Thoughts on the Cusp of a Magical Season

[Airseven]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

 

There are struggles every year for every team

 

Indeed. But not every team is a near consensus Super Bowl favorite with its fan base buying into the hype whole-heartedly...as if Allen's playoff performance last year is the only notable takeaway from the entire season. A chat about OL alignment and rookie corners is more interesting than hype videos and fluff pieces. 

[Patrick Duffy]

Just now, Airseven said:

 

Indeed. But not every team is a near consensus Super Bowl favorite with its fan base buying into the hype whole-heartedly...as if Allen's playoff performance last year is the only notable takeaway from the entire season. A chat about OL alignment and rookie corners is more interesting than hype videos and fluff pieces. 

 

Enjoy it. It won't have any effect with what happens anyway. Bills being talked about will not change a thing in the way opponents will approach them. They know Bills are one of the top teams to beat anyways. No hype is going to change that very much.

 

 

[Big Turk]

28 minutes ago, Airseven said:

 

Indeed. But not every team is a near consensus Super Bowl favorite with its fan base buying into the hype whole-heartedly...as if Allen's playoff performance last year is the only notable takeaway from the entire season. A chat about OL alignment and rookie corners is more interesting than hype videos and fluff pieces. 

 

The corners were fine last year when White went down.  The defensive minimizes their potential impact by keeping things in front of them and with 2 All-Pro safeties to help, they should be fine.

 

OL will be fine and likely improved.  Allen was under pressure a lot last year, made players look folish many times and still made plays. Also was sacked among the least in the league, only 26 times.

 

They also retooled the DLine and added Von Miller...I think they are going to be out for blood. They learned their lessons they needed from last year about being mentally ready to take every team's best punch, they won't make that mistake again, just like the 1990 Bills learned their lesson from the 1989 season where they struggled with the same issues.

[Success]

This is the 1st offseason where I've felt hate for the Bills instead of pity when checking other sports boards and having discussions on them.

 

We've arrived.

 

[Steptide]

Sept-Feb is my favorite time of year. Even when the bills were bad. Having football every week(end) for the next 5 months is like Christmas for me. 

[Heitz]

Great post OP - it's going to be a fuuuuun season - I can not wait to see how this one plays out! 🙌

 

Certainly has to be much better than the pre-McBeane era where we would convince ourselves that, if that one guy works our, or the ball bounces our way, or our QB can actually (you know) play football, we might have a chance at making the playoffs.  For the first time since the 90's not only do we have "a shot at the Playoffs" we have a legit chance at winning the whole damn thing. 🙏

 

Burn down those old fears Bills fans, this ain't the Bills of old! 🔥🔥🔥

 

Also, I can't help but laugh when 9 out of 10 NFL prognosticators say the Bills are the favorite and the same 3 TBD members say they're overrated. Curious, no? 🤔

[PrimeTime101]

For the Billievers, it's time to Believe

For the lovers of this team around the globe, you will love us more

To the doubters, you will enjoy crow

To the average fan that is not like a fanatic like me... you will become one

To the fans that only watch when we are good? your life has been changed

To our competition... you will respect.

To the excuse makers, there are no more excuses

To the whining crybabies. they won't stop crying.

To the haters after we win it all? They will still hate!

 

Its season opener. Are you ready?

 

I am

[JohninMinn.]

5 hours ago, dwight in philly said:

As an   8 yr old kid in 1960, i have been following this team with the same passion i have had since then.. , lived through it all.. and can honestly say , without any hesitation , the ending of last season hurt me more than any of the other heartbreaks.. been counting the days down so the new hope  of today, the new season, buries  the painful ending of last season.. 

I was six in 1960 dad took me to games as a 4year old. Nothing could ever replace "Wide Right"

[Buffalo716]

8 hours ago, ChevyVanMiller said:

Favorites.

 

That’s not a word that we’re comfortable with here in Western New York. We’ve been down so long that it feels like up to us. We wear the underdog cape like Wally Cox coming out of a phone booth and it has long since become our go-to attire once September rolls around and another NFL season takes flight.

 

But this season is different. Every day brings new proclamations from the national media that the team that we laugh, cry and bleed with 24/7, 365 days a year is that one that we’ve dreamed of having for decades, but feared might not ever come.

 

Josh Allen is the clear-cut MVP favorite. The defense is projected to be better than last season’s #1 ranked unit. The Bills are the Super Bowl favorite by such a wide margin that the Vegas oddsmakers have drastically lowered their potential payoff amounts hoping to push bettor’s money elsewhere - so far their efforts have been in vain.

 

Many in Bills Mafia, especially those whose fandom predates that moniker, are finding it difficult to embrace this newfound spotlight. We prefer the shadows. We like being overlooked and underestimated. After 17 years of futility we fully embraced our sports world Stockholm Syndrome.

 

Think of the iconic phrases attached to our football team - Wide Right, Homerun Throwback, 13 Seconds. An unholy trinity of football lexicon if ever one was assembled.

