As I finally begin to come down from the high of my New York Giants winning their 3rd Super Bowl Championship, I can now begin to set my sights on the 2008 season. Now since we’re really only a few days into the off-season, I can only predict who I feel will make a run for a playoff berth. There are too many variables that have to be settled yet i.e. the draft and free agency. But the usual suspects will be in the running once again. You know the deal, the Patriots (unless spygate earns them an SMU-type punishment, even for one year), the Jaguars, the Colts and the Steelers from the AFC and the Cowboys and Giants in the NFC. But, I do see the Buffalo Bills as being a contender in 2008. One can make an argument that they could’ve made the dance this year. Though they finished 7-9 for two years in a row, they could’ve had 2 losses this year that should’ve gone the other way. For sure they should’ve finished the deal that Monday night at home versus the Cowboys. Add the opening game loss at home to Denver where they had to overcome the devastating injury to TE Kevin Everett and a last second defeat, then all of a sudden we have a 9-7 team. In reality, if they beat the Browns on a cold, snowy day, then who knows what would’ve happened the last few weeks.
The 2007 Bills were a VERY young team who suffered more serious injuries than any other in the league, especially early on. I feel that they’ve had the best draft class of 2007. They have some young, up-and-coming talent on both sides of the ball. Once they started to get some rhythm to their season, then they lose arguably the second best rookie RB after Adrian Peterson in Cal-product Marshawn Lynch. His injury sidetracked the team more than was let on. But with the injuries come opportunities. QB Trent Edwards gained some very valuable experience as their new starter after JP Losman goes down. Even during Lynch’s injury, another youngster named Fred Jackson stepped in and produced. Add to that their speed and experience at WR with Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish, then you have a young yet experienced offense who battled their way to a potential playoff berth almost to week 14-15. That can only translate into good things in 2008. Their defense is also stocked with young talent. I like Jabari Greer at the corner and they have some young LB’s as well. In fact, if you look at their current roster, there’s no one with more than 8 years of experience and no one with more than 5 in their LB corps and Paul Posluszny looks like a stud if he can stay healthy.
I also like Dick Jauron as a coach. He had some success in Chicago and his known for his defense. Again, alot depends on the draft and free agency, especially with the Bills since they’re a small market team. One potential windfall could be the eight or so games that they’ll be playing in Toronto. If they can realize some sort of financial gain from this and to help expand their fan base there, then the Bills can potentially be a dangerous team in 2009 and beyond. But for next year, if they can avoid the injury bug, then I see a serious run at a wild card berth at hand.
