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Back in my days covering the National Hockey League, "man games lost" were insightful stats we used frequently. The figures helped illustrate how injuries were impacting a team's season.

Man games lost aren't avidly tracked in the NFL. Rosters are more volatile than in the NHL, where fully guaranteed contracts generally cement a roster coming out of training camp.

NFL teams cut and sign players more frequently. Injured players can dress because there's one game a week, and they can be used situationally. In the NHL, you have to play offense and defense. There are no third-down specialists you can safely insert for a shift or two.

Football Outsiders managing editor Bill Barnwell has compiled a worthwhile chart for the NFL.

Better than man games lost, it's starter games lost.

The Indianapolis Colts led the NFL with 89. The Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs were tied for fewest at 11.

In the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins had the most with 62, ranking seventh in the league. They were banged-up all along the offensive and defensive lines. Receiver Brian Hartline, cornerback Will Allen and rookie defensive end Jared Odrick went to injured reserve among a few others.

The New England Patriots were tied for 10th with 54 starter games lost. Tom Brady played through a foot fracture, but they most notably lost cornerback Leigh Bodden and offensive linemen Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur.

The Buffalo Bills were tied for 21st with 42 starter games lost. That's a great development after what happened to them in 2009, when they finished with 21 players on injured reserve, including left tackle Demetrius Bell, right tackle Brad Butler, inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell, starting cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Terrence McGee and Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd.

The New York Jets lost starters 38 times, ranking 23rd in the league. Their biggest losses were nose tackle Kris Jenkins, safety Jim Leonhard and right tackle Damien Woody.

What do these numbers say, especially when four of the top five most injury-riddled teams (Colts, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles) made the playoffs?

It means that depth (or playing in the NFC West) is imperative to surviving.

Barnwell offered to break down the chart by upper-body and lower-body injuries, but I haven't gotten that file yet.

Football Outsiders managing editor Bill Barnwell and I pick over or under for three players from each AFC East team, using 2010 statistical projections from ESPN.com's fantasy analysts.

We start with the Buffalo Bills.

Rookie running back C.J. Spiller, 1,152 yards from scrimmage

Barnwell's take: UNDER. The problem here isn't Spiller's talent, but the context of the situation he's entering. The Bills are rebuilding their offensive line after last year's rash of injuries and the retirement of Brad Butler. Lines take time to meld. There's no established quarterback to take the pressure off of the run game, which suggests there will be eight men in the box against Spiller on most plays. He's also going to be splitting time with Fred Jackson and, potentially, Marshawn Lynch. He's explosive, but so was Darren McFadden when he was coming out of school.

My take: UNDER. For those who were wondering, ESPN.com's fantasy forecast has Spiller rushing for 812 yards and catching 39 passes for 340 yards. I can't envision Spiller running for that kind of yardage behind a patchwork offensive line that's especially weak at tackle, which will curb Spiller's ability to get outside. Spiller won't be able to grind out 800-plus yards up the middle. That said, I also disagree with the receiving projections. They're too low.

Wide receiver Lee Evans, 54 catches

Barnwell's take: OVER. I think that projection is pretty close to his eventual total, but my concern is the lack of reliable talent across the field from Evans. He was thrown 137 passes in 2006; since then, his target total has gone consistently down, with 113 in 2007, 102 in 2008, and 95 a year ago. It's hard to figure that James Hardy or Steve Johnson will be thrown as many passes as Terrell Owens was last year, and with those passes needing to go somewhere, I think Evans gets closer to that 130-target level in 2010.

My take: OVER. Call me foolish for continuing to believe this, but Evans is a far superior talent compared to his production, and Buffalo's quarterback play can't get any worse than last year. Evans has played six NFL seasons, and in three of them he caught 48 or fewer passes. He's coming off the worst season of his career in both receptions and yardage, but as Bill points out, Owens is gone. So is Josh Reed. Somebody has to catch the ball, and I have a hard time believing an offensive-minded coach like Chan Gailey won't be able to figure out a way to deliver it to Evans.

Safety Jairus Byrd, five interceptions

Barnwell's take: UNDER. Since 1990, there have been 24 instances of a player picking off nine passes in a year. In the subsequent season, those defensive backs averaged fewer than three interceptions. I think Byrd's performance last year was a combination of good instincts and, honestly, luck. How many of Byrd's interceptions were overthrows that just fell into his lap? Those just don't happen year after year.

