Midway through the NFL season, it’s clear that the Buffalo Bills are among the top Super Bowl
favorites. Most oddsmakers give them the fourth-shortest Super Bowl odds behind the Chiefs,
Lions, and Ravens. Of course, the Bills have been in a similar position in the last handful of
seasons. Time after time, Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes have been spoiled, usually by the Chiefs.
What makes this season any different for the Bills and their long-suffering fans? Believe it or
not, there are reasons for optimism. This might be the time for fans to put their money where
their mouth is and bet on the Bills to be Super Bowl champs this season. Even fans across the
border in Canada can use Ontario sports betting to get behind the Bills. Even with half a season
left to play, here are five reasons the Bills are poised to finally win the Super Bowl.
Josh Allen is the MVP
Granted, Allen isn’t the MVP just yet, but he’s clearly among the leading favorites at the midway
part of the season. He’s taken his game to another level this season as a passer while reducing
how much he relies on his legs, exposing him to fewer hits. Allen is on pace for a career-low in
interceptions and is going to come close to his career-highs in touchdown passes and
quarterback rating. At this point, he looks like he’s one of the two or three best players in the
league, meaning he’s more than capable of carrying his team to the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs Could be Vulnerable
It’s no secret that the Chiefs have been Buffalo’s greatest playoff adversary, knocking them out
of the playoffs three times in the last four seasons. But despite being unbeaten at the midway
point of the season, Kansas City is potentially vulnerable this season. Patrick Mahomes has
been more turnover-prone than ever before and is missing several key playmakers around him.
Plus, seven of Kansas City’s nine wins have come by seven points or less, including a few that
were too close for comfort. The Chiefs aren’t head and shoulders better than everyone else this
year, so this could be the year the Bills (or another AFC team) finally get the best of them.
The Path is Favorable
Even at the midway point of the season, the Bills seem to have the AFC East locked up. They
also appear to be in excellent shape to earn at least the second seed – if not overtake the Chiefs
for the top seed – in the AFC. That would give Buffalo a favorable path to the Super Bowl that
could include two home playoff games. Even if the Bills have to beat the Chiefs on the road,
they’ve won three of their last four trips to Arrowhead Stadium – and were painfully close in
Kansas City’s lone win during that stretch. If the Bills can overcome the mental hurdle of having
to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs, there is no postseason game they aren’t capable of winning.
Tyler Bass Has Stepped It Up
Close games require a trusted kicker, which is something the Bills appear to have with Tyler
Bass. Despite the Bills auditioning other kickers earlier this season amidst some struggles from
Bass, he nailed a 61-yard field goal in the closing seconds of a Week 8 win over the Dolphins.
With that kick, Bass has now made 16 consecutive field goals in the second half of a game
when his team has a chance to tie or take the lead. He’s also made eight straight field goals that
have come in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime. While fans may remember his
miss in Buffalo’s playoff loss to the Chiefs last season, Bass has a strong track record of being
clutch and is feeling confident heading into the second half of the season.
Addition of Amari Cooper
The biggest thing the Bills were lacking before the season was a true no. 1 wide receiver. They
rectified that by acquiring Cooper. While an injury has limited his productivity since he joined the
Bills, Cooper will undoubtedly play a key role for the Buffalo offense down the stretch and in the
playoffs. He’s the type of wide receiver who can help take pressure off Allen and make Buffalo’s
other skill players better. The supporting cast of Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins,
rookie Keon Coleman, and tight end Dalton Kincaid is a good one. That group was simply
missing a leader, which is what the Bills now have with Cooper. He’s a key piece of Buffalo’s
Super Bowl puzzle that wasn’t there at the start of the season but is now in place.
