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| Donald Jones (Photo: Jeffrey Beall) |
And, with a ground game that typically carries the majority of the offensive workload — and success — the Buffalo Bills are going to require the same production from its passing game this season if it plans on being a contender in the ultra-competitive AFC East.
The Bills need a balanced attack, and they have what it takes to create one. But will they?
The cellar-dwelling Bills’ offensive breakout star last year — and a big part of each of the team’s four wins — was then-third-year wideout Stevie Johnson. Yes, Johnson dropped a game-winning touchdown pass vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. But there were 82 other passes he didn’t drop. Ten of them were touchdowns.
Lining up across from Johnson is second-year receiver Donald Jones, who had some late-season success last year as the team tried to fill the void left by the speedy Roscoe Parrish. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick also told the team’s website that he thought Jones was more confident now, and he’s excited at the production he believes awaits ahead for Jones and the crew.
A confident Jones, focused Johnson and healthy Parrish means the Bills have the talent, hands and speed on the outside to match the barreling backfield out of Orchard Park.
Arguably the most versatile and powerful one-two punch rushing in the AFC East, Buffalo’s tandem of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller has lived up to the ground-and-pound reputation that the oft-mediocre Bills have carried in a division they haven’t been able to win since 1995.
Despite that drought, and the fact that the Bills haven’t made the playoffs since we’ve entered the 2000s, the Bills have consistently drafted top-tier running backs and helped those players be effective in the team’s system. Simply, the team replied on them. Players like Travis Henry, Willis McGahee and Marshawn Lynch have oftentimes been the lone bright stop on a crippled Buffalo squad.
Jackson, who was named the No. 1 running back this week, rushed for just under 1,000 yards in 13 starts last season, the only Bills player even close to reaching the milestone. Expect that to change.
Now, with an overpowering running attack lining up behind a young, offensive line that remains in need of order and encouragement, is the time for the passing game to step it up and take some heat off the backfield. It’s really their only option if they expect to be successful this season.
And this can certainly be the year the Bills change it around.
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