It’s gotta be quarterback play. Trent Edwards is the first consistently good quarterback that the Bills have had since, in reality, Doug Flutie. And Flutie wasn’t even that great. Edwards has made strides faster than anyone could have possibly expected from a third-round pick, and his teammates have a lot of confidence in him. QB play is the biggest deciding factor to success in the NFL, and the Bills finally have a solid quarterback – with big potential.

“Our” year? I don’t think I’m there yet. The Bills haven’t made the playoffs since 1999. I know it’s cliche, and it’s something that teams spout all the time, but I’m seriously trying to take this thing one game at a time. I don’t want to set expectations, because this team has let me down too many times in the past. But man, the ride through the first quarter of the season has been fun.

As I mentioned above, QB play – with a dash of much improved run defense – is the biggest reason the team is better. I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s the truth. Team chemistry has been huge, too – the Bills have never been this tight-knit (in fact, the early great Bills teams of the ‘90s were referred to as the “Bickering Bills”). There’s just a feeling of team that hasn’t been here in a while.

Player I love: Ashton Youboty. With Terrence McGee out, Youboty will get a chance to cover the Cardinals receiver not named Fitzgerald – whether that’s Boldin or Breaston remains to be seen. Youboty’s still young, but he’s come on very strong in his third season and has easily been Buffalo’s best open-field tackler. He’s got a chance to make a name for himself with a strong showing against a very good Cardinals aerial attack.

Player I cringe at: Leodis McKelvin. With McGee out, McKelvin becomes our nickel back, though when Buffalo goes 3 CBs, McKelvin will play on the outside and Youboty will slide in to the slot. Leodis is Buffalo’s top draft pick, and while he’s got a world of talent and has played well as a kick returner, his run support has been questionable and he’s often times way out of position when in coverage. He’ll make some plays, but he’s also made some big mistakes. It’s going to be interesting seeing him get his first extended action in Arizona, especially if Boldin is a go.

For Arizona to win: Make big plays. Don’t settle for field goals. Score more than the Bills. I know I sound ridiculous, but it’s going to take a solid all-around effort – in all three phases – to beat the Bills. It can be done, particularly because the Bills have displayed a tendency to start games slow.

For Buffalo to win: Ball control. Keep the ball out of Warner’s hands and use the combination of Marshawn Lynch/Fred Jackson to wear out Zona’s front seven. Win the turnover battle.

It’s all fairly basic stuff, yeah, but it’s basic because it works. I’m a pretty basic guy. If Arizona can exploit Buffalo’s secondary and get off the field on third down defensively, their chances to win skyrocket.