ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Bills have started 5-2 before … and ended up disappointed.

They did it in 2011 and finished 6-10. Ditto 2008 en route to 7-9.

But something about this year’s team is different.

Of the current 53-man roster, 29 are new faces.

And first-year coach Sean McDermott has sold a mantra of playing for each other in a group some players call themselves “misfits.” That’s because 21 of those players weren’t draftees or trade acquisitions, but rather free agents, most of whom other teams didn’t want.

And that’s why Sunday’s emphatic 34-14 victory over the Raiders wasn’t just some good fortune where Oakland was flat, quarterback Derek Carr was off his game, or the breezy 44-degree weather played into Buffalo’s hands.

The Bills first touchdown was a 6-yard connection from quarterback Tyrod Taylor to wideout Andre Holmes, a free agent facing the team for which he played four seasons.

Score No. 2 was a 40-yard fumble return by rookie fifth-round draft pick Matt Milano on a bobble created by free agent cornerback Leonard Johnson. Later, Milano, an outside linebacker filling in for  injured starter Ramon Humber, caused a fumble that led to a field goal.

Safety Trae Elston, playing for Jordan Poyer, who was hurt, logged his first interception.

Of the 25 Bills starters on Sunday — including placekicker, punter and long-snapper — seven weren’t with the team last season.

And with three defensive starters out, Buffalo’s trio of subs still helped make Carr look like just another guy … 313 passing yards notwithstanding.

Best of all, because the roster turned over by more than half, many of those new players have no appreciation of the 17-year playoff drought … their Bills history started this season.

And that point was made by Buffalo’s two eldest players, 34-year-olds Lorenzo Alexander and Kyle Williams.

Alexander, an outside linebacker in his second season with the Bills, noted, “Being part of the team internally, everybody hasn’t been part of that (streak). Most of them don’t even know. The only people who could say are Kyle (12 seasons with Buffalo) and E(ric) Wood (center with the Bills for nine years) who have been here for a long, extended period of time.

“Even though the fans and media have been part of that, this team is totally different … we don’t hold on to that whole 17 years.”

Williams, a defensive tackle and team leader, added, “The great thing about us is, we’re a team. If I go down, somebody steps up and we win a football game. You have a safety go down, a guy steps up and gets a pick (interception) and we win a football game. It’s next guy up.”

To which linebacker Preston Brown pointed out, “Everybody prepares like a starter … no matter who they are. Everybody is ready to step up if need be.”

And nobody is more onboard with that than McDermott.

“I just know that we come out every week … the guys work hard … they respect the process and they put the time in,” he said.  “When you (do that) and you care about one another and you detail your work, you give yourself a chance. For us it’s about earning the right to have a chance to win on Sunday, by doing the right things the right way on the field and doing the right things off the field, Monday through Saturday.”

McDermott added, “The great thing about it is that these guys, every one of them, prepare. You’re watching guys work out even though they’re not going to play … trying to get better. They’re embracing that growth mindset.

“They know that you’re a play away, potentially, from playing and now they’ve seen guys step up. Brandon Tate, Matt Milano, Trea Elston, Adam Holmes … those names really personify the ‘next man up’ mentality and they’re ready. Take Taiwan (Jones) last week (key run to set up the winning touchdown) … who’s it going to be next week? That’s the exciting part about it.”

Veteran running back LeSean McCoy, who rushed for a season-high 151 yards and played six seasons with a good team in Philadelphia, sees the current Bills as a particularly strong-willed squad.

“I’ve been around some super-talented groups of guys, so I won’t say (it’s) one of the most talented teams.

“But as one of the most strong-hearted, fight-until-the-end teams … I think so.”

And that 5-2 record would seem to say as much.

(Chuck Pollock, a Times Herald sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)