Thanks for putting down on paper what I have been thinking/feeling over the past few days! Your change in perspective on the Bills over the years is very similar to mine.
I do feel strongly that the Bills are missing an experienced and innovative offensive mind to take this offense to the next level and to further develop Josh. While I agree we are short another game break receiver, I do believe that we had enough offensive pieces to win that game. It's how we used them that resulted in the loss. Scoring just 7 points in the 2nd half killed us. The Chiefs made the right adjustments and we didn't - simple as that.
As far as the defense goes, I am sick of the bend but don't break philosophy, but maybe that's what McD felt he needed to do because he was short on talent due to injuries and was just trying to use what he had the best he could. We had Oliver and Jones and they still ran the ball up the gut on us at will during the second half. With Milano, Bernard, Tre, Benford, and a healthy Douglas and Von on the field for that game I believe the results would have been different. But I have to give enormous credit to McD and team for the defensive effort based on the injuries. I know that sounds like a cop out but no other final 8 team lost the same number of starters on defense that we did.
I would love to see Babich get the DC nod and while I like the run we made at the end of the year, I am just not sure about Brady. That's a very tough decision for McD/Beane. We absolutely have to have a more imaginative and balanced offense for the next 5 years in order to help Josh and take the best advantage that we can of his remaining years with us.