One week from today, the Buffalo Bills begin their quest to reach the Super Bowl. Reaching the NFL’s pinnacle game next February would erase a 31-year absence from the sport’s biggest stage. Quarterback Josh Allen is in the prime of his career, led by a head coach who’s proven to be among the league’s best in the regular season. The playoffs? That’s another story, and for some other day.
For now, what’s most important regarding the Bills is what’s in front of our eyes. Buffalo enters the 2025 NFL
season having shown almost nothing of its starting offense or defense, which isn’t unique from a gamesmanship standpoint. However, it’s the first August where Allen wasn’t asked to take a single snap during preseason play.
There are new looks among the wide receivers room and defensive line, but no one will have a real guess as to what’s in store until the games matter. Given the team’s output and intentions during the preseason, we thought it was a good time to ask Rumblers how they were feeling about the Bills.
Had what you’d seen affected your confidence in the team on the eve of the regular season?
The results are in, and the numbers are interesting. Right now, fans are fairly evenly split into three groups — at least if our results are any indication. Those saying “I’m unchanged” lead the way at 38%, while fans who say “I’m more confident” are just behind at 33%. Yet just behind, even if in third, are those fans who voiced a “less confident” tone when voting.
Confidence in this team begins and multiplies thanks to Josh Allen. Offensively, running back James Cook and the entire offensive line help create an incredible nucleus to build around. Yet beyond that, there are a lot of question marks. The ultimate unknown is injury. The hope is that Buffalo has built a roster capable of overcoming most injuries, and one that’s led by a head coach and coordinators who’ve learned from past errors in the biggest moments and most important games.
Will the Bills hit the ground running… un… changed?
In national polls, Reacts voters were asked to weigh in with their thoughts on who wins NFL MVP for the 2025 season. It’s become a quarterback award, if we’re being honest, and the top names are no surprise.
Right now, Patrick Mahomes (20%) leads the way, with Josh Allen (a fitting 17%), Lamar Jackson (17%), Joe Burrow (12%), Jayden Daniels (6%), and Jalen Hurts (4%) rounding out the group.
It would appear as though voters believe Mahomes’ downward trend in recent seasons is in the rearview mirror, which will vault him ahead of Allen and Jackson. It sure seems like voters are overlooking Hurts, who continues to play his best games on the biggest stage. For some reason, Hurts doesn’t get the attention he’s due, but that may simply be the result of so many elite quarterbacks in the NFL right now.
Another national poll asked voters to pick who they see as winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2025. This poll resonated with me when considering it through the lens of Buffalo’s draft class this past April.
Picking at the end of Round 1 meant the Bills weren’t likely to see top talent at any position. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston was still viewed as one of the draft’s best at his position, yet he wasn’t even considered in this poll. Again, when he was drafted plays a huge role with other elite defensive prospects being taken early in the first round.
Despite that, it still says something that Hairston and, by association, the Bills aren’t anywhere in this discussion. Meanwhile, Mike Green (pick 59 overall) and Jihaad Campbell (pick 31 overall) make the cut as players chosen after Hairston. Despite One Bills Drive focusing almost exclusively on defensive prospects, they’re currently an afterthought this discussion.
Back to the results: Abdul Carter (34%) leads the way in this poll, followed by Travis Hunter Jr. (17%), Mykel Williams (7%), Jalon Walker (6%), Mike Green (5%), and Jihaad Campbell (also at 5%).
Do the results of these polls resonate with you? Aside from Josh Allen, perhaps everyone is underestimating all that the Bills bring to the table in 2025. Get in on the action early this season with options to wager on these and plenty of other NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.
