The 2021 NFL season is right around the corner, so it's time we start previewing NFL seasons. We will start with the AFC East.
The first team that we will go through is the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills are set for the most part on offense. Josh Allen is looking like a legitimate MVP candidate and is more than likely looking at a long-term extension ahead of the season, as hinted by Sean McDermott. He's a top 5 quarterback in the NFL, possibly even top 3. Stefon Diggs put up an amazing season in his first year in Buffalo. Cole Beasley is prolific from the slot. Gabriel Davis is set for a breakout year. Emmanuel Sanders is a nice addition to the team.
The question regarding the skill positions is if Devin Singletary can step up at the ground game, and if Dawson Knox steps up at tight end. Maybe they bring in Zach Ertz, who has been linked to the Bills based off of trade rumors.
Defense is the biggest concern, surprisingly. They finished in the middle of the pack after having the 2nd best defense in 2019. Although there is confidence in the secondary with Tre'Davious White leading the charge, can there be a consistent pass rush? The team leader in sacks last season was a two-way tie between AJ Klein and Mario Addison, who had 5 sacks each.
Schedule
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, September 12, 1:00 PM on CBS
This game can see the Bills doing work against an offensive line with question marks outside of Kevin Dotson. Also, Ben Roethlisberger is likely in his final season in the league. While it's not known how well he will do, the Steelers now have Najee Harris, a versatile back, running the ground game. And while the Steelers lost Steven Nelson, Bud Dupree, and Mike Hilton defensively, they still have a top 5 defense in the league. Even if this is going to be a tough game, the Bills are still one step ahead of the Steelers.
Week 1 score: Bills 24, Steelers 20
Week 2: @ Miami Dolphins
Sunday, September 19, 1:00 PM on FOX
If the Dolphins and Patriots were to have a chance at competing with the Bills for the AFC East, it's likely they may split, and it could end up with the home teams winning. This is one of those cases. Last season, the Dolphins finished a 10-6 season by winning five of their final six home games. This is part of what Brian Flores has done to establish a perennial playoff contender. Expect this to be taken to the next level this season.
Week 2 score: Dolphins 31, Bills 27
Week 3: vs. Washington Football Team
Sunday, September 26, 1:00 PM on FOX
This could be a good indication of where Washington is at. Speaking of that, the trajectory that the Bills are at right now is something that Ron Rivera, a defensive-minded coach, envisions with Washington. The disadvantage that Rivera has is that it is not known who their starting quarterback will be (either Ryan Fitzpatrick or Taylor Heinicke), and they're not at the point of coming away with a victory in Buffalo yet. The biggest reason why this game will be close in the first place is Washington's defense.
Week 3 score: Bills 17, Washington 13
Week 4: vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, October 3, 1:00 PM on CBS
This should be an easy win for the Bills given that the Texans are not only a raging dumpster fire but also are at risk of having Deshaun Watson placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list pending final decision. They're literally on the brink of looking at an 0-17 season. No kidding. That means Josh Allen could have a chance at a 158.3 passer rating in this game.
Week 4 score: Bills 48, Texans 7
Week 5: @ Kansas City Chiefs (SNF)
Sunday, October 10, 8:20 PM on NBC
In a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game, it can be given that the Bills would want to make a statement at Arrowhead. That statement will happen, but even so, it's not enough to take out Patrick Mahomes and co. The Chiefs have upgraded their offensive line in the offseason with the acquisitions of Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney. It will still end up in a high-scoring affair, so there's that.
Week 5 score: Chiefs 34, Bills 31
Week 6: @ Tennessee Titans (MNF)
Monday, October 18, 8:15 PM on ESPN
If you're looking for a game that has offense, offense, and even more offense, this is the game you would want to tune in to. Both teams don't really have an elite pass rush, which puts both offenses on an advantageous situation. The Bills are the preseason favorites to win this game, although the fact that the Titans have homefield advantage might give them a slight boost.
Week 6 score: Titans 27, Bills 24
Week 7: BYE WEEK
Week 8: vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, October 31, 1:00 PM on CBS
The division rivalry games last season could not be any different from this season. In Week 2 of last season, the Bills beat the Dolphins 31-28 in South Beach, followed by a 56-26 curbstomping by the Bills in Week 17 in Buffalo. Although it is likely that the two teams split the season series this time around, and while the Dolphins have improved offensively in terms of speed, they still don't have the talent to defeat the Bills in Buffalo.
Week 8 score: Bills 35, Dolphins 23
Week 9: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, November 7, 1:00 PM on CBS
The Josh Allen Bowl. Both teams have a player named Josh Allen, but the Bills have the better and more valuable one. Although the Jaguars do have Trevor Lawrence and a solid wide receiver core featuring DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault, they don't have the talent to catch up with the better teams. Allen should pick apart the Jags, and Sean McDermott should implement lots of unusual looks for the Jags offense to keep pace.