My take: OVER. It's hard to guess what the Bills' defense will look like. They're transforming from a Tampa 2 to a 3-4. But Byrd is a ballhawk in a division that should pass more this year. He recorded nine interceptions even though he didn't take over the starting free safety spot until Week 5, played hurt for most of the season and missed the final two games to have sports hernia surgery.

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers will share his World Cup thoughts with the AFC East blog throughout the tournament.

Kirk Chambers saw plenty of carnage last year.

The Bills finished the season with 21 players on injured reserve. Six of them played with Chambers on the offensive line. Right tackle Brad Butler blew out his knee. Rookie right guard Eric Wood suffered a broken leg reminiscent of Joe Theismann's.

So when Chambers watches soccer, a sport he otherwise loves, he understands how American football fans can be turned off by all the players theatrically thrashing on the pitch.

"As a football player, if I were to roll around on the ground and hold my knee when my I get my ankle clicked," Chambers said, "I think I'd lose a little respect in the business, where in soccer it's accepted, if not encouraged."

Chambers has a passion for soccer, but a few days into the World Cup, he sent me a text message to tell me we had to address flopping in our next blog item about the tournament.

"You think 'Oh, get up, you little ...' What's a word we can use on the blog? 'Get up you pansy,'" Chambers said. "I've seen guys writhing in pain with their hand over their face, and next thing you know their fingers are slit so they can look at the ref and see if it's working. It's just a joke at that point, right?"

Not a joke is the importance of Friday morning's game to the USA's chances of advancing to the second stage. The U.S. will play Slovenia.

Chambers predicts a 2-1 U.S. victory and a more legitimate result than the cheap draw it had with England last week. The U.S. tied on goalkeeper Robert Green's flub.

"In any sport, especially in a tournament like the World Cup, you need to have a little bit of luck on your side, too," Chambers said. "All of the teams that advance are going to get a lucky break. You take it when it happens.

"Would I have liked to see Jozy Altidore score on his run? That would have been a way cooler way to tie things up. But, hey, you take a shot outside the box and it rolls off the keepers' gloves, you take it."

You can follow the ESPNsoccernet Bracket Predictor that Chambers filled out. Also in his public league is Bills center Geoff Hangartner. You can see Hangertner's bracket, too.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Three years ago, the Miami Dolphins drafted Ted Ginn ninth overall.

Skeptics viewed Ginn as a luxury, while the Dolphins had visions of unleashing the speedster as a versatile threat in the passing game and special teams.

Last week, the Dolphins dumped Ginn for a fifth-round draft choice.

The Buffalo Bills made an unexpected decision Thursday night reminiscent of the Ginn pick, eschewing significant needs and taking Clemson running back C.J. Spiller ninth overall.

The Bills don't view Spiller as a Ginn-style specialty player. They imagine him as a multifaceted weapon along the lines of Reggie Bush or Percy Harvin, the type of player who can invigorate an offense that has ranked 30th, 25th, 30th, 30th, 28th, 25th and 30th the past seven seasons.

"He's a playmaker, a guy that creates field position and scores points, and he's exciting," Bills general manager Buddy Nix said. "We need some excitement, somebody that can make a big play and create some things on their own."

The immediate question, though, is whether the Bills can maximize Spiller's talents. As the Dolphins learned with Ginn, a highly skilled player -- no matter how electrifying -- needs a supporting cast to get him the ball and give him some room to operate.

Spiller has star power, but will he have a legitimate chance to shine?

The Bills went into the draft needing a quarterback, a left tackle and a nose tackle for the conversion to a 3-4 defense. When they went on the clock, still available were Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga, Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis and Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams.

Most analysts projected Bulaga to be off the board by the time Buffalo picked. Williams was assessed as the best nose tackle prospect in this year's class.

The Bills' front office jolted the prognosticators by taking Spiller. He's the best running back in the draft, but the Bills already had two 1,000-yard backs on their roster. In fact, they have two more 1,000-yard running backs than they have clear-cut starting quarterbacks, left tackles or nose tackles.

"Need is important," Nix said, "but it had to be a guy that we thought was the player that can come in here and start immediately.

"Not to say that some of those guys couldn't. Maybe they could, but we also think we got a chance to get that position filled later on in the draft, and to be honest with you, there was only one Spiller."

Skill-position players were at a premium this year. Spiller was one of only three taken in the first 20 picks, the fewest since the NFL and AFL merged their drafts. The only other time that happened was 1977.

Nix was asked whether Spiller's 5-foot-11, 196-pound frame is conducive for running between the tackles. Nix compared him to quicksilver Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson.

