The Denver Broncos can follow the Buffalo Bills’ model for success.
Saturday was a rough day for the Denver Broncos, after suffering a 48-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills, in a game where it didn’t even feel as if the Broncos had actually scored 19 points, and were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Most would agree that this Broncos’ squad had no business being in the playoffs anyway, even if by some improbable design, they would have found a way to secure that elusive final Wild Card spot.
Meanwhile, on the opposite spectrum, the celebration was on for the Buffalo Bills. For them, their victory had punched their ticket as the AFC East Champions for the first time since 1995. After nearly 25 years of waiting, that had to feel good, especially in a division that has been dominated by the New England Patriots for nearly two decades.
With a quarterback that looks as good as Josh Allen and a defense as stout as the one in Buffalo, it’s possible that we are seeing the birth of a new dynasty in the East.
Broncos Country can probably agree that the same feeling is sorely missed in Denver, as the Broncos missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season, still waiting for their first playoff appearance following Super Bowl 50, and that this season has been just another season of heartache and frustration for fans and players alike.
However, by looking at the success of the Buffalo Bills, we can see the possibility that the Broncos may be following a formula similar to that of Buffalo, and that realistically, the Denver Broncos may not be too far away from victory once again. Here’s why.
It is worth noting that both Sean McDermott and Vic Fangio are defensive-minded coaches, and have very talented and productive defensive units.
The Buffalo Bills did not find their immediate success upon hiring head coach Sean McDermott in 2017. Although the Bills squeaked into a Wild Card spot at 9-7 in his first season, they lost in the opening round, and in his second year, the Bills finished at 6-10 and avoided the playoffs.
Consider where Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos are right now. With the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders left on the slate, there is a chance that, like McDermott, Fangio could finish 6-10 or even 7-9 to finish his second year as a head coach. It is also worth keeping in mind that McDermott’s second year as a head coach was his first year with Josh Allen.
Vic Fangio’s second year is technically Drew Lock’s rookie campaign, as it is his first full season, barring the games he has missed due to injury.
The most interesting comparison of all is that of Josh Allen and Drew Lock.
In his rookie season, Josh Allen started 12 games, and Lock started only five.
After Saturday’s game, Drew Lock had officially started a full 16 game stretch as a Denver Bronco.
Here are the stat comparisons between Drew Lock and Josh Allen after having started 16 games in the NFL.
- Josh Allen- 13 TD, 18 INT
- Drew Lock- 21 TD, 16 INT
As we watch Allen’s domination this season, it is easy to point out the shortcomings of Drew Lock, and express our desire for a Josh Allen. However, Josh Allen was not Josh Allen after 16 games, and it is not logical to expect any different from Drew Lock, who has just completed a season’s worth of play, under two different offensive coordinators.
Lock is still a full year behind Allen and of course, he has much to improve on. However, the similarities between the QB and coaching situations should lead to optimism in Broncos Country.
As the Buffalo Bills enjoy their long-awaited AFC East Championship, they know that their patience in new coaching and in their young quarterback is what got them there.
Their success could be foreshadowing for the Denver Broncos, who are in a very similar situation. However, it takes patience, and the Broncos would be wise to exercise the same patience as the Bills have, who put in the work to build up a sustainable franchise.
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Rome wasn’t built in a night, and neither is a football program that will go the distance. By watching the success of the Buffalo Bills, it is fair to say that there is optimism for the Denver Broncos; they just need to trust the process.