Bleacher report predicts Bills record 11-5

[BruceVilanch]

Pretty cool to see these write ups, fingers crossed we have a season!

 

 

It's quarterback Josh Allen's time to shine.

 

The Buffalo Bills acquired wideout Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings. In 2019, he became a big-play pass-catcher, logging 17.9 yards per reception.

With Allen's big arm, he and Diggs should connect on several deep balls next season. John Brown, who posted career highs in receptions (72) and yards (1,060) last year, will likely become the No. 2 option. The pair should challenge opposing defenses with speed and crisp routes downfield.

After allowing the second-fewest points during the last term, the Bills defense will look even better. Buffalo signed defensive tackle Vernon Butler, edge-rusher Mario Addison, linebacker A.J. Klein and cornerback Josh Norman, who are all familiar with head coach Sean McDermott from their time with the Carolina Panthers.

Addison is an upgrade over defensive end Shaq Lawson, who departed for the Miami Dolphins during free agency. The former has registered at least nine sacks in each of the last four seasons. Butler is coming off his best year with 32 tackles, including seven for loss, and six sacks.

Norman comes along as an added bonus for a pass defense that allowed the second-fewest touchdowns. If he performs at a level close to how he played in his standout 2015 campaign (18 pass breakups and four interceptions with two returned for scores), the 32-year-old would lock down the starting job opposite of All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White.

Buffalo added a notable playmaker for the aerial attack. The defensive group will likely remain in the top five in points and yards allowed. The Bills have a prime opportunity to take the AFC East crown.

Prediction: 11-5

[machine gun kelly]

Thanks Bruce for sharing.  If we have a complete season, then we’re playing the AFCW, and NFCW.  It’s pretty aggressive for Bleacher Report to guess 11-5.  I’m hopeful for 10-6, and be ready to go deep in the playoffs.  It’s plausible, and playing that kind of competition will prepare us to win against playoff caliber teams.

[Victory Formation]

I’m guessing 12 & 4.

[BillsFanThru-N-Thru]

I'm  thinking 10-6.  There's always that 1 game  that we will lose that we shouldn't

[HOUSE]

 Jake from State Farm could start the last two games if McD sits the starters

NO PREDICTION HERE ...

 

Edited April 30, 2020 by HOUSE

[GunnerBill]

At the moment I am leaning towards 10-6 again but 10-6 and an AFCE division title. 

[aristocrat]

It's all on Allen. If singletary stays healthy, moss better than Gore, and the true number 1 Diggs coming in doesn't elevate Allen we have a problem.  I'm expecting over 4k yards passing and around 30 tds passing from Allen.  If that happens we will win more than 11 games.  

[ALLEN1QB]

16-0 

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

It's all on Allen. If singletary stays healthy, moss better than Gore, and the true number 1 Diggs coming in doesn't elevate Allen we have a problem.  I'm expecting over 4k yards passing and around 30 tds passing from Allen.  If that happens we will win more than 11 games.  

 

I think Allen will take a step.... and those numbers aren't a million miles away (maybe a tad high but in the ballpark). I think our ppg on defense will not be as good as it was last year though.  The Bills gave up just 16.2 points per game in 2019, which was second to the Patriots at 14.1. But the fact that two AFC East teams gave up so few points (only two teams in the previous 5 years bettered 16.2 and you have to go back to the 2008 Steelers for someone to better 14.1) does rather suggest that while the Patriots and Bills defences were legitimately excellent they benefitted from playing a weak schedule - especially in terms of Quarterbacks faced. While they both played against Jackson who was the MVP, other than he, Wentz and Dak.... how many of the rest would you even consider as top 15 NFL Quarterbacks at this stage?

 

I think the Bills defense could be just as good in 2020 and it would still give up more points, just as a result of the fact that the schedule features Mahomes, Rothlisberger, Wilson, Garoppolo, Murray and Goff rather than Haskins, Eli, Hodges, Brandon Allen and Mariota.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

36 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

At the moment I am leaning towards 10-6 again but 10-6 and an AFCE division title. 