"He's the same size as Chris Johnson, and he's just a fuzz faster as far as the recorded time we had," said Nix, who added the Bills clocked Spiller at 4.32 in the 40-yard dash. "Chris Johnson gained 2,000 yards. He had to get some of them inside."

Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson noted the problem with drafting Spiller is that he's most dangerous on the outside, and the Bills' tackles were miserable last year. Left tackle Demetrius Bell was in over his head and is coming off a knee injury. Opening-night right tackle Brad Butler retired.

Perhaps everybody should be picturing Spiller's impact not for 2010 but two or three seasons from now. Realistically, the Bills are going to struggle to compete in the AFC East this year. But as the Bills continue to assemble their roster and identify pieces for their offense, Spiller should look increasingly more like a difference-maker in the win-loss column.

In 14 games for Clemson last year, Spiller rushed for 1,212 yards and 12 touchdowns, caught 36 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns, averaged 32.8 yards per kick return (with four touchdowns) and 26.3 yards on punt returns (with one touchdown).

That's a career for a lot of college players.

The Bills' backfield looks loaded. Fred Jackson started just 11 games and rushed for 1,062 yards last year. Third-year back Marshawn Lynch rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons and went to a Pro Bowl.

Spiller will have to compete for touches.

"But those touches can be big touches," Bills vice president of college scouting Tom Modrak said. "Big touches.

"He's got a lot of ways to get you."

Spiller wasn't concerned with the depth chart. He declared he will play any role head coach Chan Gailey has in mind.

"Whatever my role is," Spiller said, "my main focus is just winning the Super Bowl, getting to the Super Bowl, bringing back the glory days that used to be up in Buffalo. I'm not worried about how I'll be used in the offense or how many touches I'll have. My main focus is 'What can I do to help this team reach the Super Bowl?'

"I'm very excited that they made the decision. It's one they're never going to regret."

Brad Butler has politely declined interview requests.

Until Butler decides to speak about his decision to retire, we'll be left to wonder how he came to the surprising conclusion he was done with the NFL at 26.

The NFL almost always decides its done with you first.

Butler, a Buffalo Bills' starting offensive lineman the past three opening days, walked away two weeks ago. He eschewed all the spoils that go along with being a professional football player.

All we've heard from Butler was a statement the Bills distributed, but last week at the NFL scouting combine I had the chance to sit down in Lucas Oil Stadium with another offensive lineman who suffered a knee injury when he was 26 and could've returned, but came to terms with the fact he just didn't want to play anymore.

"You've got to follow your heart," two-time Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley said.

Bentley posted four great seasons with the New Orleans Saints and signed a handsome deal with his hometown Cleveland Browns for 2006. On the first play of 11-on-11 drills on the first day of training camp, Bentley blew out his knee and never played again.

"All of a sudden, football lost its importance to me," Bentley said. "I wasn't distraught. I was more relieved than anything. I wanted to leave the game being able to stand on my own two feet, and I was able to do that.

"It's a difficult transition for those that don't prepare for it. That's true for most athletes. You never see your mortality. You feel that you're immortal and it's going to last forever. A lot of guys fail to understand that there is life after football. Those wheels will fall off at some point."

Bentley had offers to return and admittedly overpriced himself with the Detroit Lions. But he eventually figured he didn't want to return at any price. Bentley has pursued a broadcast career in Cleveland and covered the combine for his Web site, O-lineWorld.com.

"There's no groupies in blogging," Bentley said with a laugh. "There's no love in that."

Tell me about it.

Butler's career options are more substantial. He majored in government studies at Virginia and spent time on Capitol Hill during the 2008 offseason as an intern for Kemp Partners in Washington D.C. Kemp Partners was founded by former Congressman and legendary Bills quarterback Jack Kemp.

Butler also has participated in the NFL's business management and entrepreneurial programs at the Harvard Business, Stanford Business and Wharton Schools.

"For him to make the kind of decision he made, he's probably pretty far along in his decision-making process," Bentley said. "A lot of the milestones that players have to go through, he's probably already gone through them. I would have a hard time believing he's uncomfortable with that decision. There's something else out there for him. You don't make that type of decision without something profound pulling you in that direction."

Bentley recalled how difficult it was to retire when so many people around him wanted him to stay in the game. The fame, the glory, the money are alluring not only to the player, but also those who benefit from being close to him.

