Bills teams in the past have been the type that can get up for the big games (though often falling short), but also playing down to the level of the competition. So for as many times as they pulled out a big win against a stronger opponent, they also fell flat and lost to teams they should have beaten. Those, to me, are signs of teams that needed better talent, better coaching, and better discipline.
As many others have pointed out, this year certainly seems different than other years. We have much better talent, and we have solid coaching. Execution has been strong for the most part, though there were discipline issues in the Pats*** game that bit us in the ass.
But over this three game stretch against Miami, the Giants, and Tennessee, I thought we would have a good opportunity to see the true character of this team. Three teams we definitely should beat, though each with its distinct challenges; Miami with its tough defensive front, the Giants with their SB-winning QB and tough receivers, and Tennessee with its stellar rookie QB, and two of those on the road. But despite those challenges, there is no reason this team should not be 4-1 heading into a showdown at home against the Bengals.
The game against Miami was a sign to me that this isn't the same old Bills. On the road, they not only took care of business, but they held their foot on the gas and didn't let up. True, Miami is probably worse than any of us thought going into the season, but again, previous Bills teams would find a way to play down to their level and make it a close game. There are initial signs that this team has a different, stronger character.
Now we have the Giants and Tennessee, and two more opportunities to show that this team is built for real success. Teams have more film on us, so they'll have more ways to attack our weaknesses. How this team responds against these two additional opponents will tell me a lot about who they truly are. I don't expect every game to be a 41-14 thrashing (sure would be nice, though), but if this really is a team with playoff expectations I expect them to execute well and take care of business these next two games. If not, well, I guess we will still have a ways to go.
Go Bills!!