Dream Scenario #4: No big injuries
Small injuries and big injuries are one of the unfortunate parts of the game we all love. Nobody knows when or how an injury will occur, or to what magnitude it might be. Of course, star player injuries hit teams in a big way.
The Bills have been hit by the injury bug quite a bit over the last few seasons, often losing key players on defense for big-time games. Two seasons ago, the Bills entered a divisional round playoff game with primarily a second-string and third-string defense. Heck, they called linebacker A.J. Klein to cancel his family road trip and cover Travis Kelce.
Last winter, the Bills entered the playoffs arguably the healthiest they have been in the Josh Allen era. It’s no coincidence they managed to make it back to the AFC Championship. So, of course, not only returning to the postseason, but healthy, is a massive dream scenario for the Bills.
Dream Scenario #5: Dalton Kincaid breaks out
When the Bills selected Dalton Kincaid in round one of the 2023 NFL Draft, they had big plans in store for him. While a tight end, Kincaid is a receiving threat, more so than a traditional, rounded-out tight end. The Bills envisioned him as a big-time threat, and potentially the future leader of their receiving corps. He had a promising rookie season, posting 73 catches for 673 yards, two touchdowns, and an 80.2% catch percentage.
After the sudden trade of disgruntled star Stefon Diggs, all eyes were on Kincaid to be the Bills' alpha receiving threat. However, under coordinator Joe Brady, the Bills leaned heavily into what they call the everybody eats offense and a spread-the-ball approach.
It led to a Josh Allen MVP season, but saw Kincaid take a step back in his sophomore season. He also battled a knee injury that kept him out multiple games, and what is believed to have affected him in the playoffs as well. He finished the season appearing in 13 games and notching 44 catches on 75 targets, for 448 yards, two touchdowns, and a 58.7% catch percentage.
At the end of the season, the Bills coaching staff noted they wanted Kincaid to get stronger this offseason. Joe Brady let everyone know he’s been putting in the work, saying he felt like “Kincaid has lived here this offseason.” If Kincaid breaks out this season, like he seems primed to do, that would be massive for the Bills.
An already extremely efficient Bills offense gets even more dangerous. It wouldn’t hurt to see some better schemes for the soon-to-be third-year tight end as well. Being used as more of a vertical threat than a horizontal one will only help Kincaid.