The Buffalo Bills finished the regular season at the top of the AFC East, yet they still weren’t able to secure a spot at the Super Bowl. They have a tendency to be overshadowed by the New England Patriots. That’s just how it is when you share a conference with a team that’s won the Super Bowl six times in the last 20 years and been the conference champions five times in the last decade.
That doesn’t mean that the Bills don’t have a chance at winning the Super Bowl next year, it just means more people might be surprised to see them hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy over their heads if they do. If anyone is ready to bet on the Bills’ chances, it should be the loyal fans who have been hoping that they’d finally make it to the Super Bowl and redeem themselves after their four Super Bowl losses in the 1990s.
Now that New York has legalized online sports betting, more Bills fans will have the opportunity to show their support for their team by betting on them. Fantasy football might have been the hottest game in town for years, but betting on the NFL has boomed according to Ioana Romanasau, author at WSN.com, as states across the country have legalized sports betting.
Thoughts from last season
As we mentioned above, the Buffalo Bills finished the season as the AFC East Champions and made it to the Divisional Playoffs, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. All in all, it was a great season. They won 11 of their 17 games, a record beaten in the AFC only by the Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans. They played well both at home and away and displayed a level of consistency that most teams envy.
As all football fans know, whether you’re talking about college football or the NFL, a strong passing game is essential. The Bills coaching staff definitely understand this and have encouraged and developed it in their quarterback, Josh Allen.
The Bills have also become known for their ability to consistently put points on the board. In November 2021, their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was the first time since Week 17 of 2019 that they had failed to score in the double digits.
Some might argue that just looking at the team’s record hides a bit of a dirty secret — they might win most of their games, but when faced with a really good team, the Bills crumble. Analysts have even gone so far as to describe them as bullies who are happy to pick on the weaker teams but lack the toughness to hold their own against other teams at the top of their conference. Whether or not this is a fair assessment is up for debate, but there could be a grain of truth to it.
In the end, it was a strong showing all around and honestly could have been their year to win it all. Could changes to the roster get them even closer next year?
New players
The spring transfer window is currently under way and the Buffalo Bills have been very, very busy. In just the past few weeks, the Bills have signed 10 players and re-signed one other. They’ve also released five players. That’s a lot of change and could have a serious impact on how the team performs this season.
Among the players the Bills have signed are guard Rodger Saffold, defensive tackle Tim Settle, defensive end Von Miller and running back Duke Johnson. That’s a lot of talent. Saffold made his mark on the Titans — his blocking for Derrick Henry ensured the running back could become one of only eight players to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Miller is one of the best defensive ends in the history of the game and currently has the most sacks of any active player.
With the exception of Settle, who is only 24, most of the players that the Bills have signed are in their late 20s or early 30s. This level of experience can provide a team with the steady leadership and guidance that young players need.
The Buffalo Bills might never be the favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, after how they performed during the 2021-22 season and the changes they have made to their roster, 2023 could be their year. It will be interesting to see how they address their weaknesses and whether or not they really will be able to hold their own on the field against the other heavy hitters this season.