 

10-6 has been my go to as well.  

 

It can happen more assuredly not that Tawmmy is gone.  

 

[BobChalmers]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I think the Bills defense could be just as good in 2020 and it would still give up more points, just as a result of the fact that the schedule features Mahomes, Rothlisberger, Wilson, Garoppolo, Murray and Goff rather than Haskins, Eli, Hodges, Brandon Allen and Mariota.

 

I'm with you on your general idea that the schedule is much harder, but Goff as a QB??  The guy is QB garbage - just behind Trubisky for the biggest bust in the last decade.  They covered up his play by stocking the roster - and are now suffering the salary cap and draft pick consequences.  Rams have a lock on 4th place in their division probably for a few years.  You also left out Wentz and Dak from last year so a bit misleading.

Edited April 30, 2020 by BobChalmers

[Drunken Pygmy Goat]

We know the opponents and venues, but I’m waiting for the actual schedule to be released before making a final prediction. This is a 9-12 win team on paper, but a tough stretch of games with a couple west coast trips could sway the win total by a game or 2. The Bills were pretty healthy last year, and had a rather easy schedule, resulting in 10 wins. This team may be better, but could finish with fewer wins due to schedule and added travel (AFCW should be much better this year as well, IMO). 
 

I wonder how Bleacher Report/this author had the Bills finishing in 2019...

[Greg S]

Tougher schedule along with a tougher travel with multiple WC games but I have the Bills going 10-6.This is a good football team who will win the division.

[aristocrat]

9 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think Allen will take a step.... and those numbers aren't a million miles away (maybe a tad high but in the ballpark). I think our ppg on defense will not be as good as it was last year though.  The Bills gave up just 16.2 points per game in 2019, which was second to the Patriots at 14.1. But the fact that two AFC East teams gave up so few points (only two teams in the previous 5 years bettered 16.2 and you have to go back to the 2008 Steelers for someone to better 14.1) does rather suggest that while the Patriots and Bills defences were legitimately excellent they benefitted from playing a weak schedule - especially in terms of Quarterbacks faced. While they both played against Jackson who was the MVP, other than he, Wentz and Dak.... how many of the rest would you even consider as top 15 NFL Quarterbacks at this stage?

 

I think the Bills defense could be just as good in 2020 and it would still give up more points, just as a result of the fact that the schedule features Mahomes, Rothlisberger, Wilson, Garoppolo, Murray and Goff rather than Haskins, Eli, Hodges, Brandon Allen and Mariota.

 

If he gets his longball going and hits 10 more big throws next year that's a huge chunk.  Gotta get some more of the short throws completed and Diggs will go a long way towards that. If our offense is scoring more and staying on the field our defense can spend less time on the field and maybe they do keep that ppg down where it was last year. 

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, BobChalmers said:

 

I'm with you on your general idea that the schedule is much harder, but Goff as a QB??  The guy is QB garbage - just behind Trubisky for the biggest bust in the last decade.  They covered up his play by stocking the roster - and are now suffering the salary cap and draft pick consequences.  Rams have a lock on 4th place in their division probably for a few years.

 

Garbage? I mean you can cover up garbage Quarterback play to an extent but to the extend of going to a Superbowl? To the extent of throwing 87 touchdowns in his first 4 years? To that extent that he holds the NFL record for the most completions in a single game? The Rams are in a tough division. Goff is not an elite Quarterback. But garbage? Come on now. did he have a more difficult year in 2019, yep, but if you watched the Rams last year they had the worst oline in the league, a dreadful run game and some pretty poor coaching and they went 9-7 in what we are both agreed is a tough division. The people who want to throw the Rams problems mainly at Goff's door should really watch more Rams games.

[Virgil]

16-0

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

 

If he gets his longball going and hits 10 more big throws next year that's a huge chunk.  Gotta get some more of the short throws completed and Diggs will go a long way towards that. If our offense is scoring more and staying on the field our defense can spend less time on the field and maybe they do keep that ppg down where it was last year. 

