Today is a special day in the hearts of Buffalo Bills fans, even if they don't know it. There are Josh Allen days (17, that is) remaining until the first game of the Bills season, which will take place on Sunday, September 8, when they host the Arizona Cardinals.
With 17 days remaining, I figured it was a good time to wrap up some thoughts on training camp, on expectations for the season, and on the state of the franchise as the Bills will put a bow on the preseason with their third and final game this Saturday. Here are 17 thoughts as we get ready for the regular season.
1) This is a retooling year, and Bills Mafia needs to accept that
It's hard to admit when your favorite team isn't exactly structured to compete for championships, but I think Bills Mafia needs to pull back the wool and take a good, hard look in the mirror. Success, this season, shouldn't be defined by whether or not Buffalo hoists the Lombardi Trophy next February, no matter what the players and the coaches will say.
Of course every team wants to win the Super Bowl, of course the players are going to give everything they have to achieve it, and of course Josh Allen is Josh Allen. He's capable of taking over games. But when you take a step back and look at things, I think it's fair to think that this team, inarguably, is less talented than it was last year. They're retooling around youth, eating bad cap situation now, and could be primed to enter free agency next year with plenty of ammunition to make substantial signings. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia did a great breakdown back in May on what some potential moves would look like leading to General Manager Brandon Beane having plenty of spending money.
2) There's promise in the wide receiver room
It still remains to be seen on the field, but I enter the 2024 season feeling optimistic about the wide receivers. I've said time and time again that I'm expecting a massive breakout from Khalil Shakir as a weapon that can play on the outside and out of the slot, someone that is entering the elite tier of YAC ability in the NFL. I believe he'll get fed plenty this season, and will reward the Bills for it.
The growth of Keon Coleman becomes a key piece of the puzzle for the Bills' plans on making it to a Super Bowl in the next few years. How does he fare on the outside? Does he emerge into an elite boundary/deep threat? That will be a massive storyline this season
3) Dalton Kincaid is special
I'm also on record having said this – Dalton Kincaid has the makings of an elite tight end . He was special in college, and what he showed as a rookie was spectacular. Kincaid has athleticism and talent to consistently win and find himself open, and has a pair of vice-like hands that catch everything thrown his way. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he leads the teams in targets this year as more of a receiving threat than a blocker. Kincaid is a cornerstone that this offense can build around for years to come.
4) Joe Brady's offense is going to choose their spots to fire it deep
Obviously no team reveals their entire playbook in the preseason, but I think it's fair to expect that this offense is going to feature a lot of lateral movement from the pass catchers, designing ways to get them open in space to let them use their abilities after the catch. Curtis Samuel and the aforementioned Shakir will be the two biggest beneficiaries of this, seeing designed touches on screens, mesh concepts, and other looks to make life easier on Allen. I think we'll also see heavy utilization from the running backs in the passing game, with both James Cook and rookie Ray Davis having the ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
5) Taron Johnson might be the most underrated player in the NFL
The slot corner is becoming all the rage in the NFL, and the Bills have, for my money, the best one in the league. Taron Johnson is the Swiss army knife of the Bills defense that allows it to do what it wants to do. Johnson is strong in run support, can line up against opposing wide receivers and tight ends out of the slot, and has terrific closing speed. He'll be an anchor on this defense for a long time.
6) Greg Rousseau needs to be paid, like yesterday
The Bills have already picked up the fifth-year option on defensive end Greg Rousseau, keeping him locked up through the 2025 season. The first round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft is developing well, registering 13 sacks over the least two years. He's athletic and has plenty of length at 6'7". Not only that, but Rousseau looked ready to go early in the second preseason game, getting 2.5 sacks on the Pittsburgh Steelers starting offensive line. If he continues his development and emerges as a top pass rusher, the price tag will only go up. It might be smart to get ahead of it and extend him sooner than later.
7) Could undrafted free agents make a name for themselves on the 2024 roster?
There's a handful of former undrafted free agents that are fighting for roster spots that have been shining through training camp, including running back Frank Gore Jr., and a pair of University of Buffalo standouts in cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram and linebacker Joe Andreessen. In position rooms that are dealing with injuries and have plenty of depth questions, we may see some undrafted free agents emerge as fan favorites – Andreessen, also known as "Buffalo Joe," is already doing just that.
8) Injuries are already a storyline – again
Last year was exhausting for the injuries that the Bills suffered through on defense, and unfortunately, they're picking up this year right where they left off. Matt Milano , one of the best linebackers in the league, is going to be out for a majority of the regular season dealing with a torn biceps. Can Dorian Williams, a 2023 3rd round pick, make a Terrel Bernard-like ascension? We'll see.