Week 9 score: Bills 28, Jaguars 20
Week 10: @ New York Jets
Sunday, November 14, 1:00 PM on CBS
Competitive ball is the name of the game for Robert Saleh. That's done by elevating players by playing up to their abilities and keeping games close, even resulting in narrow losses. Emphasize this by the fact that they did have some defensive issues and that they will be relying on a rookie quarterback in Zach Wilson. But with the rise of Allen and with Stefon Diggs coming up huge, this should suffice for the Bills to come out on top in a close win.
Week 10 score: Bills 24, Jets 20
Week 11: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, November 21, 1:00 PM on CBS
There's not a lot of instances where the Colts will get involved in shootouts, but this could be one of those games. Both teams have good offenses, with the Colts getting a reclamation project in Carson Wentz. And while the Colts have a tough-as-nails defense, it might not be enough to stop one of the best offenses in the league.
Week 11 score: Bills 30, Colts 27
Week 12: @ New Orleans Saints (Thanksgiving)
Thursday, November 25, 8:20 PM on NBC
Expect the Saints to look very different this season with the retirement of Drew Brees and with Jameis Winston becoming the new QB1 in NOLA. They still have a solid defense and they might be able to contain Allen and co. to an extent, but not enough to stop them from coming out on top and not enough to catch up to them defensively.
Week 12 score: Bills 26, Saints 20
Week 13: vs. New England Patriots (MNF)
Monday, December 6, 8:15 PM on ESPN
When the Bills won their first division title since 1995, they swept the Patriots during last season, with the latter game being a 38-9 blowout at Gillette in Week 16. But now, the Pats have new weapons offensively, and have a new potential franchise QB in Mac Jones. It initially won't be enough to narrow the damage that the Bills would do in Buffalo, as Josh Allen and co. would prove too much for them.
Week 13 score: Bills 21, Patriots 16
Week 14: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, December 12, 4:25 PM on CBS
This is another possible roadblock during the Bucs' pursuit of the best record in the NFL this season. Both teams would want to put up a testament and show what they are made of in this game. But Tom Brady is no stranger to leading game-winning drives in the final minutes of a game. He has done this his entire career, and when he is put in that exact same situation in this game, he'll do it again to lead the Bucs to a statement win.
Week 14 score: Buccaneers 31, Bills 28
Week 15: vs. Carolina Panthers
Either Saturday, December 18, or Sunday, December 19, time and network TBD
The Sean McDermott Bowl. The Panthers' former defensive coordinator going against his former team. As it always has been the case ever since Cam Newton when he was in his prime, it is all about the quarterback position for Carolina. Sam Darnold is now with them after a disastrous three-season sting with the Jets, where he spent two of his three seasons under Adam Gase. In five games against the Bills during his time there, he threw for four touchdowns. But now that he is under head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady, he could see a change of scenery. Unfortunately, it's still not enough to get past Buffalo.
Week 15 score: Bills 27, Panthers 20
Week 16: @ New England Patriots
Sunday, December 26, 1:00 PM on CBS
Whether it's Cam Newton or Mac Jones under center for New England, the expectation is that they'll still have a hard time catching up to the better teams on their schedule. While both teams have issues on defense, the Bills still have the far better talented offense.
Week 16 score: Bills 28, Patriots 22
Week 17: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, January 2, 1:00 PM on FOX
Trading Julio Jones was just the start of the Falcons going on a rebuild. The team around them is weaker on paper than the Falcons teams of years past, and Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley, and Kyle Pitts can only do so much. But with both defenses in this game having question marks, and with Matty Ice still under center for Atlanta, don't be surprised if this one becomes a shootout. However, because this game is in Buffalo, Josh Allen and co. will do enough to pull out the home win.
Week 17 score: Bills 38, Falcons 28
Week 18: vs. New York Jets
Sunday, January 9, 1:00 PM on CBS
Robert Saleh is a way better coach than Adam Gase. The Jets have a promising young QB in Zach Wilson. The expectation is that the Jets pass attack should be exciting. But even so, they're still at least a year away from competing with the rest of the AFC East. And don't expect the defense to stop a red-hot offense led by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs
Week 18 score: Bills 31, Jets 21
Final Record Prediction: 13-4
Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Devin Singletary
WR: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox/Zach Ertz(?)
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Jon Feliciano (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Cody Ford (RG), Daryl Williams (RT)
Defense
DE: Jerry Hughes (LE), Mario Addison (RE)
DT: Vernon Butler Jr (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (WLB), Tremaine Edmunds (MLB), AJ Klein (SLB)
CB: Tre'Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
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