Like last year, the Bills’ defense faces an easier schedule than the offense, largely because the defenses for the Patriots, Dolphins and Jets are good to excellent, while none of those teams’ offenses are going to be elite. If the offense can pull its weight early, the team could get off to a 4-0 start. The defenses of the Rams (Week 3) and Raiders (Week 4) are not elite.  

As many have argued, the pandemic should play into the Bills’ hands because they have such a veteran team operating under familiar schemes. The offense hit the 21-point mark in only six of 17 games last year. I look at the talent on offense and don’t see why the Bills should not go from 23rd in points (19.6) up to, say, 12th or 13th (24.0).

Projected record: 10-6. 

This is the year Allen proves he’s the Bills’ franchise quarterback, setting career highs for completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns while leading Buffalo to its first AFC East division title since 1995. The addition of Diggs opens the passing attack for Brown and Beasley, who both improve on their stats from a year ago, while Singletary and Moss form a formidable one-two punch out of the backfield.

Expect the defense to remain the strength of the team under coach Sean McDermott and coordinator Leslie Frazier, with Ed Oliver terrorizing opposing quarterbacks in the pocket, Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano both making the Pro Bowl and the secondary continuing to rate among the most fearsome in the NFL. Tre’Davious White maintains his All-Pro form but does not lead the league in interceptions as he did a year ago, but only because quarterbacks are increasingly reluctant to throw to his side of the field.