 

Like crosses we’ve carried those phrases, and the painful defeats they represent, long and far. Now, the newest hero to drape himself in the patriotic colors of our franchise has offered us a solution to this Draconian football hell that we’ve called home for so long.

 

“Bruh, f**k it, burn it all!”

 

Sweet liberation. Those six words, underscored by the two Super Bowl rings he wore as he uttered them, may be the most prophetic ever spoken on the Niagara Frontier. 

 

He’s right, burn it, burn it all. Trash your fears and recycle everything else. Those teams that suffered those defeats are not this year’s team. None of us are the same people that we were then. As S.E. Hinton said, “That was then, This is now.”

 

So lay those old crosses down and strike a match and set them ablaze. From their ashes a new phoenix will rise. One that brings tears of happiness, not sorrow. One that will serve vindication, not condemnation. One that just may render obsolete the oft heard prayer, “Please Lord, just one before I die.”

 

So mount up, Bills Mafia. This season is going to be one hell of a ride. There’s no guarantee that it will end with Lombardi, but the odds have never been better that it will. I’m proud to call you all my Bills’ brothers and sisters.

 

Feel the burn. Go Bills!

Forward lateral 

[US Egg]

22 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

We wear the underdog cape like Wally Cox coming out of a phone booth and it has long since become our go-to attire once September rolls around and another NFL season takes flight.

 

……now understand inspiration for the all red uniforms.
 

Edited September 8, 2022 by I am the egg man

[Buffalo716]

Just now, I am the egg man said:

 

……see nothing wrong here. The color scheme is homey.
 

How did that quote me? 
 

I absolutely didn’t say that lol

[dwight in philly]

46 minutes ago, JohninMinn. said:

I was six in 1960 dad took me to games as a 4year old. Nothing could ever replace "Wide Right"

For some reason that didnt bother me as last year, or the 81 playoff loss to the Chargers , guess its probably because there was no "next game" , in both cases , the Bills were slated to host the AFC Championship game, had they won..  but i certainly know  the pain of "wide right" 

[nosejob]

4 hours ago, TheBrownBear said:

Naw, get outta here with that junk.  I think we go 20-0 with a point differential of +450.  Wouldn't be surprised to see Keenum throw for 2000+ yards in garbage time.  😜

All that nonsense aside, I believe Josh remembers those stupid losses and won't let it happen again.

[nosejob]

3 hours ago, Steptide said:

Sept-Feb is my favorite time of year. Even when the bills were bad. Having football every week(end) for the next 5 months is like Christmas for me. 

True....and that's coming from someone whose glasses were covered with rain in November hoping the Bills could break an 0-8 record. ( Ironically we were parked 10 ft. from the bar door and people were willing to pay 20 over the ticket price. She drug me in anyway. I pleaded to go in the bar, watch the game from every angle on multiple big screens and eat wings until we puked.) I learned a Man lesson there.

[716to540]

"Here's to us and those like us ..." GO BILLS!

[DrPJax]

9 hours ago, Greg S said:

Those first 7 games though are tough. 3 of the first 4 on the road. If they come out of this 5-2 or better we will be in great shape. 4-3 would be OK anything less is not acceptable. Still think the Bills floor/ceiling is between 11-13 wins.

 

at LA, TEN, at MIA, at BAL, PIT, at KC, GB. 

This schedule on paper is Brutal. 5-2 would be very acceptable, 4-3 will remind me of last year as people remember Kc , but we almost didn’t get there. Not likely to blow these teams out so thise one possession games will be critical; can’t go 0-6 like last year. This is going to be fun but stressful at the same time.  In the end tho , it’s. Entertainment and at least in my county in fl. , a certain plague is at the lowest levels since beginning so real life is even looking fresh. Feels weird starting on a Thursday night tho, surreal after such a long offseason after ending by coin flip.  Have fun watching tonight ! 
 

 ( side note, so weird / sad seeing Great Britain mourning tonight with all the craziness of worshipping a mortal who was born by chance into her position. I mention this because my own mom is 96 , born the same year and has witnessed all this history. My mom, knock on wood, still drives and lives alone when not staying with me in Florida.   My aunt is 100 and still does her own yard work!  I didn’t inherit those genes, but it’s amazing having family that experienced wars, landing on the moon, color tv, and now the internet with computers and YouTube!  Love my mom, wields the authority like a queen , and I’m blessed she is still here after losing my father to lymphoma in 2002.  With all the pc in the world and cancel culture it’s amazing watching all going on today in England. . The jags never draw like that so the monarchs still outdraw the shield!  ) 😊

[nosejob]

If we go 2-0 the train horn will start to sound. Keep the train rollin......all night long

[machine gun kelly]

11 hours ago, HOUSE said:

The Jets could sneak in there...

Sh@t Stir.  Why I luva brotha.  Hated when you took a sabbatical.  Glad you’re back.  Don’t know details, and don’t  care.  You’re business.

[Stenbar]

We are due a season ending injury to a qb. I hate saying it, but it's our curse. 😜

[Talley56]

If all goes well, February 12, 2023 could be the night Western New York and all of us Bills fans have longed for.