The Buffalo Bills could not pull off a victory in week nine with a 24-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on SNF. Let’s now turn our attention to this week’s home matchup against the (3-5) Denver Broncos.
The Buffalo Bills are currently (5-4) and find themselves second in the AFC East, (one game behind the Miami Dolphins in first place at (6-3).
What Buffalo Bills Season Has Been Like
The Buffalo Bills have had one of the more topsy-turvy regular seasons in the Sean McDermott-Brandon Beane era thus far. With Super Bowl expectations high again and going for a 4th straight AFC East Title, the team has not lived up to preseason hopes, but by no means is their season over at (5-4).
The offense which was supposed to take big steps forward from last year, has been inconsistent. There just haven’t been enough plays made, to go win and perform at a “playoff caliber level”.
The defense, however, has once again been a top-level unit, while having to do most of the work. There also hasn’t been enough complementary football played by both units.
Bills QB Josh Allen (17) – Dylan Buell/Getty Images
The biggest thing with the offense is the apparent coddling of superstar quarterback Josh Allen. He has not played like he is capable of playing, as they have been limiting his ability to make big runs and the wow factor plays have been missing from the offensive playbook.
While Allen returned to his old self on Thursday Night Football vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he couldn’t follow it up last Sunday as the Bengals defense had too many answers for the Bills offense.
It is very encouraging to see their defense still near the top of the league despite a plethora of injuries to the d-line and the secondary.
Losing all-pro linebacker Matt Milano and (DL) Daquan Jones to help stop the run has been tough. Luckily, newly acquired (DT) Linval Joseph impressed in his debut, when on second and one, stopped the Bengal’s “Tush Push” play by pushing Bengals (QB) Joe Burrow three yards behind the line of scrimmage and throwing him to the ground.
Also, (CB) Rasul Douglas didn’t disappoint in his first game, while filling in for Tre White at (CB). White suffered a torn Achilles against the Miami Dolphins at home and was ruled out for the year.
Hopefully, Douglas will finish out the year strong, so next year he and White can form the best cornerback tandem in the league.
What Denver Broncos Season Has Been Like
The Broncos are another team that has disappointed this year. While they looked to have made a great hire in head coach Sean Peyton, there is a huge lack of personnel on this team and it starts with the quarterback position.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (3) – David Zalubowski/AP Photo
Russell Wilson has looked better than from the beginning of the season, but his age is definitely starting to show. I think the front office will give Peyton another year, but the Broncos are going to have to acquire a new QB most likely via the draft, (Drake Maye, cough, cough,).
As mentioned, the offense needs an upgrade at the QB position, but shout out to Wilson as in the last two weeks he has looked efficient and has played a key role in their two-game winning streak.
One of those wins was a home upset of the defending Super Bowl Champs, (Kansas City Chiefs). Sure, Mahomes had the flu and Taylor Swift wasn’t at the game, but never in your “Wildest Dreams” did anyone think the Broncos would pull that rabbit out of the hat. But somehow, they did.
Their defense has some talent in the front four, and in the secondary; including all-pro (CB) Patrick Surtain II. But this group has underperformed which led to the second firing of defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Joseph is like the Billy Martin of the NFL, where he seems to be rehired rather than refired by their organization, but that’s a discussion for a different day.
The Denver Broncos on paper are beatable, but the Buffalo Bills only lose this game if they beat themselves.
Tale of the Tape
The Buffalo Bills have much better talent on both the offense and defense than the Denver Broncos, with the exception of Surtain II at cornerback who the Buffalo Bills were rumored to get after White was hurt.
Also, Jerry Judy is one of the best receivers in the game on a good day, but he hasn’t had many good days lately. We’ll have to see what kind of day he has.
Sean McDermott (left) and Sean Payton (right)-USA TODAY Sports
As for coaching, McDermott has the edge in terms of overall record and culture. But Payton wasn’t born yesterday. He has been around this head coaching thing after impressive longevity with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2021.
Outcome and Prediction
My outcome and prediction for this game is that the Buffalo Bills answer back and give the home crowd a bounce-back performance to improve their record to (6-4) on the year and send the Denver Broncos back to the “Old Town Road” at 3-6.
Final Score Buffalo Bills 30 Denver Broncos 13
Let’s Go Buffalo!
