It’s been a confusing week to be a Bills fan. So much has happened over the past seven days I hardly know where to begin with so many noteworthy events. Stranger still is that all of the big news was positive – I’m not sure I even remember a time when so many good things happened for Bills fans.

Bills fans know what life is like. There are moments of joy every season (this is what we live for), but they always seem to be tempered or even outright crushed by that bad things that happen. Heartbreak and loss have become staples of our lives as fans – it hardly fazes us anymore. Nowhere is this more evident in the ESPN commercial showing a Claymation family of Bills fans settling in for another loss only to have a Bills player come up with a loose ball and run it back for a touchdown – as he runs the sun comes out, the grass grows, the whole city perks up and comes to life. But because this is the Bills, there is no happy ending – we hear the Bills player has stepped out of bounds on the way to the end zone and the game is over – the Bills lose and everything in life goes back to being gray and depressing. Hard to fathom how dead-on that commercial was if you’re a rabid Bills fan. Harder still is to recall that the commercial which so correctly captured our essence as fans ran eight years ago – it was true then and it’s been pretty true since.

So imagine the week starting with an unexpected but fantastic victory over the Bears in Chicago last Sunday. Before that euphoria could wear off we learned that our deepest fears as Bills fans would not come true – Terry and Kim Pegula had submitted the winning bid for the Bills and would be keeping it right where it belongs, in WNY. The Sword of Damocles suddenly removed from our heads, grown men cried with joy as they called into sports talk shows. It was emotional day – a feeling of relief and new life.

And speaking of new life, we learned our beloved quarterback, Jim Kelly, had received good news in his battle with cancer. All of us were shocked at the toll cancer had taken on one of the toughest signal callers to ever play the game – it was shocking and heartbreaking to see such a superman so weak and bedridden. To hear that Kelly received good medical news about his latest cancer screens was yet another blessing to Bills fans.

It was no surprise that the mood leading up to Sunday’s home opener against the Miami Dolphins was euphoric and things had reached a fever pitch. The RV lot sold out sold out before game day. There was a playoff atmosphere in Orchard Park and everyone wanted to be there to see the tribute to Ralph Wilson and remarks by Kelly. Pundits were split over whether the Bills or the Dolphins would emerge as victors – each had beaten a higher-regarded opponent in week 1. Both fan bases were cautiously optimistic of their chances and almost nobody predicted the final margin of victory to be more than a touchdown.

Imagine, then, what it feels like this afternoon as the good news continued – the Bills won, by a large margin, with all units having a solid game. A young team continues to learn to win and gain confidence. The Bills are now 2-0 and in first place in the AFC East (thanks to the Jets losing in Buffalo style – having the tying touchdown nullified by a timeout). The Bills look good.

What’s striking to me is that the Bills are not finding a way to lose. If the past dozen years have taught me anything, it’s that the Bills usually find a way to run headlong into bad news. As a Red Sox fan I know this feeling – every year the team found a way to lose, sometimes in spectacular fashion (just like the Bills). When the Red Sox were down to their final strike in the 2004 World Series, it was their last opportunity for them to find a way to lose – when they didn’t and actually won it all, I was shocked – I didn’t know what to do, nor did many fans – that’s the way I’m starting to feel now with the Bills. In years past Buffalo would have been in the game until it mattered – at the end. Settling for field goals would have somehow come back to haunt them (funny thing about field goals – they often lead to brutal 1-point losses). A missed 32-yard field goal would have cost them the game. The fourth quarter missed false start on the Dolphins fourth down conversion would have been the difference in a tight game. Marcell Dareus would have gone to the locker room with a season-ending injury, not cramps. Sammy Watkins’ first touchdown would have been ruled out of bonds – a challenge would have been unsuccessful and burn a much-needed timeout.

The most heartening thing about Sunday’s win is that none of the possible miscues mattered because it wasn’t a close game. When you play well enough to win by 19 points you overcome the things that can have you leave the field as losers. The offense looked good – there’s room for improvement, but they are solid and efficient. E.J. Manuel isn’t on the road to Canton, but he played solid football and kept the chains moving – no more 3-and-our drives that exhaust the defense. C.J. Spiller showed his big play ability and Sammy Watkins showed the talent that makes him special. The offensive line did a fantastic job of neutralizing Cameron Wake and a talented Dolphins defensive line – Manuel is a young quarterback who needs time to make good decisions and avoid costly mistakes – the offensive line gave him that time.

Defensively the team is playing up to their potential. The defensive line is a dominating unit and is showing they may be one of the best in the NFL. Linebackers have made a difference in slowing down the running game, a weakness from last year. The secondary has been very solid – taking targets away from opposing quarterbacks is leading to sacks and stopping drives. Special teams has been special. A blocked punt lead to points. Dan Carpenter has been great at putting up the points. Coverage units have been solid, and the plan to have Spiller return kicks has paid off – his touchdown run electrified an already pumped up crowd.

I find it almost impossible to complain about the Bills through two games this season – they’ve been better than advertised. For once, I feel as if perhaps a new day is dawning in Buffalo (soon to be renamed Pegulaville) – the sun is shining, the grass and flowers are growing and people are happy. There are still 14 games to play – we’ve seen seasons where the Bills start hot and fade as the season goes on, but this season feels different. Please, please, please – don’t step out of bounds as you run that ball in for the winning score!