over for Lonnie Johnson at tight end, which has been a trouble spot for the Bills for years. Riemersma was Flutie's favorite target in the red zone last year (six TDs), but lacks speed and polish as a blocker. If Riemersma doesn't settle into the starter's role quickly he'll be looking over his shoulder at rookies Bobby Collins and Sheldon Jackson

Up-and-comers: The Bills used their first-round draft pick on cornerback Antoine Winfield out of Ohio State, and he could have an immediate impact in the secondary. Buffalo got burned in third-and-long situations last season. Starting left corner Ken Irvin was re-signed in the off-season, but the 5'8", 176-pound Winfield likely will see action as the slot cornerback in the dime defense.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Ethan Albright, G, re-signed Ken Irvin, CB, re-signed Jerry Ostroski, T, re-signed Emanuel Martin, S, re-signed Sean Moran, DT, re-signed Jay Riemersma, TE, re-signed Eric Smedley, S, re-signed Dusty Zeigler, C, re-signed Lonnie Johnson, TE, K.C.

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 23 Antoine Winfield CB Ohio St. 2 53 Peerless Price WR Tennessee 3 86 Shawn Bryson RB Tennessee 4 119 Keith Newman ILB North Carolina 4 122 Bobby Collins TE North Alabama 5 156 Jay Foreman OLB Nebraska 6 194 Armon Hatcher S Oregon St. 7 230 Sheldon Jackson TE Nebraska 7 248 Bryce Fisher DE Air Force