Contributors: u/UberHansen u/ashth3great31 u/thisisnotmath

Google Doc Version: Here

Team: Buffalo Bills

Division: AFC East

Record: 13-3 (6-0 Division), 1st Place AFC East

Playoffs: AFC Championship Loss to Kansas City Chiefs

Season Summary
Roster Changes
Stats
Weekly Game Recaps
Roster Review
Coaching Staff/Front Office Review
Charities
2021 Buffalo Bills
Final Thoughts

Season Summary

You can’t begin to discuss the 2020 Buffalo Bills until you understand the franchise’s recent history. Just three years prior the Bills were entering the 2017 season, potentially their 18th straight without a postseason appearance, with a brand-new front office and coaching staff. That team would go on to miraculously make the playoffs at 9-7 yet the decision was made to enter yet another “re-building” phase. Trades, cuts, and retirements left the Bills devoid of talent but flush with the draft capital necessary to trade up and acquire the most important member of an NFL team, a franchise Quarterback. And the Bills selected Josh…Allen? The 2018 season went about as well as expected with the Bills limping to a 6-10 finish but left the fan base and franchise hopeful that the flashes they had seen from their young QB were a sign of what was to come. 2019 went a bit differently as one of the best defenses in the NFL, an evolving talent at QB, and the third easiest Strength-of-Schedule (.461) allowed the Bills to finish 10-6 with their 2nd playoff appearance in 3 seasons. Then the playoffs, then overtime, then…“2nd and 6 here. Watson, pressure off the edge! Watson, survives it! And then checks down to Jones. Jones inside the 40. Inside the 30. Inside the 20! To the 10-yard line, Taiwan Jones! Deshaun Watson Magical!”. The next play, a 28-yard Field Goal by Ka’imi Fairbarn would end the 2019 Buffalo Bills’ season.

As the Buffalo Bills’ 2020 offseason began it became abundantly clear that the primary question surrounding the franchise was whether Josh Allen would make the leap that so many of the great NFL QBs have in their 3rd season. The dichotomy of opinions on this dominated Bills’ headlines the entire offseason and was a narrative that continued for some through the playoffs. It was in the offseason that Brandon Beane (GM) made the decision to invest in his young QB by investing a bonafide #1 WR, and thus the reign of Stefon Diggs began in Western New York. There were some other significant additions, but none would pay off more than Diggs who would go on to have a monster year in Buffalo.

The season began with a bang as the Bills would start 4-0 with victories over the Jets, Dolphins, Rams, and Raiders but almost more importantly this was a stretch of games where Josh Allen announced himself as a legitimate MVP candidate. The QB who had not thrown for over 300 yards in a game coming into the season had 3 such games over this stretch while tacking on 15 Touchdowns. The chemistry with Diggs was apparent from the start and the rapport he had built with both John Brown and Cole Beasley the season prior were abundantly clear in the first quarter of the season. There was some concern that the defense had taken a major step backwards in 2020 but with an offense running on all cylinders there was little concern in Buffalo.

Then came the Titans game which was Buffalo’s first taste of in season COVID protocols and also their first taste of losing. They would follow that game up with a loss to the defending Super Bowl champs in a game which was more competitive than the Box Score indicated. All the while Josh Allen was quietly dealing with a shoulder injury suffered in the Raiders game and did not look the QB he was to start the season. You couple this was a still struggling defense and Buffalo was in dire need of a “gimme” game. They were handed this in a Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets when their rookie Kicker would go and out score the entirety of the Jets’ offense. The following week was a matchup with the New England Patriots and one that Buffalo Bills fans had been clamoring for, for years. How did it go? Well, not perfectly but Justin Zimmer became a household name in Buffalo and suddenly the Bills were back to their winning ways.

Then came the game of all games, Josh Allen vs. Russel Wilson, and who won this duel? Josh Allen. Not only did he win it he dominated the Seahawks to the tune of 429 total yards and 4 TDs while the Bills’ defense finally came alive forcing Russel Wilson into 4 turnovers. Emotion ran high after the game when the fan base found out that Allen had lost his grandmother less than 24 hours prior, so how did they respond? Oh, you know, just donated a little more than $1,000,000 to a Children’s Hospital. Then the Cardinal’s game happened and the infamous “Hail Murray” and then the Bye Week and two forgotten games against the Chargers and 49ers had the Bills’ sitting at 9-3.

