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Patriots: Ranking the 2019 regular season opponents

By Patrick Morgan

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 23: Sony Michel #26 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 23: Sony Michel #26 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

13. Buffalo Bills (HOME)

The Patriots pasted the Jets and the Bills at home last season by a combined score of 62-15. One could easily argue that it was these two wins at the end of the regular season that really served as the springboard for the Patriots’ postseason run all the way to another Super Bowl title.

While both New York and Buffalo stand to improve their rosters with the draft this April, both franchises are very much in the early growing stages of their development. Just as the Jets must hope quarterback Sam Darnold makes a second-year leap in 2019, so too must the Bills pray that quarterback Josh Allen does the same.

Allen was a terrific scrambler as a rookie, running for over 600 yards, eight touchdowns, and a 7.1 yards per attempt average. Those would be great numbers for a rookie running back, but Allen doesn’t play RB. His passing stats were far less impressive, as he completed just over 50% of his passes for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions; that 10-touchdown mark was tied for the 32nd-lowest output in the NFL this season among quarterbacks.

For the Bills to take their next step towards relevancy, both in the division and in the league, they’ll need to see a more accurate, prolific passer than what they saw in 2018. Allen certainly has the arm strength and the raw talent, but whether or not he can be molded into a true franchise signal-caller will determine his team’s fate in 2019.

It’s not hard to imagine the Bills finishing next season as the second-best team in the AFC East behind the Patriots. It’s extremely hard to see them finishing as the best team in the division – and to see them winning in Foxborough, for that matter.

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