Reasons to BILLieve: Buffalo Bills Will Have Strong QB, Improved Defense in 2008

As you have most likely read, the 2007 Buffalo Bills showed great resilience, hard work, and passion. Yeah, yeah, Bills fans have heard that ever since that Miracle went down in the Music City.

Also, what you have read in all the similar articles is the fact that despite all the resilience, hard work, and passion, the Bills remained a team watching the NFL playoffs for a 8th straight year from their HD television sets during the bitter, cold winter months in Buffalo.

The Queen City of Buffalo can no longer deal with the Bills always being considered the hard nosed team who just feel short, or live by the term " there's always next year ".

The fan base in and around Buffalo, (I think there might be some fans in Toronto) are known as some of the most passionate fans in the NFL, enduring sub-zero temperatures, freezing rain, and more importantly, heart-breaking disappointments year in and year out.

They need to be rewarded with a team that can contend not only for a Wild Card, or an AFC East title, but in the entire conference.

Alright, now that you read a preface that you could find on basically every sports site from just about every "expert", (as they all are predicting basically the same thing) about the Buffalo Bills in 2008, here are the true, concrete reasons for Buffalo Bills fans to "Billieve" in 2008.

1. Trent Edwards will grow into a QB who can get the job done: He showed veteran-esque poise in the pocket and displayed the ability to read the defense with greater effectiveness than fellow QB JP Losman. This year he will only get better.

I will compare him to a mini Ben Roethsliberger. During Big Ben's Super Bowl campaign he rarely filled up the stat sheet, but did three things very well. Hand the ball to an accomplished running back, be decently effective in the Red Zone, and avoid throwing INTs in crunch time.

Edwards will continue to hand the ball to Lynch, dump the ball to TEs, and with 6 foot 6 James Hardy now in the picture, he will continue to improve in the Red Zone. FINAL PREDICTION: 3000 YDS, 19 TDS, 10 INTS

2. Marshawn Lynch will have a Marshall Faulk type year: This is not speculation here; what do you get when take a punishing 1,100 yard rookie rusher, keep the same offense line, and soften up his schedule? You get a stronger, more experienced back who can carry a team, literally.

With Turk Schonert at the helm on the offensive side along with Marshawn building off last year's success, it doesn't take a rocket scientist, or in this case John Clayton, to realize that Marshawn Lynch will be even more successful in 2008.

Teams will not be able to put eight guys in the box as the passing game won't be spectacular but will be good enough to take some pressure off. FINAL PREDICTION: 1,450 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving 13 total tds.

3. The defense will be greatly improved: Ok, your thinking, I've seen this everywhere and I don't need someone to tell me that with the additions of Marcus Stroud, Spencer Johnson, Will James, and top draft pick Leodis McKelvin the Bills defense will be improved.

What I am telling you is that although you have read about how the Bills defense ranked very low against the pass and rush, those numbers are based on yards per game. The Steelers, Patriots (two times), and Jags were the only games the Bills defense did not "keep them in the game".

The offense surely didn't have much fire power, and in the other 14 games the "30th" ranked defense was tight in the red zone, and made clutch plays that the offense couldn't capitalize on. So with all the above additions the defense will not give up nearly as many yards, and will become more stout inside the 20s. With the injury plague that hit the defensive unit, backups gained much needed experienced and shined more often than not. (George Wilson, John Digorgio) Couple all these variables together, and you have a good defense that will be able to substitute and keep legs fresh without losing much. FINAL PREDICTION: 20 ppg opponents. "Rank" 12th in total defense.

4. James Hardy will get the job done: No people I'm not talking a Randy Moss-like rookie year. I mean 50 to 60 catches with more than 5 TDs, and that's all Bills fans can ask for.

This will happen. Any 3rd string Qb can throw a 10 yard lob, and any six foot six receiver can catch a ball over a five foot ten corner back. He will eliminate double coverage on Lee Evans, and will open up the middle of the field for speedy Roscoe Parrish. Hardy is the missing link. FINAL PREDICTION: 51 catches 650 yards 8 TDs.

5. The Bills will be in the Playoff hunt in the final week of the season: Yes, this seems like the case for the past two years, but this year the Bills will be fighting for positioning, not fighting for their lives. Games against Miami (two), St Louis, Oakland, Denver, and Kansas City will help a young team gel even more and will create excitement again in the city of Buffalo.

Yes, Bills fans, there is more than just hope this year for your team, there is a great possibility.

FINAL PREDICTION: 10-6 5th spot in AFC

Loses: San Diego, New England (once), Arizona, Jacksonville, 1 other "bad" game

Let me know what everyone thinks about my first article, looking at the state of the Bills