Will the Buffalo Bills End Their Playoff Drought?

Dec 15, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end

(84) congratulates fullback

(38) after he caught the game-winning 1-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. The Buffalo Bills beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

There are 6 teams in the NFL that have at least 6 years removed from the playoffs, one being the Buffalo Bills.

These teams include the Buccaneers and Jaguars which are both at 6 years since their last payoff appearance.  The St. Louis Rams are 9 years removed from their last playoff appearance.  The Cleveland Browns are 11 years removed and the Buffalo Bills have the longest playoff drought in the NFL with 14 years since their last playoff appearance.

This number is nothing new to Bills Fans alike and if you have been paying attention you know this without question.

Gil Brandt, NFL.com, looked at these 6 teams and broke down which ones could end their playoff droughts this year.

Will the Bills?

I like their chances.  EJ is coming into his second year with a quarterback coach and another year with Nathaniel Hackett.  Drafting Sammy Watkins and upgrading their offensive linemen through the draft, added some depth to an offense that needs to breakout this season.  Jim Schwartz has players in place to continue the defensive push they had last year.  Moving Manny Lawson to DE behind Williams and Hughes, after bringing in Brandon Spikes and Keith Rivers, the defense could not be better set up for Schwartz and success.

Added effects for the season was the passing of Ralph Wilson and the imminent sale of the team.  These factors can only be fuel to the fire to have a successful season.

This is what Gil Brandt had to say about the Bills ending their playoff drought.

"The Bills are in a truly epic playoff dry spell. Since losing a wild-card matchup in the 1999 season, Buffalo has won just 88 games and posted one winning campaign, a 9-7 effort in 2004. And while I’m not sure this infamous stretch of futility will come to an end in 2014, I do think this is the best roster and coaching staff the team has run out there since the drought began.I can’t say whether or not the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the Bills following owner Ralph Wilson’s death will be a motivating factor for the team this season, but I can say that Doug Marrone is the right guy for this head-coaching job. He and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett are very good at what they do. And new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is excellent in this role. I fully expect him to figure out a way to adapt to the loss of top-flight safety Jairus Byrd and keep this unit — which notched 57 sacks and 30 takeaways in 2013 — humming.I liked Buffalo’s draft. Yes, the team did pay a steep price to move up and draft receiver Sammy Watkins at No. 4 overall. But while receivers historically take some time to adapt, I think Watkins is different; he has a fine chance to be Offensive Rookie of the Year. Cyrus Kouandjio, meanwhile, should be a plug-and-play starter at right tackle.If the Bills are to finally knock off the New England Patriots — and hold off the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins — in the AFC East, it will happen because quarterback EJ Manuel takes a huge leap forward in his second year as a pro. And if anyone can help Manuel do that, it’s Hackett. Realistically, I don’t see Buffalo competing for a postseason berth until 2015. But still, the Bills are pointed in the right direction."

Check out what Gil had to say about the other 5 teams ending their playoff droughts.