In our first installment of our “Wasted Seasons” series, we examine the Buffalo Bills. 

For 15 years Buffalo Bills fans have been waiting for postseason play they’ve sat at home watching other teams in the playoffs.  Despite having a winning record for the first time since 2004, nothing has changed and little has been resolved for the Bills moving forward.

Ever since the Music City Miracle, the Bills have been snake bit, struggling to take strides as a franchise as their quarterback search continues to hold them back.  They currently hold the longest playoff drought in the NFL and there’s no reason to believe it’s going to end anytime soon. 

In so many ways, loyal Bills fans can argue the positives from this season’s winning record and their arguments would hold some water.

Buffalo boasts one of the best defenses in the league spearheaded by an amazing front four that features three Pro Bowlers in Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcel Dareus; plus a defensive end in Jerry Hughes who is set to make himself a very rich man on the free agent market this off-season.

Their defense also features a young promising secondary with some players that have the potential to take a leap next year in Aaron Williams and Stephon Gilmore. Not to mention the defense overall is getting a boost in the off-season with their best player, Kiko Alonso, returning from injury.

The Bills also have a young offensive line with tons of potential, anchored by a stalwart center in Eric Wood and flanked by two young mammoth tackles that can potentially get even better with the development of rookies Seantrel Henderson, Cyrus Kouandjio, and Cyril Richardson going into their second years.

First round pick Sammy Watkins proved to be what everyone thought he was, a future star, but that is just about where the answers stop and the questions begin. Aside from Watkins, who else is a playmaker for the Bills in the passing game?

What happened to the Bills running game? Buffalo finished with a franchise record low rushing total of 1,482 yards. While injuries played a major factor, an overhaul of the backfield is clearly needed. Fred Jackson is on his last legs of his NFL career and C.J. Spiller has been an enigma whose injury prone status likely leaves him available to seek a change of scenery this offseason.

With new ownership taking over, what’s going to happen in the front office? General manager Doug Whaley originally hitched his wagon to E.J. Manuel then showed a true lack of conviction by going out and signing the veteran Kyle Orton. Which in hindsight seems like a good move since they finished with a winning record but is mostly a mirage as they’re in the same place they began the season, without a true franchise quarterback. Whaley has done a pretty decent job of adding personnel but will his folly with the quarterback position leave ownership the desire to bring in a football mind they can trust? 

Who will be the Bills quarterback next season? Kyle Orton saved the Bills from another losing season by providing them with stability under center, shocked just about everyone after announcing his retirement.

“I just have been going at it for 10 years and it’s just a family decision and I’ve decided to get home and be a dad and call it a day,” Orton said in a statement.

Now the Bills are left with the guy Orton replaced in E.J. Manuel who is probably a broken prospect at this point, and a practice squad nobody in Jeff Tuel.  Browns’ quarterback Brian Hoyer and the Dolphins’ Matt Moore are capable stop-gap options the Bills could target in free agency, but in a quarterback driven league the difference between a serviceable guy and a franchise guy means so much to the hope of a franchise.

There’s also the burning question surrounding who will coach the Bills next year? Head coach Doug Marrone decided to exercise an opt-out in his contract to expedite his exit to another franchise with a better roster.  Now the Bills are one of the franchises that is looking for a head coach and without anything resembling an answer at quarterback nor do they have a first-round draft pick, they will take a back seat in terms of the attractiveness of the job. 

All in all, the Bills enjoyed a winning season but an unsuccessful one because they didn’t get any closer to becoming a championship contender.  Instead they’re back at the drawing board left to figure out where they’re going to find that franchise guy and leader of men to breathe tangible hope into a city and franchise that has been stuck in a 15 year rut.