Butler also had to come to grips with the idea of leaving his teammates in a lurch. The Bills already were hurting along the offensive line before he told the team he was through with football.

"I lost some people because my decision wasn't a popular decision," Bentley said. "My ability as an athlete afforded some people around me luxuries that they wouldn't have had without me. Those people are no longer around.

"You get the velvet-rope treatment your entire life. Guys don't want to let that go. There's a psyche to growing up being The Man their entire life. Once you take off that helmet, those shoes, that jersey, you're who you are as a man. That's a bitter reality a lot of players aren't ready for."

There are 30 AFC East players on the NFL's unrestritcted free agent list. And if you're aching for more info on the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, the NFLPA has a news feed up on its Web site.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo News' Allen Wilson says the retirement announcement from 26-year old tackle Brad Butler caught the team by surprise and points out the player left a "lot of money on the table."

Wilson also writes the loss of Butler makes the Bills' already thin tackle depth even thinner.

Miami Dolphins

The Sun-Sentinel has a transcript of an interview that former Dolphins star Zach Thomas did with Miami radio station WQAM. About the Dolphins in 2010, Thomas said, "I'm a fan now. This year, I watched a lot of the games because I'm back home. I cheer for those guys. Even though, [Bill] Parcells, I mean, he's doing a great job. I would like to hate because he was the guy that fired me. But he's got a great resume and I respect him. I'm definitely cheering for them."

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald would love if the Dolphins drafted defensive end/linebacker Brandon Graham from Michigan and says he's "the real deal."

New England Patriots

Former Patriots receiver Deion Branch isn't pulling any punches: He's committed to staying with the Seahawks. But in 2012 when his contract expires? "I'm not gonna lie, Bill, he'd have the advantage on a lot of teams. I started there, I'm associated with them so much, that's the place I was drafted at, and we've done so much together. And the greatest quarterback is still in New England," Branch said to the Boston Globe's Albert Breer.

As for pending free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden? He's negotiating with the Patriots "first and foremost," but there hasn't been a whole lot of progress, reports Breer.

New York Jets

More on quarterback Mark Sanchez's successful surgery from New York Post reporter Mark Cannizzaro.

Offensive tackle Brad Butler told the Bills Thursday that he is retiring from professional football, the team announced.

“We respect Brad’s decision to pursue the next chapter in his life. He has tremendous character and a very bright future in whatever career path he now chooses and we wish him all the best,” GM Buddy Nix said, according to a press release.

In a prepared statement given to the team, Butler said:

“I would like to thank Mr. [Ralph] Wilson, my teammates and the entire Bills Nation for giving me the opportunity to represent the Buffalo Bills for the past four years. Playing in the National Football League has been a tremendous opportunity and a great blessing. However, my passion for education, country and community is something that I am ready to devote my full attention to. I believe the best way to pursue these spheres of interest is to step away from the game of football at this point in my life. I will always remember my time spent in Western New York with great affection. I wish my teammates and Bills fans the best of luck next season and into the future.”

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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.

New England Patriots

Final Power Ranking: 10

Biggest surprise: Tully Banta-Cain largely was considered an afterthought to the Patriots' defense when the season began. Players such as Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Meriweather were the projected stars. But Banta-Cain, back after two years with the 49ers, led the Patriots with 9.5 sacks, four more than his previous career-high. He also had a pair of forced fumbles.

Biggest disappointment: Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas probably won't be back next year. Thomas has two years remaining on a free-agent contract that pays him an average of $7 million, but that didn't stop Bill Belichick from benching him twice. Thomas notched 11 sacks for the Ravens the year before the Patriots signed him. He finished with three this year, tying his worst output since he became a starter in 2001.

Biggest need: Despite unexpected seasons from Banta-Cain and defensive tackle Mike Wright, the Patriots must improve their pass rush. Wright had five sacks. So did Derrick Burgess, acquired with high expectations in a trade with the Raiders in training camp. The Patriots notched a mere 31 sacks, tying them for 23rd in the league. They ranked 12th in pass defense.

Team MVP: Wes Welker won't be around for the playoffs, but he certainly helped the Patriots get there. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 123 receptions for 1,348 yards.

Turning point: On opening night, Bills kick returner Leodis McKelvin fumbled with about minute left in the game to set up Tom Brady's second touchdown pass in the final 2:06 of a stunning victory. Had the Patriots lost that game, the whole trajectory of their season might've changed.

