The Buffalo Bills defense got light years better when they added Mario Williams, but is it a playoff defense?
The Buffalo Bills defense got light years better when they added Mario Williams, but is it a playoff defense? gomadden.com

The Buffalo Bills take on the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field at 8pm EST.

You can watch the preseason action here.

Buffalo surprised most of the league by making linebacker Mario Williams the richest defensive player in NFL history. Now it's on the broad 6-foot-6 shoulders of Williams to honor that contract and help restore a once respectable franchise to glory. He missed 11 games last season with a torn chest muscle, so keep an eye out for any lingering issues.

For his career Williams has 53 sacks, all with his former team the Houston Texans. Williams will lead a defense ranked 28 th in the league against the rush last season. The Bills gave up 19 rushing touchdowns in 2011, but showed some promise forcing 17 fumbles and recovering 11 of them.

The Bills also refurbished their offensive line by letting right tackle Eric Winston and right guard Mike Brisiel go, then drafted Brandon Brooks in the third round and promoted 2011 seventh rounder Derek Newton. Watch out for those two, as they join mainstays Antoine Caldwell and Rashad Butler, who helped the Bills garner 120.1 yards per game on the ground.

Shifting to Minnesota, 2011 first round draft choice Christian Ponder will have to anchor the offense until Adrian Peterson returns from a gruesome knee injury from Week 16 last season. Ponder has a heavy burden to bear as Peterson joined his first practice in pads Tuesday, and will not see any action against the Bills.

The Vikes defense left much to be desired after San Francisco burned them for 208 rushing yards, topped by 49ers back-up quarterback Colin Kaepernick's 78-yard touchdown sprint. The defense also allowed the defending NFC West champs to convert seven of their 15 third downs.

Rookie Harrison Smith earned the starting safety job after just two weeks of camp, and can push a Vikings defense to a respectable level if they can contain the pass.

Minnesota 14 Buffalo 7

National Football League