1. The front seven is stout. The Bills can flat-out get to the quarterback, finishing second in the NFL last year with 57 sacks — even more impressive when you consider that they didn’t play with the lead often in the second half. They had three players in double digits — Mario Williams (13), Kyle Williams (10½), and Jerry Hughes (10) — while Marcell Dareus added 7½. The run defense wasn’t great, but with Jim Schwartz now the coordinator, and Brandon Spikes running the defense at middle linebacker, the Bills should be tough to score against.

2. The secondary can cover. The Bills finished second in the NFL with 23 interceptions last year, and even with Jairus Byrd and Kiko Alonso (a combined eight picks) unavailable, they have plenty of talent in the secondary. They have former first-round picks at both cornerback spots in Stephon Gilmore and Leodis McKelvin. Free safety Aaron Williams had four interceptions and 11 passes defended last year. And Da’Norris Searcy, taking over for Byrd at free safety, had 3½ sacks and two touchdowns last year.