The Bills are 3-0! No, Seriously

You don’t need to run to your optometrist, the Buffalo Bills are actually 3-0. No, you haven’t accidentally fallen through a rupture in the space-time continuum and ended up in 1992 either. It’s 2008, and the Bills are undefeated after three weeks of play.

                And it’s a safe bet they will be undefeated after four. I know that not many people are giving Buffalo the respect they deserve, and honestly, who can blame them? It has been a long time since Buffalo fielded a respectable roster. Recent teams have had enough moments of brilliance to tease us with hopes of a post season appearance, only to have them falter at the end of the season when the Bills have control of their own destiny. (Anyone remember that loss to the Steeler’s backups? Thanks Bledsoe. Or how about last season’s loss to the Browns in the snow? Isn’t that supposed to be our element?)

                Not many people outside of Buffalo “Billieve” just yet, and so what? I am personally happy to sail underneath the radar until it’s too late to do anything about it. Everyone is drinking the Dallas Cowboy Kool-Aid, and I say let them. Last year the Bills were depleted from injuries, young, inexperienced, and fielding an unproven rookie at quarterback, this year they are young, healthy, and hungry. What did Dallas do in the offseason that made them anything but older? I take Buffalo in a rematch for revenge.

                And with any luck, that is just what will happen. I know what you are saying, “Umm… the Cowboys aren’t on the Bill’s schedule.” You’re not yet seeing the big picture here. New England’s dynasty is at an end. The king has abdicated the throne with an illegitimate son for an heir. Peyton Manning is rusty, and his supporting cast is injured and not what it used to be. The Chargers are facing some ups and downs themselves, and the Steelers are human. The biggest roadblock to Buffalo’s fifth Super Bowl appearance in my mind is the Denver Broncos, and they are peaking at the wrong time of the season. Denver is a good team, but much like the Bills, who on that team is elite?

                We had some tough games against two teams that we should have routed in the Jaguars and Raiders, but nobody claimed New England wasn’t legit when they had to win against an inept Ravens team in the final seconds of the fourth. (And they should have lost that game if it weren’t for some horrible referee calls might I add) The two come from behind victories show something this team hasn't had in a while, heart.

                Our one critical flaw thus far is our running attack. We have a great running back in Marshawn Lynch, and a good running back in Fred Jackson. They both do well after first contact, but it would help if first contact wasn't three yards deep in the backfield. Buffalo’s line needs to start earning their pay, and holding their blocks. If we can pull a Green Bay Packers of last season and find our running game midway through, we will be on the fast track to an AFC Championship.

                I know it sounds crazy, and I know that it has been all we can ask for just to see the Bills go to the playoffs since 1999. Does anyone honestly want to see them go to the postseason only to lose in the first round? I didn’t think so. This Buffalo team has something, and if not this season, when? The AFC is up for grabs, and so is the NFL for that matter. With the power-houses in disarray, this season is ours for the taking. The Bills just need to ask themselves one question, “where else would you rather be than right here, right now?”

-Kurt Nolan