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AFC Champs by 2009

AFC Champs by 2009

By Thurman Thomas

Questions or comments for Thurman? Send him a note at Thurman@nflcanada.com

This is my all Buffalo Bills week. I have seen enough of the Bills this year to predict that they will be in the AFC championship game within two years, I just don’t know who their quarterback will be. Here are some things they need to improve upon to get there;

1. A strong identity on offense, this will come with time, and the maturity of their young players i.e.; Marshawn Lynch, if he develops into a strong receiving threat, which I believe he will, and becomes adept at blitz pick ups, he won’t come out of the game on third downs and that will have a major impact on their overall offensive strategy. The line has to improve their run blocking.

2. On defense, they need to get a little stronger up the middle, I know they are a team built on speed, but you need a stud run defender at tackle, and they may already have in John McCargo, if he continues to develop. In passing situations, they have not generated a lot of sacks, which is not a problem as long as they are getting strong pressure on the quarterback, which they have done.

3. The Bills special teams have been outstanding, no improvement needed there.

4. Ok, I’ll take on the Q.B. situation. If J.P. Losman ends up being the guy, he has to prove he can move the chains and grind out first downs with check down passes and using his feet. There have been at least two or three times during Bills games that I wish he would just run the ball and pick up a key first down. He has great mobility, he should use it more often, I know he probably wants to prove he can do it with his arm, but at the end of the game, no one cares how you did it, just that you got it done.

If Trent Edwards is the Q.B. he has to gain the confidence of his teammates. He is a rookie and that process can be a long road. Being a rookie, the coaches have kept a pretty tight rope on him, so it’s hard to know what he will be like when the coaches open up the playbook, but they will eventually have to do that for Trent to reach his potential. But he has the intangibles, pocket presence, calm demeanor; I believe he will be very good.

5. Coaching. The coaches have done an excellent job of keeping their young team focused through an 0-3 start, a devastating spinal chord injury to Kevin Everett, and several other season ending injuries to key starters. Now they have to reach a comfort zone with the players on both offense and defense, in terms of strengths and weaknesses, and with the Bills being so young it will take a little time to achieve that. But they are on the right track.

Make no mistake, Sunday night's game between Buffalo and New England will be huge for the Bills and for that matter the Patriots. The Bills have an opportunity to prove that they can compete with the undisputed kings of the NFL. The Pat’s have the opportunity to extend their unbeaten streak and once again prove their dominance on National television.

New England is coming of a buy week, which will make it more difficult for the Bills to win. In order for the Bills to have a chance, they will have to start fast and force New England into some early mistakes and turnovers. Otherwise it will be a very long night for Buffalo. My prediction is a 27-24 thriller. Buffalo on top. See you there!

Thurman Thomas

Buffalo Bills legend Thurman Thomas rushed for 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons, was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls, and was named NFL MVP in 1991. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and is now an NFL ambassador in Canada and will be making community and charitable appearances on behalf of the league north of the border.