Have AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills earned fans’ trust?
Sean McDermott’s team leads the AFC East but how reliable are the Buffalo Bills?
It’s a franchise that hasn’t won a division title or a playoff game since 1995. But Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills are atop the AFC East as they take on the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night at Arizona. The team owns an 8-3 record and is quite different from the club that went to the postseason two of the previous three seasons.
A season ago, the Bills won 10 games for the first time since 1999. The team scored just 314 points, an average of 19.6 per contest, and surrendered the second-fewest points in the league (259). Leslie Frazier’s defensive unit surrendered only 27 offensive touchdowns while the Buffalo offense reached the end zone a modest 34 times.
It’s been a different kind of attack this year as quarterback Josh Allen has emerged as quite the dual-threat. Known more for running for his life during his first two seasons while struggling with his passing accuracy, he’s been much-improved in his third year at the helm.
Just 11 games into this season, the Bills’ offensive unit has already scored as many touchdowns as it did all of the previous year. The team is averaging 27.2 points per outing and Allen has already not only thrown a career-best 22 touchdown passes but has run for six scores. Of course, he’s also turned over the ball 13 times this year, an aspect of his game that must continue to improve.
The offseason addition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs via trade from Minnesota has been a boon. “We did do some digging, and again, this guy’s a super competitive guy and brings an edge to that position, explained general manager Brandon Beane back in April (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). “I know diva gets put into [describing] that position a lot – I would not call this guy a diva.” The Bills gave up a lot to get him but he’s already caught 80 passes for 945 yards and four scores.
But back to that defense, which has been a bit of a disappointment and a unit that has been pushed around a little too much this season. The club has already surrendered more touchdown passes (16) than it did a year ago and five more offensive touchdowns (32) than all of 2019.
It’s one of the reasons that the team, despite an 8-3 mark, has been a little hard to figure as of late. Since opening with four consecutive wins, the Bills are 4-3 in their last seven contests and in those three losses McDermott’s team allowed a combined 100 points.
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Still, the Bills have managed to remain ahead of the Miami Dolphins (8-4) and defending AFC East champion New England Patriots (6-6) to date. This clash with the 49ers doesn’t figure to be easy, as will the Week 14 encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One thing is for sure. This club is playing a different kind of football than was the case during McDermott’s first three seasons. Will it pay off in a big way when it’s all said and done?