Buffalo Bills 2009 Preview

The Bills had just stretched their lead on the defending NFC West Champion Seahawks to a comfortable 20-7 margin and were on their way to cruising to an opening day victory, when word broke about something that could have been far more significant to their season.

Over at Arrowhead Stadium, reigning MVP and Bills tormentor Tom Brady (he only threw for nine touchdowns in two games against Buffalo a season ago) had just sustained a season ending knee injury.

The window of opportunity was open.

The Bills would go on to win their next three contests, including come from behind victories against the Jaguars and Raiders in successive weeks, and before you knew it Buffalo had finished the month of September a perfect 4-0.

It seemed like everything was finally breaking the right way for a franchise that had seen more than its share of heartbreak for the past several years.

And then an ill fated road trip to Glendale, Arizona would begin to unravel the Bills season at the seams. Trent Edwards would sustain a game ending concussion at the hands of Cardinal star safety Adrian Wilson a mere three plays into that weekend matchup, and the Bills would be blown out of the building 41-17.

The Bills were like a prize fighter stunned at a violent jab, and while they defeated the Chargers following the bye week, a four game losing streak, with three of those losses coming to their other divisional rivals, would unravel the Bills chances at swiping a Brady-less AFC East once and for all.

After that fateful loss to the Cardinals, the Bills would drop eight of their next 11 games, including all six games against AFC East opponents, and a Bills defense that had started the year so surprisingly well would begin to crumble—surrendering 21 points or more in six of those final 11 contests.

The Bills offense also would not do its defense many favors towards the end of the season, as they failed to score a touchdown in three of their final five football games. Trent Edwards would begin to tail off in large part due to health, as he would throw eight interceptions to only three touchdowns in that aforementioned losing skid. J.P. Losman proved to be ineffective once again in relief, and the Bills rushing attack was disappointing after showing flashes of great success in 2007—with Marshawn Lynch barely rushing for over 1000 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008.

And so a window of opportunity and a great start to the season would be wasted, and with it, another teams disappointing finish to the 2008 season would lead to the Bills becoming one of the major stories in 2009 with the addition of a certain controversial free agent to be—one Terrell Owens.

2009 Free Agency Additions:
WR Terrell Owens (Dallas)
C Geoff Hangartner (Carolina)
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Cincinnati)
RB Dominic Rhodes (Indianapolis)
LB Pat Thomas (Kansas City)
CB Drayton Florence (Jacksonville)

2009 Trade Acquisitions:
None

2009 Offseason Departures:
G Derrick Dockery (Washington)
LB Angelo Crowell (Tampa Bay)
CB Jabari Greer (New Orleans)
C Duke Preston (Green Bay)
TE Robert Royal (Cleveland)
LB Blake Costanzo (Cleveland)
QB J.P. Losman (Unsigned)
RB Anthony Thomas (Unsigned)

2009 NFL Draft:
1-11. Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
1-28. Eric Wood, C, Louisville
2-42. Jairus Byrd, CB/S, Oregon
2-51. Andy Levitre, G, Oregon State
4-121. Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
5-147. Nic Harris, SS/OLB, Oklahoma
6-183. Cary Harris, CB, USC
7-220. Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia

2009 Outlook:
Undeniably, all eyes will be on Terrell Owens this season in Buffalo. The 35-year old wide receiver could be on the verge of playing his way out of the league if he continues to live up to the negative expectations that have clouded him his entire career.

With that said, if Owens can keep himself in check, he's still one of the better wide receivers in football if you can live w

• Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next

Single Page

The best Bills newsletter on the web