2007 Record: 7-9
Points Scored: 252 (30th)
Points Allowed: 354 (18th)
Playoff Result: N/A
2008 Strength of Schedule: 115-141 (.449) (27th in NFL)
Strengths: Dick Jauron has done a very good job with this squad since being hired by the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills were your classic effort team in 2008. Despite ranking 30th in yards gained and 31st in yards allowed, they were able to make enough plays to win some games.
Critics will point to their 7-9 record as being the result of four combined wins over the Dolphins and Jets. Still, other than the Patriots games, Jaguars, and Steelers the Bills played most of their schedule fairly competitively. They were beaten by the Dallas Cowboys in the game’s closing seconds. They beat a playoff team in Washington. This is a team that was able to give teams fits with their hustle and effort.
The Bills have some quality pieces as well. Lee Evans could be a great receiver if he could get the right quarterback situation. Jauron had a very good rookie campaign and is expected to do big things in year three. Fred Jackson was a quality back up at RB. Edwards played some good minutes and will be competing with Losman for the starting job. Edwards should be the favorite to earn the starting nod.
On defense Aaron Schobel is always considered one of the leagues better defensive ends. The kicking game is pretty solid. Rian Lindell was 24-for-27 in 2007. Brian Moorman had grossed as high as 45.7 in 2005 was down to 40.8 in 2007. Roscoe Parish is a promising WR/return man entering his fourth year in the league.
Weaknesses: While the Bills had a nice season, they need to get more talented players if they want to take the next jump. They were anemic on offense and the defense was not good enough to carry the team. The Bills did a nice job of upgrading their defense in the offseason.
Marcus Stroud is a nice addition to the defensive line. They also added Spencer Johnson to shore up the DT position. The Bills drafted DE Chris Ellis to improve the defensive line. They signed Kawika Mitchell away from the World Champion NY Giants. He should help the linebacker spot.
Finally, the Bills signed William James and drafted Leodis McKelvin and Reggie Corner to improve the secondary. If these moves pan out, the Bills defense will be a much better unit in 2008.
However, the Bills didn’t completely ignore the offense. They drafted wide out James Hardy out of Indiana in the second round. He should make a nice compliment to established starter Lee Evans. The Bills are gambling that their young offensive starters will continue to progress and will be aided by a much stronger defense that will keep them in most games.
Prediction: The Bills did make several additions that should improve this team. However, I do not believe they have caught up to the Patriots yet and the NY Jets were as active as any team in the league in free agency. The Dolphins have also been busy. I don’t expect the Bills to go 4-2 in their division in 2008.
The Bills do have some winnable out-of-division games in the Raiders, Chiefs, 49ers, and Rams. I expect the Bills to be right around 7-9 or 8-8 in 2008. If the Bills finished slightly ahead of the NY Jets, that would not surprise me. If the Bills ended up tied or slightly behind the Jets, that too would not surprise me.
The bottom line is that I think both the Bills and the Jets are both teams hovering around .500 and both have a ways to go before entering the playoff discussion in the very deep and talented AFC.
Buffalo Bills Record: 7-9 – AFC East Third Place; No Playoffs
4 Miami Dolphins
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