Bills have a chance to create cushion in AFC playoff race

The Buffalo Bills haven’t won a playoff game since 1995. They have only reached the postseason once since 1999. In short, they are dying for some success in January, let alone a little camera time.

This year, things have been rolling right in western New York. Buffalo is 4-1 and already has a road divisional win over the New York Jets. After beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, the Bill got their bye week and now come into the weekend as massive 17-point favorites at home over the woeful Miami Dolphins. The meeting sparks a three-game homestand for head coach Sean McDermott and Co., who are trying to all but lock up the fifth seed over the next few weeks.

The Bills welcome in the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in the upcoming games, followed by a trip to Cleveland for a date with the Browns. After that? The rematch with the Dolphins before coming home to take on the Denver Broncos. It’s not outrageous to think Buffalo could be looking at a record of 8-3 or so by the end of Week 12.

If the Bills are going to have such success, everything rides on two factors.

First, the defense has to continue being fantastic. Look at the scores of Buffalo’s games, and you’ll understand. The Bills scored 17 points in Week 1 and came away with the win, despite four turnovers in the first half. Against Tennessee, Buffalo only managed 14 points but won when the defense sallowed but a single touchdown (aided by Cairo Santos missing a litany of field goals).

The second item? Josh Allen. Allen needs to avoid the killer turnovers that often define Buffalo’s losses. In the Bills only defeat this season, Allen threw a trio of horrendous interceptions before being knocked out of the game on a vicious (and illegal) fourth-quarter hit from cornerback Jonathan Jones. Buffalo lost 16-10, but played from behind from the outset thanks to a blocked punt returned for a score and Allen’s inability to protect the ball.

In a watered-down AFC, the Bills have a real chance to make the playoffs and win a game there for the first time in a generation. it’s not the Super Bowl, but it’s nice step for a franchise still trying to regain its footing after losing four consecutive times on Super Sunday from 1990-93.

There’s reason for optimism in Buffalo, and the next few weeks should only add to that excitement.