Have we bridged the playoff gap?

[Buffalo Super Fan]

23 hours ago, SCBills said:

Sure, it takes luck .. I’ll certainly give you that.  If Chris Jones tears his ACL instead of Von Miller, they aren’t the 1 seed and they certainly don’t rep the AFC in the Super Bowl.  
 

On the flip side… does it?  The Pats dominated the AFC with Brady/Belichick and now KC is beginning to do the same with Mahomes/Reid. 
 

So, yea, it takes luck .. but luck doesn’t really explain it all when you keep flipping a coin and it constantly lands on the same side. 

It doesn’t take luck it takes competent people in charge owner all the way down to the players. The AFC East really hasn’t improved it’s Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills division until proven otherwise. Aaron Rodgers is our Drew Bledsoe when he was with the Buffalo Bills nothing more for the New York Jets. If Buffalo Bills fans are afraid of a 40 year old Aaron Rodgers then that doesn’t say much about the Buffalo Bills team we are supporting does it? We have Tom Brady in Josh Allen just remember that in my opinion. Go Bills! Let’s Go Buffalo 

[Drew21PA]

First cinci game I remember correctly 

 

we drove right down the field too?

 

inside the 5 right?

 

robbed on a roughing the passer ona dirty hit on Allen?

 

right?

[SCBills]

Just now, Drew21PA said:

First cinci game I remember correctly 

 

we drove right down the field too?

 

inside the 5 right?

 

robbed on a roughing the passer ona dirty hit on Allen?

 

right?

 

It should have been 7-7 with CIN driving, but Allen missed a bunny timing throw to Beasley that was a walk-in TD.  

 

Instead it was 7-3 and everyone now thinks we just get boat raced in that game, like we didn't also drive through CIN with ease. 

[newcam2012]

5 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

Are you purposefully brushing aside that top two defenses lack of Post season success?  That lack of success  is the elephant in the room, and is why Frazier is no longer the DC. 
 

  Regular season success was never  the issue, but more was required of Frazier and he couldn’t deliver when it counted the most… in the post season…, 

 

 

    
 

 

Fraizer was the scapegoat for the last few years. He certainly deserves much blame but not all of it. There is plenty of blame to go around. 

 

First and foremost, Coach McD deserves much blame. No need to go in detail as it's been beaten to death. 

 

Also, don't discount that the Dorsey led Bills offense scored a measly 10 points against Cinci. 

[90sBills]

4 hours ago, NewEra said:

When talking about there being a perceived gap beetween two teams - the comparison starts on the field against each other.

 

I have a problem with there being a perceived gap because I’ve watched the last 3 games the teams have played against each other.  We beat you 2 of 3 games in your own house.  The only game we lost was due to a miscommunication that resulted in a touchback.  We’ve outplayed the cheifs- in their own stadium consistently since the AFCCG beatdown we took.  We did that, with old players-  we did that with injured players.  We did that while Brandon Beane was getting out drafted by Veach every year.  
 

there’s a big difference between us keeping our old players and you getting rid of your old players.  Our old players are all pro players. Yours were not.  

 

Your post doesn’t explain why there is a gap.  Your post explains what you’ve done to improve.  And you have improved.  

I will say that the chiefs have 3 major advantages:  Kelce (34 years old btw), coaching and GM.  Yet we’ve still won 2 of 3 in your house-  while being on the short end of this perceived gap. 
 

I have nothing but respect for the mini dynasty you’ve built and it all starts up top. Much respect to Reid and Veach.  I think Reid is currently the best HC in the league and Veach is a top 2 GM, if not the best.  You’ll continue to be a SB contender while they are in charge.  And we’ll continue to be right there with you….. beating you in your own stadium while being the preview lesser team—- even though we were -2.5 favorites.  

Hard to get excited about two regular season games that turned out to be meaningless because the Chiefs ended with the higher seed anyway. And if you take the head to head back to the two games before KC is 3-2 with 2 of those wins in the playoffs sending Bills home. You add this to the fact that KC has made to Superbowls then there is absolutely a gap. It’s really not that difficult to see.

 

With all that said I’m optimistic that gap has narrowed because of the Bills upgrades. Let’s go!

[NewEra]

2 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

Hard to get excited about two regular season games that turned out to be meaningless because the Chiefs ended with the higher seed anyway. And if you take the head to head back to the two games before KC is 3-2 with 2 of those wins in the playoffs sending Bills home. You add this to the fact that KC has made to Superbowls then there is absolutely a gap. It’s really not that difficult to see.

