Buffalo Bills: Does Playoff Drought End in 2015?

Do you remember what the NFL landscape was like in 1999? Hop in your DeLorean and crank up the flux capacitor.

The Cleveland Browns were back in the NFL following a three-year hiatus (as well as the original franchise’s defection to Baltimore).

The Houston Texans were three years away from taking the field, while the Houston Oilers had transformed into the Tennessee Titans.

It would prove to be the final seasons for Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young.

It would also mark the last time the Buffalo Bills reached the playoffs.

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What’s gone wrong in Orchard Park? Don’t say it’s because the team hasn’t been able to find a reliable quarterback. It takes much more than that to miss the playoffs 15 consecutive years.

A franchise that would go to the postseason eight times in 10 years during the 1990s and reach the Super Bowl a record four consecutive years has posted two winning campaigns over the last 15 seasons. Buffalo’s 9-7 finish in 2014 marked the club’s first above-.500 showing since 2004.

So why is there suddenly so some much optimism for 2015?

First, there’s new head coach Rex Ryan. Yes, the former sideline leader of the New York Jets got off to a great start with the franchise and failed the make the playoffs the last four seasons. But there was plenty of blame to go around with the Green and White while Ryan’s familiarity with the AFC East can’t be underestimated.

Mar 10, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy holds up his new jersey after a press conference at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The addition of 2013 NFL rushing champion LeSean McCoy from the Philadelphia Eagles is a major plus, especially for a team that ranked 25th in the league this past season when it came to running the football. Very quietly, the Bills also added former Pro Bowl fullback Jerome Felton for the Minnesota Vikings. While Buffalo’s offensive line needs to perform better than a year ago (how does the addition of guard Richie Incognito help?), look for the ground attack to rebound in a big way.

This past season rookie wideout Sammy Watkins finished second the team with 65 catches but led the Bills with 982 receiving yards and six touchdown grabs. Wide receiver Robert Woods also finished with 65 receptions and caught just one fewer touchdown pass. Buffalo released veteran tight end Scott Chandler this offseason but the team made underrated Charles Clay (given the transition tag) an offer the Miami Dolphins refused to match. Add in speedy Percy Harvin (if he remains healthy) and the Bills simply have more play-makers on offense than they did in 2014.

Dec 28, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Buffalo Bills defeated the Patriots 17-9. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, there do not seem to be many questions, unless you consider the team lost underrated free safety Da’Norris Searcy to free agency. Ryan and new defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman inherit a unit that includes Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes up front, although the latter or even Williams could line up at outside linebacker in the 3-4. Inside linebacker Kiko Alonso sat out 2014 due to injury and was dealt to Philadelphia as part of the LeSean McCoy trade.

Preston Brown and Nigel Bradham are the team’s top linebackers while cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Leodis McKelvin and veteran Corey Graham lead an improving secondary.

Over the last two seasons combined, the Bills have totaled 111 sacks (NFL-high 54 sacks in 2014) and 60 takeaways. In 2013, the team ranked 10th in the league in fewest yards allowed and this past season, only three teams in the NFL gave up fewer total yards per game. And while the club did get better against the run, an issues in recent years, a little more help is needed in that crucial area.

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Of course, everyone is going to point to the quarterback situation and understandably so. This past season, 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel was sat down after four games by then-head coach Doug Marrone but the young signal-caller is back in the mix and will compete with veteran Matt Cassel (obtained in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings) and free-agent pickup Tyrod Taylor for starting duties.

Could the Bills actually win the AFC East, a feat they haven’t managed since 1995 when the Indianapolis Colts were still part of the division? You have to crawl before you can walk and that may be asking a lot when it comes to dethroning the Patriots, who have captured the AFC East six consecutive years.

Are we really ready to make a playoff prediction in late March? There’s still a lot of time between now and September and we haven’t even gotten to the NFL draft. And it’s safe to say while the Patriots have taken their share of hits in free agency, the division rival Jets and Miami Dolphins look improved as well.

Still, for the first time in quite a while we can probably safely say that is would be a big surprise if the Buffalo Bills weren’t in the 2015 postseason.

And perhaps in a few months we’ll feel better about crawling out a little further out on that limb.

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