Buffalo who? That's right. After going to, and losing, four straight Super Bowls, the Bills have been like a light bulb that keeps flickering as its dying off. Finally, that light went off in Bills camp. In 2001, they won three games. In 2002, they looked like they turned the corner when they won 8. In 2003, it was back to the same old struggling Bills as they won 6. In 2004, they again looked interesting when they went 9-7. Last season, they struggled to win 5 games. Anyone else see a pattern here? If the pattern holds up, the Bills are going to win many games this season. Could they be 10-6?
History watchers will not be so quick as to write off the Buffalo Bills this season. Their schedule, however, says we should probably brace for a 5-6 win season out of the Bills. During the offseason, they lost some key players, perhaps. The potentially key losses were Justin Bannan to Baltimore, Lawyer Milloy to Atlanta, Mike Williams to Jacksonville, Sam Adams to the Bengals, Mark Campbell to the Saints, Eric Moulds to Houston and Trey Teague to the rival Jets.
However, it wasn't all losses. They picked up many players this offseason as well. Among the new Buffalo Bills players were Craig Nall, Andre Davis, Robert Royal, Larry Tripplett, Matt Bowen, Melvin Fowler, Matt Morgan, Kiwaukee Thomas, James Bethea, Aaron Gibson, Peerless Price, Tutan Reyes and Anthony Thomas. Let's take a look at their moderate schedule this season.
Week 1: @ New England Patriots
Week 2: @ Miami Dolphins
Week 3: New York Jets
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings
Week 5: @ Chicago Bears
Week 6: @ Detroit Lions
Week 7: New England Patriots
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: Green Bay Packers
Week 10: @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 11: @ Houston Texans
Week 12: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 13: San Diego Chargers
Week 14: @ New York Jets
Week 15: Miami Dolphins
Week 16: Tennessee Titans
Week 17: @ Baltimore Ravens
That's a pretty tough schedule for a team that was 5-11 last season. You can pick out about 5-6 games on their schedule that are against teams right on par with the Bills. The other 10-11 are against teams that should be at least slightly above their level. Four of their eight road games are against teams that should be good to very good this season?Bears, Dolphins, Patriots and Colts.
