Bills' unfortunate offseason could be Patriots path to success in 2024

One of the worst parts of every NFL offseason/preseason is the consistent heartbreaking news of piling up injuries across the league. Because the season begins in just a couple of weeks, it's even more devastating when players are injured now and projected to miss the entire year.

This year has been no different than what we've experienced in recent history regarding injuries, as it seems like every day there's a new player reportedly done for the season. The Patriots have been mostly fortunate in that regard, while one of their biggest AFC foes has probably had the worst fate of all.

The Buffalo Bills have been dealing with the worst injury bug of all, with their latest injury report looking miles long.

It's an unfortunate start for a team considered to be in its championship window, and the clock is ticking, especially for head coach Sean McDermott.

However, for the other AFC East teams, like the Patriots, the Bills' downfall, even if due to circumstances like injuries, could create a path to success this season regardless of whether that results in a winning record.

The Bills' long list of injuries possibly makes the AFC East a bit more wide-open

For much of the offseason, the Bills and Jets have been the frontrunners to win the division, with the Patriots at the bottom of every projection. While that might remain the case, which wouldn't be too disappointing considering New England is in the middle of a rebuild, Buffalo's injuries could drastically change the landscape of the AFC East.

Although the Jets remain at the top, mainly due to the return of Aaron Rodgers despite his history of falling flat, the Patriots might have a better chance at splitting the season with the Bills, who they have struggled against since Tom Brady left in 2020.

By maintaining a solid defense and improving the offense from last season, there's no reason to believe the Patriots couldn't manage to steal a win much like they did a year ago.

It would be even better if the Bills are in a sticky situation by the time the teams meet for the first time in Week 16, like still vying for a playoff spot and needing to finish the season strong. If the Patriots are already eliminated, as they are projected to be, making Buffalo's road to the postseason more complicated or impossible would be a sweet way to end the season.

That might not technically help the Patriots have a successful winning season for first-time head coach Jerod Mayo, but securing some hard-fought wins over the perennial divisional leader would be a sweet end to a long year.

More Patriots news and analysis: