Does The Addition of T.O Mean Playoffs For The Buffalo Bills?

As the 2009 season approaches there is one question on the minds of Buffalo Bills fans. Is this the year?

The year that ends the longest playoff drought of any current NFL Team (The Bills and Lions both last made the playoffs in 1999). 

After an up and down 2008 that started promising the fans are hungrier than ever. But realistically can the Bills improve on 7-9 and make a run to the postseason?

There is only one off-season move that needs to be looked at when looking at the Bills, the signing of Terrell Owens.

The addition of Owens will improve an offence that last season was stagnant and predictable.

The Bills ranked 26th in the NFL last season with only 14 passing TD’s. Owens alone should put that total in the 20’s.

Owens will also free up Evans from double and triple teams. Evans is an elite NFL receiver, and arguably the best deep threat in the game. But last year was bottled up by double coverage with safety help over the top. No receiver can get open under those circumstances. With Owens opposite field teams can no longer devote that attention to Evans.

What else is great about this signing is how well Owens complements Evans. The perfect deep threat with the perfect west coast offence receiver. Picture this, Lee Evans streaking down the field with a cornerback and safety following him, and Terrell Owens taking a 5 yard slant underneath, and picking up 30 yards after the catch.

It also helps the running game out. Last year Marshawn Lynch averaged 4.1 yards per carry against consistent 8 and 9 man fronts. With Evans and Owens teams can no longer put 8 guys in the box.

I think the Owens signing translates to a giant year for Lynch more than anyone. 
 He was already putting up Pro Bowl numbers when teams knew he was the Bills only weapon. Now that opposing defenses are forced to stay honest? Look out.

But will he be a distraction?

I am being very optimistic that T.O won’t be a headache and will be on his best behavior. Some see this as my Bills fan biased, but I assure I have not been drinking from the kool-aid.

Realistically what reason does T.O have to misbehave? He signed a one-year contract, meaning this season is an audition. He is going to want to get paid again, so if he puts up big numbers and behaves someone else will give him a big contract with next season. And one thing is for sure; the man will want to get paid.

But does the addition of one player translate to a playoff spot?

It’s tough to say, looking at the division it could go either way. The Jets have taken a step back by drafting rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, so they shouldn’t be a threat.

Another season like last years out of Chad Pennington seems doubtful.

It all comes down to the New England Patriots and what Tom Brady looks like. If he is the Tom Brady of old then the Patriots should run away with the division. But if he looks like Carson Palmer or Donovon McNabb did after ACL surgery then the division is for the taking.

And the addition of T.O could be the missing piece of the puzzle to get the Bills over the top.