 

Yea, I still doubt it. I think the Bills defense will be more like top 5 or 6 this year rather than top 3 (and that 3 were a long way clear of the rest). I think the offense will be somewhere around 15th or 16th.

[aristocrat]

15 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea, I still doubt it. I think the Bills defense will be more like top 5 or 6 this year rather than top 3 (and that 3 were a long way clear of the rest). I think the offense will be somewhere around 15th or 16th.

 

i would hope for a higher ranked offense with the weapons added.   We should be top 10 and I would be really disappointed if we weren't

[Greg S]

3 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

 

i would hope for a higher ranked offense with the weapons added.   We should be top 10 and I would be really disappointed if we weren't

 

Two things with the offense 1) the OL needs to improve in pass protection and 2) Allen improving obviously. At the skill positions the Bills are loaded so if these two things happen then top 10 should be a given with a shot at top 5.

[GunnerBill]

I should add that the one thing I think is majorly in the Bills favour is a season without the normal prep time. We don't "need" a single rookie to start. And the only addition we made in FA that we "need" to start who doesn't already know the scheme and system is Stefon Diggs. Addison and Klein who are the two definite new starters on defense and Norman who is the next most likely are all walking into a scheme they know inside out. I wouldn't mind playing the likes of Denver, Oakland, Arizona and Miami who are going to have multiple new pieces they are trying to bed in early. Especially if there is a truncated camp and pre-season. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

I'll start with  ... I have not paid a lot of attention to teams gains and losses.  Hard to say indicates my uneducated opinion. Josh was a road warrior in 2-19 but I base that on the opponents faced.

 

Miami Dolphins    Improved -- Hard to say. Will they go with the rookie QB?   2 W
New England Patriots    Improved -- LOL  HELL no.    2 W
New York Jets    Improved -- Hard to say  1-1
Denver Broncos    Improved -- Lock has 5 games played and he was given "talent" but .... W
Kansas City Chiefs    Improved -- when you are on top ..... L
Oakland Raiders    Improved -- They are the Raiders   W
Los Angeles Chargers    Improved -- Tyrod Taylor at QB W
Arizona Cardinals    Improved -- Hard to say.  Young QB and the leagues oldest WR W
Los Angeles Rams    Improved -- Hard to say. they Goff factor -- In Buff W, in LA L
Seattle Seahawks    Improved -- Hard to say.  In Buff W, in Seattle L
San Francisco 49ers    Improved -- Jimmy G almost got traded.  What's that say for them?    In Buff W, in SF L
Tennessee Titans    Improved --  I like Tannehill but --- Come On Man  W
Pittsburgh Steelers     Improved -- Only with a healthy and efficient Big Ben.  W 

Edited April 30, 2020 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[SoCal Deek]

The schedule and opponents never turns out the way people think it will at first glance. It all tends to even out. The biggest thing that happened to boost the Bills schedule was Brady leaving for Tampa....and nothing is even a close second! We’re no longer going into September at 0-2. 

[J-GunJoshAllen17]

We have one of the deepest rosters in the league.  I feel this season the Bills could be like those Schottenheimer Chargers teams and have a great regular season.  I think 12-4 is very doable. 

 

Also I know the AFC got much better but the Bills have had so little turn over and the players they have picked up know the systems.  You also get Diggs instead of a first round WR, so you have a great WR in their prime instead of someone who probably needs a learning curve of a year or two.  I think these things are going to matter very much in this upcoming season where off-season activities are likely going to be limited.

Edited April 30, 2020 by J-GunJoshAllen17

[JaCrispy]

1 hour ago, aristocrat said:

It's all on Allen. If singletary stays healthy, moss better than Gore, and the true number 1 Diggs coming in doesn't elevate Allen we have a problem.  I'm expecting over 4k yards passing and around 30 tds passing from Allen.  If that happens we will win more than 11 games.  

While I agree Allen’s improvement will dictate a lot, I think something else that will be a major factor is whether or not McD takes the shackles off the offense...by that, I mean he needs to start pushing them to try to score 30 points a game, and not just 21...only then will Allen reach his fullest potential imo...

