The Buffalo Bills are officially in Super Bowl mode for the 2022 NFL season.
They went out into free agency to improve both their offense and defense.
However, these improvements came at a high cost, meaning this season is a Super-Bowl-or-bust year for them.
After reaching the AFC playoffs three years in a row, they’ve come up short each time.
But with the players they have now, they are hoping to make the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1990s.
During those years, the Bills reached the Super Bowl four consecutive times.
However, they lost each Super Bowl appearance.
But with Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and their newest team members, they are focused on the Super Bowl.
Offseason Moves Will Determine If Bills Make The Super Bowl
With Allen needing a safety outlet, the team went after tight end O.J. Howard to fill that need.
The Bills getting Allen another weapon complements Diggs on offense.
However, they needed someone on defense that could help stop quarterbacks in their tracks.
Von Miller is the man to answer that call for the Bills this season.
But with his age, some might question if he’s still good enough to help the Bills defense this season.
40 days till #NFL kickoff brings you: Von Miller
-Signed 6yr/$120M with the Bills this off-season
-8x Pro Bowler, 7x All-Pro, 2011 DROY, 2X DPOY
-per @PFF ranked Tier 5: declining forces, but at age 33 is declining from being the best edge rusher of his generation #Billsmafia pic.twitter.com/usuJRlo3kY— Ryan Miner (@RyanMiner_FFB) July 30, 2022
While that concern might be legitimate to some, to Miller, his age is never an issue.
He’s willing to prove he’s still good, despite other elite edge rushers in the NFL today.
But will that fire be enough to push the Bills past a team like the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs?
Bills Can’t Keep Regular Season Magic Together During The Playoffs
If you look at the 2021 defensive rankings, you’ll see the Bills at the top.
They had the number one ranked defense in 2021 and were the top ten in nearly every defensive category.
So with a defense as good as theirs, how was it the Chiefs put up 42 points against that defense during the playoffs?
It’s because they didn’t pressure Patrick Mahomes in that game, unlike how they approached other quarterbacks.
The play calling and coverage led to Mahomes picking apart that top ranked defense.
Bad defensive play calling. All them weapons on the chiefs offense, they all can run after the catch, what you giving them space for. They don’t have to throw a Hail Mary all they need is to get in field goal range. Defensive play calling was a lil suss on for the Bills
— HumbleLifeHawk (@C_HawkVeinteUno) January 24, 2022
So while picking up Miller can help their defense, it’s about calling the right plays and coverages.
However, something else might make their Super Bowl run a bust in 2022.
The AFC Is Where The Best Talent Plays
Too many teams in the AFC can easily challenge the Bills for that conference championship this season.
However, the Bills can stop those teams by playing smart.
It’s not about who they have, it’s about how they use those players.
If the Bills can prove they’ve made the adjustments that cost them in the playoffs, then this season won’t be a bust.
But it could be a challenge if they aren’t willing to learn from their playoff mistakes.
While they have the best talent on both sides of the ball, it will be tough to stop teams who’ve improved this season.
The Raiders, Chargers, Browns, Chiefs, and Dolphins all look to stop Buffalo from reaching that Super Bowl dream.
NEXT: Josh Allen Continues To Dominate A Dynamic NFL Feat