---

New York Jets

Final Power Ranking: 12

Biggest surprise: When star nose tackle Kris Jenkins suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6, everyone figured the Jets' 3-4 defense was doomed. But rookie coach Rex Ryan continued to mold his defense into the NFL's best unit. The Jets ranked No. 1 in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense, and gave up the fewest first downs.

Biggest disappointment: Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez's lack of progression from the start of the season has been frustrating. He began his career remarkably well, playing beyond his years in helping the Jets open 3-0. But his penchant for giveaways and a failure to grasp team concepts forced the Jets to curb their offense rather than open it up as the season wore on. The best solution has been to marginalize Sanchez. In his past five victories, his attempts were in the teens, and his yardage never surpassed 154.

Biggest need: Aside from accelerated experience at quarterback? Despite the trade for downfield threat Braylon Edwards, the Jets really could use help at receiver. Sanchez would benefit from a reliable slot receiver. The Jets' fourth-leading target was running back Leon Washington, who didn't play the final nine games. You'd have to look even lower on the stat sheet to find their third receiver. David Clowney finished with 14 catches for 191 yards.

Team MVP: Lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis was the best player on the NFL's best defense. His six interceptions tied him for fifth in the league, and his 37 passes defensed were best by a comfortable margin.

Turning point: The Jets had a miraculous Week 16. All of the teams they needed to lose fell flat, and the undefeated Colts pulled their starters with almost six minutes left in the third quarter to usher the Jets onto the postseason threshold.

---

Miami Dolphins

Final Power Ranking: 21

Biggest surprise: The Dolphins couldn't have appear more condemned than when they started 0-3 and lost quarterback Chad Pennington to a season-ending shoulder injury. In came sophomore Chad Henne, who had been lackluster in the preseason. The Dolphins preferred to let Henne marinate for another season, but he won seven of his first 10 starts and showed enough to give Dolfans reason to believe they've found a franchise quarterback.

Biggest disappointment: The best compliment head coach Tony Sparano could pay outside linebacker Joey Porter recently was that he had gotten better at stopping the run as the season progressed. Porter led the AFC in sacks last season with 17. He recorded only nine this season, with half coming in two games. A hamstring problem bothered him, and Sparano benched him one game for disciplinary reasons.

Biggest need: The Dolphins need receiving help more than ever. Pennington thrived with their collection of possession receivers because he's a precision passer. But Henne has downfield capabilities that require a reliable deep threat. Ted Ginn certainly has the speed but little else to qualify him as a No. 1 wideout.

Team MVP: Ricky Williams is 32 years old, but he turned back the calendar with his best campaign since 2003, the longest spread between 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. He became the workhorse, rushing for at least 102 yards in four out of the five games after Ronnie Brown suffered a season-ending broken foot in Week 10.

Turning point: The Dolphins were in control when they were 7-6. Then they lost their last three games to finish out of the playoffs.

---

Buffalo Bills

Final Power Ranking: 24

Biggest surprise: When it came to this year's draft class, all of the attention was focused on defensive end Aaron Maybin (11th overall) and offensive linemen Eric Wood (28th) and Andy Levitre (51st). But safety Jairus Byrd (42nd) stole the show for much of the season and was selected for the Pro Bowl. Byrd started only 11 games, but his nine interceptions tied for the NFL lead.

Biggest disappointment: Marshawn Lynch appeared ready to break out as an elite running back. He was entering his third season and was a Pro Bowler with a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns. But he opened the season with a three-game suspension for repeated bad behavior. He lost his job as the featured back by Week 11 and finished with 450 yards. He completed four games with 6 or fewer yards.

Biggest need: The Bills are practically naked at both offensive tackle spots. They traded Pro Bowler Jason Peters before the draft and chose not to replace him -- even though they had a crack at young star Michael Oher. The Bills went through a series of unimpressive names, including Demetrius Bell, Brad Butler, Jamon Meredith, Jonathan Scott and Kirk Chambers.

Team MVP: Fred Jackson took over as lead back by thoroughly outperforming Lynch. Jackson rushed for 1,062 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 46 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson also was Buffalo's top kick returner with 1,014 yards.

Turning point: Had McKelvin not coughed up the ball on that fateful kickoff return on opening night, the Bills would have ended a wicked losing skid against the Patriots and probably would have changed the course of their season.

Make it a full score for the Buffalo Bills.

They have sent 20 players to injured reserve, adding linebacker Nic Harris to the list Friday.

To illustrate how badly the Bills have been ravaged by injuries, I've put together a complete catalog. The rundown includes one player, receiver C.J. Hawthorne, who's on the practice squad IR.

