Five Bold Predictions for the Buffalo Bills’ 2023 Season

May 12

As the 2023 Buffalo Bills season is quickly approaching, there is no better time to come up with five bold predictions for the 2023 season.

1. The Bills will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVIII, with a chance to bring the city of Buffalo its first-ever Super Bowl championship.

The Buffalo Bills have been a franchise longing for success for years, but the winds of change are blowing. In the past four seasons, the Bills have been among the top teams in the NFL, making deep playoff runs and establishing themselves as one of the league’s most dangerous teams, both offensively and defensively. And in the 2023 NFL season, the Bills will have a chance to make history and bring their city its first-ever Super Bowl championship.

The Bills are poised for greatness in 2023, with a roster stacked with talent on both sides. On offense, quarterback Josh Allen has emerged as one of the top signal-callers in the league, with his combination of arm strength, accuracy, and mobility. In the 2022 season, Allen threw for over 4,200 yards and 35 passing touchdowns, leading the Buffalo Bills to the divisional round. And in 2023, Allen should only continue to improve, building on his chemistry with wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who finished 5th in receiving yards in 2022, Gabe Davis, and Dawson Knox. Not to mention newly drafted TE Dalton Kincaid and WR Justin Shorter. But as stated before, the Bills aren’t just an explosive, offensive team. Their defense has been among the league’s best in recent years, with a dominant pass rush led by Von Miller and Greg Rousseau. At the same time, their secondary is anchored by standout cornerback Tre’Davious White and Kaiir Elam. With a banged-up defense in 2022, the Buffalo Bills still classed in 2nd for points allowed per game, permitting only 17.9 points per game.

The Bills will face stiff competition in their quest for a Super Bowl title, with perennial contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals standing in their way. But the Bills have shown they can compete with anyone, and they’ll be hungry for redemption after falling flat in the AFC Divisional game in 2022.

If the Bills can stay healthy and maintain their high level of play, they are poised to make a run at their first-ever Super Bowl championship. The city of Buffalo has waited long enough for a title, and the Bills are ready to deliver.

2. Josh Allen will win his first-ever MVP Award.

Josh Allen’s meteoric rise to stardom in the NFL has been nothing short of incredible. Since being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, Allen has steadily improved his game year after year.

So, what’s in store for Allen and the Bills in 2023? With another year of experience under his belt, Allen will continue to work closely with offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to refine his skills and take the offense to the next level by getting on the same page. From his cannon arm to his ability to extend plays with his legs, Allen is a truly dynamic player who has already shown he can dominate defenses at will.

But it won’t be all smooth sailing for Allen in 2023. He will face stiff competition from some of the league’s top defenses, including the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and the always troublesome Kansas City Chiefs. However, if there’s one thing we know about Allen, he thrives under pressure and loves rising to the occasion when the stakes are highest.

If Allen can continue improving his accuracy and decision-making, there’s no doubt he’ll put up monster numbers again in 2023. Everything points to Allen being a top candidate for the MVP award in 2023. He has the talent, the supporting cast, and the opportunity to create an exceptional season. And if he can lead the Bills to a Super Bowl championship, there’s no doubt he’ll be the frontrunner for the award.

3. James Cook will lead the team in rushing yards and rise as a top-ten RB in the NFL

The Buffalo Bills have established themselves as one of the NFL’s premier passing offenses over the past few seasons, largely thanks to the emergence of star quarterback Josh Allen and his talented group of wide receivers ushered by Stefon Diggs. However, the Bills have struggled to find consistency in their rushing attack, with no player reaching 900 yards on the ground in 2022. Devin Singletary led the team with 819 rushing yards, while Josh Allen came in second with 762 rushing yards. With veteran running back Devin Singletary leaving the Buffalo Bills for a one-year, $2,750,000 contract with the Houston Texans, That could all change, as James Cook seemingly has a golden opportunity to establish himself as the lead back in Buffalo. He has already shown flashes of his potential in the 2022 season, rushing for 507 yards on 89 attempts, averaging 5.7 yards per carry compared to Singletary’s average of 4.6 yards per carry.

