Looking into the future is usually a fun pastime for sports fans. Before the start of the 2024 NFL Season, the Buffalo Bills success over the rest of the AFC East was a talking point due to the health of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
After seven weeks, the Bills easily lead the AFC East with a 5-2 mark. The team heads to Seattle for a showdown with the NFC West-leading Seahawks. Both teams will look to extend their lead atop their respective divisions, making the game more important than usual.
The NFC West is currently up for grabs:
- Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
- Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Los Angeles got a huge boost against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football as wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp both returned to the lineup. Since the Rams gained ground with a 30-20 win over Minnesota, beating Buffalo becomes even more pivotal for Seattle.
The Bills are 2-0 in AFC East play, picking up wins over the Miami Dolphins (Week 2) and New York Jets (Week 6). When all is said and done, that mark should be 6-0, but anything can happen between division rivals. While those games are just as important, the Bills spot in the AFC East isn’t up for debate. Their spot in the context of the AFC and the rest of the NFL, however, is.
Future Bills Success Hinges on Stacking wins now
The Rigors of the Early Season
The first half of any season is often filled with transitions, injuries, and adversity. The Bills have faced all three since Week 1. The secondary has three new starters after Micah Hyde, Tre’Davious White, and Jordan Poyer moved on in the off-season.
Stepping in were safety Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin, and Christian Benford. Instead of signing prized free agents, Sean McDermott turned to players with experience in his system who were ready for a bigger role.
DAMAR WITH THE INT!!
📺: @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/WklJYXSkd2
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 20, 2024
Linebacker Terrel Bernard has already missed two games due to injury and will miss a third this week. His absence forced second-year linebacker Dorian Williams into a bigger role. He may miss some angles in coverage, but Williams still leads the team with 68 tackles.
Von Miller also played limited minutes but was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He’s eligible to return after the Week 8 game with the Seahawks. Both Bernard and Miller will be back in the future to help shore up some deficiencies. Buffalo ranks ninth in the league in points allowed but 19th in total yards allowed.
The new offensive approach worked early on but necessitated a trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper. Adding a proven commodity in the passing game helped alter the offense against the Tennessee Titans. With more reps in a new offense, Josh Allen’s rapport with Cooper will only grow each week.
What Does the Crystal Ball say?
Winning now to help later may sound like a cliche, and to a degree, it is. In the specific case of the 2024 Buffalo Bills, however, it’s imperative that Buffalo keeps its winning streak alive.
Buffalo’s two losses came at the hands of likely division winners. The Baltimore Ravens handily defeated Buffalo while the Houston Texans held on for a 23-20 win. If those teams finish with similar records, the Bills will potentially lose tiebreakers.
Getting a home game in the first round of the playoffs may not be as important as a home game in the Divisional round. Winning games, regardless of conference, could play a pivotal role at the end of the regular season.
The Kansas City Chiefs have proven that they can win anywhere in the post-season, and Buffalo almost did the same against the Chiefs in meetings at Arrowhead Stadium. However, already losing in both Baltimore and Houston may make that path harder this year.
Suppose Buffalo picks up important wins over the next few weeks (Seattle, Miami, Indianapolis). In that case, they’ll be in a better position for a Week 11 showdown with the rival Chiefs.
A potential loss also won’t knock Buffalo out of post-season contention. But by putting other games in the win column leading up to more important games, the Bills can ensure they did everything they could to finish with the best possible record.
Main Image: Chris Pedota – USA Today Sports
