Elite Defense Winning Games for Bills; Offense Must Be Prime Focus in Offseason

Even at 8-6, the Buffalo Bills find themselves on the outside looking in at the AFC playoff race with two weeks remaining.

This doesn't mean that Buffalo cannot reach the postseason (though it needs help), and it certainly doesn't mean that the franchise shouldn't be encouraged by the progress it has made this season. 

Buffalo has already notched its most wins in a season since 2004 (9-7) and has made a two-win improvement over last season. More importantly, at least in relation to the future, the front office appears to have clear direction, and the roster seems chock-full of top-tier building blocks.

Then there's that defense, which is playing a special brand of football here late in the season.

Heading into Week 15, the unit ranked fourth in scoring (18.5 points per game allowed), fifth in total defense (311.9 yards per game allowed) and fifth against the pass (212.8 yards per game allowed). Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks Buffalo third overall defensively.

This Buffalo defense is opportunistic too. Before Sunday's games against the Green Bay Packers, the Bills had logged 48 sacks, 17 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles. Two Aaron Rodgers passes were picked on Sunday and a sack-fumble-safety put the Packers away at the end of the contest.

This is a defense that also embarrassed the New York Jets in prime time in Week 12, forced the Cleveland Browns to pull quarterback Brian Hoyer in Week 13 and held master quarterback Peyton Manning to 173 yards passing with two interceptions a week ago.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who will face Buffalo in the regular-season finale, spoke about just how good the group is early this year.

"Obviously, the [defense] is playing well," Belichick said, via Erik Frenz of Boston.com. "They have a very good front. They have good depth. They play the run well, they rush the passer well, so they're obviously playing good techniques, and that's a credit to everyone."

In fact, it is pretty safe to argue that the defense is the only real reason why the Bills still have an opportunity to push for a playoff spot.

The offense has done just enough to win in most Bills victories (Buffalo averages 21.3 points per game this season) and has often been the reason for coming up short in losses. This is exactly why the offense has to be a major focus during the coming offseason.

While the defense has a number of cornerstone-caliber players—including Marcell Dareus, Mario Williams and Corey Graham—the offense doesn't have quite as much to build upon. Aside from the receiving corps (Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Scott Chandler are all solid), the offense could use some serious upgrading.

At 32 years old and with a checkered resume, Kyle Orton cannot be the long-term plan at quarterback. Considering Orton was called upon to replace second-year man EJ Manuel, there's a good chance that Manuel isn't the future either.

Oft-injured running back C.J. Spiller can't be counted upon, and 33-year-old Fred Jackson cannot possibly be the future at running back, even though he may still have a home in the Buffalo offense. Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown are both intriguing but inconsistent. 

The offensive line has a couple of promising young pieces (tackle Cody Glenn and guard Cyril Richardson have both shown flashed) but isn't overly impressive as a group (ranked 23rd in pass blocking, 30th in run blocking by Pro Football Focus).

Upgrading these positions, of course, is easier said than done.

With no first-round pick due to the trade to acquire Watkins, Buffalo definitely isn't guaranteed to find an immediate starter at quarterback in the draft. Finding one better than Orton in free agency might be a tall order as well. The list of pending free agents is headlined by the likes of Jake Locker, Brian Hoyer, Michael Vick and Mark Sanchez. 

Taking a chance on a rookie like UCLA's Brett Hundley or Baylor's Bryce Petty remains a possibility, of course.

The list of potential free-agent linemen looks a little better with guys like Mike Iupati, Bryan Bulaga and Doug Free schedule to become available.

Targeting a young running back like Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah or Miami's Duke Johnson (assuming he declares) in second or third round the draft makes a ton of sense. However, there are potential free-agent targets—including Mark Ingram, Stevan Ridley, Travaris Cadet and Shane Vereen—worth examining.

Adding a pass-catcher in free agency is another enticing possibility, even if it isn't the most pressing need offensively. Prospective free-agent receivers include Demaryius Thomas, Jeremy Maclin, Dez Bryant, Torrey Smith, Wes Welker and Michael Crabtree. Tight ends could include Julius Thomas, Jordan Cameron, Charles Clay and Jermaine Gresham.

With a year left on Orton's contract, the Bills' best bet may be to turn back to him for 2015 while bringing in a rookie prospect or continuing to try to develop Manuel. Toss in one or two productive free agents and a couple of offensive draft picks and Buffalo should be able to make some strides on that side of the football, even it it doesn't take a massive leap.

If the Bills defense continues to play at an elite level, small offensive steps should be enough to make the Bills a legitimate playoff team. If Buffalo can add a franchise-caliber quarterback to the mix here in the next couple of years, this is a team that should become a perennial contender.