TEAM OVERVIEW
Strengths: An offense led by Josh Allen (right) returns mostly intact with the only question mark hovering over Ken Dorsey taking over as a first-time NFL coordinator. Dorsey is at least familiar with the Bills offense in serving as the team’s quarterbacks coach before being promoted to replace Brian Daboll, who was hired to coach the New York Giants this offseason. Despite not re-signing Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders, the Bills have an established group of receivers with Gabe Davis and Isaiah McKenzie ready to step up as starters behind Stefon Diggs. Buffalo’s running attack, which was inconsistent last season, should be improved with Aaron Kromer taking over as offensive line coach and Buffalo using a second-round pick to select James Cook, the younger brother of Vikings star RB Dalvin Cook.
Weaknesses: The secondary faces questions with starting CB Tre’Davious White’s season-opening status uncertain and with Levi Wallace leaving in free agency. White has yet to practice while recovering from a major left knee injury he sustained in late November. Expectations: There is nothing suggesting the Bills will take a step back. If anything, this team has more overall depth from last year, while also driven to overcome how it closed last season with an infamously dubbed “13 seconds” meltdown. Buffalo squandered a threepoint lead in the final 13 seconds of an eventual 42-36 overtime loss to Kansas City in an AFC divisional round playoff. With Von Miller, they’ve upgraded their pass rush, and have placed an emphasis on having a more effective running attack. The AFC as a whole might be stacked with plenty of contenders, but it would be regarded as a major disappointment if the Bills fail to reach the conference championship game.