The rest, however, are on the standard list.

Thirteen of them have started at least one game, as designated by an asterisk.

What you'll see here are players from the opening night starting lineup: both tackles, the right guard, a tight end, two linebackers and both cornerbacks. You'll also see am NFL defensive rookie of the year candidate.

You won't see quarterback Trent Edwards, who probably should be on the list. When he suffered a high ankle sprain two weeks ago, interim coach Perry Fewell said Edwards wouldn't play again. But the Bills have chosen to keep Edwards on the active roster rather than add an extra body.

• Tackle Demetrius Bell*
• Linebacker Marcus Buggs*
• Tackle Brad Butler*
• Safety Jairus Byrd*
• Linebacker Keith Ellison*
• Tight end Derek Fine*
• Running back Justise Hairston
• Linebacker Nic Harris
• Receiver C.J. Hawthorne
• Cornerback Terrence McGee*
• Defensive end Jermaine McGhee
• Cornerback Leodis McKelvin*
• Guard Seth McKinney*
• Linebacker Kawika Mitchell*
• Center Marvin Philip
• Defensive back Lydell Sargeant
• Tight end Derek Schouman*
• Guard Kendall Simmons*
• Defensive end Marcus Smith
• Guard Eric Wood*

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills are trying to ride out the rest of the regular season with any bodies that can help them.

On Wednesday, they claimed nasty guard Richie Incognito off waivers from the St. Louis Rams.

Incognito is known as one of the NFL's dirtiest players. He has committed 11 personal fouls since 2006. His time in St. Louis ran its course Sunday, when he was flagged for two personal fouls, including a head butt, and had a sideline confrontation with head coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Maybe Incognito and New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork will sit down for tea and crumpets Sunday.

Incognito might just be passing through Buffalo. His contract expires after the season.

But the Bills are desperate. They have four offensive linemen on injured reserve: right tackle Brad Butler, left tackle Demetrius Bell, right guard Eric Wood and guard Seth McKinney. All of them started at one point.

The Bills signed guard Kendall Simmons three weeks ago, but he was unable to practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots head coach: No need to go over this one in great detail. He gambled. He failed. His controversial decision to go for it on fourth down from his own 28-yard line might have cost the Patriots a shot at home-field advantage in the playoffs.

2. Buffalo Bills offensive tackles: Left tackle Demetrius Bell is the latest to go down. He will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury and could join original right tackle Brad Butler on injured reserve.

Other tackles who have started this year and are hurt or have missed games: Jonathan Scott, Jamon Meredith and Kirk Chambers.

3. New York Jets at home: They won their first two games at the Meadowlands but have dropped their past three -- all of them heartbreakers. Maurice Jones-Drew knelt them out Sunday. They held the Miami Dolphins to 104 yards from scrimmage but lost because of three return touchdowns. The Buffalo Bills stunned them in overtime.

Rising

1. Tom Brady-to-Randy Moss combo: Sunday night looked like 2007 all over again. Brady completed 29 of 42 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns. Moss had nine receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

In the past two games, Brady has connected with Moss 15 times for 226 yards and three scores.

2. Ricky Williams, Dolphins running back: His responsibilities will increase with Ronnie Brown hobbled by an ankle injury. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Monday that Williams is capable of taking the Wildcat direct snaps.

With Brown gone in the fourth quarter Sunday, Williams ran nine times for 53 yards to nail down a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

3. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker: Wake continues to make his presence felt on a defense crowded with experienced outside linebackers.

Joey Porter didn't play Sunday because of an organizational decision, but Wake picked up some of the slack by recording a sack in his second straight game. He has 4.5 sacks, one behind Jason Taylor for the team lead.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the Buffalo Bills started their season, the five starters on their offensive line had a combined 56 NFL starts, the fewest on opening weekend in since the 2002 New York Giants.

The Bills were supposed to build from there.

The total of career starts, of course, should go up by increments of five after each game as the youngsters gained their footing. Or at least that would be the hope.

As Bills enter their Week 6 game against the New York Jets in the Meadowlands, they've managed to get about 16 percent less experienced on their offensive line.

The Bills' projected Sunday lineup will have a total of 47 career NFL starts and feature four players who made their NFL debuts this year.

Center Geoff Hangartner has 32 career NFL starts. Nobody else has more than five.

Rookie guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre have five starts apiece. Second-year left tackle Demetrius Bell also made his first appearance on opening night but missed a game because of a groin injury, giving him four starts.

