For years the New England Patriots have dominated the AFC East at will. They are still the clear favourites in 2018, but they have a dangerous opponent who won’t let himself be gripped. The New York Jets put their hopes into their new quarterback, the Miami Dolphins are counting on a returnee and the Buffalo Bills are looking for the way.
Balance sheet: 9-7.
Most important additions: QB Josh Allen, RB Chris Ivory, DT Star Lotulelei, LB Tremaine Edmunds, CB Vontae Davis.
Most important retirements: QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Mike Tolbert, WR Jordan Matthews, LB Preston Brown, CB Shareece Wright.
After surprisingly reaching the playoffs – the Bills’ first playoff since 1999 – they are basically back in Buffalo where they were a year ago: You don’t really know where you’re going. They separated from Tyrod Taylor and now let Nathan Peterman start surprisingly for many – the quarterback who had just made five interceptions before half-time on his debut.
As so often, the defensive line is the showpiece of the squad, just like the secondary, while all the other parts of the team are rather questionable. Particularly offensive.
To make the season a success, the running game over LeSean McCoy must work to keep Peterman’s back clear. Per se, however, Buffalo gets a quarterback in Peterman, who fits more into the ideas of head coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll than Taylor before. He’s more of a pocket-passer than a scrambler.
Buffalo’s playoff entry last year can be described as happy at best. To make it into the playoffs with less than ten victories per se requires a lot of luck and a lot of shortcomings of the competition. If the competition is less vulnerable, however, it becomes difficult for the Bills.
In sporting terms, the biggest risk is the quarterback position. Whether Peterman or Rookie Josh Allen start under Center is almost irrelevant. Both don’t look like safe benches. Compared to his catastrophe debut, however, Peterman has at least recorded an increase.
However, the question is whether this will be enough to raise the overall level – and whether, no matter which quarterback plays, the player behind a very holey offensive line gets a reasonable chance at all.
Defensively the Bills were in the last years also again and again injuries in the way, if it remains so, then it becomes difficult. The first suit should be strong, but the second raises questions.
Despite some changes in the squad, the Bills have not necessarily raised the level. Taylor’s departure is at least a downgrade for the time being, no matter who replaces him. In the offensive line three pillars of the past season are missing. While the rest of the division’s workforce increased, in some cases significantly, the Bills remained on the spot, so to speak. Forecast: 4th place in the division.
Page 1: Buffalo Bills
Page 2: Miami Dolphins
Page 3: New England Patriots
Page 4: New York Jets
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