For the past three seasons, the Buffalo Bills have controlled the AFC East going back to 2020 when it was Tom Brady’s first year out of the division and the Bills had traded for star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. In 2020, the Bills had a cake walk to their first division title since 1995.
In the 2021 season, the Bills had a little bit more competition only finishing two games ahead of the Miami Dolphins for the division. Then last season was their toughest year in stretch even though they finished the regular season at 13-3. The Dolphins were right on the Bills’ back for most if not all of last season.
Now the pressure has turned up for the Bills going into the 2023 season. It seemed like each team in the AFC East aside from the Bills upgraded in a big way…on paper anyways.
The Dolphins brought in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to run the defense and traded for cornerback Jalen Ramsey (but will be out of action until December due to a knee injury). Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has also been working on mechanics and building off his last season success when he was on the field.
The Patriots brought in offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien after a mess on offense last season with Matt Patricia calling the plays. O’Brien will be looking to get the best out of Mac Jones, as well as finding ways to utilize newly signed running back Ezekiel Elliott. Finally, the New York Jets made the biggest move of the offseason by trading for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to pair him with defending offensive rookie of the year Garrett Wilson and the ferocious defense who finished in the top five last season.
The Bills made small upgrades and not any flashy moves. Their biggest acquisitions arguably werere-signing safety Jordan Poyer and trading up in the NFL draft for tight end Dalton Kincaid. Notice how each of the other teams made these big moves to get to the next level to take down the Bills? Buffalo on the other hand already is there and is looking for ways to overcome their challenges against the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.
With that being said, the Buffalo Bills are set up to win their fourth consecutive division championship, and here is why.