By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills are facing an early-season critical game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Often times, it seems like a game such as this comes about, and Bills Mafia is let down.
For once, I don’t think they’re going to do that.
Last season expectations weren’t exactly high. The most recent example is one from 2017. The Bills have some early successes and fall flat on their face. Ironically enough, it involves the same opponent.
The Bills were primed to enter their bye week at 4-1 overall in 2017. After beating the defending NFC champs, the Atlanta Falcons, 23-17, a 4-1 record was in pen, almost. Buffalo traveled to, what do you know? Cincinnati, to face the 1-3 Bengals.
Cincy won 20-16 as AJ Green had seven catches for 189 yards and a touchdown in that one.
Of course, that one didn’t run Buffalo’s playoff chances. But it did take a miracle from that same Bengals team to end the Bills’ 17-year playoff drought.
If the Bills lose this week, it’s not all over. But in that same light, if the Bills had won that game in 2017, the path to the postseason would have been much easier.
So back to this Sunday, this Bills team will avoid making such a mistake.
Week 4 isn’t a bye week, it’s much more important. It’s the New England Patriots. They travel to New Era Field to meet the Bills. Both teams could realistically be 3-0, and that’s what I envision happening.
Josh Allen hasn’t completely sold me yet, I might me the lone one left thinking such a thing. But I don’t deny he, and this offense, has improved while Cincy’s defense has yet to follow suit.
The Bengals’ run defense in the third-worst in the NFL, allowing 165.5 yards per game to start the year. Ugly.
The Bengals are the 16th ranked pass defense, but could be far worse.
The analytics outlet Pro Football Focus has ranked three members of their secondary as “poor” performers this season, safety Jessie Bates III (29.3 overall grade), Shawn Williams (42.7) and William Jackson III (37.8). The best is Dre Kirkpatrick, who clocks in as a “below average” guy at 54.2. Woof. The Bills’ wideouts and Allen could have a look at another strong game.
Aside from the stats, Buffalo showed in Week 1 it has an “it” factor to it as well. Not only to comeback, but focus at the task at hand.
This week’s task is to not overlook Cincy. Don’t make your home opener a “trap” game.
The real test for Buffalo’s offense is next week against the Pats. That’s where I’ll be deciding if I’m sold. Still, this offense has shown enough that these Bills will set the table for an exciting Week 4.