Edited April 30, 2020 by JaCrispy

[GunnerBill]

46 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

I'll start with  ... I have not paid a lot of attention to teams gains and losses.  Hard to say indicates my uneducated opinion. Josh was a road warrior in 2-19 but I base that on the opponents faced.

 

Miami Dolphins    Improved -- Hard to say. Will they go with the rookie QB?   2 W
New England Patriots    Improved -- LOL  HELL no.    2 W
New York Jets    Improved -- Hard to say  1-1
Denver Broncos    Improved -- Lock has 5 games played and he was given "talent" but .... W
Kansas City Chiefs    Improved -- when you are on top ..... L
Oakland Raiders    Improved -- They are the Raiders   W
Los Angeles Chargers    Improved -- Tyrod Taylor at QB W
Arizona Cardinals    Improved -- Hard to say.  Young QB and the leagues oldest WR W
Los Angeles Rams    Improved -- Hard to say. they Goff factor -- In Buff W, in LA L
Seattle Seahawks    Improved -- Hard to say.  In Buff W, in Seattle L
San Francisco 49ers    Improved -- Jimmy G almost got traded.  What's that say for them?    In Buff W, in SF L
Tennessee Titans    Improved --  I like Tannehill but --- Come On Man  W
Pittsburgh Steelers     Improved -- Only with a healthy and efficient Big Ben.  W 

 

The NFC games are @Arizona and @San Fran and home vs Seattle and LAR. I'd settle for 2-2 through those 4. Best division in football.

[Greg S]

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The NFC games are @Arizona and @San Fran and home vs Seattle and LAR. I'd settle for 2-2 through those 4. Best division in football.

 

The only game here that I think will be really tough to win is at SF. The other three are all winnable. I would settle for 2-2 at minimum but 3-1 is realistic. Last year it seems the Hawks had to rely on Wilson more so than in years past. They don't have the legion of boom anymore. That game will be in Buffalo as well. Hopefully its a 1:00 start as that usually gives WC teams trouble.

Edited April 30, 2020 by Greg S

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

The only game here that I think will be really tough to win is at SF. The other three are all winnable. I would settle for 2-2 at minimum but 3-1 is realistic. Last year it seems the Hawks had to rely on Wilson more so than in years past. They don't have the legion of boom anymore. That game will be in Buffalo as well. Hopefully its a 1:00 start as that usually gives WC teams trouble.

 

Seattle have an excellent record going east in recent years. I think we should beat the Rams at home. They have too many holes. After that both Arizona on the road and Seattle at home are winnable but they would be tough wins. I think 1-1 from those two is realistic. That makes the 49ers game a free swing and I don't think that is an impossible game for the Bills to win but is clearly going to be challenging.

[aristocrat]

26 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

While I agree Allen’s improvement will dictate a lot, I think something else that will be a major factor is whether or not McD takes the shackles off the offense...by that, I mean he needs to start pushing them to try to score 30 points a game, and not just 21...only then will Allen reach his fullest potential imo...

 

well how many times did allen chuck it downfield with a guy open and totally miss him?  honestly might be over 10-15 times. he connects on half or more of those and our offense is close to top 15. 

[Cal]

We won't be playing 16 games. May not play at all

[C.Biscuit97]

I love bleacher report! Smart people there.  Not like the snowflakes at failing ESPN. Sad!

[Gugny]

17 minutes ago, Cal said:

We won't be playing 16 games. May not play at all

 

Everything I've heard and read leads me to believe otherwise.  A full season (sans fans), with a later Super Bowl, seems likely.

[Radar]

7 hours ago, BruceVilanch said:

Pretty cool to see these write ups, fingers crossed we have a season!

 

 

It's quarterback Josh Allen's time to shine.

 

The Buffalo Bills acquired wideout Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings. In 2019, he became a big-play pass-catcher, logging 17.9 yards per reception.

With Allen's big arm, he and Diggs should connect on several deep balls next season. John Brown, who posted career highs in receptions (72) and yards (1,060) last year, will likely become the No. 2 option. The pair should challenge opposing defenses with speed and crisp routes downfield.

