2015 NFL Preview- Buffalo Bills

2014 Record:  9-7

 2015 Non Division Opponents:  AFC South, NFC East, Cincinnati, & Kansas City

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2014 in review:  The Bills shocked the NFL world with an opening day overtime victory at Chicago.  Then they settled into what they do best, which is being a .500 team.  EJ Manuel got hurt, and Buffalo turned the reigns over to Kyle Orton.  The veteran played much better than Manuel and the Bills were in the playoff chase right until they blew a week sixteen game against the Raiders, but things were looking up.

 

2015 offseason:  A day after the season ended, Kyle Orton retired.  Three days after the season ended, Doug Marrone opted out of his contract as head coach.  All of sudden the Bills had no coach and no quarterback.  Rex Ryan was hired as the new head coach, but they still don’t have a quarterback.  That’s par for the course with a Rex Ryan coached team.  Ryan and the Bills went out and made Rex’s usual moves. The first was the huge trade that brought LeSean McCoy from Philadelphia.  Percy Harvin followed Ryan up north as well.  Buffalo spent huge money on tight end Charles Clay, signing him to a 5 year $38 million deal.

 

2015 draft:  The 2014 trade up that netted Buffalo Sammy Watkins cost them their 2015 first round pick.  So the first Bill selected this year was in the second round, cornerback Ronald Darby from Florida State. No 2015 draftee is expected to make any contributions this year.

 

Player on the hot seat:  Pick a quarterback.  Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor, or EJ Manuel.  One of these gentlemen needs to be a competent quarterback for the Rex Ryan offense to work.  He’s a punchline now, but Mark Sanchez was just decent enough in his first two seasons that the Jets made it to two AFC Title games.  The wheels fell off after the running backs deteriorated in New York, but Rex thrives on competency under center.  Sadly, he hasn’t had that in four years, and I’m hard pressed to think he’s going to get it this year.

 

Players you want on your fantasy team:  Don’t be the guy who overpays for Sammy Watkins.  Do be the guy who overpays for LeSean McCoy.  The fantasy community is down on him, but McCoy is easily the best running back Ryan has ever coached.  The second best?  Thomas Jones in 2009.  His stats from that year?   331 carries, 1402 yards, 14 touchdowns.  Monster numbers.  Add in the catches McCoy can get out of the backfield and it’s a huge year.  I would not hesitate to draft him after the big five running backs are gone.  Or take a receiver and then get McCoy in round two.  Yes, Rex will run him into the ground, but not this season.

Season Prediction:  After last season, Bills fans had the right to be excited.  Now?  Their headlines are grabbed by their coach eating dog biscuits or signing players who punched their QB in the face.  They have no quarterback and no future.  Buffalo is not a popular sleeper team around these parts.  SFTB prediction:  4-12