Being called a Buffalo Bills fan sometimes can be hard to swallow. When people bring up the fact that the Buffalo Bills haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999, horrible mental images begin flashing before my eyes: last second field goals, and teams taking valuable seconds off the clock so we can’t get the ball back. How about in 2004, when our starters couldn’t beat a backup Steelers team? The list could go on and on.
However, that will not stop me from being a passionate Buffalo Bills fan. As I have stated in previous articles, my love for the hometown team I grew up on, runs deep and runs proud! I am going to go over five factors that will lead the Buffalo Bills back into the playoff hunt.
As I look at this year’s schedule I ask myself if this is the year that we make it to the playoffs. Many fans of opposing teams laugh at us when they hear our team name, Buffalo Bills. All I have to say to them is, “I do not care”. (Actually, maybe something much worse, but I won’t say it here.) We will shock the pro football world this year, and I can’t wait for the Bills to prove all the doubters wrong. The injury to Kiko Alonso may shake up our defensive scheme, but do not fear! With everything the front office did to add depth, I feel much better than most years. I still believe that our success will start and end with our quarterback, EJ Manuel. He has to have a successful season for our team to make it back into January playoff football. EJ was given the entire playbook to master this year, and according to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, he has been very impressed by EJ’s ability to pick up the offense and diagnose the routes as the wide receivers run them.
General Manager Doug Whaley has given the offense so many dangerous weapons to succeed, how can they not win? First they play in the dreaded AFC East that has been dominated by the New England Patriots for the past bunch of years. With the additions of wide receiver Mike Williams from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and first round draft pick Sammy Watkins, our passing offense is already looking more dominant. At the running back position we have team captain, Freddie Jackson, burner CJ Spiller, newly acquired Bryce Brown from the Eagles and Anthony ‘Boobie’ Dixon from the 49ers. Do all four make the team or do we cut or trade one of them? Are we in store for some surprise cuts this year? Maybe more than you think.
Another important piece to our offensive success is the development of the offensive line. I believe as a unit we will be much more dominate! Cyrus Kouandjio our new right tackle will be every fan’s dream. We will finally have two dominant tackles protecting Manuel from the dreaded star defensive players that are on the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots. When all is said and done I think we will have 8-10 wins in the bank by season’s end. As training camp begins I will bring all of you updated analysis as to where I believe we stand as a team, as well as analysis regarding the individual battles for key positions. What are the key battles going into camp this year? Will Preston Brown man one of the outside linebacker spots? Who will win the safety position opposite Aaron Williams? How will the offensive line pan out? Those are all questions Buffalo Bills fans will be asking themselves as the season draws near. If we want to win, we have to make things happen now! This is our team, this is our year!
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