After earning a playoff bid for the first time in 17 years in 2017, the 2018 build of the Buffalo Bills faltered. However, this was widely expected. After witnessing retirements, departures, and trades in the off-season, the Bills entered 2018 a depleted version of themselves. The plan was to improve around a veteran quarterback, as most thought throwing No. 7 selection Josh Allen into the fire would hinder his development.
But that didn’t quite work out; A.J. McCarron was traded, and Nathan Peterman disappointed yet again. Allen was named the starter by week two, and by the end of week five, he had a shoulder injury — precisely what the Bills wanted to avoid.