With the NFL Preseason kicking off in exactly one month, we thought it would be the perfect time to preview all 32 NFL teams. This week we’ll start with the AFC East division. Today we’ll take a look at the favorite to win the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills had one of their best seasons in a long time in 2020 by posting a record of 13-3 and easily winning the AFC East division crown. Buffalo was perfect in divisional play with a 6-0 record. Young QB Josh Allen really came into his own last season, and that was a huge key to Buffalo’s success.
2021 Offense
Josh Allen has come a long way since entering the league in 2018. The 24-year old Wyoming alum threw 37 touchdowns and just 10 picks last season (Ourlads.com). Allen also ran for 8 more touchdowns and even caught a touchdown on a trick play.
Allen has some decent weapons to help him out on offense. The receiving crew is solid with Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, and Gabriel Davis leading the way. The Bills hope to get more production out of their running game in 2021 as both Devin Singletary and Zack Moss only put up average numbers last year. If the running game improves and Allen continues to develop, this offense could do even bigger things in 2021.
2021 Defense
The 2020 Bills defense ranked right in the middle of the league in defending both the run and the pass. The Bills only allowed 23.4 points per game last season which ranked 16th in the NFL. The secondary did a decent job as the Bills ranked 13th in passing yards allowed per game (232.9).
The Bills front office spent their first-round draft pick on an elite pass rusher from Miami named Gregory Rousseau. Rousseau sat out his 2020 season at Miami but was a major force to be reckoned with in 2019. The 6-7 265 pound defensive end had 15.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles during that banner year with the Canes. With Rosseau joining up with other prime pass rushers like Jerry Hughes and Ed Oliver, the Bills could rack up a lot of sacks in 2021.
2021 Special Teams
Kicker Tyler Bass was a pleasant surprise for the Bills in 2020. The rookie from Georgia Southern ranked 4th among kickers in total points scored with 141. Bass was also solid from long range by hitting 4 out of 6 attempts from 50+ yards.
The Bills special teams will definitely miss their punter from last season, Corey Bojorquez. Bojorquez led the NFL in punting by averaging nearly 51 yards per punt in 2020 but unfortunately, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams for the upcoming season. The Bills brought in Matt Haack from the Miami Dolphins to replace Bojorquez this season.
Buffalo plans to lineup speedster Isaiah McKenzie at both punt returner and kick returner in 2021. The former Georgia Bulldog only returned one punt last season but he took it 84 yards to the house!