Enter the one loss Steelers and begin the lore of Taron Johnson who picked off Big Ben for an INT that would completely flip a game where Allen would outduel Big Ben in the 2nd half and ultimately decide who would be the #2 overall seed in the AFC. Buffalo would close out the season with victories against the Broncos, Patriots, and Dolphins by a combined score of 142-54. The Bills had not won the AFC East since 1995, they accomplished that. Buffalo had not swept the Patriots since 1999, they accomplished that. They had never gone undefeated in the AFC East, they accomplished that. They had not won the division and hosted a home playoff game since 1995, they accomplished that. They had not had 13 wins in a season since 1991, they accomplished that. The next thing to accomplish? Their first playoff victory since 1995.

And they would start against the Indianapolis Colts. Josh Allen would play a nearly flawless game in one that would come down to the wire. Of course, there had to be controversy on a fumble that was really a fumble but for some reason the NFL decided wasn’t a fumble which set up a “Hail Rivers” that Micah Hyde would bat out of the sky. First playoff victory in a quarter century, check. Then came Baltimore and a defensive battle between two QBs drafted in 2018. Who would have thought that Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson would be in this situation? I know at least a handful of people who would not have thought that. Regardless, this defensive battle was quiet until the fireworks of the 3rd quarter that saw Josh Allen hit a TD to Stefon Diggs which was followed by Lamar Jackson marching all the way to the redzone where…one of the greatest moments in Buffalo sports’ history would occur as Taron Johnson stepped in front of a Lamar Jackson pass, returned it to the house and basically sealed a trip to the AFC Championship. Buffalo would go, and play a Patrick Mahomes who had escaped concussion protocol, and take a 9-0 lead…and then it all fell apart. Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill would eat the Bills’ defense alive and the offense was lackluster compared to how they had played to close out the season. Still, Buffalo had accomplished more than most fans of the team could have hoped for in 2020 and more than nearly any NFL “Expert” would have ever believed they were capable of.

Roster Changes

TRADES

Buffalo gets Stefon Diggs (WR) + Pick #239, Minnesota gets Pick #22 + Pick #155 + Pick #201 + 2021 (03/16)

The Bills finished 2019 in decent fashion but didn’t have enough offensive firepower. While John Brown and Cole Beasley did well in their roles, they needed a true number 1 receiver. While the upcoming draft class was stocked with great receivers, the best ones would have been gone before it was the Bills’ turn to pick. A trade or free agency was going to be the team’s best shot.

Enter the Vikings. Stefon Diggs was unhappy with his situation in Minnesota’s run-oriented attack and looking for a change of scenery. The Vikings got a boatload of picks, using the first rounder to select Justin Jefferson. Meanwhile, Stefon Diggs only had the best season ever for a Bills WR - leading the league in catches and yardage and giving Josh Allen that much needed #1 target. 0-4 Super Bowl teams helping each other out is truly a wonderful sight.

At the time of the trade, conventional thinking was that the Bills paid a high price for a diva receiver - a price that stood in contrast to the absolute steal of a trade that the Cardinals made for Hopkins. After one year, this is a great example of a win-win trade.

Buffalo gets Andre Smith (LB), Carolina gets Conditional 2023 Draft Pick (08/31)

Andre Smith came to Bills by way of the Buffalo-Carolina pipeline built by McDermott and Beane. He’s had a small role as a rotational linebacker but has been signed for an additional two years by the team. He may have a larger role to play in the team’s future.

FREE AGENCY

\Credit to the “State of the Roster”* writeups on Buffalo Rumblings

Starters / Rotational Players (4-ex Panthers on the list!)

Daryl Williams, OT, 1-year $2.25m (03/26)

Signing Daryl Williams was the best free agency move Beane made in 2020. Resigning Williams may be his best move in 2021. Williams started all games at right tackle, gave up only 3 sacks, and saved the Bills’ season with a key fumble recovery in the playoffs against the Colts. He’s been re-signed for 3 years at $28.8m, and if he keeps Josh Allen upright and recovers his fumbles, he’ll be worth every penny.

