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Revamped Bills brace for Seahawks

Sep 7, 2008 - 12:52 PM Seattle at Buffalo, 1:00 pm EDT

ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills will not have to wait long to see if their offseason roster moves translate into success on field.

The Bills host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in the regular-season opener, hoping one more year's experience on offense and a revamped defense will inch them closer to postseason contention.

With quarterback Trent Edwards and running back Marshawn Lynch entering their second seasons, the Bills should be more potent offensively.

Last season, the inability to score contributed greatly to a pair of three-game losing streaks that started and ended the season and doomed Buffalo's playoff chances.

Edwards went 5-4 as a starter after replacing J.P. Losman, but struggled in the final three defeats, although two of them were played in miserable weather conditions.

Lynch was one of the bright spots on the season, rushing for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had three 100-yard games - all in the second half of the season. However, one of Lynch's top blockers, All-Pro tackle Jason Peters, has missed the entire training camp due to a contract holdout.

While the Bills added another threat to the offense in 6-5 rookie wideout James Hardy, who has struggled with injuries in the preseason, their biggest moves came on the other side of the ball.

Massive defensive tackle Marcus Stroud was acquired in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars and linebacker Kawika Mitchell came over as a free agent from the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Linebacker Paul Posluszny, whose rookie season was limited to three games due to an injury, returns, and this year's No. 1 pick, cornerback Leodis McKelvin, adds depth to the secondary and is a brilliant kick returner.

The Seahawks, winners of four consecutive NFC West titles, are just trying to get to the starting line healthy.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has missed a month with tightness in his back and his receiving corps, including Bobby Engram and Deion Branch, has been decimated by injury.

With the release of former MVP Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks signed running backs Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett to share time with Maurice Morris.

In coach Mike Holmgren's final season, Seattle's early fortunes likely will rest on its defense, which tied for the second-fewest points allowed in the NFC in 2007 with 291.