Bills 2020 schedule looks tougher than 2019 version
17 HRS AGO - Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
The Bills appear to have a tougher schedule next season Expand
17 HRS AGO - Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
The Bills appear to have a tougher schedule next season after finishing second in the AFC East The Buffalo Bills faced a pretty easy schedule in 2019. Overall, the team only played five games against teams that finished the year with a plus-.500 winning percentage, and two of those games were against the New England Patriots. Buffalo’s only victory in those games came against the Tennessee Titans in what was Marcus Mariota’s last start at quarterback before he was replaced by Ryan Tannehill.
In 2020, the Bills are set to face a schedule that appears to be far more difficult than this year’s version. Buffalo will play seven games against teams that finished with nine or more wins, including one against each of the Super Bowl teams. The Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs and they will travel west to play the San Francisco 49ers next year.
Buffalo also has two divisional games against New England, home dates with the Seattle Seahawks and the Collapse
Bills celebrate two longtime community advocates by sending them to the Super Bowl
2 DAYS AGO - In honor of their tireless efforts, the Bills and Lorenzo Alexander sent two community advocates Expand
2 DAYS AGO - In honor of their tireless efforts, the Bills and Lorenzo Alexander sent two community advocates to Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Florida. Collapse
What happens to McBeane if Josh Allen fails?
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by B51/Mark Brown/Getty Images
Do McDermott and Beane keep their jobs if they missed on Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by B51/Mark Brown/Getty Images
Do McDermott and Beane keep their jobs if they missed on the QB? Everyone expects the 2020 season to be an important one for the Buffalo Bills. Firmly out of the “re-build” mode, general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott are about to be graded against a rubric unlike any they have endured to this point in their regime. To this point, the McBeane Bills have overachieved in all three seasons they have led the team. Even the six-win 2018 squad was forecast by many to easily be the worst team in the league and be in possession of the number-one overall draft pick.
Now things are different. Now, it’s time for the next step. And that step cannot happen without Josh Allen.
But what happens if Josh Allen fails? What happens to all the progress the franchise has made since the drought ended? What would Josh Allen not being the quarterback of the future mean for Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane if they’ve gotten the most important Collapse
Contract projection: Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
Most folks would agree he’s overpaid, but he’s a good Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
Most folks would agree he’s overpaid, but he’s a good player, too, on the right deal. The Buffalo Bills added defensive end Trent Murphy a couple years ago on a somewhat surprising deal averaging $7.5 million. Since then, while he’s been a solid player for the defense, he’s under-performed the expectations of that contract.
While we’ve discussed the possibility of releasing Murphy, there is another option to keep him in town: a contract extension.
Hear me out.
The Bills have a 31-year-old Jerry Hughes and a 29-year-old Murphy coming back next season in addition to a bunch of young guys. Even if they are able to re-sign Shaq Lawson, they’ll need a player that can play close to 50% of the team’s snaps at defensive end, especially now following the retirement of Lorenzo Alexander, who pitched in some snaps at defensive end and defensive tackle to get after the QB.
A moderate extension for Murphy could help bridge the team until one of the Collapse
BBR: 2020 Free-agent wide receiver group is uninspiring
3 DAYS AGO - Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The draft may be the best route for the Bills to find an impact Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The draft may be the best route for the Bills to find an impact receiver As we eagerly await the start of the 2020 free agency period, fans of the Buffalo Bills may want to lower their expectations when it comes to the options at wide receiver. In the latest episode of Breaking Buffalo Rumblings, I take a closer look at some of the wide receivers set to be available—and why none will likely be options for the Bills.
While Amari Cooper would fit the mold of a number-one receiver opposite John Brown, no one expects the Dallas Cowboys to let him leave. Even if he did hit free agency, I doubt that general manager Brandon Beane would pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million per season to bring him to Buffalo.
Thank you for listening to Breaking Buffalo Rumblings and go Bills!
Editor’s note: If you’re viewing this article on Apple News, the embedded audio will be removed. Click through to the site in your browser or listen on iTunes.
