Twenty-five years. To some it’s more than their entire lifetime. Others may feel like it’s passed in the blink of an eye. Newborns have become dentists and twenty-somethings have become grandparents. In 1995 the Buffalo Bills were the AFC East champions, finishing with a record of 10-6. Tomorrow, the 2020 Bills already have ten wins heading into their week fifteen matchup against the Denver Broncos and can capture the AFC East title again with a victory or with a Miami Dolphins loss to the post dynasty Patriots. Any way you look at it, it’s been a long road to get here.
Streaking at the Right Time
The Bills come into Saturday afternoon’s matchup red hot, winning six of their last seven with their lone loss coming on a last second hail Mary against Arizona. Over those seven games they have averaged 29 points per game while giving up less than 22. Their last four victories have been by double digits and they are plus four in takeaways in the fourth quarter alone. They are coming off back-to-back wins against the 49ers and Steelers whose defenses are ranked 5th and 3rd in the NFL respectively, putting up 60 points in those two contests while allowing just 39.
Matchup with Denver
The Broncos face Buffalo having the 16th ranked total defense and 25th ranked total offense, scoring under 20 points per game. With Denver out of playoff contention at 5-8, they’ll be playing for professional pride collectively against the momentum of the Bills. The Broncos rushing game fares much better than their passing in an age where the aerial attack reigns supreme. Running back Melvin Gordon was acquired in the offseason and has over 750 yards rushing on just 162 attempts for a respectable 4.6 yards per attempt and six touchdowns. Second year quarterback Drew Lock has looked like he’s still figuring things out. With only 15 starts in his brief career, this year he has thrown for 13 touchdowns while also throwing for 13 interceptions in his ten starts. He’s completed less than 58 percent of his throws and averages less than 220 yards per game.
Bills Must Stay Focused
There’s no need for pre celebrations or laying out scenarios for playoff seeding yet. But the Bills are a very well coached and hungry, young team who look to change the culture that has been mired in mediocrity for the majority of the past 25 years. With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Bills must stay focused to continue to tick off their pre-season goals. The first of which can be accomplished tomorrow in Denver, clinching the AFC East title and punching their ticket into the post season.
