This fourth edition of way-too-soon schedule predictions features what might happen in the final four games of the 2019 season for the Buffalo Bills.
Week 14: Loss @ Pittsburgh Steelers
In the midst of the drama surrounding the Steelers organization, they still have a very talented football team. Ben Roethlisberger is still one of the better quarterbacks in the game, and Mike Tomlin will begin his 13th season as head coach. The Steelers have not finished below .500 since 2003, and many people think they may come close, having lost Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. However, Brown only led the team in receptions for seven weeks last season, being beaten out by emerging star JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster led the team in receptions and yards, being eclipsed by Brown only in touchdowns on the year.
In the absence of Bell, rookie James Conner had a spectacular season, making the Pro Bowl while rushing for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns. One of the problems the Bills seem to have is getting a consistent handle on run defense, and Conner would be one to exploit that. The Steelers’ last loss to the Bills came in the preseason of 2008, and Pittsburgh is not done winning yet.
Record So Far: 7-5-1
Week 15: Loss vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Bills are now in the thick of the playoff hunt. The Eagles started last season as an average football team but started heating up around Week 12. They made a run to the playoffs, advancing to the divisional round before losing to the Saints. Nick Foles, who has played Week 15 the past two seasons for Philly, seems to be on his way out, which means the Bills are likely to face a healthy and dangerous Carson Wentz. The Eagles have had an above average defense the past two seasons as well, which could cause problems for the still-young Bills offense. If Philadelphia can get a good return on Foles, and Wentz stays healthy, this will be a tough game for the Bills to win.
Record So Far: 7-6-1
Week 16: Win vs. Washington Redskins
This one could prove to be a tricky game, as the Redskins have some uncertainty at quarterback. Alex Smith is largely assumed to miss all of the 2019 season, but it is still possible he makes a late return. This past season, Washington was 6-4 until they lost Smith, finishing the season 7-9. If Smith is able to make a late-season return, he could make this game interesting. Like the Bills, the Redskins have a lot of holes to fill this offseason, and the winner of this game is most likely the one to have the best offseason. Yes, that seems redundant, but if Washington fills their biggest needs before this matchup, it could be dangerous for Buffalo.
For now, though, the Bills have the upper hand, with their top five defense taking advantage of a sub-par quarterback.
Record So Far: 8-6-1
Week 17: Win @ New York Giants
The Bills head into the final week of the regular season in need of a win and some extra help from other teams around the league. The Giants finished last season 5-11, and seem resilient to move on from Eli Manning as quarterback. Saquon Barkley is a generational talent at running back but is not enough to carry the team by himself. Manning does have a good connection with Odell Beckham Jr., but the Buffalo secondary will be able to handle that fairly easily. If the Bills don’t absolutely collapse on defense, they can pull off a clutch win to give them better chances for a playoff berth.
Final Record: 9-6-1
The Bills have a decent chance at another playoff run this year, pending smart moves from general manager Brandon Beane during free agency and the draft. It is too far out to make a more accurate prediction, and time will tell if this is close. The Bills have plenty of time to turn the team around, with the official new league year starting on March 13th.
If you missed the predictions for Weeks 1 through 4, check them out here. If you missed the predictions for Weeks 5 through 8, check them out here. If you missed the predictions for Weeks 10 through 13, check them out here.
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