Hopes are High for 2005

by Tom Nazzaro

With every upcoming NFL season, all fans, from the novice to the die-hard variety, all devote much anticipation as to what, and how their favorite NFL team will do in the season to come. As the off season comes, and your team is left out of playoff contention, fans always will hope, dream, and sometimes pray for a better season next year. The same could be rightfully said for all of the very loyal Buffalo Bills fans. Many Bills fans garnered much excitement at the prospects of new coach & offensive guru, Mike Mularkey. Buffalo fans also were excited to see new draft pick Lee Evans, and also young stars such as Chris Kelsay, Terrance McGee, and certainly were very excited about finally seeing the former University of Miami tailback, Willis McGahee, suit it up, after sitting out all of 2003 recovering from a devastating knee injury suffered in the title game versus Ohio State.

As the hopes & dreams of the upcoming season were envisioned and hypothesized, the 2004 season finally kicked off; but in a very ominous way as the Buffalo Bills lost a heartbreaker versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on a last second 4th down conversion, that left a sour taste in players and fans alike. The loss seemed to have a resounding impact on the team, as it went on to drop its next 3 games, leaving the Bills and the Miami Dolphins the only 2 winless teams in the NFL (both have identical 0-4 records). An 0-4 start, with minimal offensive output, only led to many of those hopeful fans loosing their confidence and thus crushing their dreams of grandeur for the 2004 season.

As Week 5 came around the Bills would face the winless Dolphins, but would do with the much maligned Willis McGahee, playing a featured roll. The previous game in week 4, Bills starting running back, Travis Henry, got hurt which would open up the door for McGahee to finally showcase his talents in the NFL game. He did not disappoint, as he rushed for 100 yards in his first NFL game, and the Bills went on to win the game 20-13, and also started to revive hope in the hearts and minds of its beloved fans.

The Bills would then go on to win its next 2 out of 3 games, (with wins coming against the Jets and Cardinals) and with their record at 3-5, the Bills would take it to prime time in Week 9 as they would play the week's Sunday night game versus the super bowl champion New England Patriots. The game was a 29-6 abomination, as the Bills amassed only 8 first downs, and a putrid 125 total yards of offense, thus dropping the Bills to 3-6 team, and killing the hopes and visions the fans were starting to dream up for possible playoff implications.

With the loss, the Buffalo Bills could've lost all of their confidence and but they didn't. Matter of fact, something else happened. For the first time since the early 1990's the Bills started to score points, and were winning with regularity. Willis McGahee was rushing for 100 plus yards week after week, Lee Evans was living up to his lofty expectations, the Bills defense was forcing turnovers and reeking havoc, and the fans were talking. Next thing you knew the Bills had a winning streak. The streak reached 6 consecutive games, but not only were they winning, but they were winning by embarrassing their opponents. Over that 6 game stretch, the Bills averaged 38 points, and an average margin of victory of 23 points, which invigorated Bills fans with playoff possibilities. The answer to the Bills hopes, and dreams of playoff aspirations were answered in the last week of the season; unfortunately they were not what fans had hoped for, as the Bills dropped a heartbreaking game to the 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers, thus ending a brilliant playoff run, which would have made them the 2nd team in NFL history to make the playoffs after an 0-4 start (San Diego Chargers in 1994 was the only other).

Although the aspirations of having a playoff team did not play out, Bills fans do get to enjoy its first winning season since 1999, and more than anything else, fans next year will have optimism larger than any other year since the early 90's. When fans start to follow a particular team, fans have to endure ups and downs, and for the past 10 years or so, Bills fans have certainly been waiting for a return to prominence. The 2005 season will feature Willis McGahee who figures to build upon a brilliant rookie year in which he amassed over 1100 yards, and scored 13 touchdowns. 2005 will also feature Lee Evans, who had a great rookie season catching a team high 9 touchdowns, and totaling 843 receiving yards (most of which came in the 2nd half of the season). The Bills might also unveil their quarterback of the future, JP Losman, at some point next year, and only time will tell how good he may be for this team.

One thing is for sure, the Bills nation is already hoping and dreaming about next year, but this time it is with more certainty than it has been since those great super bowl teams we came to love in the early 1990's. Wait until next year will be a battle cry heard by all Buffalo fans for 2005, and by the way the Bills played the 2nd half of the season last year, this team people will take notice, and the fans will be able to dream and hope that much more...