Subscribe to Collapse
Opinion: What’s the right type of running back to complement Devin Singletary in the 2020 NFL Draft?
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
Doors one, two, and three await The Buffalo Bills enter the Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
Doors one, two, and three await The Buffalo Bills enter the 2020 offseason with notable buzz surrounding the possibility of adding a dynamic wide receiver to the offense and assisting soon-to-be-third-year quarterback Josh Allen in his hopeful leap to “franchise QB” status. But there is an additional roster need hiding deep in the recesses of the mind of Bills Mafia. It nags at us all amidst the highlights and scouting reports of tall and fast players making acrobatic catches and putting defensive backs in the blender. And although it may not rank highly on basically any fan’s wish list, finding a suitable backfield complement to second-year incumbent Devin Singletary is almost guaranteed to be on the docket for general manager Brandon Beane this offseason. Sean McDermott has openly stated his preference against having one back handle the entirety of the carries and this past season preferred to give rushes (however sparse they may have been) to Collapse
Bills Today | Josh Allen: A lot of room to improve
4 DAYS AGO - Here are three things to know about the Bills for Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Vote: What should the Bills do at right tackle this offseason?
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Lots of options here. What should the Buffalo Bills do at Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Lots of options here. What should the Buffalo Bills do at right tackle? It’s your turn to state your case. We’ve compiled as much information on Ty Nsekhe, Cody Ford, the current Bills, free agents, and the 2020 NFL Draft class to give you a complete picture of the choices. We’ve even shared data and opinions. Now it’s your time to decide.
At the bottom of this post is a poll for you to take, but first here are excerpts from all of our articles to help you scratch the surface.
All-22 Analysis of Ty Nsekhe excerpt
(By Jeff Kantrowski)
This is the eye-test portion of the great right-tackle battle of 2019 and you’re looking at my hand-selected winner of the competition. Ty Nsekhe isn’t a perfect player but the worst thing I can say about him is that it kinda sucks he was injured this year. Josh Allen was better protected with the long reach of Nsekhe protecting his right side. More power and better technique than Ford currently possesses has Collapse
Contract projection for Jordan Poyer
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
He’s not a free agent until next offseason, but the Bills Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
He’s not a free agent until next offseason, but the Bills should be looking to get something done now. Jordan Poyer was one of the first free-agent signings under Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott. He brought in Poyer to pair with Micah Hyde as the team’s safety tandem. Both were undervalued and it was surprising how much the Bills committed to Poyer with that contract. Fast forward a few years, and it turns out both Hyde and Poyer were underpaid.
Poyer’s contract is up first, though, and he’s a free agent after the 2020 season. He turns 29 this offseason and should have a few very good years left in the tank after the age of 30.
His success isn’t going to come cheap for the Bills, and he’s going to want to be well-compensated. It may be a good idea to do this deal before handing out huge dollars to Tre’Davious White for Poyer and his team to look at, too.
Here are some comparable contracts:
Micah Hyde2017 Buffalo BillsFive years, $30.5 Collapse
|
Bills Links, 2/16: Free agent wish list, is Matt Barkley’s job safe?
18 HRS AGO - David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Catch up on the latest news involving the Buffalo Bills in Expand
18 HRS AGO - David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Catch up on the latest news involving the Buffalo Bills in today’s edition of the links. We go shopping for the ideal free agents who would fit in with Buffalo’s plan, examine who could step up and take over the leadership role held by retired Lorenzo Alexander, discuss whether Matt Barkley will be back as Buffalo’s backup quarterback, and more!
Bills offseason shopping guide: 10 free agents who could fit their needs and spending plan – The AthleticBeane plans to be judicious with the Bills’ $80 million-plus in cap space, but there are a handful of free agents who make sense. (Subscription required).
How Bills are prepared to handle loss of another leader in Lorenzo Alexander – The Buffalo NewsIn the past three years, retirements have taken away three of the Bills best leaders: Eric Wood, Kyle Williams, and now Lorenzo Alexander.
Bills Mailbag: Is Matt Barkley’s job safe as the No. 2 QB behind Josh Allen? – The Buffalo NewsJay Skurski answers Collapse
Vote: What should the Bills do with Trent Murphy this offseason?