Josh Norman, WR, 1-year $6.0m (03/18)

Everyone knew Norman wasn’t going to be playing at an All-Pro level when he signed with the Bills. He played well enough to start some games when Levi Wallace went down and rotated in several other times over the year. He’s unlikely to be re-signed by Buffalo, but whatever team does sign him will get a corner with a couple more decent years in him.

Mario Addison, DE, 3-year $30.45m (03/18)
Vernon Butler, DT, 2-year $15.0m (03/18)
Quinton Jefferson, DL, 2-year $13.5m (03/18)

Because the Bills have a heavy rotation on the DL, it makes sense to talk about all three of these guys together. The Bills spent big on their line but didn’t get the best results out of them. Addison failed to replicate past performance on the edge, finishing with only 5 sacks. Butler and Jefferson played in a variety of positions on the interior, never finding consistency in their performance. Butler’s contract has been restructured, while Jefferson has been released.

A.J. Klein, LB, 3-year $18.0m (03/18)

Klein saw a lot of action towards the middle of the season while Matt Milano was injured. He struggled in pass protection and earned a lot of ire from fans for missed tackles. Then, he redeemed himself by wrecking the Seahawks and ending #LetRussCook with this great strip sack. Klein found his role in the team and played reasonably well down the stretch in a reduced role as Milano rejoined the starting lineup.

Special Teamers

Taiwan Jones, RB, 1-year $1.05m (03/18)
Tyler Matakevich, LB, 2-year $9.0m (03/18)

Jones and Matakevich served mostly as special team’s players, with occasional reps on offense or defense. Both were solid contributors.

Backups

Justin Zimmer, DT, 2-year $1.67m (08/16)

Justin Zimmer started getting regular reps in the DL rotation beginning in Week 6. When all looked lost against New England in Week 8, Zimmer saved the day with a flying dragon punch and should never have to pay for a beer again in Western New York. Zimmer played about a quarter of defensive snaps.

Brian Winters, OG, 1-year $3.0m (08/06)

Winters started several games at guard, replacing Feliciano while he was injured and during some of the line reshuffling in the middle of the season. Winters was generally the weak link on the line and will not be returning this season.

Cam Lewis, CB, Reserve/Futures Contract (01/06)
Del’Shawn Phillips, LB, Reserve/Futures Contract (01/06)
Bryan Cox Jr., DE (04/29)
Jake Kumerow, WR (09/08)
Darron Lee, LB (11/02)
Daryl Worley, CB (11/03)

None of these players saw significant playing time. Of them, Bryan Cox Jr is notable as the son of permanent Bills enemy-for-life Bryan Cox.

Kenny Stills, WR
Devonta Freeman, RB

Both players were signed during the playoffs as possible last-minute additions to the team, but neither ever dressed.

DRAFT

Round 2, Pick 54: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

With the first pick basically spent on Stefon Diggs, the Bills looked to improve their pass rush. AJ Epenesa started the season as a healthy scratch on game days, but eventually made it on to the starting rotation at DE. He didn’t show up a lot on the stat sheet, but he earned more playing time as the season went on. Look for him to break out in the next year.

Round 3, Pick 86: Zack Moss, RB, Utah

When your QB is your best power runner, it’s a problem. That’s why the Bills had high hopes for Zack Moss. Moss had an up and down year. Some games, he struggled to hit the hole or make short yardage plays that he was expected to make. Other games, he showed enough to justify making him the starting back. His season was cut short due to an injury in the wild card round. Look for him to continue having a role in the Bills’ running back committee.

Round 4, Pick 128: Gabriel Davis, WR, Central Florida

Davis was a pleasant surprise for the Bills. He finished the year with 7 TDs, good enough for a second-place tie among rookie WRs. He caught passes all over the field, tapped his toes, and played well enough to take John Brown’s spot on the starting lineup for the coming season.

Round 5, Pick 167: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

Jake Fromm didn’t make a single bad play all season. That’s because he was never on the active roster, and isolated due to COVID protocols. His long-term future on the team is unknown. He will likely remain on the roster but not dress for games this season barring disaster.

Round 6, Pick 188: Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern

A surprising pick made more surprising when the Bills cut their veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka for Tyler Bass. Bass struggled in his first few games but eventually found his form. Against the Jets, he was 6/8 and outscored the Jets 18-10. Against the Cardinals, he kicked 3 50-yarders in a single quarter. By the end of the season, he had broken Steve Christie’s franchise record for most points in a season

Round 6, Pick 207: Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon St.

