Buffalo Bills Seek to Answer Legitimacy Question against Arizona

There is cautious jubilation in Bills country.

Yes, the team is one of only two squads to start the season undefeated.  And yes, the four opponents they beat up on have combined records of 4-11.

But more important than any record is that Buffalo, for the first time in a long time, is finding ways to win games early in the season.  It’s a weird position for Bills fans to be in.  Since their last playoff appearance in 1999, the Bills are 10-22 through their first four games.

Despite the early season troubles, the team has still made some late season playoff pushes.  Their best chance came in the final game of the 2004 season when all they needed to do was beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were resting their starters after having already clinched a playoff spot.  The Bills lost, and Drew Bledsoe was out of a job.

Now, as is the custom whenever a surprising team gets out to a strong start, the legitimacy question comes into play.  Yes, the Bills are 4-0 but…

For some reason, winning games that good teams are supposed to win does not register on the litmus test of legitimacy.  It is much more difficult for a team that was supposed to be mediocre to prove it is good than it is for a team that was supposed to be good to be accepted as mediocre.

The Dallas Cowboys were supposed to beat the Washington Redskins, but they didn’t.  Still, they are ahead of the Bills in the power rankings because the pundits think the Cowboys should be good, therefore their slip ups on the field do not hurt them too badly.  The Tennessee Titans, the other 4-0 team, have beaten teams with combined records of 3-12.  And the Giants, who are at 3-0, they almost lost to Cincinnati.

Buffalo has had some slow starts.  But, when it has counted, they have always come through.  That is especially impressive with a second year quarterback at the helm. 

Only four games into the season, every team has legitimacy questions.  The same criticisms people have of the Bills can be applied to all the top teams. 

Traveling west, the Bills will take on an Arizona Cardinals team on Sunday that is hungry to get back on track after losing two straight road games. Even with Anquan Boldin out, the Cardinals can be explosive.

Week five will help us get closer to answer the legitimacy question.