Rookie Jamon Meredith, plucked off the Green Bay Packers' practice squad, is expected to make his NFL debut and be Buffalo's fourth right tackle this season. Meredith wasn't good enough to make the Packers' roster. The Packers have allowed the most sacks.

Original starter Brad Butler (31 starts) is on injured reserve. His replacement, Jonathan Scott (nine starts), is out with a groin injury. Kirk Chambers (six starts), who got the nod at right tackle in Week 4, didn't make the team out of training camp.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills went into Sunday's game with a ramshackle roster.

They're even more dilapidated now.

In Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, the Bills have lost three more players at the two positions they were thinnest: linebacker and offensive line.

Defensive captain Kawika Mitchell was carted off in the first half with a leg injury that looked serious. This week, Mitchell was switched to middle linebacker to replace Marcus Buggs, who replaced captain Paul Posluszny, who suffered a broken forearm in Week 1.

Buggs was carted off the field with a leg injury in the second half.

Keith Ellison is in the middle now.

The Bills also lost right tackle Jonathan Scott with an apparent leg injury. Scott became a starter when Brad Butler went on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

Kirk Chambers, a veteran journeyman cut as the end of training camp, replaced Scott.

Buffalo also is playing without both of their regular starting safeties, Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

You often hear about football being a chess match.

Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins in Land Shark Stadium reminds me of the time my brother and I dug our old chess set out of the closet. About eight pieces were missing. So we rummaged through the old man's battery bin for some 9-volts and D-cells to fill out the ranks along with a couple of action figures.

I think Chewbacca to queen 4 won it.

The Bills and Dolphins will look similarly patched together.

Each team is enduring significant personnel issues. The Dolphins could be without their most important players on either side of the ball. Quarterback Chad Pennington is done for the year because of a right shoulder injury, and reigning AFC sack leader Joey Porter has been limited in practice by a hamstring problem.

Second-year quarterback Chad Henne will get his first NFL start.

"We believe he can do it, and we know he has the skills and the talent to do it," Dolphins outside linebacker Jason Taylor said. "We also know he’s going to go through some growing pains and make mistakes. Even the best quarterbacks in this league make mistakes.

"We’re there for him. I talked to him briefly and said, 'Go out there and do what you do. It's your team. We’re going to have your back, and we’re going to follow you.'"

The Bills' injury situation could help Henne big time.

Already without top linebacker Paul Posluszny, three-quarters of the Bills' starting defensive backfield could be sidelined. Right cornerback Leodis McKelvin was placed on injured reserve Thursday. Free safety Donte Whitner had thumb surgery and is expected to miss the game. Strong safety Bryan Scott didn't practice Thursday and is considered questionable.

Defensive tackle Kyle Williams missed practice with a groin injury.

Buffalo's offensive line could be without starting left tackle Demetrius Bell. A groin injury kept him off the field for a second straight practice.

The Bills have already lost opening-day right tackle Brad Butler for the year. If Bell can't go, right tackle replacement Jonathan Scott will flip over to the left side. Kirk Chambers, released on roster cutdown day, would be the right tackle.

"It's a challenge, no doubt about that," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "But there's nothing we can do about it except to take the next step, see how the health is on Sunday and accept that fact that everybody in the league has injuries. Somehow you've got to get through them."

	AP Photo/Mike Groll
	Terrell Owens was held without a catch in Buffalo's loss to New Orleans.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills astonished us all when they signed Terrell Owens, forming a dynamic duo with Lee Evans. Fans assumed they'd be Batman and Robin.

They've turned out to be a couple of Alfreds.

Week 3 Coverage " Sando: Singletary stays positive " Mosley: Did Zorn seal his fate? " Seifert: GB's bread and butter " Graham: Owens, Evans MIA " Kuharsky: Fisher gets some blame " Walker: Bengals are contenders " Williamson: Broncos have special coach " Chadiha: Vick's modest return " Wojciechowski: Rocky seas for Sanchez " Clayton: Favre has magic touch " NFL Nation: Reactions | Wrap-ups | Live

There has been no zip, bang, pow from Owens and Evans. They couldn't have been more mild mannered on Sunday, contributing essentially nothing in a 27-7 defeat to the New Orleans Saints in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Owens had zero catches for the first time in 186 games, nearly 12 years of Hall of Fame football.

His was the longest active streak in the league and third all-time behind Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison. Still, Bills offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterback Trent Edwards found a way to squander the threat.

