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Buffalo Bills
Overall: 76
Title track: 107
Ownership: 53
Coaching: 83
Players: 99
Fan relations: 103
Affordability: 24
Stadium experience: 108
Bang for the buck: 34
Change from last year: -27
The Bills have fallen from No. 49 overall last season, the result of drops in every category except bang for the buck. The bright side? They still rank 19th among NFL teams and are higher in the standings than some bigger-market teams (ahem, Cowboys) and several teams with newer stadiums. A cheap ticket does wonders.
What's good
For one thing? The third-cheapest ticket in the NFL, behind only the Jaguars and Bucs. But the fans also like Terry and Kim Pegula, as judged by their 53rd-place ranking (16th in the NFL). Ask anyone on the streets of Buffalo, and they'll praise the Pegulas for stepping up and buying the team when there were legitimate bidders -- Jon Bon Jovi and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, as well as Donald Trump -- who many feared would eventually move the Bills elsewhere. Instead, the Pegulas -- who also own the NHL's Sabres -- have invested in a city that needed an economic boost. In a bottom-line business, that commitment to a town is worth something.
What's bad
Only five NFL stadiums ranked worse than Buffalo's; New Era Field came in at 108th in our rankings. Some Bills fans enjoy its college-like, no-frills atmosphere, but the facility is now 43 years old and lacks the amenities of modern venues. With six years remaining on their stadium lease, the Bills have expressed little urgency in finding a long-term solution. The venue underwent $130 million in renovations in 2014 that will keep it in working condition, but it was only a temporary fix.
What's new
Rex Ryan is the highest-profile coach to patrol the Bills' sidelines since Marv Levy, but despite his big personality and his early success in selling himself to fans in the city, the results are lacking (his ranking dropped 41 spots this year after the excitement from his hiring). Can Ryan still motivate his players (who didn't get off easy, either, dropping 44 spots)? Yes. Can he manage a game well? Not always. Can he consistently scheme to stop opponents' offenses the way he used to? That's very much in question, and it might cost Ryan his job.
Next: Oakland Raiders | Full rankings