Opponent Scouting Report: Buffalo Bills
By Andrew Ites
The Buffalo Bills have undergone a lot of change this offseason, but can they exceed some low expectations in 2017?
Las Vegas currently has Buffalo’s win total at 6.5 for the upcoming season as they adjust to an entirely new coaching staff and a new general manager.
However, the AFC East is wide open behind the Patriots, and the Bills have some intriguing pieces to make a run this season.
Strengths
Buffalo’s backfield is full of dynamic talent.
LeSean McCoy had a rough season in his first year in Buffalo in 2015, but he bounced back in a major way last season with 1,267 yards rushing at a career-high 5.4 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns.
Tyrod Taylor‘s athleticism gives Buffalo a weapon that most NFL teams don’t have as he’s gained 1,148 yards on the ground over the last two seasons with 10 rushing touchdowns. Taylor and McCoy form an incredible duo that will be extremely difficult to defend.
The Bills lost some depth at running back with Mike Gillislee heading to the division-rival Patriots, and they lost their offensive coaching staff who schemed the NFL’s best rushing offense last season according to Football Outsiders. But the return of Taylor, McCoy, and a strong offensive line should have this ground game humming again in 2017.
Weaknesses
The Bills had a promising cornerback tandem in Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore, but Gilmore joined Gillislee in New England as a free agent this offseason.
Darby had an incredible rookie year with 21 passes defended and 2 interceptions, but he suffered a bit of a sophomore slump in 2016 with 0 interceptions and only 12 passes defended.
The Bills made a solid draft pick in selecting TreDavious White with the 27th overall pick, but rookie cornerbacks have historically struggled in their first year in the league.
If all of Buffalo’s cornerbacks live up to their potential they could have a really solid group, but the position remains a major question mark at the moment.
Next: 2017 Positional Preview: Edge Defender
The Bills are an intriguing team in 2017, and their rushing offense will give this Colts defense fits.
However, their inexperience at the cornerback position is a bad matchup against Andrew Luck and Indianapolis’ passing offense, and the Colts should enter this game as road favorites in Week 14.
In case you missed it, here are the scouting reports for the rest of the teams on Indianapolis’ 2017 schedule: