Last season, the Buffalo Bills were one of the most consistent teams in football. Josh Allen and the offense put up numbers for fun, averaging 30.9 points per game.
The only downside for the team was that at times, the defense simply couldn't get off the field, which came back to haunt them in the playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs.
So, general manager Brandon Beane set out in free agency to add some pass-rushing juice with Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, and Larry Ogunjobi, the pick of the signings.
But is that enough for the Bills to be considered top tier?
For Fox Sports' Bucky Brooks, in his latest power rankings, he has Buffalo at No. 2 with an improved defense the reason why.
"After failing to reach the Super Bowl behind the NFL’s most explosive offense, general manager Brandon Beane spent the offseason upgrading a defense that let the team down in crucial moments last season," Brooks wrote. "The Bills added a collection of pass rushers (Joey Bosa, Landon Jackson, TJ Sanders, and Deone Walker) and coverage specialists (Maxwell Hairston, Tre’Davious White, Jordan Hancock, and Dorian Strong) to help the defense preserve late-game leads against elite opponents.
"If Josh Allen and Co. continue to force opponents into high-scoring shootouts, the Bills’ new and improved defense is better equipped to deal with potent offenses."
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott (left) and quarterback Josh Allen (17).
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott (left) and quarterback Josh Allen (17).
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
With offensive coordinator Joe Brady returning, it is a safe bet that the offense will be one of the best in football, plus they've added Joshua Palmer to the mix too.
It might all depend on the defense and how well the free agency signings and draft picks mesh together for Sean McDermott's unit. If they can generate more pressure and get off the field late in games, Allen and the offense will be able to drive the stake through the heart to finish teams off.
There has been a clear defensive emphasis this offseason, and the franchise, seeing exactly where the roster deficiencies were, hopes improvement comes in a big way.
And the Bills' Super Bowl hopes might just rest on it.