BUFFALO – The Buffalo Bills open their 2018 season Sunday in Baltimore taking on the Ravens.
The Bills have a new starting quarterback and a defensive secondary that seems poised for big things.
Buffalo also has a fresh rookie quarterback waiting in the wings in Josh Allen.
Nathan Peterman will start under center as he looks to improve on his lone start last year in which he fired 5 interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was 6 for 14 with the five picks in only one half of football.
Peterman, according to coaches and scouts, looked much better this preseason and in practice and is a quick learner. His biggest challenge will be his accuracy woes, but he has improved confidence.
LeSean McCoy, one of the nastiest runners in the NFL, will likely get a lot of carries as the Bills may look to a run now, pass later offensive attack for at least the third straight season. McCoy, living in the shadows of a personal relationship scandal, needs to concentrate on what he does best, juking, cutting and using his elusiveness to explode downfield.
For the Bills’ defense, the question is can they put enough pressure on QB Joe Flacco to limit his passes to new Raven Michael Crabtree and TE Hayden Hurst. Also a challenge will be stopping runner Alex Collins.
Most pundits are predicting a 6-10 season for the Bills. The Bills have averaged the fewest passing yards the last two seasons in the NFL, but that was mostly with Tyrod Taylor, now in Cleveland, at the helm.
To balance the weak passing attack is the fact the Bills have, over the past two seasons, averaged the most NFL rushing yards.
