They are the new power in the AFC East. But can the Buffalo Bills get back to the Super Bowl sooner than later? It was an offseason of change in 2022.
It’s a franchise that has now gotten acclimated to reaching the playoffs on a steady basis. But for 17 consecutive years from 2000-16, the Buffalo Bills failed to qualify for the postseason.
Now under the command of head coach Sean McDermott, the team has reached the “second season” four times in the last five years.
And after waiting more than two decades to win a division title, the club has captured the AFC East each of the last two seasons.
There were a lot of changes this offseason for a team that has been a Super Bowl contender the last few years. So which of the team’s three newcomers rate as the club’s best additions in 2022?
Buffalo Bills top offseason pickup no. 3: G Rodger Saffold (Released by Tennessee Titans)
Despite a solid year from running back Devin Singletary, the club’s running game remains still too far dependent on the skills of quarterback Josh Allen.
Perhaps that’s one reason that general manager Brandon Beane not only added to the Buffalo backfield during the draft (more on that later), the Bills did a revamp of their offensive line this offseason.
Gone are guard Jon Feliciano and tackle Daryl Williams. Both were released earlier this year, with the former latching on with the New York Giants. Meanwhile, the defending AFC South champion Tennessee Titans parted ways with veteran Rodger Saffold and the Bills grabbed him.
While the 12-year pro is tied for 31st in the league with a 68.1 overall grade at his position via Pro Football Focus (subscription required), his 74.5 mark in terms of run blocking makes him the 15tt-best player in this aspect at guard.
Buffalo Bills top offseason pickup no. 2: RB James Cook (Georgia)
The Bills ranked 20th in the NFL in rushing in 2020. But Sean McDermott’s club improved to sixth in the NFL this past year. Back to the aforementioned Devin Singletary.
He finished with 188 carries for 870 yards and seven touchdowns this past season. He also added 40 receptions albeit for a modest 228 yards and one score.
It’s also worth noting that Singletary is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Quarterback Josh Allen had another big year not only through the air but on the ground. He finished second on the team with 122 attempts, 763 rushing yards while running for six touchdowns. Second-year pro Zack Moss ran for 345 yards on 88 carries and four TDs.
So enter 2021 national champion James Cook of the Georgia Bulldogs. He comes off the best season of his four-year career with the team, totaling career bests in carries (113), rushing yards (728), catches (27), receiving yards (284), and total touchdowns (11) in 15 outings with Kirby Smart’s squad.
Adding another solid performer to the running backs corps can only add up to the good news for not only the team’s offense and new coordinator Ken Dorsey, it should mean a few less carries and a little less punishment for Allen.
But that’s not to say he won’t continue to frustrate opponents with his running prowess.
Buffalo Bills top offseason pickup: DE Von Miller (Los Angeles Rams)
So what exactly happened to the Buffalo Bills’ defense in the epic clash with the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional playoffs? During the regular season, Leslie Frazier’s unit gave up the fewest total yards per game in the league (272.8).
Bills’ defenders surrendered only 31 offensive touchdowns in 17 contests while the team came up with 30 takeaways. Buffalo allowed an NFL-low 289 points in 2021.
In the wild card rout of the rival New England Patriots, Sean McDermott’s club gave up 305 total yards and 17 points. They held Bill Belichick’s squad to 82 yards on the ground.
Then came the 42-36 overtime loss to Andy Reid’s team at Arrowhead Stadium. They gave up a whopping a season-high 552 total yards – including 182 on the ground. The Bills’ defensive unit gave up five offensive touchdowns in four-plus quarters.
There are a lot of familiar faces from the defensive line (Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Star Lotulelei, Vernon Butler, Efe Obada) no longer with the club. Meanwhile, Von Miller has proven to be quite the postseason performer when the opportunity has presented itself. In his last seven playoff games with the Broncos (3) and Rams (4), there have been a combined nine sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception.
It should make for a great season opener at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night, September 8 vs. the defending Super Bowl champion Rams as Miller faces off against his former employer.