Know Your Enemy: Buffalo Bills

Analysis
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The Buffalo Bills made the playoffs in 2017 at 9-7 for the first time since 1999 (Music City Miracle year).  The Bills proceeded to lose in a snooze fest defensive game to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild card round. Buffalo dumped QB Tyrod Taylor this offseason and look to start new on offense with either AJ McCarron, Nathan Peterman or rookie 1st round pick Josh Allen out of Wyoming.. Defensive head coach Sean McDermott had an average defensive unit at 18th allowing 22.4 PPG in 2017. The Bills have some talent and finally made the playoffs so they must be an enemy for 2018.

Strengths

Run Game

Buffalo was 6th in the league in rushing yards led by Lesean McCoy. McCoy is getting older but had 1,138 yards at 4.0 YPC and 6 TDs in 2017. The Bills will miss Tyrod Taylor’s legs and his 5.1 YPC.

Pass Defense and Front Seven

The Bills were 6th allowing only 78.9 QB rating in 2017 led by super stud safety Micah Hyde and great rookie Tre’Davious White. Jordan Poyer was a good safety as well and the Bills added Vontae Davis to be the second CB in the offseason. The Bills only notched 27 sacks though led by Jerry Hughes (4.0), Shaq Lawson (4.0 sacks) and Kyle Williams (3.0 sacks). Lorenzo Alexander was solid off the blitz as well. The Bills did get some pressure to help the coverage but need to finish more in 2018. They have the talent with Lawson, Hughes and Williams. Buffalo added Star Lutuleilei from the Panthers in run defense and drafted Harrison Phillips in Round 3 at nose tackle. The Bills front four is pretty strong. Trent Murphy comes from Washington for DE depth and rush.

Lorenzo Alexander is a good SAM and Tremaine Edmunds was drafted in Round 1 to be the new Mike LB for the Bills. Matt Milano is the weak spot at Will LB. The Bills have a strong front 7 for 2018.

Unknown Passing Game

The Bills passing game should be an unknown with three potential new QBS. McCarron and Allen are new and Peterman is a 3rd round second year player that knows the system. McCarron was a backup but has a few starts after being a stud at Alabama. Allen is a raw rookie with a high upside from Wyoming as the top 10 pick. The QB battle should be very interesting in Buffalo.

Kelvin Benjamin (former Panthers number 1 WR) gets a full offseason with the Bills after a mid-season trade in 2017 from the Panthers. Zay Jones grows in year 2 as a second round pick from 2017 at WR. Charles Clay is a legit weapon at TE and Andre Holmes mans the slot. McCoy can be a receiving back as well. The Bills have weapons for their QBs.

Offensive Line

The Bills big downfall will be their offensive line. Eric Wood and Richie Incognito/bully retired and Cordy Glenn was traded to the Bengals. Dion Dawkins, John Miller, Russ Bodine, Vlad Ducasse and Jordan Mills with Marshall Newhouse as swing tackle is trouble for Buffalo. Good thing they have 3 QBs because two could be hurt.

Schedule versus North

Bills play at Vikings and at Packers in Week 3 and 4, respectively. Buffalo hosts the Bears Week 9 and the Lions in Week 15 for a potential very cold game in December. Bills were 6-2 at home and 3-5 on the road so the Bears and Lions get the tougher matchup barring injuries late in the season. Buffalo should split with the North and continue to be home of the wing and that rapscallion Southerner nichels.