Hodgins was placed on injured reserve before the season began. Look for him to compete for a roster spot next year in a group that could use a big target.

Round 7, Pick 239: Dane Jackson, DB, Pittsburgh

Dane Jackson spent most of his time on the practice squad but played well during the five games he appeared in, including two starts. The Bills are still searching for the long-term answer at CB2, but he is in the mix.

KEY UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS

Trey Adams, OT, Washington

A fixture on the Bills’ Practice Squad in 2020 Adams did not crack the active roster this past season but will compete for a spot in 2021. To date Adams is most well-known for arguably the best answer to a question at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Reggie Gilliam, FB, Toledo

Gilliam saw action at both TE and FB. He also had a consistent role on special teams. Look for him to continue his role as FB and special teamer, but for the Bills to get more talent at the TE position.

Antonio Williams, RB, North Carolina

Ah, another running back named Williams, following in the footsteps of Jonathan and Karlos. Antonio Williams only saw action in the last game of the season, gashing a Dolphins defense that had long since given up.

Josh Thomas, S, Appalachian St.

Thomas appeared in just 2 games in 2020 and played just 15 snaps on Special Teams. Still, an impressive feat for a player that was not a consistent starter at Appalachian State.

KEY ROSTER LOSSES

Frank Gore, RB, Signed with Jets

While Gore is eternal, his time in Buffalo was not. He started 2019 as RB1, but saw Devin Singletary get most of his carries as the season went on. He left in free agency.

Lorenzo Alexander, LB, Retired

One of the few success stories from the Rex Ryan / Doug Whaley era, Lorenzo Alexander was an excellent pass rusher, special teamer, and leader. It was great to see him have the best years of his career in Buffalo, and we wish him an excellent retirement. That said, the Bills struggles at LB this season had a lot of fans wishing he would come back.

Quinton Spain, OG, Mid-Season Release

Spain was a success story on the 2019 team and earned a 3-year contract extension, so it was disappointing to see him underachieve in the beginning of 2020. He was released before the trade deadline and picked up by the Bengals.

Shaq Lawson, DE, Signed with Dolphins
Jordan Phillips, DT, Signed with Cardinals

Both Lawson and Phillips had excellent seasons in 2019. The front office however, bet that they wouldn’t repeat the performance and let them walk. Lawson had a solid year in Miami before being traded to Houston, while Phillips struggled to make an impact in Arizona.

Star Lotulelei, DT, COVID Opt-Out

Star Lotulelei was the constant whipping boy for fans complaining about the defense in 2019 - often without justification. Lotulelei opted out in 2020, but it has been announced he will return in 2021.

Senorise Perry, RB
Maurice Alexander, S
Julian Stanford, LB
Tommy Sweeney, TE, Myocarditis
Stephen Hauschka, K

Stats

\Further details for both Team stats and Individual stats of the 2020 Buffalo Bills’ season can be found* here.

OFFENSIVE STATS

Stat	Value	Avg/Game	2020 Rank	2019 Rank
Total Yds	6343	396.4	#2🔺️	#24
Total Pass Yds	4620	288.8	#3🔺️	#26
Total Rush Yds	1723	107.7	#20🔻	#8
Points Scored	501	31.3	#2🔺️	#23
1st Downs	397	24.8	#1🔺️	#20
Turnovers	22	1.4	#20🔻	#11
INT Thrown	11		#9🔺️	#15
Fumbles Lost	11		#24🔻	#5

DEFENSIVE STATS

Stat	Value	Avg/Game	2020 Rank	2019 Rank
Yds Allowed	5640	352.5	#14🔻	#3
Pass Yds Allowed	3726	232.9	#13🔻	#4
Rush Yds Allowed	1914	119.6	#17🔻	#10
Points Allowed	375	23.4	#16🔻	#2
1st Downs Allowed	351	21.9	#17🔻	#6
Takeaways	26	1.6	#3🔺️	#10
INT Forced	15		#7🔺️	#8
Fumbles Forced	11		#4🔺️	#14

