FanHouse Rian Lindell

Considering that Cleveland and Buffalo entered Sunday a combined 1-7 on the year, no one could have been expecting the two teams to wage an all-time classic. But what resulted instead was so far at the opposite end of the spectrum that it may go down as one of the worst NFL games in recent memory.

How bad was it? Well, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson completed 2-of-17 passes for 23 yards, threw an interception -- and won.

Cleveland took advantage of a fumbled punt by Buffalo's Roscoe Parrish with three minutes left to boot a game-winning field goal and claim a 6-3 win.

---

---

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Offense -- It's almost impossible to decide how this team will perform in 2009. I have high hopes for Trent Edwards, being that he's a Stanford man and all, and frankly, I can't shake the feeling that Terrell Owens is going to return Lee Evans to superstar mode this coming season. After all, teams have to cover Owens, even if he's getting older and could be hurt half the time; with a second-string CB manning up on Evans as he streaks down the sidelines, well, I like his chances. In terms of running the ball, you also have to think that Marshawn Lynch's three-week absence because of suspension is going to hurt the Bills ... until you realize that Fred Jackson will be highly motivated and might just come out gangbusters to start the season. Which means that Dick Jauron will probably just give the carries to Dominic Rhodes. Heat Index: 5

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
City/team so desperate for attention they signed Terrell Owens to a one-year deal! Seriously, it could pan out well -- but we all know that Roger Goodell is in the middle of not-so-quietly handing this franchise to Canada (hello publishing date irony!).

Of course, a big season from the Bills could do some good in staving off that run for the border, but that will require a number of very good things to happen: Marshawn Lynch needs to return from suspension with a vengeance, Fred Jackson needs to be happy, Owens needs to be really happy, Trent Edwards needs to be good and, well, yeah, there are lots of ifs. But there's also a lot of value on this team for fantasy owners that might slip under the radar.

---

---

FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled weekly by the staff in order to provide answers to possible lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

It's no secret that opposing teams score points on the Lions. The Titans are coming into Ford Field with a massive chip on their shoulder, following a loss at home. They won't find many problems, and that includes their kicker, Rob Bironas. He'll feel quite comfortable inside.

Nick Folk is coming off a 19-fantasy-point day, and the Cowboys get another hapless defense. Hopefully the Cowboys' offense doesn't score only touchdowns.

I also love both night-game kickers, as the Cardinals and Eagles should be able to move the ball. There's a good chance of many kicking points in that game.

All told, four of this week's top six kickers are participating on Thanksgiving.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Rob Bironas, at DET
2. Nick Folk, vs. SEA
3. Rian Lindell, vs. SF
4. Jason Elam, at SD
5. Neil Rackers, at PHI

The Bills, apparently, were in a "must-win" situation tonight (it's a somewhat fair assessment with a 6-4 knot at the top of the AFC East, but please, people, for the love of God can we stop using this phrase so much? It's not applicable until elimination actually applies.), but you wouldn't have known it from the first quarter that Trent Edwards put up.

Three interceptions is really the only thing I need to mention, right? It was that kind of night for two rookie quarterbacks in what started out as an incredibly ugly game -- and was that way through the first half -- but ended up being a pretty g-d exciting contest.

Both Cleveland and Buffalo, who suddenly account for two of the biggest 2008 flop-jobs (Cleveland has disappointed all season and the Bills are in a total free fall right now), looked like they had no interest in winning anything for the first 30 minutes, but ended up sparring off in a back-and-forth of last minute football that involved a few Brady Quinn strikes, more BEAST MODE than it was really fair to handle, and a pair of long, wind-affected field goals, only one of which spiked the uprights.

And it was a 56-yarder by Phil Dawson that ultimately sealed the game, even though Rian Lindell had a shot from 47 to put the Bills back ahead with just under a minute to play. In fact, I might argue that Dawson and Marshawn were the only people -- James Harrison too, actually -- that played a worthwhile game.

FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled weekly by the staff in order to provide answers to possible lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

Though this is the most fickle and unpredictable aspect of fantasy sports, you have to just do your best with kickers. Doing your best is trying to find a team that can move the ball a bit, but also can get stopped in field goal range a few times. Sometimes it works. Sometimes you end up with one extra point and that's it. Thus is the life of trying to predict where the next bolt of lightning will strike.

For this week, I like the Bears and Titans defenses to hold down the offenses a bit. Each offense, however, has enough weaponry to get the ball into field goal range a few times.

Also, Rian Lindell of Buffalo has been very consistent this season, a rarity at this position. Bills against Pats seems to qualify for the above conditions.

1. Rob Bironas, at CHI
2. Robbie Gould, vs. TEN
3. Rian Lindell, at NE
4. Jason Elam, vs. NO
5. Mason Crosby, at MIN

FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled weekly by the staff in order to provide answers to possible lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

The top two kickers on pretty much every rankings sheet heading into the season were Nick Folk and Shayne Graham. Folk currently sits 16th in fantasy points and Graham is all the way down at 25th. This is why, from time to time, I say this position should be eliminated from fantasy. You can't educate yourself into a fantasy kicking expert, because it's a total crapshoot.

For this week, I think the Bears will find themselves in Detroit's red zone quite frequently, so I'm throwing Gould atop the rankings. The same goes for Lindell, Prater, and Scobee. Those teams have the capability to get into field goal range and then not convert into TDs.

I do expect Nick Folk to be busy, but extra points are only worth one. As for Graham, well, do we really think the Bengals will score? I don't.

1. Robbie Gould, @ DET
2. Rian Lindell, @ ARI
3. Matt Prater, vs. TB
4. Josh Scobee, vs. PIT
5. Neil Rackers, vs. BUF

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: The J.P Losman era has come to its logical conclusion. Which is to say, he probably won't be around after this season. Trent Edwards, the team's 2007 third-round pick is now the starter, and if the Bills are to have any chance to improve on last year's 7-9 record, it will lie largely with him. Heat Index: 5

Running backs: Marshawn Lynch had a relatively quiet offseason until he accidentally ran over a pedestrian and bonked out before the cops showed up. The case has been settled, and he won't miss any time, which is great news for a Bills offense that can't afford to lose one of its best players. I suspect the hit-and-run victim might feel differently, however. Fred Jackson is more than capable behind Lynch. Heat Index: 8