Overview: The Bills finished off last year with a 6-10 record, good for last in the AFC East. They got off to a hot start at 5-2 and won the Week 3 Super Bowl against the pats that had them crowned as a new threat in the AFC. Alas, the way only the Bills can, they plummeted to the cellar like a ton a bricks. With the
Expectations: They overpaid Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, picked up Stephon Gilmore (solid) and Gordy Glenn (even though they are going to have him play LT when everyone else in the league said he was a RT/G) in the draft. Analysts and Bills fans are very excited and think they have a chance to challenge the Pats this year. Personally, I'm in a I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it with the Bills. Fitzpatrick got paid ($59 mil/4yr 24 guaranteed) and then sucked (14 TD 7 picks before, 10 TD 16 picks after) and somehow everyone thinks he is magically going to be good this year? I don't see it. They picked up Williams, who is legit, although overpaid, but the Anderson signing doesn't do anything for me. I watched him a lot last year (obviously) and he had the quietest 10 sacks of all time. He basically was Tully Banta-Cain (10 sacks in 2010) and he is no longer in the league. They picked him up to be their full time DE after he played in a pass rushing specialist last year (the only role he has ever thrived in) and spent $7.9 mil guaranteed on a 4 year $19.5 million dollar deal. Sounds like trouble.
Predictions: I do think Mario Williams makes them a win or two better than last year, and Gilmore definitely can't hurt their secondary. But, I do not see them making this quantum leap everyone says they are going to make. They got better on defense (look for Marcell Dareus to be a force in his 2nd year), and maybe when Fred Jackson comes back and they have CJ spiller they can get a little better on offense, but I think Fitzy limits them. The whole season hinges on his arm and his ability to take that next leap, I don't see it though. I give them a solid 8-8, and just because the AFC East appears really down this year and they should get at least 3 out of 4 against the Jets/Dolphins.
What they have to do to scare me: Fitzpatrick makes the leap to the top 10 top 5 caliber he showed at the beginning of last year. That vaunted defensive line of Dareus, Williams, Anderson, and Kyle Williams comes through and dominates and their secondary improves to make them a top 10 defense. It is possible, and the biggest thing is Fitzpatrick, which is why I say this season hinges on his arm.
The Bills are soft, and their coaching is soft. They fold late in the season. It will be the same story this year...
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