5 Bold Predictions For The Buffalo Bills In 2023

With the 2023 NFL Season nearly here, these are five bold predictions for the Buffalo Bills this season.

Coming into the 2022 season, the Bills were many peoples pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. With an elite quarterback in Josh Allen, they were thought to be one of the best teams in the conference.

While the Bills certainly were good in 2022, they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Cincinnati Bengals. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, being eliminated by the Bengals in the second round would likely make many in the organization feel like the 2022 season was a failure.

In 2023, the Bills will be hoping to find the success of 2021, as they still have much of their core of the team together. However, one has to wonder if the window has closed for Buffalo to be a title contender, despite having one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

As we approach the start of the season, here are five bold predictions for the Bills in 2023.

Defense Continues To Be Exposed

Over the last number of years, the Bills were considered to have one of the best defenses in the league. With a great quarterback in Allen and one of the best defenses in the league according to the analytics, the Bills being a title contender was easy to understand.

However, the defense for the Bills was not the same unit we saw in years past for the Bills. One of the main reasons why was the injury to Von Miller last season. Miller was brought in to be a playmaker for the Bills on the defense side of the ball and get timely pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. In his absence, that was hard to find.

In the playoffs, the Bills allowed 31 points to the Miami Dolphins and a backup quarterback, and they were thoroughly handled by Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Being healthy is always key in the NFL, but something doesn’t feel right when it comes to the Bills defense anymore.

Prediction: Bills are no longer a Top-10 defense

Bills Are Bested In The AFC East

For the last three seasons, the Buffalo Bills have been the team to beat in the AFC East. After the Patriots and Tom Brady parted ways, it opened up an opportunity for other teams in the division to once again have a legitimate shot at winning the division.

With Allen under center and emerging as a star, the Bills were able to fill the void left by Brady and win the division for the past three seasons. However, the AFC East this season might be the best division in football. While the Patriots will likely be the worst team in the division, the Bills will have to contend with the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.

The Dolphins were a playoff team last season and nearly beat Buffalo in the playoffs without their starting quarterback. The Jets, added a Hall of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, and are in a win-now mode.

Things won’t be easy this season for the Bills in the AFC East, and they might not be the team to beat in the division anymore.

Prediction: Bills come in second place in the AFC East.

Cook Has A Breakout Season

Despite the success of the Bills in the past number of years, running the football with running backs has never been their strength. While Allen and the defense have been great, running the football to close out games isn’t something we’ve seen from Buffalo.

In 2023, the Bills will be handing the reigns at running back over to James Cook. Cook is the younger brother of Dalvin Cook, who recently signed with the Jets. Despite being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Cook wasn’t used a ton last season in Buffalo. However, toward the end of the season, he did start to get involved in the offense more.

Now, Cook is expected to be the featured running back for Buffalo, and he has the talent to make a name for himself like his brother before him. On just 89 carries last season, Cook totaled over 500 rushing yards, for an impressive 5.7 yards per carry average. If the Bills get Cook more touches and balance the offense, he could have a great season.

Prediction: Cook totals over 900 rushing yards.

Bills Are Eliminated In The First Round Of The playoffs

For the past four seasons, the Bills have been a playoff team in the AFC. That shouldn’t change this season, but one of the concerning things for the Bills was their showing in the playoffs last season.

While the Bills narrowly escaped embarrassment against the Miami Dolphins without Tua, they never showed up against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round. Being beaten by 17 at home is never a good look in the playoffs, and the Bills will be challenged in the playoffs once again.

Considering how strong the AFC is this season, the Bills could very well find themselves playing a team like Cincinnati, Baltimore, or even Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs. With likely a challenging opponent in the first round coming for Buffalo, they could see a short-lived stint in the playoffs this season

Prediction: Bills are one-and-done in the playoffs.

Diggs Plays His Final Game In Buffalo

Without a doubt one of the reasons for the success of Allen and the Buffalo Bills the last three seasons has been the addition of Stefon Diggs. Since the trade for Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings, the Bills have won the division every season, and have had one of the best offenses in the league.

Diggs is a clear-cut No.1 receiver in the NFL, as he has totaled over 1,200 receiving yards every season with the Bills. However, Diggs and the Bills haven’t been able to get over the hump in the playoffs, and Diggs is a player that wants to win a ring. If the Bills are eliminated early in the playoffs once again, could Diggs demand a trade from Buffalo?

There is no denying the type of player Diggs is, but he will be due to make $27 million next season and very well could desire to play elsewhere if they don’t make the Super Bowl.

Prediction: The 2023 season is Diggs’ last in Buffalo.