Chan Gailey says the Bills believe they can win the AFC East…again

The Buffalo Bills are perennial bottom-dwellers in the AFC East. For the past four seasons, they have finished dead last. The last time they won the division was in 1995, and they have finished second just three times since then. If nothing else, Buffalo is overdo. Chan Gailey can see that changing when the 2012 season gets underway.

“I think we have a legitimate chance to win the division,” Gailey said Tuesday according to the Bills official Twitter account (via Pro Football Talk). “We beat New England last year, went to New York and played good. Played bad against Miami (but) we match up well in the division.

“Confidence for our team comes from the steps we have to take. Every step builds it. We were able to get over the hump against New England. This team believes it can win the division.”

There’s a difference between confidence and a guarantee, and Gailey’s stance represents the former. However, the Bills are a team that should be focusing on baby steps. Prior to last season, Gailey said the Bills expected to go undefeated. By the end of the season he was using the word “pitiful” to describe his team. Buffalo took care of business by signing Stevie Johnson to an extension which should hold its solid offense together, but plenty of work remains. There’s no reason to believe the Patriots won’t get stronger this offseason, and there’s also the threat of Miami signing Peyton Manning. Expect more of the same from the Bills, at least for the immediate future.