In recent years, the Buffalo Bills have firmly established themselves as an AFC elite team.
Buffalo has made the playoffs four straight years, winning the AFC East the last three. The Bills have made back-to-back Divisional Round appearances (2021, 2022), and they advanced to the AFC Championship Game in 2020.
Despite their accomplishment, they were unable to achieve their ultimate goal year after year.
With the AFC likely to be tougher than in previous years, NFL.com believes the only way for the 2023 season to be successful is for Buffalo to win the Super Bowl.
“The fact is the Bills entered last season as the most popular Super Bowl pick,” according to NFL.com. “But the goal is the same: win the Super Bowl. Anything less will be a letdown. And we aren’t going to pretend that it will be any simpler. In recent years, the Chiefs and Bengals have found success against the Bills. Now, clubs like the Jaguars and Dolphins could be gaining ground.”
A hypothetical Super Bowl run would most likely begin with Buffalo winning the AFC East for the fourth consecutive season, which will be a more difficult assignment than in previous years.
The Miami Dolphins are expected to improve if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy. The Dolphins’ defence should also improve with the additions of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The New York Jets’ offence should improve significantly after dealing for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, hiring offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and seeing running back Breece Hall return from a ruptured ACL. In 2022, New York’s defence was playoff-caliber, allowing the second-lowest points per game (18.6) in the league.
You also can’t write out the New England Patriots as long as Bill Belichick is the head coach. They should also improve on offence after rehiring Bill O’Brien, who has more expertise directing that side of the ball than his predecessors.
Last season, the Bills went 1-1 against the Dolphins and Jets, while winning both games against the Patriots. Despite the gains made by the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots, Buffalo has the potential to make a comparable breakthrough.
Safety Micah Hyde’s 2022 season was cut short by injuries after Week 2, and defensive end Von Miller tore his ACL against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Despite the injury, Miller remained tied for the team lead in sacks with eight.
Drafting tight end Dalton Kincaid will provide quarterback Josh Allen with a much-needed weapon, while signing defensive end Leonard Floyd will increase Buffalo’s defensive versatility.
Whoever emerges from perhaps the most difficult division in the NFL should be a Super Bowl contender. If the Bills and star quarterback Josh Allen can accomplish it for the fourth year in a row, it may indicate that they are more than ready to make the long-awaited Super Bowl push.
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