SPECIAL TEAMS STATS

Stat	Value	Avg/Game	2020 Rank	2019 Rank
FGs Made	28	1.8	#9🔺️	#24
FG %	82.4%		#17🔺️	#20
XPs Made	57	3.6	#2🔺️	#22
XP %	96.6%		#7🔺️	#19
Punts	41	2.6	#32🔻	#4
Yards per Punt	50.8		#1🔺️	#31
Opp. Drive Start	Own 26.6		#7🔺️	#14

Weekly Game Recaps

Detailed Game Recaps can be found Here

Roster Review

Detailed Roster Review (With Parks & Rec Flavor) can be found Here

Accolades & Awards

Players of the Week/Month

OPOW: Josh Allen (WK2), Josh Allen (WK9), Josh Allen (WK13), Josh Allen (WK15), Stefon Diggs (WK16)
OPOM: Josh Allen (September)
DPOW: Jerry Hughes (WK7), A.J. Klein (WK12)

All Pros

1st Team: Stefon Diggs (48)
2nd Team: Josh Allen (2), Cole Beasley (1), Tre’Davious White (6), Andre Roberts - KR (7)
Others: Daryl Williams (1), Mitch Morse (1), Jordan Poyer (3), Corey Bojorquez (2), Andre Roberts – PR (6), Andre Roberts – ST (1) Tyler Matakevich (1)

"Pro Bowl" Selections

Starter: Stefon Diggs, Tre’Davious White, Andre Roberts
Backup: Josh Allen, Tremaine Edmunds

Records

Player	Type	Record	Value
Josh Allen	Team	Passing Completions	396
Josh Allen	Team	Completion %	69.2
Josh Allen	Team	Pass Yds	4544
Josh Allen	Team	Pass TDs	37
Josh Allen	Team	Passer Rating	107.2
Josh Allen	Team	QBR	81.7
Josh Allen	Team	Total TDs	46
Stefon Diggs	Team	Receptions	127
Stefon Diggs	Team	Receiving Yds	1535
Stefon Diggs	League	Receptions (1st year with new team)	127
Stefon Diggs	League	Receiving Yds (1st year with new team)	1535
Stefon Diggs	League	Games with 6+ Catches	18
Tyler Bass	Team	Total Points	141
Tyler Bass	Team	XP Attempted	59
Tyler Bass	Team	XP Made	57
Tyler Bass	Team	Kickoffs	101
Tyler Bass	Team	Kickoff Yds	6469
Tyler Bass	Team	Kickoff TBs	71
Tyler Bass	Team	Kickoff TB %	70.3
Tyler Bass	Team	Kickoff Average	64.0
Corey Bojorquez	Team	Yards per Punt	50.8

\* The Buffalo Bills also set franchise records in Wins, Points Scored, and Net Yards

Coaching Staff/Front Office Review

2020-21 Front Office

Big Baller™ Brandon Beane and Co. followed up a 10-win season with several notable signings in the first days of March 2020. Josh Norman for a year, and we agreed with Mario Addison, Isaiah McKenzie, and others. Not to mention the Sean McDermott extension, which I will dive into in the coaching staff section. Pretty standard business, under the radar. But…let’s be real. There’s one deal we all are here for.

TRADE ALERT: BILLS SEND 2020 1ST, 5TH, 6TH ROUND PICKS AND 2021 4TH ROUND PICK TO MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOR WR STEFON DIGGS AND 2020 7TH ROUND PICK (DANE JACKSON, CB, PITT).

I’ll admit, I had to read articles from three different websites before I believed that he landed in Buffalo. And for all the talk about “team fit” and locker room unity that Diggs would threaten, I don’t think the Bills could have found our QB1 a better wingman. When you trade for a guy who becomes the league leader in receptions and yards (and lawn signs in the greater Buffalo area – is Allen/Diggs 2024 still in play?), and don’t lose any depth in return, that’s the trade of the year. Hands down. Even when taking the DeAndre Hopkins trade to Arizona into account, Beane’s efforts to make this deal work is admirable. Arizona seemingly was the beneficiary of a (sorry, Texans fans :/) AWFUL run of form from former Coach/GM Bill O’Brien, leading to a ridiculously lopsided deal where the Texans front office undervalued their #1 WR in the trade market. So, while the Cardinals may have traded less to get a premier receiver in his prime, the Bills ended up making the better deal based on the expectations of what you would trade in normal circumstances. The Bills also traded for the better contract, with Diggs at a manageable cap hit of $13 million for the next 3 years, including only a $900,000 dead cap hit out clause at the end of 2021. Hopkins’ cap hit is $12.5 million for 2021, and then balloons out to an average of $24 million for the next 3 years, with a dead cap hit of almost $30 million after the year. Taking these numbers and their individual production markers into account, it’s safe to say the Bills walked away from the trade table with better value for their spend.

