The Josh Allen era continues for the Buffalo Bills as they seek to make their sixth straight playoff appearance. Unfortunately, three of their last four appearances have resulted in losses to the Chiefs, with the other being to the Bengals. They have been a powerhouse team, entering the last few seasons as Super Bowl contenders. Last season felt like “the year” for the Bills, but they may have temporarily missed their window.

The Road Will Be Tough

The AFC East will be stronger with the return of Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, along with the high-powered Dolphins offense. Meanwhile, the Bills haven’t done much to improve their roster in the offseason. They lost key starters and will heavily rely on young players to fill roles. By no means should we count the Buffalo Bills out this season, but it may be an uphill battle. Any Bills fans using a betting app in New York who want to place wagers on the upcoming season may want to do so with caution, as we detail later.

Additions and Subtractions

Key Additions: Keon Coleman (WR, Florida State), Curtis Samuel (WR, Commanders), Terrell Burgess (DB, Rams), Will Clapp (OL, Chargers)
Key Departures: Stefon Diggs (WR), Jordan Poyer (S), Tre’Davious White (CB)

Predictions

Record Prediction: I see the Buffalo Bills going 10-7, which would be under their projected line of 10.5 wins.

Award Watchlist / Bets: The most popular bets on the Bills may be ones to avoid. Josh Allen has +900 odds to win the MVP award. While his numbers will always be great, team success and turnovers may hold him back. The value at +180 to win the AFC East isn’t something I would be excited about, as they’ll face tough competition from the Jets and Dolphins.

Bettors who want to support their team rather than fade them should consider these bets instead. Keon Coleman winning Offensive Rookie of the Year is an intriguing bet at +2500 odds, as he could very well become Josh Allen’s #1 target as a rookie. I like Josh Allen going over his line of 480.5 rushing yards, as he will need to carry the team more than ever with Diggs gone. Likewise, if the Bills focus more on the run game, I see James Cook going over his line of 925.5. He eclipsed this by nearly 200 yards last season, and his touches shouldn’t be cut into much by rookie Ray Davis.

How Will 2024 Look?

Season Result: The Bills head into the season tied for 6th in odds to win the Super Bowl. To me, this is poor value, as they have had much better opportunities in past seasons and haven’t been able to get it done. They haven’t improved during the offseason, while other AFC teams have. At the end of the day, they still have to get through Kansas City, though they may not even make it far enough to face them in the postseason this year. I see the Bills getting in as a wildcard team and losing in the first round of the playoffs. They lack any identity outside of Josh Allen. He is a great quarterback and leader but doesn’t have the roster around him to make a real run this season.

Author: Jake Koehler

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