9) Safety play is an unfamiliar question mark
When Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer joined the Bills prior to the 2017 regular season, little did anyone know that they would provide stability and excellence at a position group for the Bills seven seasons. It's rare to have one safety be with a team for that long, let alone a duo. They continuously answered the call, acting as a part of the roster that Bills fans seldom had to even think about. Now with both of them gone, the safety position is in the spotlight . Taylor Rapp has locked down one safety spot, but the position group was marred by injuries all throughout camp and the preseason. How this group is able to hold up on the back end will be crucial, meaning...
10) Pass rush needs to get home
You know what can help out a secondary? A strong pass rush. We've talked about Rousseau and the potential for him to make a leap, but who else is going to step up? is Von Miller back to form? Is A.J. Epenessa going to provide consistent pass rush? This defensive line is now missing Leonard Floyd, who led the team with 10.5 sacks last year.
Ed Oliver is one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the league, which will have to continue. Oliver led the team in pass rush snaps last year, logged 9.5 sacks, and had 60 pressures. Of the Bills defensive linemen, his 13.4% quarterback pressure rate was only bested by Rousseau's 13.6%. Oliver's 9.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position was second-most in the NFL despite only having the 18th-most pass rush snaps from that alignment. He's going to be a big part of what the Bills do on defense.
11) The schedule isn't great
Buffalo has the 23rd-toughest strength of schedule this season, and they'll have to be in mid-season form right out of the gate with a tough opening stretch. Week 1 against Arizona is no cake walk. The Cardinals were very competitive last year and added rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr as their lead receiver. Then it's Week 2, on the road, TNF @ Miami, back home for the Jaguars, then three straight road games against the Ravens, Texans, and Jets.
The first six weeks of the season will set the tone for the second half. Week 7-10 give them a slight reprieve, then it's against the Chiefs, bye week, against the 49ers, at the Rams, at Detroit, before finishing with their last three games against the Patriots, at the Jets, at the Patriots.
It's not going to be easy. The Bills are going to have to get through the first six weeks in decent shape and make the most of the middle part of the season, and hope that the Patriots stay bad with their new head coach/quarterback duo.
12) Can we please get the throwback helmet?
I doubt it happens, but I'm ready for the throwback red helmet. Bills Mafia needs a little serotonin boost and this beautiful would do wonders.
13) The interior offensive line will have a lot of eyes on it
After moving on from Mitch Morse, the longtime veteran and staple at center for the Bills, the interior of the line is going to be under a lot of scrutiny. How will Connor McGovern hold up with his move to center, and more importantly, will David Edwards be a strong left guard? This has the potential to be one of the biggest question marks on the Bills roster throughout the season.
14) The Bills might have a kicking problem
Last year, Tyler Bass missed a crucial field goal that effectively ended the Bills playoff run against the Kansas City Chiefs, and throughout training camp, reports have been very spotty on Bass' performance, including a two-day stretch towards the end of camp where Bass was 8-14 on field goal attempts in practice.
That's far from good. Sean McDermott is saying all the right things, trying to instill confidence in their kicker as they head towards the regular season, but Bass remains a potential liability. With his contract, it's unlikely the Bills would cut ties unless Bass completely implodes.
15) The Jets will be a problem if they stay healthy
No Bills fan wants to admit it, but if the Jets are able to stay healthy (which is a big "if") then they have a potentially scary roster. Aaron Rodgers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when he's on the field, even if he isn't the most fleet-footed athlete on the planet. His arm talent and cerebral approach to the game are borderline unmatched, and his connection with wide receiver Garrett Wilson is like a budding romance. They greatly improved their offensive line, they have one of the best running backs in the league in Breece Hall, and their secondary is terrifying. They are not to be taken lightly.
16) We'll get to see Stefon Diggs in person
The saga of the breakup with Stefon Diggs will likely never go away, as long as he's still playing in the league, and especially if the Buffalo offense struggles this year and Houston flourishes. That, quite frankly, is one of my biggest fears heading into this season. Buffalo will get to link up with their old WR1 in Houston on October 6.
17) This season will be a test of character
The Bills enter the 2024 season with a ton of new faces. "The standard is the standard," McDermott said following their Preseason Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears. I think what I'm looking for early this season is the tone and the character of this team. Are they resilient? Do they battle? Do they carry themselves with energy? Do they play for each other ? Whether or not this team makes a deep run in the playoffs, it needs to be seen that the culture and the identity of this organization is in place, and that the coaches and players are bought in on that identity. If they are, and if this young core of playmakers grows and develops into something special, then they should find themselves in the territory of the elite teams in the next couple years.
Related: ESPN analyst's early 2025 NFL Mock Draft has Buffalo Bills selecting Ohio State talent at position of need
Follow along all season for all the latest Buffalo Bills news. You can also find me on X @JonHelmkamp .
Local Buffalo, NY
Most Popular
Comments / 0