Even with trading half of the 2020 picks, Beane and Co. still had the ammunition to take a run at solid value in the draft. The obvious standouts were Gabriel Davis and Tyler Bass, but the rest of the class contributed to the strong depth that this team has heading into the 2021 season (or at the very least, we can thank Jake Fromm State Farm for showing the league how to properly quarantine a QB room). Overall Grade: A

The Diggs trade got all the attention, and rightfully so. Run to the AFC Championship, 1st in the division, 13-3 record with 5 Pro Bowlers. There’s really only a Super small step more that you can ask for. But that’s what I’m here to grade, right? The biggest issue that Buffalo ran into this season was the defense. Draftees A.J. Epenesa and Dane Jackson had limited effectiveness, and the Bills found themselves fall to 16th overall defensively league wide, after ranking 2nd in 2019. Granted, the injuries took a chunk of the season to work out, so hopefully getting the line healthy and Star Lotulelei back from COVID leave will make 2020 a blip on the defensive radar. Beane and his scouts will have to deep dive into this draft to find some quality depth (and maybe a high-end CB opposite Tre’Davious White? Or an elite pass rusher? Wishful thinking?, and restock the cupboard. But to the FO’s credit, this team has very little space to fill. Running it back with a couple of new faces to add to the mix should lead to a deep playoff run.

2020-21 Offensive Coaching

I think it’s safe to say Bills fans did not expect to start this upcoming season with Brian Daboll back in the fold. He was easily a top-tier candidate for a promotion, with the Chargers and Jets most notably (and would have been with Philly had Buffalo not blocked the interview). Daboll has proven himself to be innovative and helps with Allen’s decision making. It’s likely that QB1 doesn’t make the Year 3 jump without Daboll and the consistency of the offensive meeting room. Diggs, The Gadget Man McKenzie, John Brown, Cole Beasley, and Davis were excellent at executing the game plan, creating mismatches all over the field, even with a lack of TE production. On the flip side, with all the success of the passing attack, the run game has suffered to the point of extinction. Devin Singletary and Zack Moss were minimalized to the point where they collectively ran for one less yard than Jonathan Taylor of the Colts for the year (1,168). Injuries to the line didn’t help, but the run game is something that Daboll should prioritize heading into 2021. Unless he can find a way to turn Josh Allen’s arm into the Winter Soldier’s. Overall Grade: B-

2020-21 Defensive Coaching

Leslie Frazier also was up for a promotion, interviewing early with the Texans. But he is heading back to Buffalo this year with some work to do. The defense was arguably the weak point of the team, and noticeably suffered with Matt Milano and others injured for stretches at mid-season. In 19 games, the Bills held their opponents under 20 points only 7 times. Teams were converting red zone opportunities over 60% of the time and allowed opposing QB’s an 87.2 rating overall. The secondary was the strongest group, with a combination of White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer jockeying for best defensive performer week in and week out. And as a disclaimer, with the number of times Buffalo had teams down 20+ points throughout the season, there was a need to air out the ball, creating inflated numbers for some of these completion percentages. But for a team with Super Bowl ambition, this group cannot just be the water break for the offense. They need to sustain pressure and force offenses to work a bit more. Overall Grade: C

A little something to boost the spirits of those who are upset by the above: Here

2020-21 Special Teams Coaching

Special Teams tends to be a section that gets overlooked, but Heath Farwell and his unit were standouts once again this year. Corey Bojorquez and that insane leg of his sent some absolute BOMBS downfield, with his long for the year (72 yards) and yards per punt (50.2) topping the NFL. His accuracy was a bit iffy at times, but you could always trust that if the offense got pinned back, Bojo would find a way. Tyler Bass also stood out after some early yips. But the 6th round pick from Georgia Southern got his feet under him and adjusted, and hit for 82.4% for the season, not missing a FG in the final 7 weeks of the season. Andre Roberts got a Pro Bowl nod for the return game, and Reid Ferguson is pretty bada**. Check out his Mic’d Up on YouTube. I promise, an enjoyable experience. Overall Grade: B+

