Flash back to this week in 2019 and you might have called the 3-0 Bills a fraud. After all, they had only made the playoffs once since 1999. And you would have felt smart a week later when they fell at home to a certain team from Foxborough, reclaiming their spot in the shadows of Bill Belechick and Tom Brady.
This year is different - and that's not just because Brady is out of the division.
The New Era Bills
When Sean McDermott took over in 2017, the Bills were anchored by stout defensive personnel consisting of CB Tre'Davious White, S Micah Hyde and DL Kyle Williams. The only problem was that they didn't have much else, as evidenced by the embarrassing 3-point showing at Jacksonville in the first round of the 2017 playoffs.
Their strengths have since changed through the growth of Josh Allen who, three weeks into the season, has drawn early discussion as an MVP candidate. Now flanked by premier wide out, Stefon Diggs, Allen and the Buffalo offense can compete in shootouts, as seen in their thrilling 35-32 victory over the Rams last week. Additionally, Allen has been less reliant on making plays with his legs, helped by much-improved passing accuracy (he currently owns a 70% completion percentage vs. a career average of 58%) and a more talented supporting cast.
The Bills are legitimate contenders in the AFC, not far off the talent level of heavyweights like the Chiefs and Ravens. They are playing much more like the last Bills team that began a season 4-0 - one led by Jim Kelly nearly three decades ago. But to cement their status as contenders, Buffalo must finally take control of the division.
Undoubtedly atop the Bills' list of regular season priorities is creating distance between themselves and a Patriots franchise that has owned the AFC East for decades. For this week, that means beating the same team on the road that New England just knocked off on their home turf: the emerging Las Vegas Raiders. Sportsbooks in the Raiders' new city like Buffalo over their hometown team, but only by three points.
With a vicious slate of opponents ahead - which includes the Titans, Chiefs, Patriots, Seahawks and Cardinals before their bye week in mid-November - expect the Bills to keep their momentum against the Raiders and notch their fourth win.
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