Buffalo Bills: An early prediction of how the Bills will finish in 2018
It may only be April, but it is never too early to make some predictions on how the Buffalo Bills will do in 2018 fresh off a postseason appearance.
With all the pieces that have come and gone throughout the past weeks and months, the Buffalo Bills are left with a decent roster.
With that, they have the potential to top the AFC East as the Patriots are in a tire-fire situation in Foxborough. Along with the tension between Pats coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the Bills are in the running for a statement season but how will they actually do?
Last season was respectable for the Bills as they went 9-7 but ultimately made the playoffs because of the Cincinnati Bengals when they knocked off the Baltimore Ravens to send the Bills to the postseason. Leaving the fate of yourself in the hands of others is something that teams do not like to do, but when it works out in your favor you can’t help but appreciate it.
Changing the narrative this 2018 season, I see the Bills winning the division. This belief is mainly because of the quality of players the Bills have brought in and will draft.
Kelvin Benjamin has been very quiet during his time in Buffalo, but his stats say he is due for a breakout season. In his rookie year in Carolina, he was an absolute force to be reckoned with as he totaled 1,008 yards. Benjamin was on a 2014 Panthers team that was stacked to the brim with quality players such as Cam Newton and Jonathan Stewart.
After coming to Buffalo, Benjamin only recorded 16 receptions and a single touchdown. Benjamin will look to bounce back after a poor start in Buffalo and along with AJ McCarron, the two have the opportunity to run away with the division.
How will they do it?
For Buffalo to win the division, they will need the defending AFC champion New England Patriots to struggle coming off a Super Bowl 52 appearance. Numerous reports have led to the belief that the relationship between Belichick and Brady is on the rocks and has been for some time. The reports state that this stems from a number of issues but certainly revolves around the Jimmy Garoppolo trade.
With the shaky state of the Patriots bench boss and franchise QB, coupled with the trade rumors swirling around tight end Rob Gronkowski, we may have seen the last of the Patriots dynasty.
Coming into the draft, the Bills have two first-round picks they can use to bring in game-ready talent to compete with the rest of the NFL. Bringing in young and capable talent will allow a culture of winning to be brought into the Bills locker room.
QBs such as Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold and even Mason Rudolph are all successful quarterbacks at the college level. If the Bills can move up in the draft and secure one of these players, this will set the stage for them to steal the show.
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Along with the draft, free agent signings will be critical for the Bills success in the 2018 season.
The Bills have yet to address their weak offensive line but signing players such as Alex Boone (OG), Tim Barnes (C), and former Texans rookie Kyle Fuller (C) can fill much-needed holes. Boone and Barnes bring a veteran presence that replaces the experience of Eric Wood and Cordy Glenn.
The prediction
There is currently a lot of “ifs” and “buts” surrounding the Bills heading into the 2018/2019 season.
With all the positives buzzing in Buffalo, I believe the Bills will finish with a 12-4 record and get back to their winning ways.