Getty Images

On one hand, the 2010 Bills played a lot more competitively than their 4-12 record indicated. They looked improved on offense under Chan Gailey and could have won many more games, often against playoff teams.

On the other hand, they still finished 28th in points scored and points allowed, bottoming out with only ten points combined in blowout losses the final two weeks. The Bills are up next in our team needs series, and they have plenty of them.

DL: Buffalo needs numbers badly here to help their run defense.   Kyle Williams is an underrated star, and his versatility is a big bonus.   The team could use an early pick on a defensive end or tackle and move Williams around to fit where he’s needed.  A few linemen would help.

LB: Buffalo switched to a 3-4 defense last year, creating a number of new “needs” and an inferior defensive group to the one Dick Jauron coached.  Outside linebackers Shawne Merriman and Chris Kelsay are making good money, but any production from Merriman should be considered a bonus.  Second-year player Arthur Moats would fit best on passing downs.  This group is not good enough to pass on Von Miller just because they have players at the position. He’d be a great fit.

Getting help on the inside later in the draft would also make sense with Paul Posluszny likely to be a free agent and no young talent at the position.

QB: Gailey can coach up quarterbacks. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a solid option in Gailey’s offense, but he’s not a guy you build your future around. Gailey knows how to get creative with mobile guys, so Cam Newton makes some sense.  Taking a signal caller in second round seems like the better bet this year.

T: Gailey said the Bills have to find a tackle in free agency or the draft.  Right tackle was a turnstile last year for the team.  If they can get the right tackle position settled, an improving line led by guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre could surprise people.

Overview: The Bills have five picks in the first four rounds and they could use even more.  They should be focusing on defensive playmakers unless they really believe in a quarterback.  Reaching for one that doesn’t fit at No. 3 overall would set this franchise back once again.

Read More: Jamaal Charles (RB – KAN), Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots

The Buffalo Bills 2011 schedule begins with Chan Gailey taking on the coach who stripped him of play-calling duties in 2009: Todd Haley, coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. While Gailey’s vengeful wrath is not the most enticing storyline, sports fan, you could do much worse than catching a few plays of C.J. Spiller vs. Jamaal Charles, could you not?

Buffalo’s first and last AFC East games come against the Patriots — we’ll likely know all we need to know about Buffalo after Week 3. The NFL isn’t expecting much from the Bills this time around, handing them only two afternoon games and no prime timers.

The entire Buffalo Bills schedule is below, courtesy of NFL.com:

Week 1: Sun, Sept. 11 at Kansas City Chiefs, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Sun, Sept. 18 vs. Oakland Raiders, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 3: Sun, Sept. 25 vs. New England Patriots, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 4: Sun, Oct. 2 at Cincinnati Bengals, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 5: Sun, Oct. 9 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 6: Sun, Oct. 16 at New York Giants, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: Sun, Oct. 30 vs. Washington Redskins, FOX 4:05 p.m.

Week 9: Sun, Nov. 6 vs. New York Jets, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sun, Nov. 13 at Dallas Cowboys, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 11: Sun, Nov. 20 at Miami Dolphins, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sun, Nov. 27 at New York Jets, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 13: Sun, Dec. 4 vs. Tennessee Titans, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sun, Dec. 11 at San Diego Chargers, CBS 4:15 p.m.

Week 15: Sun, Dec. 18 vs. Miami Dolphins, CBS 1 p.m.

Week 16: Sat, Dec. 24 vs. Denver Broncos, CBS 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sun, Jan. 1 at New England Patriots, CBS 1 p.m.

Visit SBNation.com for every 2011 NFL schedule. For more coverage of the Buffalo Bills visit Buffalo Rumblings, our Bills blog.

There is still an NFL lockout and the next time a football game is played is still in doubt.

However, the league announced its 2011 game scheduled on Tuesday night. The Buffalo will open the 2011 season in Kansas City on Sunday, Sept. 11. Other highlights include the annual game in Toronto wil be Oct. 30 against the Washington Redskins.

The Bills take on the NFC East this season, meaning trips to Dallas and two to the Meadowlands with a road game against the Giants in addition to the regular division game against the Jets. Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles visit Ralph Wilson Stadium in Week 5 (Oct. 9).

The Bills’ bye week is in Week 7 — right before the trip to Toronto in Week 8.

Here is the entire Bills’ 2011 schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 11 at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18 OAKLAND, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 25 NEW ENGLAND, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 2 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 9 PHILADELPHIA, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 16 at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 23 BYE

Sunday, Oct. 30 WASHINGTON, 4:05 p.m. (at Toronto)

Sunday, Nov. 6 N.Y. JETS, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 13 at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20 at Miami, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 27 at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 4 TENNESSEE, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 11 at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 18 MIAMI, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 24 DENVER, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 1 at New England, 1 p.m.

The Buffalo Bills will open their season at Kansas City on Sept. 11, and will “host” Washington in their annual home game at Toronto on Oct. 30.

Breakdown: The Bills had the NFL’s drabbest schedule last season. They had zero primetime games. They didn’t have any 4 o’clock kickoffs. Every week — home and away — they played at 1 p.m. Sunday.

This season’s schedule doesn’t provide much more variety. The Bills will have two — count ‘em, two — kickoffs in the 4 o’clock hour, but one of those games will take place against the San Diego Chargers in the Pacific time zone.

The other “late game” will be their annual trip to Toronto. Contrary to a report from a Toronto radio station, the Bills won’t play the Philadelphia Eagles at the Rogers Centre in November. Not even close. The Bills will play the Washington Redskins there Oct. 30.

Complaint department: The Bills own the NFL’s second-toughest schedule based on their opponents’ 2010 records. The main reason for that are two games apiece against the 14-2 New England Patriots and the 11-5 New York Jets.

By the time the Bills have their bye in Week 7, they will have met one team that had a losing record last season — a trip to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4.

Quirky division schedule: Unlike last season, when the Bills had faced every AFC East opponent by Week 4, they will have played only one divisional game through Week 8. Five of their last nine games are against the division, including the Jets and Miami Dolphins twice apiece in that span. The Bills’ games against the Jets take place 21 days apart in Weeks 9 and 12.

Bills Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 11, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 18, Oakland, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 25, New England, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, Philadelphia, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, at NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, Washington, 4:05 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Dallas, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, at Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at New England, 1:00 PM