2020-21 Head Coaching

And as for Sean McDermott, the Coach of the Year candidate kept it simple. Trust the Process. And we have. 3 trips to the playoffs in 4 years. A team that is consistently in the discussion for Top 5 NFL-wide. A lights-out offense that’s doing exciting things and a defense that…well we’re working on it. But overall, this team has bought into the message. And after getting to the AFC title game, there’s no excuses going forward. This team has the experience. It has the mojo. And a legitimate MVP candidate who can wake up, shotgun a beer, and then whip a ball 80 yards downfield on an off day. His contract extension signed in the offseason was, and is, well deserved. Along with Josh Allen, McDermott is the fundamental piece to keep in place. His “Playoff Caliber” mantra sits well with the players, and he appears to preach with true emotion that this team responds to. If nothing else, any outsider could agree that this team would run through a wall for McDermott. With new terms locking him in until 2025, there is no reason to think that this team cannot continue their ascent into the upper tier of the NFL every year. Overall Grade: A

Charities

Detailed look into Bills Mafia's Charitable work can be found Here

2021 Buffalo Bills

Key Roster Losses

Offense

Brian Winters, OG, Signed with Cardinals

Brian Winters played 57% of offensive snaps for the Buffalo Bills at Guard. He signed a contract with the Cardinals in the offseason. This is good for Buffalo and this is good for Brian.

John Brown, WR, Signed with Raiders

“Smoke” was cut as a cap casualty for Buffalo after an injury riddled down year. Universally loved by Bills Mafia it is sad to see him go as the Raiders got a good one for pennies on the dollar. This opens more room for a competition at the outside WR opposite Stefon Diggs with right now it being Gabe Davis’ job to lose.

Tyler Kroft, TE, Signed with Jets

Kroft struggled to stay healthy during his tenure with Buffalo and caught just 18 passes in his 2 seasons with the franchise. Now with the Jets he does have sneaky athleticism and could be a diamond in the rough, if he can stay healthy.

Quinton Spain, OG, Signed with Bengals

Spain wanted out midseason after falling out of favor with the Bills’ coaching staff. The Bills’ granted this request and he went on to start 8 games for the Bengals, a win-win for everyone involved.

Lee Smith, TE, Traded to Falcons

Another fan favorite, Lee Smith looks the part of an OT but plays TE as a 6th lineman. All signs were pointing to him retiring until the magician known as Brandon Beane shipped him to Atlanta for a 7th round pick.

Matt Barkley, QB

Barkley played a sneaky big role in the development of Josh Allen and was competent in the backup role. The front office, however, saw him as a liability in the event Allen were to go down long term (knock on wood) and upgraded the position by signing Mitch Trubisky to a 1-year contract.

Defense

Quinton Jefferson, DT, Signed with Raiders

The Bills’ elected to cut the 28-year old Quinton Jefferson in favor of the 26-year old Vernon Butler. Jefferson had a better 2020 than Butler and it will be interesting to see if the new Raiders’ DT can maintain that level of play in 2021.

Josh Norman, CB

Norman was competent at CB for the Bills and forced a few highlight worthy turnovers in 2020. As of now it does not look like Norman will return as the Bills try to get younger and faster at CB but don’t be surprised if he is a late add back to the team.

Trent Murphy, DE

A healthy scratch for a large portion of the season Murphy is now a free agent looking for a team at 30-years old. A solid depth option for a team in need of a DE.

Dean Marlowe, S

Great depth for the Bills in the secondary, Marlowe also excelled on special teams. Of all the “Key Roster Losses” Marlowe is the most likely to return to Buffalo on a veteran minimum deal.

Special Teams

Andre Roberts, PR/KR, Signed with Texans

In Roberts 2-season with Buffalo he was one of the best return men in all of football. A threat for a big return every time he touches the ball Roberts will likely make some big plays for his new team, the Houston Texans. This is a concern for some Bills’ fans that now view the return position as a vulnerable one for the Bills.