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Lots of options on the table. What should the Buffalo Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Lots of options on the table. What should the Buffalo Bills do at defensive end this offseason? We’ve already had a big discussion because Shaq Lawson is set to hit free agency, but there is another part of the puzzle: What to do with Trent Murphy.
Murphy has the second-highest cap hit on the team in 2020 but hasn’t played up to that number. Should the Bills replace him, restructure his contract, give him an extension, or something else?
We’ve put together a series of articles and now it’s your turn to vote! Read the article excerpts then let your voice be heard in the poll.
All-22 analysis excerpt
(By Jeff Kantrowski)
Trent Murphy is a bit harder to peg than a lot of other players so I’ll start by simply saying he is for sure not elite, nor is he trash. With that opening up the vast middle ground I’ll revert to the same argument I had regarding Levi Wallace. If Trent Murphy is the weakest link in the chain, it was still one hell of a strong Collapse
Mocking The Bills: Brandon Beane gets his man
2 DAYS AGO - Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
The Bills GM has never been afraid to trade up in the draft Many Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
The Bills GM has never been afraid to trade up in the draft Many fans of the Buffalo Bills, myself included, have enjoyed the work done by general manager Brandon Beane since he joined the team. The club has made the playoffs in two of the three years with Beane at the helm, and his aggressive style during the NFL Draft has shown that he is not afraid to make a trade for a player he covets.
In his two drafts with the Bills, Beane has made four trades—moving up to select the player he wants each time. Just in case you forgot, here are the four trades:
- Traded picks 12, 53, and 56 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pick number 7 (Josh Allen)
- Traded picks 22 and 65 to the Baltimore Ravens for picks 16 (Tremaine Edmunds) and pick 154 (Siran Neal).
- Traded picks 40 and 158 to the Oakland Raiders for pick 38 (Cody Ford).
- Traded picks 112 and 131 to the Washington Redskins for pick 96 (Dawson Knox).
Now that you are all caught up, it is time to discuss Collapse
Salary-cap implications of releasing Trent Murphy
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
If the Bills move on, what would it look like? In an effort to Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
If the Bills move on, what would it look like? In an effort to provide Buffalo Bills fans with information, we are tackling the potential release of defensive end Trent Murphy. Maybe the Bills want to re-sign Shaq Lawson and use some of Murphy’s money to do it, or they feel he’s underperforming, or they just want to get younger. Whatever the reason, here’s what it would look like on the cap.
He has the second-highest cap hit on the team in 2020 behind Mitch Morse and just turned 29.
The veteran only has one year left on the deal he signed a couple offseasons ago. His $9.775 million cap hit is a combination of $1.75 million from his signing bonus, $6.425 million in salary, $500,000 for a roster bonus (due March 22nd), a $100,000 workout bonus, and a $31,250 per-game-active bonus which could needs to be counted as the full $500,000 in the cap, plus a $500,000 incentive bonus he earned in 2019. The pro-rated portion of the signing bonus and the Collapse
Bills Today | Way too early Bills fantasy projections for 2020
3 DAYS AGO - Here are three things to know about the Bills for Thursday, Feb. 13.
4 early signs of optimism for the 2020 Bills
4 DAYS AGO - Chris Brown takes a look at how head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Chris Brown takes a look at how head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have positioned the Bills for success moving forward. Collapse
Bills, Lotulelei agree to restructured contract ensuring he stays on the team in 2020
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Star will be back for sure now. The Buffalo Bills and Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Star will be back for sure now. The Buffalo Bills and starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei have agreed on a restructured contract which will assuredly keep him on the roster during the 2020 season. The news was first reported by ESPN reporter Field Yates.
According to Yates, Lotulelei’s salary drops in 2020 but becomes fully guaranteed. So even if the Bills release him, they still owe him the money. That’s why he’s either going to be traded or stay on the roster, with the latter option being the most likely by far.
