The Buffalo Bills' 2025 Super Bowl hopes rest on a revamped defense led by Joey Bosa. Can Sean McDermott's squad finally conquer the AFC? Preview the high-stakes season.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Welcome to July, Bills Mafia. The summer air might be calm, but the pressure cooker in Orchard Park is already at a rolling boil. After a massive defensive overhaul highlighted by the signing of Joey Bosa, the Buffalo Bills enter the 2025 season with one clear mandate: bring home the Lombardi Trophy. With a pivotal year for Head Coach Sean McDermott and a looming Week 1 prime-time clash, every move, every contract negotiation, and every injury report feels magnified.
At BetMGM, 90% of the money is on Buffalo to cover the spread against the Ravens in Week 1.
The biggest story of the offseason is the franchise's all-in bet on its defense. General Manager Brandon Beane didn't just patch holes; he rebuilt the foundation. The marquee move was signing five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa to a one-year, $12 million 'prove it' deal. He's joined by a wave of young talent, with three of the first four draft picks being spent on the defensive line. Add in the welcome return of veterans Tre'Davious White and Dane Jackson to bolster the secondary, and you have what analyst Jarrett Bailey believes is a unit capable of finally getting past Patrick Mahomes. The mission is clear: harass elite quarterbacks and transform the defense into a championship-caliber force.
This revamped defense won't have to wait long for a test. The NFL has gifted fans a Week 1 monster matchup: Bills vs. Ravens on NBC. The betting markets are already buzzing, with Buffalo installed as a 1.5-point favorite. The action is heavily skewed, with a staggering 90% of the money at BetMGM backing the Bills to cover. This game is dripping with narrative, following the Bills' nail-biting 27-25 AFC Divisional Round win last season, which came after a humbling 35-10 regular season loss to Baltimore. It's a prime-time measuring stick right out of the gate.
While the defense is retooled, a key question lingers on offense. Two-time Pro Bowl running back James Cook is seeking a contract extension reportedly worth around $15 million annually, and GM Brandon Beane has confirmed no progress has been made. However, fears of a holdout were eased when Cook attended mandatory minicamp. Running backs coach Kelly Skipper praised Cook's development, noting his improved strength and that his 'whole game came together last year.' Skipper added, 'He just wanted to be around his teammates,' a sentiment that suggests the business side isn't creating a locker room rift... yet.
Before the team can think about the Ravens or Super Bowl rings, it needs to get healthy. The good news is that key players are trending in the right direction for the start of training camp. Edge rusher Joey Bosa (calf), rookie CB Maxwell Hairston (hamstring), and LB Shaq Green-Thompson (Achilles) are all expected to be ready. Meanwhile, LB Dorian Williams (elbow) and OL Ryan Van Demark (hand) were practicing with protective gear during minicamp but are also expected to be full-go. Getting this group on the field and in sync will be the first critical step of the 2025 campaign.
With training camp kicking off on July 23, all eyes will be on Orchard Park. The pieces are in place, the expectations are sky-high, and the key players are getting healthy. This isn't just another season; it's a referendum on the McDermott era and the culmination of a multi-year roster build. The journey to the Super Bowl starts now, and for the Bills, it's truly now or never.
