Buffalo Bills 2016: Game-By-Game Prediction
Week 1 – Bills at Ravens, 1 pm on CBS
For Buffalo, Baltimore has been a blessing in disguise. Buffalo has seemed to have snatched up quite a few important pieces to this season who started their careers there or flourished while in Baltimore. Rex Ryan reminded everyone of the distinguished Ryan name during his time in Baltimore as a defensive coach. Ed Reed became a household name with hard hits and strong defensive plays as a safety for them. Tyrod Taylor sat behind Joe Flacco to perfect his skills, waiting patiently for his chance to run the offense.
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The Buffalo Bills 2016 Season will start against a team that’s coming back from an injury ridden season last year and hopes to get back to their prior playoff form. Joe Flacco is returning and will try to compete in the very strong AFC North. It will be a close one but I don’t think Baltimore’s defense is what it used to be.
Bills Win 24-20 (1-0)
Week 2 – Jets at Bills, 8 pm on CBS, NFL, & Twitter
The last time the Bills saw Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets was in the season finale last year. The Bills dashed the Jets playoff hopes in Todd Bowles first year at the helm. With a reluctant Fitz joining Gang Green for another year, the Jets have playoff aspirations for two consecutive years. (Crazy, right?)
The Jets will be coming off a very tough Week One game versus Cincinnati and will be either riding high off a victory or angry to start the season with a loss. This motivated Jets team is also one year older, which could prove to be their achilles heel all season.
On the other side, Buffalo has their home-opener as their only home primetime game all year. I find it highly unlikely that this atmosphere at New Era Field will be anything but rowdy.
Bills Win 24-17 (2-0)
Week 3 – Cardinals at Bills, 1 pm on Fox
The Cardinals are contenders for Super Bowl LI in Houston this year and were one game away last season. Nearly all of their starters are returning including the young running back David Johnson and the hard-hitting safety Tyrann Mathieu, who signed a generous five year extension in early August.
The Bills haven’t faced the Cardinals since 2012 and in that game the Bills snuck by with a victory in OT on a Rian Lindell kick. The crowd in Orchard Park could be difficult for Carson Palmer and company but the Cardinals are too talented to lose this game. It will be a close one though.
Cardinals Win In OT 27-24 (2-1)
Week 4 – Bills at Patriots, 1 pm on CBS
The main story line of this game will obviously be whether or not the Patriots can perform without their franchise quarterback, Tom Brady, as well as their defensive captain, Rob Ninkovich, who both are suspended for the first four games of the season. The Patriots also acquired former Bills receiver Chris Hogan this offseason, adding fuel to the rivalry.
For the Bills, they have not fared well in Foxboro for quite some time to say the least. Ironically, the last game they did win in Foxboro was against Jimmy Garoppolo in the final week of the 2014 season. One of the keys for the Bills in this game will be to produce touchdowns when in the redzone. If they’re able to do that, they can keep up with the Patriots. If not, it could be a long game for the Bills defense. I think the Bills pull off a stunner and capitalize on a Brady-less New England.
Bills Win 31-28 (3-1)
Next: Weeks 5-8