Owens was targeted five times. He bobbled one. Had the ball swatted away. Edwards overthrew him.

"Clearly, he's a big part of the offense," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "He certainly is a threat because they do pay attention to him. We've got to get him the football, obviously.

"We saw him open down the field. We just overthrew him a couple times. Underthrew him once, overthrew him once. When you get your opportunities you've got to take advantage of them."

Theoretically, defenses can't cover two game-breaking receivers on the same play. Double cover one, and the other will come open, right?

Evans was slightly more useful. He had four catches for 31 yards. His longest gain was 11 yards.

Defensive end Ryan Denney had a longer reception than that and more yards than Owens. Buffalo's only touchdown occurred on a fake field goal attempt. Brian Moorman, a punter, connected with Denney on a 25-yard pass play in the second quarter.

"We had plenty of opportunities to get the ball to us," Evans said. "We just didn't get it done. I feel like we had some opportunities and we just didn't take advantage of them."

What was supposed to be one the NFL's most formidable -- maybe the most formidable -- one-two punch has been rendered practically worthless.

Add their stats together and they have 13 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns. One of those games was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Before Sunday night's Colts-Cardinals game, 24 individuals had more receiving yards than Owens and Evans together. Mike Sims-Walker, of all people, has 187 yards for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Bills can't figure out how to get Owens or Evans -- let alone both of them -- involved.

"I wouldn't say wasted," Bills running back Fred Jackson replied when asked if that's what was happening with Owens and Evans. "But I know we're not taking advantage of having them on the field like we're supposed to."

After losing to the Saints, Owens was one of the first players off the field. He didn't mingle or shake hands like many do after a game. He trotted to the locker room, and by the time reporters had enough time to get down there, Owens already was out of his uniform and nattily dressed.

He spoke at the podium, but the only insight you could elicit is between the lines.

Reporter: "Do you think you and Evans are being wasted?"

T.O.: "We're just going with the plays that are called."

Reporter: "You could say no, that you're not being wasted."

T.O.: "I'm just going with the plays that are called."

Reporter: "Do you like the plays that are called?"

T.O.: "Whether I like them or don't, just going with the plays that are called."

Reporter: "What about the decisions that are made [by Edwards] after the plays are called?"

T.O.: "I don't know. You have to ask him."

Reporter: "No, I'm asking you what you think."

T.O.: "Nah. I don't want to answer that."

Reporter: "I'll ask him when I'm done with you."

T.O.: "I don't want to answer that because whatever I say, you guys are going to turn it to however you want to say it."

Reporter: "We'll print exactly."

T.O.: "Well, I just answered you, sir."

Edwards completed 20 of 35 passes for 156 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception, a ricochet when he tried to force a third-quarter pass to Owens in Saints' territory.

Edwards' longest completion was for 18 yards. Saints quarterback Drew Brees had completions of 32 yards and 20 yards on his opening drive.

The comparison might seem unfair, but should it be? Edwards has a future Hall of Famer getting paid $6.5 million, and a speed demon the club rewarded last year with a contract extension that, at the time, placed him among the league's 10 highest-paid players.

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, making his first return to The Ralph since the Bills fired him as head coach, turned the Bills' offense into a mess.

The Bills converted only 2 of 14 third downs, failed to get into the red zone, surrendered eight tackles for losses and four sacks. The Saints were credited with 14 quarterback hits.

"Our offense as a whole just wasn't in a rhythm today," said Jackson, who ran 18 times for 71 yards. "We have to go back to the drawing board."

The offensive line began the season incredibly inexperienced and has gotten younger. Right tackle Brad Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury last week, but rather than sign a veteran to replace Butler, the Bills plucked a developmental player off the Green Bay Packers' practice squad and deactivated him Sunday.

The line committed six penalties. The Saints accepted five of them for 35 yards.

Would a veteran free-agent tackle such as Jon Runyan, Damion McIntosh or Langston Walker have made a difference Sunday? Probably not, but Edwards might have had that much more time to feed Owens or Evans the ball.

As for the streak, Owens shrugged it off. A receiver who once had 20 catches in a single game couldn't make one grab, even in garbage time.

Edwards claimed he had no idea about the streak, not even when the Bills had zero shot of scoring three times inside the final two minutes. The Bills certainly ran plays -- a Jackson run for no gain, Edwards to Josh Reed for no gain, Edwards incomplete -- before punting away so the Saints could kneel out the clock.

Whammo.