Buffalo Bills must be taken seriously as AFC contender

The 7-3 Buffalo Bills should be considered contenders entering the home stretch.

In 2020, despite moments of disappointment and confusion, the Buffalo Bills find themselves at 7-3 and in first place in the AFC East. Had it not been for a miraculous Hail Mary by DeAndre Hopkins and Kyler Murray, the Bills could easily be 8-2 and have a firm grasp on a division that they once floundered in.

For much of two decades, the Bills have neither sniffed a division title or tasted the postseason life. Late in the previous decade, they finally returned to the playoffs. Twice they made it, and twice they fell in their first game. Nonetheless, it was a sign of progress.

Much of the credit has to fall on the shoulders of Sean McDermott, who has brought a level of intensity and focus to a franchise that lacked those abilities under previous head coaches. Quarterback Josh Allen may have slipped recently but his drive and ability to make plays has paid off for Buffalo and shown that the trade to move up was worth the risk.

In terms of the defense, while Rex Ryan was known for his pedigree, the success was sporadic. Under McDermott, it’s not the same as Bruce Smith, Shane Conlan and Cornelius Bennett, but productivity is showing and, in a league like the NFL where results and productivity are held to the highest of standards, it’s a plus.

The Buffalo Bills should be mentioned among the best in the AFC

In terms of glitz and glamour, it’s fair to say that Buffalo isn’t like Kansas City or Pittsburgh as much of the attention about who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LV has shifted towards those other two clubs. However, Buffalo can’t be fully dismissed.

Do they have big names like the other two franchises previously mentioned? No; nonetheless, that’s not a valid reason as to why they should not be considered. They have a quarterback, a position that is vital in the league and can be the difference for a team. They have weapons on the outside, an above-average line and an opportunistic defense.

If the expectation is that the team will have Hall of Famers littered on both sides of the ball, they are sadly mistaken. To win in this league, you must have continuity, comradery, and control. The Bills look to have it.

They may not receive a first-round bye but cold weather is nothing new to Buffalo. However, dismiss and say the Bills can’t be a contender would be a wrong assessment of their current standing in the league.