Can Buffalo climb the mountain?
Tom Brady’s departure from the AFC East – coupled with the other questions facing his former team – have opened the door to the possibility that a team other than the New England Patriots will win the division for the first time since 2008.
The team poised to make such a run? The Buffalo Bills. Coming off a playoff appearance of their own last season, the Bills might have put together a winning formula to step into the Patriots’ spot. It begins with their defense. Last season the Bills again finished as a Top 10 team in defensive DVOA, checking in at the sixth spot after a second-place mark in 2018. They are led by a pair of talented safeties in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, but truth be told this Bills’ defense has talent at all three levels. Bills fans are adamant that Tre’Davious White – and not Stephon Gilmore – is the best cornerback in the game, and they could have an argument. Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds are a nice young linebacker duo, and up front the Bills run guys like Ed Oliver, Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison at opposing passers.
Speaking of passers, that might be where the question lies. Josh Allen has perhaps surpassed expectations, but that is likely due to the consensus opinion on him coming out of the University of Wyoming. His athleticism ahs translated well to the pro game – as has his arm strength – but he still struggles with consistency. Especially in the downfield passing game, whch was his calling card in college.
Enter Stefon Diggs. The former Minnesota Viking was one of the most productive and dangerous downfield targets a season ago, and adding Diggs to this receiver room might give Allen the downfield threat he needs to improve that part of his game. If he can just be better than the passer that posted an Adjusted Completion Percentage on downfield throws of only 30.9% – ranking him 23rd out of 24 qualified passers – the Bills might just reach the summit.