Bills Fans Have A lot To Be Thankful For In 2024
Credit: Tina MacIntyre via Imagn Images
The Bills and their fans have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. After all, the team has a 9-2 record and is coming off a statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs. But what got us to this point, and what else should the Bills fans be thankful for? Grab your plate of turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, and let’s count some blessings.
Stefon Diggs‘ Attitutde
Stefon Diggs’ attitude during his final two years in Buffalo has allowed the Bills to build a version of the team that looks much better equipped to win in the playoffs. There were some signs of deterioration in the mercurial WR’s relationship with Josh Allen, and that boiled over with many blowups at Allen, among others, on the sideline.
Stefon Diggs exchanging some words with Josh Allen on the sideline pic.twitter.com/J2heSTBMrc
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 22, 2023
With Diggs’ offseason trade to the Houston Texans, not only are the sidelines quieter, but they have been blessed with Keon Coleman, a great value on a rookie deal that wouldn’t be here if Diggs hadn’t left. Khalil Shakir has also been able to take on a bigger role and grow into a legitimate playmaker, catching 56 passes for 599 yards and two touchdowns. This has to feel like deja vu for Diggs, who now twice has seen his drafted replacement flourish immediately. Remember: the Vikings drafted Justin Jefferson with the pick they got in exchange for Diggs.
A (Slightly) Weaker AFC
The playoffs are still probably going to come down to whether they can beat the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Bills have already proven they have a team capable of that feat. Past Kansas City, the rest of the AFC looks to be down this season. Sitting behind the Bills in the AFC standings are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens. The Texans have been struggling, the Ravens haven’t looked like the powerhouse they were a year ago, and is anyone sold on the Steelers? Playoff upsets happen all the time, but the Bills are the clear favorite against all but one AFC squad.
2022 NFL Draft Class
The story of the Bills’ recent retool is the amount of home runs they hit in the 2022 Draft. First-round pick Kaiir Elam hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations, but he’s still been solid when his number has been called. But beyond that? It was nearly flawless. Christian Benford in the sixth round was an incredible pick, as he’s turned into one of the most underrated young cornerbacks in the NFL.
On offense, James Cook and Shakir have changed the dimensions of the Bills. In 463 rushing attempts during his career, Cook has rushed for 2,225 yards (4.8 per carry) and 14 touchdowns. Almost no one turns screen passes into big gains like Shakir has, catching 26 such passes for 229 yards and a touchdown. While national media almost solely thinks of Allen when talking about the Bills’ offense, we know how important these players are to their success.
Playoff Tiebreakers
Might the Bills be able to host the Chiefs in the playoffs this season? On paper, their toughest remaining game is against the Detroit Lions, but if they can take that game, there is a real chance they will finish the regular season with only two losses. The Chiefs don’t have exactly a gauntlet of a schedule left, but they’re finishing the season at home against the Houston Texans and on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. All of those are currently playoff teams.
All the Chiefs have to do is stumble once, and if they do that and Buffalo wins out, the Bills will own the tiebreaker and will host their inevitable playoff game. Patrick Mahomes may have won on the road against the Bills last year, but Bills Mafia is going to be hungry for revenge.
Damar Hamlin
What a difference a year makes. Last season, we were happy to see Damar Hamlin back on the field, but now we get to be thankful for how well he is playing. While Hamlin isn’t the best player on the defense, he’s a key part of it. In the last game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hamlin had one of his better games of the season, earning a PFF grade of 69.8. The fact that he’s not just alive, healthy, and back on the field, but hasn’t had is potential derailed is a true blessing that we are all grateful for.
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