It's time to pick the Bills

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For some strange reason, one of the more popular segments on our show in the morning is when I am forced to pick the Bills. With most if not all off season moves done for the Bills and the rest of the NFL, here’s my best guess for how the 2019 season will play out:

Week 1: at New York Jets

The Bills' overhauled offensive line wins its matchup against the defense of former Bills head coach Gregg Williams. LeSean McCoy has a second straight big game on the road against this division rival. Ed Oliver helps make for a miserable day for Sam Darnold.

PICK: Win

 

Week 2: at New York Giants

The “let’s see if we can get another year out of Eli Manning and do it without Odell Beckham, Jr.” plan is not going well.

PICK: Win

 

Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Bills fans are fired up about the possibility of a 3-0 start for the first time since 2011. There’ll always be a special place in my heart for Andy Dalton but the Bengals are headed for last in the AFC North

PICK: Win

 

Week 4: vs. New England Patriots

Brady is still playing right?

PICK: Loss

 

Week 5: at Tennessee Titans

The Bills are motivated by Titans fans who bought votes in that silly Twitter poll. Sean McDermott uses that in a fiery speech right before kickoff. Josh Allen ups his career record against the Titans to 2-0.

PICK: Win

 

Week 6: Enjoy the bye week.

 

Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins

I expect Miami to finish last in the division and only win four or five games. Josh Rosen is starting and Allen gets his first win against a quarterback from the Class of 2018.

PICK: Win

 

Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

I’m not feeling good about this one. I think the Eagles bounce back and win the NFC East. Plus, I’m surprised I had the Bills at 5-1 going in to this game.

PICK: Loss

 

Week 9: vs. Washington Redskins

I like this as the second biggest lock on the schedule next to the home game against Miami. The defense dominates whoever Washington trots out at quarterback.

PICK: Win

 

Week 10: at Cleveland Browns

This is getting exciting right? Too much Baker Mayfield and too much offense from the Browns. Lots of barking from the Dawg Pound.

PICK: Loss

 

Week 11: at Miami Dolphins

I feel like we will be sweating this one out. Allen has another big game in Miami, but this time the Bills pull out a win.

PICK: Win

 

Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos

John Elway thinks Joe Flacco is entering the prime of his career. I think Flacco’s career is closer to an end. Flacco doesn’t look like he did in the 2018 opener.

PICK: Win

 

Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys

Make sure you eat the turkey bofore the game. A short week and a road game against a Dallas team in contention for the NFC East add up to a loss. Console yourself with extra pumpkin pie.

PICK: Loss

 

Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Bills fans are thrilled with a December home game because its a critical matchup with playoff tiebreaker implications. Revenge for the 2018 opener part two.

PICK: Win

 

Week 15: at Pittsburgh Steelers

I honestly don’t know what to make of Pittsburgh and how they will be post Antonio Brown but for now I’ll give Ben Roethlisberger and company an edge.

PICK: Lose

 

Week 16: at New England Patriots

I don’t think the division is on the line for the Patriots but they might be able to keep the Bills from clinching a playoff spot at this point. Its Brady. Rinse and repeat.

PICK: Loss

 

Week 17: New York Jets

How about this? A Jets-Bills game in Orchard Park and most likely a wild card berth is on the line. Does this bring back memories of 2015? This goes much better for Allen and the Bills than that game went for Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets.

PICK: Win

 

Add it all up and it comes to 10-6.

My guess is that should be good enough for a wild card spot. The Bills should have beaten out the Jets for second place in the East and would have tie-breaker edges over the Jets, Tennessee and Baltimore. They’d also have an 8-4 record in AFC games, which could be a tie-breaker in their favor. For what it's worth, a 10-6 record has been good enough for at least one of the two wild card spots in the AFC in nine of the last 10 seasons. The 10-6 Jets lost out in 2015 on a tie-breaker to the 10-6 Steelers, so one 10-6 team did make it. The exception was the 2010 season when the wild card teams went 12-4 and 11-5.