It’s been a long time since anyone could credibly say this, but the Buffalo Bills might be the class of the AFC East.
The Bills have made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons – something they haven’t done since the 1990s – and will no longer have to contend with Tom Brady, who, as you may know, won a couple of Super Bowls for the New England Patriots.
But we digress…
Long story short: Bills fans should be excited about this season. Takeo Spikes certainly is.
“My expectation is [for the Bills to] really [make] a strong run at the New England Patriots for that AFC East title,” the former Bills All-Pro linebacker said on Tiki & Tierney. “Stellar defense over the previous two years – Buffalo has always been known to play great defense. Then when you look at what they’ve been able to do personnel-wise to be able to surround Josh Allen, they have consistently gotten better [and upgraded] the offensive line.”
The Bills have also given Allen more weapons, including wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Vikings.
“To me, the X-factor is Josh Allen,” Spikes said. “Before COVID-19, I thought this would be the biggest jump that he would make from [his] second year to third year. When you look at how he ended the year last year in the playoffs, he came out after the game and he [said], ‘I messed up. I [take] responsibility. It’s my fault [why] we lost the game.’ He panicked in a situation that he has not been in before. That was the biggest game of his life.”
The Bills took a 16-0 lead over the Texans in Houston but lost 22-19 in overtime. Allen finished 24-of-46 for 264 yards, zero touchdowns, three sacks and two fumbles (one lost).
“Him being an ultimate competitor and trying to find ways to win, and just talking to people in the building, this guy, he’s going to do the cliche things – come in early and stay late,” Spikes said. “But it meant something to him, guys. It meant something. When you see that coming from quarterbacks and they take the responsibility, I just feel like he’s ready to take that next step.”