Buffalo Bills’ 2014 Midseason Grade

By Jordan Wevers @JordanWevers on October 27, 2014

There are a large contingent of first and second year coaches experiencing success in the NFL right now. Sophomore Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone happens to find himself in that current grouping. Other welcomed news within the franchise was that billionaire Terry Pegula had officially purchased the team as of Oct. 10 with intentions of keeping the Bills in western New York state.

The Bills find themselves at 5-3 after eight weeks in the books. Marrone’s decision to sign “backup” quarterback Kyle Orton for $5 million per season made him the highest paid second string signal caller in the league. Of course, the writing was on the wall for then starter E.J. Manuel that his leash was going to be incredibly short, and Orton was more or less being brought in to clean up Manuel’s impending mess.

Kudos to the club for addressing that red flag early on. Heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Detroit Lions, Orton was named the starter and the team has gone 3-1 ever since. Orton has made first round draft pick WR Sammy Watkins an early candidate for offensive Rookie of the Year while maintaining a completion percentage of 67.4, seventh highest in the league.

Recently hindered by the losses of running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller on offense, the Bills may need to alter their game plan in future contests if Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown prove ineffective.

Defensively, the group is a unit the team can lean on. The Bills’ defense has given up the 10th least total yards per game and come in fourth in turnover differential at plus seven. Two players rank in the league top ten for individual sacks, DT Marcel Dareus (seven) and DE Mario Williams (six).

Everything is going smoothly thus far, despite the unit losing starting MLB and 2014 defensive ROY Kiko Alonso prior to the season beginning. The team signed veteran MLB Brandon Spikes and OLB Keith Rivers to play alongside Alonso back in March. Both are starters, but it’s rookie LB Preston Brown (60) and third year LB Nigel Bradham (52) who lead the team in tackles.

The Bills have a decent remaining strength of schedule. Teams like the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots on the road will provide them with challenges. However, they host the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) in Week 10 after their bye and the Green Bay Packers (5-3) in Week 15. If Buffalo can capitalize on home-field advantage and pull off victories, an AFC Wild Card berth is not out of the question.

Grade: C+

Jordan Wevers is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.