How close were the Buffalo Bills to being elite in 2014?

One last time this season, Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk has a question he'd like us to mull over regarding the Buffalo Bills.

Here’s my final #GMCPlaybook question for @SBNation this year: Did your team have a #ProfessionalGrade season? http://t.co/iQ1hxcHGwA

— Marshall Faulk (@marshallfaulk) December 24, 2014

Equating "professional grade" to "playoff caliber," I'd say that the Bills were about 60 percent professional grade in 2014. But don't take my word for it; let's use the DVOA ratings of Football Outsiders to prove it.

Through 15 games, the 8-7 Bills are ranked No. 10 overall in the ratings. They are No. 2 overall in defensive DVOA and No. 3 in special teams; within the context of the 2014 season, the Bills are elite in those two phases of the game. Of the 2,469 snaps that the Bills have played this season, 1,466 - or about 60 percent - have been played by defenders and specialists.

The problem comes on the No. 27-ranked offense in DVOA, which is one of the worst units in the league. Buffalo's offense is not even remotely playoff caliber - and that's why, instead of ending a 14-year playoff drought, the Bills are instead hoping to finish 9-7 (but probably will finish 8-8) and have major questions to answer this offseason.

Join the #GMCPlaybook discussion at sbnation.com/sponsored-gmc-playbook and on Twitter by following @thisisgmc & @marshallfaulk.