Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Bills (6-1) are bound and determined to rule the AFC this year. After losing the AFC East division title to the upstart New England Patriots last year, the Bills are not going to let any team sneak past them again. New England could accomplish the feat this season, but it will be the result of having a better team and proving it over the course of the season while playing a much more challenging schedule.
In addition to the Patriots, the Bills have to be concerned with the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. The biggest threat may be the Bengals, because it appears that QB Joe Burrow has returned to his best form after several seasons on injury-related or mistake-prone play.
If the Bills get to the top of the AFC mountain and can return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the glory years of Marv Levy, Jim Kelly and Bruce Smith, it will be the result of having the best offense in the NFL. The Bills are averaging a league-high 33.3 points per game because Josh Allen is directing an attack that can light up the scoreboard.
He has one of the strongest arms in the league and is unafraid to show it off by firing laser-like passes into tight windows. He is also the best running quarterback in the game, and he will step into the breech any time the Bills need key yards on the ground or need an alternative to get into the end zone.
Defensive issues could thwart their plans
However, their offensive skill and drive may not be enough. The weak spot for this team has always been defense, and the hiring of Joe Brady as head coach has not changed this a bit. The Bills rank 30th in pass defense and are in the bottom 25 percent as a scoring defense.
The Bills should address their defensive needs at the trade deadline, but it would be a killer mistake to go after LB-edge rusher Khalil Mack of the winless Los Angeles Chargers.
Mack has been mentioned as one of the most prominent names available prior to the Nov. 10 trade deadline, and that would have been a correct assessment three seasons ago.
However, Mack is not the same player he was when he had 17.0 sacks for the Chargers in the 2023 season. Mack, 35, appears to have slowed down by at least a step at this point in his 13-year career. While the idea of playing for a legitimate Super Bowl contender would certainly amp up his emotional edge and perhaps improve his focus, Mack is simply not the effective player he was in his prime.
The Bills would be making a key mistake by trading high draft picks or effective role players just to acquire his services. Through 7 games, Mack has 21 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 6 quarterback hits. Quarterbacks and running backs can easily get out of range when Mack is trying to reel them in. He is not as effective as he once was, and even if he had one or two good games after the Bills acquire him, Mack would not be able to sustain any kind of long-term success.
Arizona Edge Josh Sweat could be the answer
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) slips and looses the ball as he is defended by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
While it appears that Mack no longer has the first step to cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks, that is not the case for Josh Sweat of the Cardinals.
The 29-year-old Sweat is in his 9th season and he is coming off a 12.0-sack season a year ago in the desert. He also had 30 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 17 QB hits.
The numbers this season have not been as impressive, but Sweat has 22 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 5 QB hits. He could make a big difference for the Bills, who are getting maximum production from Greg Rousseau, but little else from any of his defensive mates.
Rousseau has 7.0 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and 7 passes batted down along with 3 forced fumbles and 24 tackles. However, no other Buffalo defensive player has more than 1.5 sacks, and that means any team that can shut down Rousseau can have an easy time protecting its quarterback.
The Cardinals are in last place in the NFC West, and while they have not given up, it seems unlikely that they can pass the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers. This is a team that needs to build for the future, and they could get multiple mid- or late-round draft choices in a trade for Sweat.
He has the ability to play either side of the defensive line and he will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Bills might be able to get away somewhat cheaply by explaining the deal as a pure rental. The combination of Rousseau and Sweat could give the Buffalo defense more bite than it has now.
The Bills need to improve on the defensive side of the ball, and acquiring Sweat would provide significant help.