But can Cook ACTUALLY emerge as a top-tier running back in the NFL? The signs are certainly pointing in that direction. He possesses all the physical tools necessary to excel at the position. At 5’11” and 190 pounds, he has excellent speed and quickness to make defenders miss in the open field, and his vision and instincts allow him to find running lanes that others might miss.

Furthermore, Cook can play in an offense tailor-made for his skill set. The Bills’ passing attack is so potent that opposing defenses are often forced to play with extra defensive backs, leaving fewer defenders in the box to stop the run allowing Cook to find more running room and create more significant plays on the ground.

Of course, James Cook will face plenty of competition in his quest to become one of the best running backs in the league. Names like Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley are some established stars contending for a top spot in that discussion. Damien Harris also would like to have a word about this hot take. Still, if Cook can build on his impressive preseason performance and seize the opportunity before him, there’s no reason why he can’t become a household name in the NFL, just like his brother Dalvin.

4. The Buffalo Bills will finish with a record of 14-3.

Over the past few years, the Buffalo Bills have established themselves as one of the most successful teams in the NFL. They have consistently been a playoff contender with a record of 47-18 over the past four seasons. In addition, the Bills’ offense has been a dominant force, ranking among the top three in points scored per game in the past three seasons.

But it’s not just the offense that has been impressive. The Bills’ defense has also been a force to be reckoned with, ranking second overall in 2022 and first overall in 2021. This balance of a high-powered offense and stifling defense has made the Bills a legitimate Super Bowl contender in recent years.

As the 2023 NFL season approaches, the Bills could be even better, finishing with a 14-3 record.

Here are some reasons why the Bills are primed for another outstanding season:

Continued Development of Young Talents: The Bills have a talented roster that is relatively young, and many of their players have yet to reach their full potential. Wide receiver Gabe Davis, for example, had an impressive rookie season in 2020 and I believe, can become a star in 2023 even after a down year in 2023. Defensive end Greg Rousseau also has tremendous potential; every season since drafted has improved. As noted before, the 2023 NFL Draft has recently ended, and the Buffalo Bills grabbed a handful of skillful young men who might be able to make an impact on day one.

A Strong Supporting Cast: Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs get a lot of attention, but the Bills also have an impressive supporting cast in Damien Harris and James Cook. These two are a formidable duo at the running back position. The offensive line also aims to strengthen this offseason, with several talented players anchoring the unit.

Dominant Defense: As mentioned earlier, the Bills had an outstanding defense in 2021 and 2022, and there’s reason to believe they could be even better in 2023. With an elite secondary directed by Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer, and Micah Hyde and an intense pass rush anchored by Von Miller, it isn’t hard to imagine the Bills’ defense could be the best in the league.

A Hunger for a Super Bowl: The Bills have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL over the past few seasons, but they’ve yet to win a Super Bowl. This hunger for a championship could drive their success in 2023 as they finally look to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo.

While it’s never easy to predict the outcome of an NFL season, the Bills are well-positioned to make a deep playoff run and potentially win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

5. The Buffalo Bills Defense will ball out, finishing as the league’s top-ranked defense.

After battling injuries and inconsistency in 2022, the Bills’ defense is poised for a bounce-back season in 2023. With a renewed focus on health and depth, the Bills can field a formidable defensive unit week in and week out.

But it’s not just about staying healthy. Head coach Sean McDermott has taken over as the defensive coordinator as Leslie Frazier takes a step back from coaching, bringing his trademark intensity and attention to detail to the unit. McDermott is widely regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the game, and his influence should be felt on every play in 2023.

Of course, the Bills’ defense has been top-tier ever since McDermott took over as head coach in 2017. In his first three seasons, the defense ranked in the top three in the league in points allowed, yards allowed, and takeaways.

If the Bills’ defense can stay healthy and execute at a high level under McDermott’s guidance, there’s no reason they can’t finish as the league’s top-ranked defense in 2023. With a dominant defense to complement their explosive offense, the Bills could be poised for a Super Bowl run.

Alright, that's enough outta me! Now it's your turn to be the fortune-teller, and tell me your bold prediction(s) for the 2023 Buffalo Bills season. Let me know in the comments below.