2008 Buffalo Bills NFL Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on August 2, 2008

An overhauled defense gives the Bills hope that they can end their eight-year playoff drought. Find out if Jimmy Boyd considers this false hope with the NFL predictions in his 2008 Buffalo Bills season preview.

Offense

QB Trent Edwards bust onto the scene in 2007 and took the starting job away from J.P. Losman. Edwards has proven to be a more accurate passer, but even he could not get Buffalo to improve enough on third down and in the red zone where they have struggled throughout the decade. Edwards will start again in 2008 with Losman as insurance, but I’m doubtful that he’ll ever emerge into a star.

Marshawn Lynch was as good as advertised in his rookie season, rushing for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing three games due to an ankle injury. Lynch has shown the ability to catch the football also and could develop into the all-purpose threat that Brian Westbrook is for the Eagles. If the Bills passing game can improve, Lynch will prosper even more.

The Bills did themselves right by drafting 6-6 wide receiver James Hardy from Indiana. The Bills need a big play threat on the outside to take the defensive focus away from Lee Evans and Hardy appears to be the man for the job. Evans, Josh Reed, and Roscoe Parrish should all benefit from the attention that Hardy figures to draw.

The offensive line was much improved in 2007. The Bills improved from 27th to 15th in rushing yards and from 30th to 13th in sacks allowed per pass attempt. Left tackle Jason Peters made his first Pro Bowl and is the keystone of the line. With guard Derrick Dockery also on the left side, the Bills should be able to do some damage running the ball behind those two again.

Defense

The Bills needed to take some action after another disappointing year against the run so they went out and got former Pro Bowl tackle Marcus Stroud. He will team with former first round pick John McCargo in the middle. Aaron Schobel had just 6.5 sacks at defensive end but still made the Pro Bowl. Chris Kelsay, Ryan Denney, and Chris Ellis will combine with Schobel to form a nice four-man end system. If the Bills are better up the middle, the ends will be more effective rushing the passer as a result.

Paul Posluszny has impressive size and mobility at middle linebacker. His rookie year ended after just two games due to a broken arm and the Bills are counting on their 2007 high second round draft choice to come through in 2008. Kawika Mitchell had a great season for the Giants in 2007 and will be a great addition to the Bills on the weak side. Angelo Crowell will play the strong side for the fourth straight season as a starter.

The Bills gave up 94 points in two games against the Patriots last season. The Giants, Jaguars, and Steelers were also able to torch them. A better pass rush will undoubtedly benefit the secondary, but Buffalo needed to add talent here and they have. They landed cornerback Leoodis McKelvin with the 11th overall pick to be the cornerstone of the defensive backfield.

Special Teams

The Bills have a nice kicking game with punter Brian Moorman and place kicker Rian Lindell. The Bills are good in the return game also and McKelvin will make this an even bigger strength.

Prediction – 2nd AFC East

The defense will be much improved with all the upgrades that have been made. The offense’s continued improvement will translate into a few more points being scored in 2008 also. The Patriots are still the team to beat in the East, but the Bills should have the edge over the rebuilding Jets and Dolphins.

Jimmy Boyd was able to take advantage of New England’s amazing run of covering the NFL lines in 2007 and he’ll make sure he researches every trend, system, and angle to have you cashing in with his NFL football picks on the best covering teams in the AFC East again in 2008. Make sure you’re doing your NFL betting with Jimmy B.

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