Six Steps the Buffalo Bills Must Take to Reach the Playoffs

(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The pressure has been on since the signing of Terrell Owens.  Ralph Wilson and company want the Bills to win and they want those wins NOW.  Dick Jauron is on the hot seat and must perform or he will most certainly be looking for a defensive coordinator spot come 2010.

With all the steps the Bills have taken towards putting their best foot forward this year there are still more that need to be taken before the playoff drought will over.

1.  The Bills must have a winning record in the division.  The Bills must break their losing streak against the Patriots.

What better a time to break their embarrassing losing streak to the Patriots then the first game of the year.  This would set the tone to what could be a huge year.  While this is not a must, having a winning record in the division is.  The Bills were embarrassed last year, going 0-6 in the division. 

While the Bills played close games against the Jets and Dolphins last year they both ended the same, a loss.  The Bills must win at least one game against each divisional opponent and hopefully more.  This would put the Bills in good position for tiebreakers within the division and would help out with their tough out of division schedule this year.

2.  Use passing threats to establish the run game.

With such an electric group of receivers this year all the talk is on the Bills passing game.  However as all Bills fans know it becomes hard to pass late in the season when the winds start whipping and the temperature starts dropping. 

The Bills will need to have established a powerful running game at this point in the season, much of this will depend on the all-new offensive line.  A solid running game would also take a lot pressure off of Trent.  The running game will open up the passing game and the passing game will open up the running game.

3.  Turk Schonert must change up the playbook.

Last year we saw a very conservative approach throughout almost the entire year.  The only situations where Turk would differ from the game-plan seemed to be at the worst times (passing late in the Jets game, running to set up a late field goal against the Browns).  This will have to change with the addition of T.O.

The Bills are going to have to stretch the field and take the extra defender out of the box for the running game.  Turk has said the playbook will not change much but I feel it needs to change a lot.  The Bills threw deep early in the season and it worked but as the Bills collapsed it was all short passes. 

With the addition of the No-Huddle offense, Turk needs to tire the defenses early and burn them later on.  This has potential to be one of the Bills best offenses ever, however they are limited to wherever Turk takes them.

4.  Sign Pisa Tinoisamoa or Levi Jones.

While signing both may be unreasonable or hard because of cap purposes the Bills must get at least one of these top notch players.  Levi Jones has battled injuries but has been a solid tackle when healthy for the Bengals. 

Adding Jones to the Bills line would take a rookie out of the starting lineup and add some veteran leadership.  Butler could remain at guard and Walker could play opposite-side tackle.  This would cure much of the uncertainty that is the Buffalo Bills offensive line.  Tinoisamoa would fit perfectly into the Tampa two defense Perry Fewell runs. 

A very light and quick linebacker who can cover and make tackles.  He would make the tackles Crowell would but cover the tight ends that Crowell couldn't. 

Lastly, Pisa would add to the depth of the injury prone Bills defense.  Last year we saw Bryon Scott playing linebacker because of the Bills many injuries.  With Tinoisamoa the Bills would have a solid backup in Keith Ellison.

5.  Keep Donte Whitner at Strong Safety and put Jairous Byrd at Free Safety.

The Bills hardly ever get interceptions.  Byrd has shown in college that he has a knack for finding the ball on defense.  Ko Simpson has provided little production and has often been criticised for giving up on plays. 

Although it would be risk throwing rookie in at free safety it is a risk worth taking if it supplies the Bills with much needed defensive takeaways.  Not to mention he would be playing across from one of the Bills best leaders in Donte Whitner.

6.  Coaching must keep the Bills in the game and not take them out of it.

Last year the Bills were sadly taken out of games not by poor player decisions but rather poor coaching decisions.  This has been a cancer for the Bills the past couple of years. 

These games are usually followed with Dick Jauron coming out after the games and explaining why the coaching staff made the poor decision and that it is ultimately his fault. 

This is the NFL and these coaches need to be the best of the best.  When looking at the great coaches around the league you see people that will always put their teams in the best position to win and never take their team out of a game.  Last year, two losses can be attributed to poor coaching decisions (Jets/Browns).  This year that cannot happen.

Following these steps I feel will put the Bills in the playoffs.  Something us Bills fans haven't experienced in a decade.  I'd say we're overdue.

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