Buffalo Bills

So it appears the Bills are actually legit

After moving to 9-3 on the season, it’s time we finally accept that the Buffalo Bills are good! They are a legitimate playoff team in the AFC this season.

At the end of the day, you are what your record says you are. And for the 2019 Buffalo Bills, that is only a good thing. Buffalo improved to 9-3 on the season after defeating the Dallas Cowboys easily on Thanksgiving evening. The Bills may not catch the New England Patriots in the AFC East, but this is 100 percent a playoff team this year.

Buffalo has complete control of the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture, as the No. 6 seed would only get to seven wins on the season with a win this weekend in Week 13. Though many people thought the Bills benefited from a soft schedule, they look to be battle-tested and a team nobody wants to play as the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs this January.

No, it isn’t pretty, but the Bills have established a firm identity under head coach Sean McDermott. They play great defense under the former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator and win on offense with a consistent ground game, highlighted by mobile second-year quarterback Josh Allen and the ageless, future Pro Football Hall of Famer in the backfield in running back Frank Gore.

Buffalo has proven that it can win on the road, as the Bills improve to 5-1 away from New Era Field. The Bills’ only loss this season away from Orchard Park was vs. the Cleveland Browns by three points about a month ago.

Though the Buffalo offense comes and goes, the defense has been stingy all year. Outside of their home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills have allowed 21 points or fewer in all other contests. If that isn’t a recipe for success defensively, what is these days?

So no, the Bills aren’t going to beat anybody in a shootout this season, but that’s not really their style. They are going to approach a game with a lunch pail mentality and won’t be afraid to do the little things needed to win a ball game by any means necessary. Most importantly, their style of play translates marvelously to postseason football: Play great defense and run the football.

Will Buffalo be able to get out of the Wild Card round this January? Maybe not, but the Bills are more than capable to beat presumably the AFC South or AFC West winner in their own building this postseason. For a franchise that made its first playoff appearance of the 21st Century two years ago, it looks like the Bills are both legit and potentially here to stay under McDermott.

Next: Bills are playoff locks, while Cowboys may miss out

Products You May Like

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *