2022 Buffalo Bills Season Preview
Expectations are the highest in franchise history. Many Bills Mafia members are already slam-dunking a Super Bowl win, but we know sports don’t work that way. Despite a roster that is arguably better than the last two years when the team reached the AFC Championship and then should have again, the AFC is loaded, everyone will give Buffalo its best shot, injuries are always a factor and on and on the challenge list goes. Let’s preview the 2022 Buffalo Bills season.
Most improved unit: Defensive Line. The Bills brought back old friends Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips and welcome Tim Settle, DaQuan Jones and future Hall of Famer, Von Miller. Buffalo is hoping for breakthrough campaigns from youngsters Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham and A.J. Epenesa and even more from Ed Oliver. This defensive line is deep and versatile and is going to be a problem for the opposition. Remember, the biggest weakness of the Bills the last two years has been the pass rush. Going into 2022, that is now a major strength of the team.
Key rookie: Kaiir Elam. The standout from Florida had a great preseason game against the Colts and Buffalo is relying on him to likely start right away until Tre White gets back. Elam is long and strong and physical. He works extremely hard and wants it every play. Keep your eyes on Elam early in the season.
Key stretch: Week 1 until Week 7 bye. Buffalo’s schedule is daunting to start the year. They open the NFL season on 9-8 against the Rams on Thursday Night Football, then host the Titans on Monday Night Football, followed by games at Miami and at Baltimore, a home clash with Pittsburgh and then at Kansas City, with 13 seconds still fresh on the mind. While this schedule is hard, the Bills are really good and those teams have to play Buffalo as well. If the Bills can end 4-2 heading into the bye, it sets them up for a possible run in hopes of locking up home field advantage.
Marquee game: Week 7, Green Bay at Buffalo. It’s easy to keep saying Bills and Chiefs, especially after last year’s playoff thriller. It’s easy to say Titans and Steelers because of the revenge factor. It’s easy to say Rams because it kicks off the season. But it’s Green Bay for many reasons. It’s rare to see Green Bay in Buffalo. You face Aaron Rodgers. It’s the most storied team in NFL history. The fan bases share a similar passion for their teams and they live in similar climates with the same life mentality. How about on Sunday Night Football the day before Halloween? All boxes are checked.
Home field advantage game? The loaded AFC could have 7-9 teams eyeing home field advantage for the playoffs. Buffalo is one. Cincinnati is the other. They clash on Monday Night Football on 1-2-23 in Cincinnati. The Bengals went to the Super Bowl last year. This could end up being the biggest game of the season. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. Talk about quarterback heaven.
More on #17. Can Josh Allen actually get better? Last year he threw for 4,407 yards and 36 touchdowns. He ran for 763 more and scored six more TD’s. He was basically perfect in the playoffs against New England and Kansas City. His 2021 numbers are darn close to his 2020 stats when he and the Bills came out of nowhere and nearly reached the Super Bowl. Allen still gets a little wild at times but that’s the competitor in him. He’s a freak of nature at the position and many are saying he’s now the best QB in football. What’s his ceiling? Is he already there? How much can he improve? We all know there is one simple answer. Win it all. And if he does, Allen will become the #1 athlete in Buffalo sports history at the age of 26. No pressure or anything.
Get hot! After the Week 7 bye, as noted, Buffalo has Green Bay and then a bunch of games where they will be heavy favorites. At Jets, vs. Vikings, vs. Browns, at Lions, at Patriots, vs. Jets, vs. Dolphins and at Bears leading up to the MNF game in Cincinnati. If the Bills can go 7-1 in this stretch and stay above water at the start, home field advantage is very possible.
Free agents to be. Running back Devin Singletary, tight end Dawson Knox, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Jordan Poyer are all free agents at the end of the season. This could favor Buffalo in terms of the ultimate goal because huge production equals winning which then equals more money for all four in 2023 and beyond. Right now, we worry about 2022.
Key offensive player: Roger Saffold. The veteran guard signed a one year deal to help stabilize the Bills’ offensive line. He can play both sides and could provide the missing link on an offensive line that could dominate in 2022.
Key defensive player: Tre White. When will he be back from his torn ACL? His return creates even more depth behind him, obviously, because he is the #1 cornerback. The defense looks different when he is in there.
Projected record: 12-5.
Buffalo can win it all. The roster is that good. They have Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs and Von Miller and breakout players ready, plus a great front office, solid coaching and depth, balance and versatility. Can they handle the hype and expectations? They seem to welcome and embrace all of it. One game at a time, which hopefully leads to the big game at the end.
