From where we are standing, what is your measure for a successful season.

[Airseven]

It’s already a successful season as far as being a playoff contender.
 

…at least for reasonable fans who didn’t buy into the silly Super Bowl and MVP fluff.

[Nephilim17]

Given all the injuries, I no longer hold a Super Bowl victory as the measure of a good season. If we beat the Chiefs in the playoffs, likely in an AFC championship game, I'll feel we got a monkey off our backs and feel like progress was made.

[LeGOATski]

I just enjoy watching great football. It would be nice to get over the hump; beat the Chiefs, win the AFCCG.

[GunnerBill]

Depends how I interpret the question. This was a Superbowl is the standard year. It still is. But the way the injuries have piled up I don't honestly know how realistic that is. 

 

With the lineup that played on Thursday tbh making the playoffs might be the ceiling. 

[BullBuchanan]

Anything besides winning a super bowl is a disappointment. This is especially true considering how weak the league is right now. I'll get ove rit if we don't win, because I'm accustomed to it, but the stakes need to be high for the coaching staff and front office.

[BillsFanSD]

Reaching the super bowl would count as "successful" IMO.  That was my expectation back in camp, and it hasn't changed.  The injuries just mean that this is likely to be a failed season through no particular fault of anyone. That happens, but let's no sugar-coat it.  We're in the process of blowing one of #17's prime years.

[UKBillFan]

Depends on how injuries affect us. With a fully available - functioning - unit, it’s Super Bowl or bust. With the injuries we have, I think making the AFCCG will be deemed a success, even if we lose to the Chiefs again.

Edited November 26, 2022 by UKBillFan

[Since1981]

I expect AFCCG, coin flip if they win or not. But if no SB win, Beane has to mortgage future—push all chips to center, and get O over stacked like LAR. Josh yrs are ticking, (ownership has other health priorities which may play out too.) 

[ProcessTruster]

I think the injuries to key players will ultimately keep the Bills from the #1 seed, and history says they really need home field to get past the Chiefs, who are the least injured team in the league and will probably go 14-3, maybe 15-2 if they beat the Bengals.   Is what it is.  Von was the missing piece, Beane went out and got him, and now he is probably gone.   We have no one remotely in his league and Mahomes/Kelsey will just eat up the Bills back end like they do to everyone else.   Vikings showed us what "next man up" in the secondary looks like.  Looking increasingly like the Chiefs year to win the SB, if they stay as healthy as they have been all year (least injured team in the league)   Bills would have to run the table and KC needs to lose one and Cinci is the only candidate. 

 

I just don't see this present roster (no Miller, no Hyde, Tre's ACL not right til next year, Poyer with one arm til next year, Edmunds prob in/out of the lineup going forward, Josh at 80-90%, so-so slot receiver, etc)  with a first year offensive coordinator OTJ training himself, winning 10 games in a row with perhaps only one home playoff game, do you?   really?   Getting back go the AFC title game would be a great accomplishment.  

 

All that said, hell Cinci got to the SB last year with Quinton Spain at LG, so anything is possible!  Go Bills ! 

Edited November 26, 2022 by ProcessTruster

[K D]

Bills were the favorites going into the season by a long shot. Anything short of winning the Super Bowl would be a disappointment. However I voted "win the AFC championship game" as I think the season is an absolute disaster and a waste of time if they lose to KC again in the playoffs.

[Chaos]

8 hours ago, LOVEMESOMEBILLS said:

 

 Let me start by saying excellent question!! Now to the business at hand.

 

 Not trying to be that guy, but.....I'm gonna because your timeline of events is way out of whack lol. Us beating the Chiefs week #6, us losing in hot weather week #3, 3 games before the Chiefs game. The same with the injuries, I know Ed got hurt in week #1, but they started really rolling in week #2 including the most important loss, Micah Hyde. Both these things happened or began happening weeks before the Chiefs game. 

 

 To answer your question: Miller's injury makes this a tough answer. Do we get him back, if so when and at what capacity? If we get him back and he's his old self, it's Super Bowl or bust. If not, making a deep playoff run(AFC Championship) would be my best guess.

 

 

 

The Miami game was callled out, because that is the main reason we don't lead the division now.  At the time it was less consequential.

[Boatdrinks]

2 hours ago, BillsFanSD said:

Reaching the super bowl would count as "successful" IMO.  That was my expectation back in camp, and it hasn't changed.  The injuries just mean that this is likely to be a failed season through no particular fault of anyone. That happens, but let's no sugar-coat it.  We're in the process of blowing one of #17's prime years.

Injuries are “ blowing it” ? Seems just really bad luck. 

[nucci]

the goal every year should be to win a Superbowl, especially now with our QB.

[78thealltimegreat]

With all the injuries we are less then 10 points combined from being 11-0. We are a really really good football team and  anytime we line up with an opponent we can win. 
I think a rematch with the Chiefs in the playoffs is a reasonable expectation.

As whoever comes out of the AFC is probably winning the Super Bowl since the NFC is trash.  

Edited November 26, 2022 by 78thealltimegreat

[Nextmanup]

Get to the Super Bowl.

 

Anything less than that is a failure.

If we find a way to win the big game once there, that's pure gravy.

 

Keep getting better.  Failing to make it to the SB is a failure.

 

 

[cwater10]

Simply reaching Super Bowl and then losing is something I want no part of.  Becoming the first team to go 0 - 5 in the big one will do nothing but reinforce the cursed reputation that looms over the franchise.  Like Cubs and Red Sox before them, and given this franchise's long and short term narratives, they must break through and win it all for the true label of success to be applied to this team.  

 

I would rather lose another divisional round playoff than lose to Dallas in the Super Bowl again or even lose to Philly and complete the NFC East Super Bowl trick.  Losing to Minnesota in the Super Bowl would also be a special cocktail of hell as we would have to hear about them breaking their own 0 - 4 Super Bowl curse.  If we go, we must win!  The good news, is that Buffalo, even after all that has gone down this season, still has the team and the QB to do it.  Go Bills!

Edited November 26, 2022 by cwater10

[larrym]

the injuries keep piling up. von is gone for the pats game.  josh is not 100 percent. dane jackson is highway 30.  no hyde.  at this point gutting it out and even getting to the playoffs is an accomplishment.

[RiotAct]

8 hours ago, Airseven said:

It’s already a successful season as far as being a playoff contender.
 

…at least for reasonable fans who didn’t buy into the silly Super Bowl and MVP fluff.

lol what?  Making the playoffs is the lowest of low expectations from this roster.   That’s like a baseline “we have a pulse” type s***… injuries or not.

[SCBills]

Win the Super Bowl.  
 

Id be disappointed, regardless of injuries, if they can’t get past KC.. again.  
 

Maybe we don’t see them, but it seems highly unlikely as it currently stands. 
 

Once we get past KC, win the AFC .. There’s nobody in the NFC that should scare us. 
 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by SCBills

[RiotAct]

1 hour ago, Chaos said:

The Miami game was callled out, because that is the main reason we don't lead the division now.  At the time it was less consequential.

We do lead the division for now    As of 4:15 PM tomorrow, though… probably not.