 

With all that said I’m optimistic that gap has narrowed because of the Bills upgrades. Let’s go!

Who’s excited?  We’re talking about a gap between 2 teams.  I don’t see how there’s a gap.  
 

Why would you take the records back even further?  We’re talking about the current team.  Not teams from 2020-  recent history is what matters most.  The Kc team minus Tyreek him more specifically- who we also beat in 2021.  
 

they’re a great team-  we’re a great team.  Any given Sunday- game plans matter.  We need our coaching staff to bring it- not get punished.  We need our important players to stay healthy. Just like every team.

[90sBills]

3 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Who’s excited?  We’re talking about a gap between 2 teams.  I don’t see how there’s a gap.  
 

Why would you take the records back even further?  We’re talking about the current team.  Not teams from 2020-  recent history is what matters most.  The Kc team minus Tyreek him more specifically- who we also beat in 2021.  
 

they’re a great team-  we’re a great team.  Any given Sunday- game plans matter.  We need our coaching staff to bring it- not get punished.  We need our important players to stay healthy. Just like every team.

Well you keep bringing up beating KC in the regular season as some kind of measuring stick. Let’s win when it matters once. Otherwise that’s the gap. KC wins when it matters most. That’s the bottom line. 
 

Why wouldn’t you want to take the record back to include all the games from Allen’s Bills v Mahomes’ Chiefs? Cuz it wouldn’t look good for your take that these are evenly matched teams? As it stands now KC has won all the important games against the Bills. This may change in the upcoming season. But to not acknowledge this fact and not recognize there is a gap and the Chiefs are what the Bills want to become is not seeing reality. Allen has acknowledged as much in his interview with Kyle Brandt.

 

Not really following your point about Hill not being there? KC just won the superbowl without him so whatever the point was it’s moot. Yeah I agree. Any given Sunday. But when one team has been winning the most important Sundays there’s something to it. Let’s hope it gets changed next season. 

[PBF81]

1 hour ago, SCBills said:

I think there's a disconnect between people comparing this team to last years starting roster and those of us looking at this years team compared to last years ending roster.  

 

This is what we ended the season with:

 

Allen - partially torn UCL

Singletary/Cook/Hines

Diggs/Davis/Beasley/Shakir

Knox/Morris

Dawkins/Saffold/Morse/Bates/Brown

 

Rousseau/Shaq/Epenesa/Basham

Oliver/Phillips/Settle/Ankou

Milano/Edmunds

White/Elam/Johnson

Poyer/Marlowe

 

This is what we project, as of today, for '23

 

Allen (healthy)

Cook/Harris/Hines

Diggs/Davis/Shakir/Harty

Knox/Kincaid

Dawkins/McGovern/Morse/Torrence/Brown

 

Von/Rousseau/Shaq/Epenesa

Oliver/Jones/Phillips/Settle

Milano/???

White/Elam/Johnson

Hyde/Poyer

 

 

The highlighted are guys who I believe are noticeable improvements over last years final game debacle.  That doesn't take into account Dorsey in his second year, McDermott taking over the defense, and any improvements for guys like Spencer Brown, Kaiir Elam and James Cook.

 

The only spot I believe we downgraded was MLB.  Every other spot on the roster, imo, is the same or in 8 cases, will be much improved over what we saw from that position in the Bengals game.  I also believe we have MUCH better depth across the board and I'll go to my grave thinking Allen was much...much more injured that anyone was ever led to believe.  

 

Of course there will be injuries next year, but let's hope we finally get some KC injury luck, because last year was patently absurd. 

 

I would question two things therein.  

 

You say that Allen's injury was worse than we know, but he didn't have offseason surgery.  So how do we know, given that, and assuming your assessment, that it's not fully healed?  I'm not sure that we do.  

 

Remember, some doctor professionally stated that he couldn't make the shorter throws because of it.  What if it's not 100% still?  Do we know that it is?   

 

If not, that would definitely impact the use of Kincaid and the throws to the RBs, apparently as it did last season after the injury.  I'm not saying that it isn't fully healed, but also don't know that it is.  And if it isn't, I doubt that the team would come out and provide that intel to our opponents.  

 

Secondly, you have Von back in there, but he's coming off of an injury that's notable for taking some time to fully recover from, in any sport.  White's was similar and he was merely a shell of himself last season upon returning.  He has yet to show that he can rebound back to anywhere close where he was.  He wasn't even average when he got back.  I expect that he will, but until he does ... 

