The Buffalo Bills have been a playoff club for four straight seasons, but the team hasn't been to the Super Bowl in three decades. Who needs to step up?
Under head coach Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bills have been a playoff team in five of the past six seasons. They have won the AFC East the past three years. McDermott owns a 62-35 regular-season record as the franchise's sideline leader dating back to 2017.
However, things have been a little different when it comes to the playoffs. The Bills own a 4-5 postseason record under McDermott. The team has reached the AFC title game just once over that span. This season will mark 30 years (1993) since the Bills last played on Super Sunday.
What can this club do to get over the hump? There are three players that must step up and elevate their game this season.
Bills who need to step up: 3. Gabe Davis
He set career bests in starts (15), catches (48), receiving yards (836), and tied his career high with seven TD receptions in 2022. He finished second on the club with those 48 grabs and averaged an impressive 17.4 yards per catch. However, a lot more was probably expected from wide receiver Gabe Davis in his third NFL season.
During the 2021 playoffs, the former fourth-round pick caught a total of 10 passes for xxx yards and five scores in the Bills' split with the Patriots and Chiefs. He set an NFL postseason record with four TD grabs in the 42-36 overtime loss at Kansas City.
What was somewhat disturbing about Davis's play in 2022 was the lack of reliability. He was targeted 93 times on those 48 catches, a disappointing 51.6 reception percentage. That's something that needs to dramatically improve this season.
Bills who need to step up: 2. Terrel Bernard
After five seasons in Orchard Park, inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds departed in free agency and signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Chicago Bears (via Spotrac). A first-round pick in 2018, the former Virginia Tech standout totaled 100-plus tackles in each of his five years with the club. The two-time Pro Bowler also came up with five interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 35 passes defensed.
A year ago, general manager Brandon Beane used a third-round selection on Baylor University linebacker Terrel Bernard. He played in all 16 of the team's regular-season contests and made one start (Week 9 vs. the Jets). He finished with 16 stops on defense and six special teams tackles. He appeared in the team's playoff win over the Dolphins but was inactive a week later vs. the Bengals.
It appears that Bernard is about to be thrust into a starter's role. The Bills' run defense has been very suspect in recent seasons and has really struggled in the playoffs. The team gave up 182 yards rushing in the overtime playoff loss to the Chiefs in 2021. In the 27-10 home setback to the Bengals in this past season's divisional round, the club allowed 172 yards on the ground.
A big year by the second-year pro could help solve what has ailed McDermott's defensive unit.
Bills who need to step up: 1. Josh Allen
He was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. After a rough rookie year in which he was thrown into the fire, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has helped guide his team to four straight postseason appearances.
The former University of Wyoming performer has put up impressive numbers in his brief career, both as a passer and a runner. In 77 regular-season games, he's thrown for a combined 18,397 yards and more than twice as many touchdown passes (138) as interceptions (60). He has escaped the pocket 546 times and run for 3,087 yards and 38 scores. Allen has rushed for at least six TDs in each of his five seasons.
That's somewhat good news, due to the fact that the interception number could be much lower. Now there's the fact that the two-time Pro Bowler and the player gracing the cover of Madden 24 has put the ball on the ground 52 times and lost 20 fumbles.
Do the math and that's 80 turnovers in 77 outings. Allen has played in eight playoff games, thrown 17 TD passes, and rushed for two scores. However, there are six more turnovers in those contests. He threw a combined three interceptions in the 2022 playoff split with the Dolphins and Bengals.
Taking care of the football is always important and that's something the talented quarterback has yet to master.