More to come... Check back soon. Collapse
Q&A: Bills’ biggest need, Free Agency
5 DAYS AGO - Lots of free agency talk in this week’s episode This week, we discuss the biggest need the Buffalo Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Lots of free agency talk in this week’s episode This week, we discuss the biggest need the Buffalo Bills have this offseason, contested-catch tight ends, replacing Lorenzo Alexander, convincing free agents to come to Buffalo, hindsight and Cody Ford vs D.K. Metcalf, acquiring Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, and free agent offensive linemen.
Helpful links:
Free agent offensive tackles to consider
Free agent offensive guard to consider
Why free agents should come to Buffalo
Why free agents should avoid Buffalo
To have your Bills questions answered on the next podcast, you can call 24/7 and leave your questions at 716-508-0405, email us at BuffaloRumblings@SBnation.com, tweet us at @RumblingsQandA, send us Facebook or Instagram messages, or leave your questions in the comments section below.
Subscribe to the Buffalo Rumblings podcast channel featuring Billieve, Blitzed Bills, Buffalo Rumblings Q&A, Breaking Buffalo Rumblings, Circling the Wagons, Mafia Mavens, and Collapse
AFC East Roundup: 2020 NFL Draft Needs
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
What positions will teams in the division be looking at Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
What positions will teams in the division be looking at for the draft? The NFL season may be over but it’s never too early to be looking ahead at the future. In just a couple months, the 2020 draft will be here and a new wave of football players will be introduced to the league. For this edition of AFC East Roundup, we’ll be looking at which positions the teams in the division could target in the early rounds.
For Buffalo, there are two options that could be worth exploring early in the draft. The 2020 class is expected to be very deep at the receiver position. The Buffalo Bills are scheduled to pick late in the first round and there’s sure to be at least one explosive receiver on the board who could make an immediate impact for the offense. On the other hand, one could make an argument that getting a defensive end could be the team’s priority. Currently on one side of the line there’s veteran DE Jerry Hughes who would be a good mentor for a Collapse
|
Top five possible night game options for the 2020 Buffalo Bills
1 DAY AGO - Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff teams usually get some primetime love the following Expand
1 DAY AGO - Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Playoff teams usually get some primetime love the following season. Will the same be true for the Bills? The 2020 NFL schedule usually doesn’t get announced until mid-April. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t look forward to it in February. With the Buffalo Bills coming off of a 10-6 season—their best since 1999—you’d like to expect one, if not multiple prime-time games for the team in 2020. Here are the top five teams you possibly could see the Bills play under the lights in 2020.
1.) Kansas City Chiefs
This one just seems to make sense. The defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs coming into a great football environment at New Era Field. The first in what possibly could be many more between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen for years to come. All of the stars on that loaded Kansas City offense like Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Damien Williams, and even the return of Sammy Watkins to Orchard Park going up against a Buffalo defense Collapse
New Era Field at 96% capacity on average for 2019 Buffalo Bills
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills nearly filled their Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills nearly filled their stadium The fans of the Buffalo Bills have a bit of a reputation for supporting their team, including a few “takeovers” in hostile territory this year. How did we do defending our own dirt this year? Sure, you’ve read the title. But that’s just a hint.
Attendance at New Era Field in 2019
As the title suggests, New Era Field attendance averaged 96% of the stadium’s capacity in 2019. Which sounds fantastic. Let’s check in on some fast facts before we explore that idea.
New Era Field can hold 71,608 fans. By capacity it’s the tenth-largest stadium in the league (12th if you count extended capacity for Jacksonville and Minnesota)
Average attendance in 2019 was 68,839 fans
The highest-attended game was in Week 4 as the undefeated Bills hosted the undefeated New England Patriots, where 70,317 people poured in Orchard Park for that one
The season-low of 67,338 featured a sputtering Denver Collapse
2019 All-22 analysis: Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by: 2019 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
A favorite target for fans’ ire, Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by: 2019 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
A favorite target for fans’ ire, how did Trent Murphy look in 2019? Generally speaking, Trent Murphy is right up there in the conversation of “weakest link” on the Buffalo Bills’ defense. Many are calling for an upgrade at the defensive end position with Murphy going by the wayside. As we always do, though, we turn to the tape to see what we can see.
