MATT VOLZ
Sports Writer
Last January, the Bills were a mere 13 seconds away from a thrilling playoff victory.
In true Buffalo fashion, things didn’t work out how Bills Mafia had hoped. 13 seconds became just another of many Buffalo sports blunders.
In 2022, the team and its fans hope to put the heartbreak behind them and aim for the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy. They certainly appear up to the task though, as Vegas oddsmakers have given the Bills the best chance to win it all.
It all starts with QB1, Josh Allen.
The tall, rocket-armed quarterback remains one of the most feared players in the game. Alongside him on offense, the Bills boast arguably the top receiving core in the league, with the likes of Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, rookie Khalil Shakir, free agent Jamison Crowder and top-tier tight end Dawson Knox. The run game, though maligned at times, features a solid trio of Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and rookie James Cook.
Defensively, Buffalo trotted out one of the premier units in the game last year, a group that became even scarier after the signing of elite pass rusher Von Miller. He’ll play alongside standouts such as Matt Milano, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Ed Oliver. Unfortunately, the Bills will be without All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White for at least the first four games of the season, as he continues to heal from an ACL tear he suffered on Thanksgiving last year. Dane Jackson, along with rookie standouts Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford, appear to have the position locked down in the meantime.
The Bills certainly appear to have the pieces for success not seen since the early 1990s. Of course fans don’t want to get their hopes up too much, but one thing is certainly clear: Bills Mafia is more than ready for a championship party.