For the first time in a decade, the Buffalo Bills were able to have what was so difficult and elusive for their franchise for some time, a winning season.
Finishing out 2014 with a record of 9-7, the Bills were a classic case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Buffalo upset playoff caliber teams such as the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, but were defeated by teams who heavily struggled in 2014, such as the Oakland Raiders.
Despite missing out on the playoffs for the 15th straight season, the Bills had a year in which visible improvement was made. Things look to be heading in the right direction for Buffalo.
Buffalo, in this writer’s mind, looks to be a dark horse in the AFC playoffs, while continuing their upward trend. This trend’s upward movement will stem from two key moves thus far.
First, being hiring a new head coach.
Despite interest from the Atlanta Falcons, the Bills were able to bring in HC Rex Ryan. Ryan fills the hole left by Jim Schwartz and Doug Marrone in a number of ways. Say what you want about Rex Ryan, the man knows defense.
As much as Ryan’s former team, the New York Jets, have struggled in recent past, the defense remained a formidable force. Per Pro Football Reference, the Jets defense allowed the least amount of rushing yards per attempt of any NFL team in 2013. In addition, the 2014 Jets defense was an impressive sixth in the total yards allowed category amongst all NFL defenses.
Buffalo, as mentioned earlier, had a good deal of defensive success in 2014, before even hiring Ryan. Buffalo’s defense was fourth in both points (18.1) and yards (312.2) allowed along with being ranked number one in the league for sacks (54.0).
Once Ryan is able to get his hands on this Buffalo defense, the sky is truly the limit for what this team can accomplish.
The second key move that has put Buffalo on course for success is one of the most blockbuster trades in recent memory: McCoy for Alonso.
While blowing up Twitter in the process, Buffalo was able to acquire one the league’s best running backs in LeSean McCoy. In exchange, the Bills did give up a young talented linebacker in Kiko Alonso, however Buffalo’s defense had plenty of success without him, who missed all of 2014 with a torn ACL.
In some people’s eyes, McCoy did not have his best year in 2014. However, even while not playing his best and offensive line issues in Philly, he was still fourth in the league for rushing yards.
Maybe, for some reason this isn’t considered his ‘best year’ because the year prior, McCoy led all running backs in the NFL with 1,607 yards on the ground, and had the most yards from scrimmage of any player in the NFL, running back or wide receiver.
Ask any Eagles fan, McCoy is a weapon. He has home run capability any time he touches the ball, and is a workhorse back that can take away the burden off a quarterback, something Buffalo, at least in the moment needs in a big way.
Of course, Buffalo has needs to address, such as stopping the run more effectively and finding a quarterback who can put their team in a position to win. However, with the moves made thus far before free agency has occurred, it looks as if things seem to be all go for Buffalo.
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