10 NFL teams doomed to be worse in 2016

You gotta admit, it’s pretty great how Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan claimed his team had the best offseason not long after organized team activities officially began (or maybe it’s just pretty, you know, Rex Ryan). Players have been dropping like flies ever since: First-round pick Shaq Lawson (out of Clemson) was forced to have shoulder surgery shortly after OTAs, and his chances of return are murky at best. Meanwhile, second-round pick Reggie Ragland will miss his entire rookie year after tearing his ACL in Bills’ camp.

To make matters worst, Buffalo has been without its young-stud receiver, Sammy Watkins, since May (broken foot). He’s almost certain to miss the entire 2016 NFL preseason. The Bills may have a respectable starting quarterback in 2015 Pro Bowler Tyrod Taylor, but can Buffalo offset its devastating preseason injuries to hang in the AFC East?

Ryan may have to get creative on defense — his bread and butter — by instituting some unique blitz packages to pressure other AFC East quarterbacks, but there are no guarantees that will be enough to ignite what is, at its core, so-so Bills team. Buffalo currently holds the longest active NFL Playoffs drought, having last played in the 1999 AFC Playoffs, where they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the Music City Miracle in Nashville.

The Bills went 8-8 a season ago, and with all the obstacles they’ll have to overcome this preseason, even getting back to that point stands to be a tough row to hoe. Should the Bills end up below .500, will management give Ryan one more shot at redemption. Probably not, and the Bills’ postseason drought will continue for at least another year.

Next: 5. Cincinnati Bengals.