After allowing the second-fewest points during the last term, the Bills defense will look even better. Buffalo signed defensive tackle Vernon Butler, edge-rusher Mario Addison, linebacker A.J. Klein and cornerback Josh Norman, who are all familiar with head coach Sean McDermott from their time with the Carolina Panthers.

Addison is an upgrade over defensive end Shaq Lawson, who departed for the Miami Dolphins during free agency. The former has registered at least nine sacks in each of the last four seasons. Butler is coming off his best year with 32 tackles, including seven for loss, and six sacks.

Norman comes along as an added bonus for a pass defense that allowed the second-fewest touchdowns. If he performs at a level close to how he played in his standout 2015 campaign (18 pass breakups and four interceptions with two returned for scores), the 32-year-old would lock down the starting job opposite of All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White.

Buffalo added a notable playmaker for the aerial attack. The defensive group will likely remain in the top five in points and yards allowed. The Bills have a prime opportunity to take the AFC East crown.

Prediction: 11-5

I'll be elated with that given our schedule.

[Stank_Nasty]

2 hours ago, BobChalmers said:

 

I'm with you on your general idea that the schedule is much harder, but Goff as a QB??  The guy is QB garbage - just behind Trubisky for the biggest bust in the last decade.  They covered up his play by stocking the roster - and are now suffering the salary cap and draft pick consequences.  Rams have a lock on 4th place in their division probably for a few years.  You also left out Wentz and Dak from last year so a bit misleading.

Goff has made the playoffs in 2 of his 4 seasons. he already has a season of 3800 yds 28 td and just 7 int and then in their Super Bowl year he went for 4600 32 and 12 int. He had over 100 rating in each season. The dude has ONE losing season in his 4 years. 
 

I wasn’t a fan of his last year but calling him a bust, let alone one of the biggest of the decade, is an absolutely awful and uninformed take. 

[Tatonka68]

3 hours ago, ALLEN-2-DIGGS-TD!! said:

16-0 

You mean 18-0. SUPERBOWL!

[1ManRaid]

Kind of funny how BR used to be the garbage site and PFF was respected, with that having been flipped now.

 

I'd expect 11 wins but even 10 wins on the tougher schedule to take the division should finally have us on the "real team" radar.  Should.  Knowing the league's talking heads we will still probably catch crap for "only winning because Brady left and other contenders underperformed/choked".

13 minutes ago, Tatonka68 said:

You mean 18-0. SUPERBOWL!

19-0?

[Dragoon]

The more respect we get the more I worry. But, come what may, I trust the process. 

[njbuff]

19-0.

 

Anything less would be uncivilized.

 

?

[Mark Vader]

4 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Garbage? I mean you can cover up garbage Quarterback play to an extent but to the extend of going to a Superbowl? To the extent of throwing 87 touchdowns in his first 4 years? To that extent that he holds the NFL record for the most completions in a single game? The Rams are in a tough division. Goff is not an elite Quarterback. But garbage? Come on now. did he have a more difficult year in 2019, yep, but if you watched the Rams last year they had the worst oline in the league, a dreadful run game and some pretty poor coaching and they went 9-7 in what we are both agreed is a tough division. The people who want to throw the Rams problems mainly at Goff's door should really watch more Rams games.

I agree.

 

People should not dismiss the Rams, they are still a good team.

[billsfan89]

It's on Josh honestly. If Josh plays about the same as he did last season this team will win 10-11 games and be competitive. If Josh regresses then this is a 8 or 9 win team. If Josh can progress to being a top 12-9 QB then this team will win 12-13 games. The components around Josh are there, he has 3 quality receivers, decent TE's, a good promising RB duo, and a solid Offensive line. The Special teams which was mid-level last year added 3 specialists which should make that unit stronger and the defense should remain a top 5 unit in the league. It all comes down to how good the QB will  be. 

[Boatdrinks]

11-5 seems high with our scheduled opponents this season. I’m still expecting a range of 8-8 to 11-5 , with the actual record at 10-6.