Safety Aaron Williams and the Buffalo Bills' high-priced defense — which features two $100 million defensive linemen — prepares to open the season with one objective.
"Number 1 or it's a bust," Williams said this week. "Number 2 is not acceptable."
If that's the case, no better time than to start proving it Sunday, when Buffalo opens against Andrew Luck and his veteran-retooled Indianapolis Colts offense.
Tom Brady and Co. can wait until Week 2, when the Patriots travel to Orchard Park.
The focus is on an intriguing matchup between two former AFC East rivals, each with something to prove.
The Bills have adopted some of new coach Rex Ryan's bravado in making a case they're finally in a position to end a 15-season playoff drought — the NFL's longest active streak.
As for the Colts, they've made steady progress in each of the past three seasons since Luck's arrival. After losing the AFC championship game to New England in January, the next logical step would be a Super Bowl appearance, of course.
The Colts spent the offseason restocking both sides of the ball with a mix of proven veterans, beginning with running back Frank Gore and receiver Andre Johnson. The two join an offense that finished third in the NFL last season.
Indianapolis' defense remains a question mark, and will go up against a new-look Bills offense that has newly acquired LeSean McCoy at running back and a dual-threat quarterback in Tyrod Taylor making his first career start.