The Buffalo Bills have spent a long, long time away from the playoffs. The last time the Bills made the postseason was 1999. It’s been a decade and a half since this team has had anything to cheer. That’s a painfully extended drought. Can Buffalo do anything to reverse its fortunes this season? Read more to find out. One key detail here is that a piece of breaking news has changed Buffalo’s expectations. Is this for better or worse, though?
Strengths
The Bills were criticized by a number of people for taking E.J. Manuel when they did in the 2013 NFL Draft. However, Manuel showed a good skill set and an ability to adapt to the pro game. He didn’t make reads very cleanly when in college at Florida State, but he proved that he was a quick study. What hurt his season was just that: an experience of getting hurt. An injury roughly one month into the season made it hard for him to adjust when he returned to the lineup later in the season. He begins his second NFL season hoping that he can be injury-free and stay on the field for all 16 regular season games. If so, he can give this team a future and a realistic hope of at least some success.
The Bills have been lacking at the quarterback spot over the past decade and a half. They have not found answers at this position. Think of Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick as quarterbacks who bombed for this team and couldn’t get anything done. Manuel showed signs last year that he could be the man. If he gets any bit of help, he just might turn out to be the reason this franchise takes a step forward.
Weaknesses
The Bills have been weak on the offensive line, a point which their failed quarterbacks would be quick to acknowledge as a partial reason why the team hasn’t been able to crack the postseason this century. It’s true that Buffalo has not trusted its rushing game enough over the years, but that’s also because it hasn’t felt comfortable enough with the people blocking up front. This is something that’s probably going to continue to be exploited by opposing defenses unless or until the Bills get better. It’s true that Manuel can scramble; he’s a very mobile quarterback. Yet, for almost all NFL teams, the limitation on quarterback scrambling is obvious because quarterbacks can’t take too many vicious hits in the open field. Line play is a huge concern for the Bills.
The other big weakness is based on recent news: Linebacker Kiki Alonso, this team’s best defensive player last season, is likely out for the season after suffering an injury. Alonso helped Buffalo get a lot of takeaways from the opposition. Other players will have to fill in the gap this season.
Schedule
The Bills’ NFC games are against the NFC North. The two games the Bills host are against Green Bay and Minnesota. The road games are against Detroit and Chicago. The Bills will have a tough time winning more than one of those games. Other really good win opportunities are at Houston, at home versus Cleveland, and at home against both Miami and the New York Jets. Beyond that, it’s likely to be a rough year for the Bills.
Outlook
The injury to Alonso is devastating. He was the one defensive player this team truly could not have afforded to lose. It’s very hard for a thin and unproven team to compensate for a player that good. Keep the Bills under their total.
Pick: Under 6.5
