Bills & Josh Allen: Super Bowl or Bust, Again?
The Buffalo Bills have cemented themselves among the AFC elite in recent years.
Buffalo has made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, winning the AFC East the last three. The Bills' run includes back-to-back Divisional Round appearances (2021, 2022), and they reached the AFC championship game in 2020.
Despite all that success, each year they failed to reach their ultimate goal.
Now, with the AFC expected to be tougher than it has been in recent years, NFL.com says the only way for the 2023 season to be a success is if Buffalo wins the Super Bowl.
"The fact is the Bills entered last season as the most popular Super Bowl pick," NFL.com writes. "But the goal remains the same: Win the Super Bowl. Anything less is going to be a disappointment. And we're not going to pretend like it's going to be any easier. The Chiefs and Bengals have had success against the Bills in recent years. Now teams like the Jaguars and Dolphins might be gaining ground, too."
A potential Super Bowl run would likely begin with again winning the AFC East, and doing that for a fourth straight season will be a taller task than in recent years for Buffalo.
The Miami Dolphins figure to improve if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy. The Dolphins' defense should also be better with the additions of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
The New York Jets should be much better on offense after trading for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, adding offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and the return of running back Breece Hall from a torn ACL. New York's defense was playoff caliber in 2022, allowing the league's second-fewest points per game (18.6).
You also can't count out the New England Patriots as long as Bill Belichick is the head coach. They should also be better on offense after re-hiring Bill O'Brien, who has experience leading that side of the ball compared to his predecessors.
The Bills were 1-1 against the Dolphins and Jets, while they won both games against the Patriots last season. But for all of the improvements the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots have made, Buffalo is capable of seeing a similar jump.
Injuries cut the 2022 season short for safety Micah Hyde after Week 2, and defensive end Von Miller suffered a torn ACL against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Even with the injury, Miller was still tied for the team lead in sacks with eight.
Drafting tight end Dalton Kincaid will also give quarterback Josh Allen a much-needed weapon, and signing defensive end Leonard Floyd will add to Buffalo's versatility on defense.
Whoever emerges from arguably the toughest division in the NFL should be a Super Bowl favorite. If the Bills and star quarterback Josh Allen can do it for a fourth straight year, that may prove they're more than ready to make the Super Bowl run that has eluded them.
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