Play 1
I’d probably ding an end for getting pushed that far to the side but this looks intentional to get a better approach angle. I’d probably ding that decision if it weren’t for the nearly full-speed spin move. The first time I looked at Trent Murphy to see what kind of player the Buffalo Bills were getting—it was not this kind of player. He’s added to his repertoire.
Play 2
There are a lot of things here I’ll call “Typical Trent.” There’s a decent shove. An alright bend around the edge. Good use of hands. Murphy doesn’t get to the Collapse
2020 NFL Draft: Should the Buffalo Bills replace one former Alabama corner with another
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The Trevon Diggs scouting report In 2018 the Buffalo Bills Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The Trevon Diggs scouting report In 2018 the Buffalo Bills signed an undrafted free-agent cornerback out of Alabama by the name of Levi Wallace to a modest three-year contract—a savvy move that brought the team a starter at CB2. He finished his rookie season as the top-rated cornerback among his draft class. Things in 2019 proved a little more challenging for Wallace. While many in the media and fanbase challenged his role and considered him the weakest link in the defensive backfield, he still managed a fairly solid season while splitting time with Kevin Johnson. Skarecrow’s All-22 review on Wallace at the conclusion of the 2019 season helped to put some things in perspective.
It’s still fair to question if Buffalo might prefer finding someone new to mitigate the time-share they employed last season. As such, let’s take some time to discuss another Alabama CB who’ll be among the 2020 NFL Draft’s cornerback class, Trevon Diggs.
Trevon Diggs is a Collapse
Nick & Nolan: what type of RB should the Buffalo Bills pair with Singletary?
4 DAYS AGO - Three doors from which to choose In this episode of “The Nick & Nolan Show”, Bruce outlines Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Three doors from which to choose In this episode of “The Nick & Nolan Show”, Bruce outlines three potential lines of thinking with regards to the Buffalo Bills’ potential acquisition of a backfield running mate for Devin Singletary. What are the archetypes for Bills Mafia to consider when looking for a pairing? What players in the upcoming NFL Draft should the fans be looking at to fill their preferred archetype? Bruce shares what he WANTS the Bills to do and also what he thinks they WILL do.
Come for the knowledge, stay for the knowledge because there aren’t any sound bites this week.
#Bills #BillsMafia #GoBills
Subscribe to the Buffalo Rumblings podcast channel featuring Billieve, Blitzed Bills, Buffalo Rumblings Q&A, Breaking Buffalo Rumblings, Circling the Wagons, Mafia Mavens, and The Nick and Nolan Show:
Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify | Podbean | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Megaphone
Editor’s note: If you’re viewing this article on Apple News, the Collapse
Daughter and son of Bills first Season Ticket Member surprised with Super Bowl tickets
5 DAYS AGO - Six decades ago, Arthur “Archie” Diemer was the very first person in line to purchase Bills Season Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Six decades ago, Arthur “Archie” Diemer was the very first person in line to purchase Bills Season Tickets. This year, the Bills surprised his daughter with a pair of tickets to Super Bowl LIV. Collapse
2020 Buffalo Bills wish list: Josh Allen edition
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
What Allen can get all his fans for their birthdays Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
What Allen can get all his fans for their birthdays this year There’s no secret that the 2020 Buffalo Bills’ success or struggles will likely be clearly linked to the performance of Josh Allen in his third season. If he progresses in his development, then so should the Bills. If he stagnates or regresses, then so will the Bills.
The good news for Bills fans and Josh Allen hopefuls is that he has already progressed further, faster than most critics or impartial observers expected. Here are several areas fans will be watching closely in 2020 for improvement.
1 - The Deep Ball
This seemed to be a particular area where Allen regressed in 2019 from his rookie season. According to ESPN’s Next Gen Stats, Allen connected on 14 of 66 attempts that were 20 or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage, although for the average fan it may be difficult to recall two or three of those compared to the dozens of haunting memories where deep passes landed in Collapse
|
