Rex Ryan Will Lead the Buffalo Bills to the Playoffs
By Elias Trejo
The Buffalo Bills are 2-1 after three weeks and there is plenty of excitement going around about this year’s team. Just like any other Rex Ryan coached team the defense is it’s strength, and just like most of Ryan’s team’s the quarterback play is questionable at times but good enough to win games. For Ryan, the 2015 Bills offense may be the most talented offensive he’s had to work with since becoming a head coach, but is it enough to take the Bills to the playoffs for the first time since 1999? The simple answer is yes.
Their only loss of the season came at home against the Patriots, but their two wins came against other AFC opponents which could be key going into the final stretch of the season. Both the Colts and the Dolphins were overpowered by the Bills defense and held to only 14 points. Their victory over both AFC teams will give them an edge on tie breakers against both Miami and Indianapolis. Those two early wins also give the Bills a winning record against the AFC which will help them with tie breakers against other AFC opponents that they may not face in 2015.
At this point it doesn’t look like the Bills can win the AFC East but it’s still young in the season and stranger things have happened. Buffalo however, does look to be in a great position to take one of the two AFC Wildcard spots this year. The AFC is having a tough time so far three weeks into the season. Currently seven of the 16 AFC teams have a winning record.
Aug 29, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots, Broncos, and Bengals are sitting on top of their respective divisions with a 3-0 record. Meanwhile the Bills are tied with the Raiders, Jets, and Steelers with a 2-1 record. The Steelers have lost Ben Roethlisberger for the next few weeks (as detailed by F. Dale Lolley of the Observer), the Raiders are still a young team and the Bills control their own destiny with the Jets as they play them twice this season.
The Bills next five games are all very winnable and only one of the teams, the Bengals, currently has a winning record and they come to Buffalo. The Giants, Titans, Jaguars and Dolphins are the other four teams and all of them are teams that that this Bills team should be able to beat. In fact if the Bills can go 3-2 or 4-1 during this stretch the Bills should be the favorite to grab the fifth seed in the AFC.
the Bills should be the favorite to grab the fifth seed in the AFC.
The question is whether the Bills will get enough production out of their offense to help the Bills win enough games. The quarterback play will be the biggest question as the Bills have decided to go with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback. For most coaches that would be a death sentence, but Ryan made it to two AFC Championship games with Mark Sanchez under center. Buffalo fans should be too worried because Ryan has been in this type of situation before.
Sep 27, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) throws a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
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The AFC so far this season has been fun to watch so far as things appear to be shifting. Past playoff teams like the Ravens, Colts, Chiefs and Chargers look more flawed and are struggling to win this year. The Patriots still look like the Patriots, but they’ve got to be running out of ways to cheat right? Meanwhile, the Broncos are no longer the same team they have been over the last few years with Peyton Manning. The AFC appears to be wide open and the Bills may have one of the easier roads to the playoffs remaining.
History shows that conferences who play the AFC South usually send 2 or 3 teams to the playoffs. The AFC North sent three teams to the playoffs in 2014 after they played the AFC South. In 2013 the AFC West sent three teams to the playoffs and yes it was their turn to play the AFC South. The Bills already beat the best team in the AFC South and have road games against the Titans and Jaguars and host the Texans later in the year.
Below are the 2014 AFC standings
Below are the 2013 AFC Standings
So yes Bills fans it may be early in the season, but your team has a very good opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time this millennium.
Next: 2015 NFL Playoff Picture: Week 3
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