Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Well, that was certainly something this past week!
It's time to, once again, provide some wandering thoughts from not just the Buffalo Bills' blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but more from the week that was in Buffalo sports:
Same old Bills
Yes, it has only been three weeks, but does any other team in the NFL inspire as much confidence as the Bills have to start the year?
It is not that the Bills have won these first three games that is impressive, it is how they've won those games.
First, they had to wake up from a slow start with a mix of pass and run attacks to come back and claim victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Four days later, they smothered the Miami Dolphins on a short week, and Josh Allen doesn’t even need to lift a finger with the defense and the run game doing nearly all the work.
Finally, after 10 days off, Allen wanted in on the dominance.
The Bills quarterback and the air attack could do no wrong on Monday night, as they put a hapless Jaguars team into the dirt.
Related
Next up, the Bills embark on a three-game road trip, all with quality competition. First up will be on a Sunday night matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore comes into the contest with a 1-2 record, but have the reigning MVP in Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, who through three games is fifth in the league in rushing with 281 yards and four touchdowns.
After that, the Bills will head to Houston for the "Stefon Diggs Revenge Game" against the Texans, followed by a trip to New Jersey to face the New York Jets.
If the Bills get out of this at 5-1 or better, they can challenge for the top seed in the conference once again. Of course, that team in Kansas City is always a threat to those dreams, and they are still amongst the group of unbeaten team remaining league-wide. However, the Bills have been in this chase before. The only difference is to now elevate and get it done.
The week off would be nice for a change. That said, the top seed is no playoff guarantee, as the Tennessee Titans and Ravens have done nothing with it in recent years.
January is going to be so nerve-wracking. Again.
3-0 has some odd company
There are five teams still unbeaten after Week 3. Two names surprise no one at this point in this group - Buffalo and Kansas City - but there are three others that have been early season darlings that have yet to suffer a loss.
1.) Seattle Seahawks
Certainly a surprise, but a team that has been building for the future while snagging some success of their own over the past few seasons.
The Russell Wilson trade allowed Seattle to make runs to the playoffs, while still gaining premium assets as Wilson’s game suddenly imploded.
Geno Smith’s career revival arc might need a case study.
2.) Minnesota Vikings
Speaking of redemption arcs, here comes Sam Darnold all of a sudden.
One of the few "busts" of the powerful 2018 NFL Draft class, Darnold struggled with the Jets and Carolina Panthers.
While Darnold likely won't be with the Vikings long-term, he will have a chance to re-tell his story.
This team is also winning with some solid defense from coordinator Brian Flores, as head coach Kevin O’Connell has this offense, and team, humming.
3.) Pittsburgh Steelers
Huh? How are the Steelers 3-0? What is this, Mad Libs?
They have mostly been winning thanks to a smothering defense, and pass rusher T.J. Watt being borderline unfair.
The offense has been just OK under Justin Fields, who only got the start because Russell Wilson was injured to start the year. But it’s not like the Steelers are crushing it on the scoreboard.
As usual, the Steelers will play in the mud, on their way to ensure that head coach Mike Tomlin never has a losing record.
Europe bound
The Buffalo Sabres played in two preseason games with, what will be, their primary NHL club. Facing off against AHL and prospect-laden rosters of both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, the Sabres actually put on the clinic that one should expect, based on the rosters on the ice.
Now, the Sabres' NHL squad is on its way to Europe, where the team will have an exhibition match with Red Bull München in Germany on Friday, and then play the New Jersey Devils in Czechia to open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 4 and 5 in Prague.
Right in time for the trip, All-Star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is back at practice after putting a scare into the Sabres faithful on the first day of training camp.
With the return of Lindy Ruff behind the bench as head coach, as well as the influx of speed, there is reason to have hope.
Now, it is dangerous with the Sabres, of course. You don’t get to 13 years of no playoffs without finding new and creative ways to burn the fans, after all.
Fans can even look to this past offseason, where the team had cap space to use after buying out Jeff Skinner’s contract, but did not fill the space, either on the roster or within the cap space freed up.
Can the Sabres finally break free and get into the best postseason in all of sports again? The next journey starts for them next week.
