Over the past two seasons, the Buffalo Bills have forged a reputation as one of the elite teams in the National Football League.
In 2020 they won 13 games and advanced to the AFC Championship Game when they blew an early 9-0 lead and fell to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last year, Buffalo had some rough spots during the regular season, but it still finished 11-6, only to suffer a heartbreaking overtime defeat to the Chiefs in a Divisional Round game that was an absolute shootout.
Travis Kelce game winning TD in OT! Bills Chiefs best game of the Playoffs! #NFL pic.twitter.com/CvtBEHBa3o
— OutInTheField (@OutInTheField1) January 24, 2022
With the rest of the conference looking considerably stronger, some are wondering whether the Bills’ Super Bowl window is closing.
It Will Be Tough For The Bills
On one hand, Buffalo boasts one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks in Josh Allen, who, according to plenty of observers, is the favorite to win next season’s MVP award.
With 4,407 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 763 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns in 2021, Allen proved that his breakout campaign the year before was no fluke.
However, the Bills aren’t the only sheriffs in town anymore.
The Los Angeles Chargers have massively upgraded on the defensive side of the ball, adding elite pass rusher Khalil Mack and promising cornerback J.C. Jackson.
They will certainly give L.A. the tools to make life tough for Allen.
The Las Vegas Raiders can also do the same thanks to the signing of Chandler Jones.
In addition, the Denver Broncos have added Russell Wilson, not to mention outside linebacker Randy Gregory.
There is also the matter of dealing with the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals, who have a very young and fearsome Big 3 in quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Joe Mixon, and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
On the next tier down, the Indianapolis Colts now have a proven veteran QB in Matt Ryan, the Tennessee Titans are still a playoff contender, and the Cleveland Browns now possess Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper.
In the Bills’ own division, the New England Patriots are a solid team thanks to young signal-caller Mac Jones.
With so many strong, improved teams throughout the conference, the odds of someone upsetting the Bills in the playoffs or simply handing them a key loss late in the regular season are much higher.
Still One Of The Top Dogs
On the other hand, the other side of the argument is that saying the Bills have missed their window is preposterous.
With Allen under center, one of the league’s best wideouts in Stefon Diggs, a rising wideout in Gabriel Davis, and a solid tight end in Dawson Knox, Buffalo is considered by many to be the current favorite to win the AFC and reach Super Bowl LVII.
Even better, the team now has linebacker Von Miller, fresh off winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.
His championship experience, as well as his skills at his position, will certainly help keep the Bills at or near the front of the pack.
Josh Allen front runner for 2022 MVP.
Gabriel Davis Pro Bowl receiver.
Bills 2022 Super Bowl Champs.Talk about it, @ESanders_10 pic.twitter.com/M4jVa5yd2t
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 4, 2022
Make no mistake: The AFC will be a battle in 2022.
But the Bills are well-positioned to be the last men standing in the end.
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