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Buffalo Bills QB Johnson has offense squarely in his hands
Buffalo opens its training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, N.Y., on July 25. By Rich Loup, CNNSI.com The Bills' offseason included a front-office makeover (John Butler out, Tom Donohoe in) and a head-coaching change (goodbye Wade Phillips, hello Gregg Williams). And that pesky QB controversy has been settled -- for better or worse. The Bills can make the playoffs if ... Rob Johnson stays healthy and produces, for starters. There's no Doug Flutie cushion, which could be a blessing (there's no cloud over Johnson's head) or a curse (injury or ineffectiveness). Buffalo also needs to find a primary running back after disappointing Antowain Smith left for New England. Third-round draft choice Travis Henry from Tennessee may get a chance to fill that void, but he'll have to outshine another Vols product, Shawn Bryson (591 yards, 3.7 per carry in 16 games last season). Pivotal games: Back-to-back road games at Miami (Sept. 16) and Indianapolis (Sept. 23) will give the Bills an early indication of where they stand in the AFC East. A potential grudge match with Flutie looms in San Diego on Oct. 28. On the hot seat: The defensive line is under the spotlight after losing Ted Washington (Chicago) and Marcellus Wiley (San Diego). Linebacker Sam Rogers also defected to San Diego, so Williams will have to make adjustments to a defense that ranked third in the league last season. Up-and-coming: In his second season, Peerless Price nearly doubled his receiving yardage last year (762 on 52 receptions). He should complement Eric Moulds, who signed a six-year contract between $40-45 million in the offseason. Sports Illustrated's season preview will post Aug. 29.
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