2014 Bills NFL Handicapping
Bills Hope Young Stars Can Help End Record Playoff Drought
The Buffalo Bills have missed the playoffs a league-high 14 straight seasons. The franchise is for sale and with its future in the Buffalo area uncertain, fans are hoping this is the year their team finally puts it all together and ends that drought.
2014 Buffalo Bills Team Preview/Predictions
- 2013 Record: 6-10
- ATS Record: 8-8
2014 Bills Futures
- Super Bowl Odds: +6600
- Conference Odds: +3300
- AFC East Odds: +1100
- 2014 NFL Regular Season Wins: Over 6.5
The roster is loaded with talent – particularly on the defensive line – but whether or not the Bills are able to turn things around and reach the postseason will come down to how quickly a handful of young stars can reach their potential at the NFL level.
Head coach Doug Marrone did an excellent job establishing a culture in his first season as the head coach in Buffalo, and the organization feels this team is ready to contend now.
The Bills traded two first-round picks to move up and select wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the fourth-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and they hope that he can be an immediate threat along with second-year pros Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin in an improved passing game. Quarterback E.J. Manuel showed flashes of his ability in his rookie season and the addition of Watkins gives him another weapon to stretch the field and show off his live arm.
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Buffalo added guard Chris Williams in free agency, hoping he can be an upgrade, but the depth isn’t strong along the offensive line. It will once again be vulnerable if injuries become an issue.
The Bills will bank on one of the NFL’s best running back tandems in Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, hoping they can continue to push the offense, and take some pressure off Manuel and the passing game as it progresses.
Ultimately, improvement on offense will depend on the young stars and how well the offensive line can hold up and protect Manuel.
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The Buffalo defense established itself as a top-10 unit a year ago, beginning with one of the best defensive lines in football.
The Bills led the AFC with a franchise-record 57 sacks as Kyle Williams, Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, and Jerry Hughes were a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
That group will have to be just as good or better to make up for the loss of safety Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd and linebacker Kiko Alonso, who suffered a season-ending injury in camp. The addition of Brandon Spikes will help against the run but Alonso was a rising star that can’t be replaced.
Cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Leodis McKelvin are standouts at the position but Da’Norris Searcy will have a tough time taking over Byrd’s safety spot. At strong safety, Aaron Williams has work to do after moving over from the cornerback position.
The Bills have made it clear they want to compete for a playoff spot now, and they proved a year ago that they are on the right track.
Improving on the six wins they posted last season shouldn’t be a problem if they can stay healthy but whether or not they are able to end their postseason drought will ultimately come down to the offense and the development of young stars like Manuel and Watkins.
2014 Bills Predictions
- Place they’ll finish in AFC East: 3rd
- Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 10th
- Over/Under Wins Prediction: OVER
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