Blaine Spencer previews the Buffalo Bills’ 2020 season by taking a look at their roster and makes his predictions ahead of the NFL’s return.
Buffalo Bills 2020 Season Preview
There’s nothing like it when the Buffalo Bills score a touchdown when the “Bills Mafia” erupts. There’s nothing like it in the NFL. You can feel the ground shake whether it’s 10 degrees and snow or 75 degrees and sunny. The fans have a lot to look forward to going into this season.
The Buffalo Bills go into the upcoming season with extreme optimism as they are coming off a wild-card playoff berth and three straight years of strong defensive performances while adding new pieces to the offense. The result is one of the strongest rosters in the league and an opportunity to finally dethrone the New England Patriots from the AFC East crown.
Buffalo is coming off a 10-6 record which was their best since 1999. The team fell short losing to the Houston Texans but where to get better came into full focus: give their rising star quarterback Josh Allen more weapons. It is exactly what they did to land star receiver Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings and drafting heavily on the offensive side of the ball. This team has immense talent and depth.
Offense
In two seasons of sometimes brilliant, sometimes wacky but always passionate play, Allen has justified his selection as the No. 7 overall pick in 2018. He’s big, mobile and a gamer, joining Steve Grogan, Dak Prescott, Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson as the only NFL quarterbacks with 20-plus passing and 12-plus rushing touchdowns in their first two seasons.
Along with the addition of Diggs to join John Brown and Cole Beasley to create one of the more versatile receiving corps, Allen will continue to see growth and the squad will thrive with Allen’s arm talent on the deep-ball.
The league’s No. 8 rushing attack has upgraded with the addition of rookie running back Zack Moss of Utah to join Devin Singletary. Moss, a bruiser who replaces Frank Gore, will be the smash to complement Singletary’s flash. As a rookie, Singletary led all rookies with 549 yards from scrimmage in Weeks 11-16. Don’t forget the veteran T.J. Yeldon as an all-purpose back, the offense should see substantial improvement.
Defense
Head Coach Sean McDermott and coordinator Leslie Frazier have built a nasty defense that has ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the NFL in total yards allowed the past two seasons, respectively. The Bills’ core players will enter their fourth season playing an aggressive 4-3, zone coverage scheme that relies on heavy rotation to stay fresh.
A huge boost was the announcement that all-pro corner Tre’Davious White will not opt-out this season. White is one of those corners who takes away half of the field and allows the team to play aggressive as they know the number 1 WR will have a tough day.
Middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, a 2018 first-round pick who has freakish size for the position, led the Bills with 115 tackles but hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential. He’s joined by overachieving Matt Milano and versatile free agent A.J. Klein, another former Panther who slides into Alexander’s strong side slot.
The defensive depth is outstanding which allows Frazier to give unique looks to the opposing offense and give the opposing quarterback nightmares.
Overview
The Bills head into this season with high expectations as many “experts” believe it is between them and the Patriots for the AFC East division. Many have the Bills as the favorites based upon the departure of the goat, Tom Brady, and the numerous Patriots who have opted out this season.
The organization has made a substantial turnaround in just three seasons and the next step is for them to get over the wild-card playoff hump. The odds for the Bills to win the Super Bowl in the 2020-21 season is +2500 according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Click here to bet on the Bills to win the 2020/21 NFL Championship (+2500) at DraftKings.
The Bills have improved immensely each season and when Allen takes that next step in his growth. The ceiling is through the roof for this team.
Prediction: 11-5, AFC East Champs
The Bills will not have the strenuous schedule that the Patriots will have to endure by winning the division and the Bills have a real possibility of beating their 10-6 record of last season. I think they will do so by a game as the “process” will continue to be followed and the offensive additions will show substantial improvement.
The defense will hold their own and keep the Bills in every game they play so it will all come down to the offense. This team was difficult last season so expect the same this year and potentially more.