Corey Bojorquez, P

Bojo led the league in Yards per Punt in 2020 ranking 4th in NFL history with a 50.8 Y/P. Still, the Bills elected to move on and sign Punter Matt Haack to a 3-year deal with $3.25m guaranteed. The Bills signified their desire for accuracy over power but Bojo is still likely to find a job somewhere in the NFL in 2021.

Draft Picks

Round 1, Pick 30
Round 2, Pick 29 (#61 Overall)
Round 3, Pick 30 (#93 Overall)
Round 5, Pick 17 (#161 Overall) from the Las Vegas Raiders
Round 5, Pick 30 (#174 Overall)
Round 6, Pick 29 (#213 Overall)
Round 7, Pick 8 (#236 Overall) from the Carolina Panthers

Possible Josh Allen Contract Extension

Detailed look into Josh Allen's possible contract extension can be found Here

Final Thoughts

Most fans of the Bills demanded 2 things in 2020. #1 the Bills win the AFC East. #2 Josh Allen proves that he is the Bills’ franchise QB. Not only did the Bills win the AFC East but they did so in a dominating manner clinching the #2 seed in the AFC while sweeping their division. As for Josh Allen, I know there are some that still want to hold onto their pre-draft analysis of what they believed Josh Allen was but enough is enough. Allen completed nearly 70% of his passes for over 4500 yards and 37 Passing TDs. You couple that with his proficiency as a runner (And a receiver) and the Bills have a Top-5 QB in the NFL right now, and that’s a good thing for the NFL.

As for the future, the Bills seem content with running back an almost identical roster to the one that got them to the AFC Championship game in 2020, and that is Ok. This will give Allen another year to improve, which is an incredible thing to say, and more chemistry to be built with the skill players. On defense Buffalo is a different team when OLB Matt Milano is on the field and now that “Cookie” is locked up through 2024 there is an expectation that the Bills’ defense can remain, yet again, one of the best units in the NFL in 2021.

Still, for Buffalo to take the next step there are clear deficiencies they must solve. They don’t need to be able to run the ball more they just need to be able to run the ball more effectively. Does this mean they need a new RB? A new OL? A new scheme? Only time will tell but an improved run game should only help one of the best offenses in the NFL take a “Championship Caliber” leap. On defense the Bills need to get more consistent interior pressure on the QB. This was a major problem in games against the Chiefs as the likes of Ed Oliver and Quinton Jefferson were unable to collapse the pocket in any way. The return of Star Lotulelei as a 1-Tech should help with this but don’t be surprised if the Bills attack improving this position in the draft.

For a lot of Buffalo Bills’ fans this was their first true taste of success. The turnaround this franchise has made over the past 4-seasons under McBeane is an astounding one and one that looks to have the Bills on the right trajectory towards a championship. At this moment in time there is Hope in Buffalo, hope that the next drought the Bills end is the cities’ 55-year old Championship one.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to thank u/ashth3great31 and u/thisisnotmath who stepped up on short notice and contributed significantly to this post. u/ashth3great31 provided incredible detail specifically for the Roster Review, Coaching Staff/Front Office Review, as well as the Josh Allen Contract Extension while u/thisisnotmath provided impressive insight on the Roster Changes which impacted the Bills’ 2020 season. Thank you!

It is also worth thanking r/BuffaloBills which has become a home to me both in and outside of the Bills’ season. Sometimes it's the memes, sometimes it’s the Original Content, or sometimes it's just the constant pictures of Josh Allen in shorts that make it clear r/BuffaloBills is one of the best online communities on Reddit.

Last, the Bills’ Fan Base. I know that everyone that’s a part of a fan base believes theirs is the best, but in my Heart of Hearts I truly believe Bills Mafia is unmatched. The loyalty these fans have shown to this team over 17 straight seasons without a playoff appearance is paying off now as they are consistently seeing success. And while most outside the fan base may view us as beer drinking, table smashing, phallic throwing, maniacs it is everything else that makes Bills Mafia truly incredible. Top of mind are the charitable donations Bills Mafia contributed in 2020 (Over $2,000,000) in a year where so many are struggling, it is nothing short of incredible. Here is to hoping for continued success for a fan base that consistently is a positive force both inside, and outside, the NFL

P.S. Happy Dyngus Day!

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Lunes, Abril 5, 2021

32 Teams/32 Days: Buffalo Bills