Can Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills get over the hump and win the Superbowl?
January 23rd, 2022. With thirteen seconds left on the clock, Josh Allen throws a strike over the middle of the field to a wide-open Gabriel Davis in the endzone. Bills take the lead 36-33. Josh Allen did everything right. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, he threw for 9 touchdowns, over 77 percent completions percentage and did not throw a single interception. The Bills won the game, they surely were going to meet the Bengals in Buffalo next week.
Sadly, this story ends in tragedy rather than triumph. Patrick Mahomes dissected Buffalo's preventive defence in 13 seconds to push the Chiefs into field goal range, ripping out the hearts of Bills fans around the country in the process. The Chiefs would eventually win the game off a masterful overtime touchdown drive by Mahomes. The Bills lost, despite doing almost everything right. They lost the game and their season ended without a trophy. The Bills had failed.
The Bills made it clear what their goal was for the 2022-2023 season, to win the Superbowl and redeem themselves from their 2022 failures. They signed Superbowl champion Von Miller from the Rams and pro bowl guard Roger Saffold from the Titans in free agency. The goal was to make a roster that was a Superbowl contender. Despite some early season struggles, the Bills made the playoffs with an elite 13-3 record.
Their first playoff matchup was their AFC East rival Miami Dolphins, playing with a third-string quarterback starting his first playoff game. While the Bills did go on to eventually win the 34 to 31. The game was far to close for comfort. Despite the win, the confidence of the Bills was low.
The next week the Bengals travelled to play the Bills in Buffalo. The field was covered in snow; the winner would go on to face Kansas City the next week. The storylines wrote themselves, if the Bills won, they could finally avenge their demons of the prior year and make the Superbowl. Instead, the Bills got blown out to end their season. Another failure of a season. The players looked deflated, but the message stood clear for the coming season. Win the Superbowl.
The Bills made signed many depth pieces through free agency to bolster their roster in hopes of a Superbowl in 2024. They resigned their major free agent Jordan Poyer, a rangy safety with great run support abilities. They did lose Tremaine Edmonds in free agency though, to the Bears, Edmonds being an inside Linebacker. However, considering his contract size the Bills were smart to let him go.
The bulk of the Bills' free agency was spent replacing and improving depth on the roster. The Bills signed running back Damien Pierce to be a split starter with rookie sensation James Cook. The signing also replaced their loss of Devin Singletary in free agency. The Bills also added rotational pass rush depth with the addition of Leonard Floyd, an elite third edge rusher. To finish important moves the Bills signed depth pieces in Taylor Rapp and Deonte Harry to back up the safety and receiver positions, respectively.
Like all teams, the Bills rounded out their roster further in the draft using their top three selections on a hybrid slot and tightend, Dalton Kincaid, a big mauling guard, O’Cyrus Torrence, and a potential day one starter in inside linebacker, Dorian Williams.
The Bills' roster has been constructed to win a Super Bowl. They are led by their superstar Josh Allen. Allen was drafted as a project quarterback has developed into one of the NFL’s elite signal callers. Allen creates worlds of problems for defences with both his rocket arm and accuracy along with Allen being one of the most devastating running quarterbacks with his massive frame and explosive running.
Josh Allen had a slight down year in 2022 after he suffered an elbow injury early in the year against the Jets. However, he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game who elevates his game in the postseason. If the Bills want to win a Superbowl, it will be on the back of Allen and his magical play.
The rest of the Bills' skill positions are elite as well. The Bills possess some elite receiving threats up and down their roster. The clear headliner of this group is Stephon Diggs, the former Vikings receiver who improved his game to being a clear top-ten wideout in the league. His elite footwork and route running makes him almost impossible to contain. Pairing him with rookie slot, Dalton Kincaid, and deep threat, Gabe Davis, makes the Bills receiving core one of the scariest in the league.
While the Bills offensive line is nothing special, they are well-coached and are a well-meshed unit that does better than expected. The Bills offensive line is especially proficient in the run-blocking game which helps their young running backs make the most of rushing attempts. The Bills running back tandem of James Cook and Damien Harris will serve as one of the more exciting split-back systems in the league. With Cook serving as the finesse and receiving back and Harris serving as the power, headfirst rusher.
On the defensive side, the Bills are just loaded. The Bills have one of, if not the best, safety duos in the league with their combination of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. Both safeties are hard-hitting and elite zone safeties. The Bills are rounded out by the exciting cornerbacks’ groups in the league, with former all-pro Tre’Davious White taking the corner one duty and sophomore Kaiir Elam taking the corner two reps.
The Bills front 7 is just as formidable. Headlined by edge rusher Von Miller, one of the best pass rushers of the 2010s, and Matt Milano, a deadly inside linebacker who made his first all-pro team last year. The pass rush is filled out with third-year Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones all of whom are elite-level players. Finally, the linebacking group is filled out with pass rusher Leonard Floyd and coverage backer AJ Klein both of whom are veterans looking to win a Superbowl.
The Bills surely have the roster to win the Superbowl in 2024, their roster is one of the best in the league. They have one of the best offenses in the league with elite weapons all over the field. The Bills have constructed an elite roster with elite rotational and depth pieces to fill the 53-man roster. The Bills' recent playoff runs have ended in heartbreak, but they can redeem themselves once again with a Superbowl in 2024.
