The Bills are good but these 3 crucial question marks must be answered
Don't get it twisted. The Buffalo Bills are legit Super Bowl contenders and remain one of the favorites in the NFL to win it all. Dreams of finally lifting that Lombardi Trophy shouldn't be torn apart after recent struggles. After all, this is a team that just went 2-0 in five days while facing big […]
Don't get it twisted. The Buffalo Bills are legit Super Bowl contenders and remain one of the favorites in the NFL to win it all. Dreams of finally lifting that Lombardi Trophy shouldn't be torn apart after recent struggles.
After all, this is a team that just went 2-0 in five days while facing big adversity including the loss of a home game that had the Bills move their whole operation to Detroit for a week.
They're 8-3 and currently sit atop the AFC East again. There's no need to panic.
Having said that, it's becoming clearer and clearer that we don't know exactly who the Bills are today and who they will be moving forward. Because there are some glaring issues that have to be addressed.
In the offseason, we talked about this squad as pretty much the perfect team. But it isn't.
Back in the summer, not even an average offensive line seemed like it could deter the power of a Josh Allen-led passing game. The same for a defense with elite duos at safety, linebacker, and one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
Seriously, what could go wrong with the Bills?
Now, there are big questions surrounding the team. Let's dive into the Big 3.
How healthy are Von and Josh?
This is a big one, guys.
Early reports indicate that Von Miller is going to miss some time. However, it remains to be seen how much. Will the Bills' premier pass rusher be back for the start of the playoffs? Or will it be a race to the Super Bowl?
The Bills have missed edge rusher Gregory Rousseau over the last few weeks as they've been forced to blitz more often to get to the quarterback. The impact Miller's absence will have should be even greater.
Meanwhile, Allen is playing for Buffalo but how limited is he? It's clear he's still himself as he passed for some big-time throws in clutch moments on Thursday. But he does seem affected by the elbow injury he's been dealing with. He's been inconsistent in some high-percentage throws that have proven costly at times.
Can Ken Dorsey fix the Bills' red zone offense?
It's officially a problem. The Bills can't get it going in the red zone. It's still too early to come to any decent conclusions on how Dorsey is doing in his first year as offensive coordinator but he needs to get his offense some answers inside the 20.
Sure, Allen's decision-making has led to eight red zone interceptions in the last five games but that's in big part because everything seems to be boom-or-bust for this offense.
Dorsey's top priority right now might be all about finding answers for this aspect of the Bills' offense. Whether it lies in the running game or in some "easy buttons" in the passing game, it's something that must be fixed quickly.
Are there concerns at cornerback?
Tre'Davious White coming back is a huge boost for the Bills' secondary.
But after seeing Dane Jackson being picked on by Jared Goff, there's no questioning there has to be some level of concern for Buffalo's defensive backs. After the veteran allowed six catches in nine targets for a 129 passer rating, it's clear why the team is betting on the rookies moving forward.
As promising as Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford are, that has to be one of the biggest question marks for this team heading into December football.
Overall, the Bills are still one of the best teams in the NFL. But right now, it's clear there are weaknesses and questions left unanswered. Fortunately, the team has a well-earned long week ahead.
After that, it will be an AFC East tour for three straight weeks.
Featured image via Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
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