The Bills stunned pretty much everyone by blowing out the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium by a final score of 41-7. It took just one convincing win and, all of a sudden, there is hope surrounding the team that has seemed adrift for a decade. Heck, even Jerry Sullivan is upbeat about this team.
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But what should fans expect for the rest of the season? We've all been let down so many times. Like remember when the Bills beat the Patriots 31-0 in the 2004 season opener? But The Fifth Down blog at the NY Times has an interesting analysis of the Bills situation and how it may bode well for a better-than-expected season.
From their blog post: From 1978-2010, only 7 teams were a) an underdog in their season opener and b) covered the point spread by at least 30 points and c) won 6 or fewer games in the prior season. 5 of those 7 teams went on to win at least 8 games in that season and 2 of them made the playoffs.
The post's author, Chase Stuart, goes on to note that in 2010, the Bills had the worst turnover margin in the NFL. Since 1990, teams with the worst turnover margin have won just 4.6 games that season (the Bills finished last year 4-12). But the following season, those teams have won, on average, 7.9 games. Football stat geeks view turnovers differently than most fans in that they recognize luck plays a big role in how many turnovers a team has during any given season. As a result, the football sabermetrics crowd estimates the Bills will be a better team this year than most people expect; indeed, the dean of football geeks (Football Outsiders) projected the Bills to win 7.1 games.
So there are quantifiable reasons to have hope for this season. Now let's see what happens when Oakland comes to town next Sunday.
Wow. Everyone sure is getting upbeat a little prematurely. KC returned to respectable form last year after several years of bottom-dwelling. Forget what happens next week, wait for the result in two weeks before anyone starts talking about hope or turnaround.
So basically there is nothing they could have done this week to make you happy right? They destroyed last years AFC West Champs, and held the top running team to around 100 yrds, last year was closer to 300. Really that just shows the parity in the league. The Bills aren't as far off as people tend to talk about, not saying super bowl but I could see 8-8 this season or even a little better.
Don't make the NE game to be all or nothing, a lot of very good teams will fall to the Pats so even if we do lose it won't mean the Bills are terrible.
8-8 would be fantastic! That would mean no playoffs yet again AND a so-so draft pick.
top draft pics are a bit over rated. Sure I'd rather have a better pic but not at sacrificing the season again.
Look at the top QBs in the league:
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots Round 6/ pick 199
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 1/1
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints 2/32
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 1/24
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers 1/11
6. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers 1/4
7t. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles 1/1
7t. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons 1/3
9. Eli Manning, New York Giants 1/1
10t. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens 1/18
10t. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys undrafted
Sure half are top 10 picks but half aren't. Andrew luck doesn't have to come out, so there really isn't even a Franchise QB available worth trashing the season.
I don't trust the Bills to pick anything under a top three pick, I think Dareus was a no-brainer, he was "handed" to them in a way. I'm torn though, six days out of the week I want them to go 0-16, but on Sunday I always hope they win. I don't expect 14-2 or anything close to it, but 8-8 is just more mediocrity.
I don't think demolishing a playoff team is being "upbeat prematurely". Fans are excited not only because they won but by the margin that they won. Check your history, the Chiefs are an extremely tough team to play when they're at home.
Nobody has said playoffs or super bowl.In fact, most fans that I've spoken with don't expect a New England win but are happy that there looks like there is some progress. Contrary to your very valued opinion (sarcasm?), this week's game is just as important as week 3's game versus New England. They started 5-0 a few seasons back but missed playoffs. Nobody is forgetting us. Forgive those excited about a win to start off a season when just a few weeks ago many fans were expecting bad things a few weeks ago. You can have that Buffalo doom and gloom mentality, but I won't.