 

Factor in that Von's 35 this season, I think it's a bit of a reach to assume that he'll be the impact player that he was during the first ten games of last season.  Don't you?   "Experience" or "presence" only counts for so much.  

 

I do see all the pieces in place for our offense to be prolific, to counter whatever drop the D might make.  The wild-card there being what you implied, Dorsey's development.  

 

As always, time will tell.  

 

 

 

[NewEra]

13 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

Well you keep bringing up beating KC in the regular season as some kind of measuring stick. Let’s win when it matters once. Otherwise that’s the gap. KC wins when it matters most. That’s the bottom line. 
 

Why wouldn’t you want to take the record back to include all the games from Allen’s Bills v Mahomes’ Chiefs? Cuz it wouldn’t look good for your take that these are evenly matched teams? As it stands now KC has won all the important games against the Bills. This may change in the upcoming season. But to not acknowledge this fact and not recognize there is a gap and the Chiefs are what the Bills want to become is not seeing reality. Allen has acknowledged as much in his interview with Kyle Brandt.

 

Not really following your point about Hill not being there? KC just won the superbowl without him so whatever the point was it’s moot. Yeah I agree. Any given Sunday. But when one team has been winning the most important Sundays there’s something to it. Let’s hope it gets changed next season. 

Right- I’m talking about this team beating KC-  why wouldn’t I bring that up?  How does going back even further have anything to do with this team?  I’ll answer that:  it doesn’t.  The further you go back, the further removed from this team you are-  which is the opposite of what we’re trying to do in this conversation.  If you don’t understand that- idk what to say.

 

Kc won the Super Bowl.  They didn’t beat us.  We beat them.  Then we got injured while they stayed healthy.  There is no gap. Any given Sunday.  

[SCBills]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Right- I’m talking about this team beating KC-  why wouldn’t I bring that up?  How does going back even further have anything to do with this team?  I’ll answer that:  it doesn’t.  The further you go back, the further removed from this team you are-  which is the opposite of what we’re trying to do in this conversation.  If you don’t understand that- idk what to say.

 

Kc won the Super Bowl.  They didn’t beat us.  We beat them.  Then we got injured while they stayed healthy.  There is no gap. Any given Sunday.  

 

I think the fairest assessment, when everyone is healthy, is as follows:

 

BUF, KC & CIN are all on the same level.  They are the top contenders in the AFC.  

 

KC gets the benefit of the doubt over BUF and CIN because they keep finding ways to stay healthy, represent the AFC and win Super Bowls. 

 

CIN is a bad matchup, until proven otherwise, for BUF.   BUF matches up better with KC.  

[NewEra]

Just now, SCBills said:

 

I think the fairest assessment, when everyone is healthy, is as follows:

 

BUF, KC & CIN are all on the same level.  They are the top contenders in the AFC.  

 

KC gets the benefit of the doubt over BUF and CIN because they keep finding ways to stay healthy, represent the AFC and win Super Bowls. 

 

CIN is a bad matchup, until proven otherwise, for BUF.   BUF matches up better with KC.  

Agreed-

 

regarding Cinci- idk- maybe.  Maybe not.  We certainly didn’t match up well with them last year while we were all banged up at the end of the season 

 

all I know is: Kc doesn’t have our number-  we’ve played each other very close 3 games in a row- all in KC-  any given Sunday.  Game plans change- players change- injuries occur

[Don Otreply]

59 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

Fraizer was the scapegoat for the last few years. He certainly deserves much blame but not all of it. There is plenty of blame to go around. 

 

First and foremost, Coach McD deserves much blame. No need to go in detail as it's been beaten to death. 

 

Also, don't discount that the Dorsey led Bills offense scored a measly 10 points against Cinci. 

Yup, lots of not adapting by the coaching staff to go around…, 

[90sBills]

9 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Right- I’m talking about this team beating KC-  why wouldn’t I bring that up?  How does going back even further have anything to do with this team?  I’ll answer that:  it doesn’t.  The further you go back, the further removed from this team you are-  which is the opposite of what we’re trying to do in this conversation.  If you don’t understand that- idk what to say.

 

Kc won the Super Bowl.  They didn’t beat us.  We beat them.  Then we got injured while they stayed healthy.  There is no gap. Any given Sunday.  

So this means Bills better even though KC won the Superbowl? Hmmm I’m not sure about that logic but whatever floats your boat.

 

The head to head record is relevant because the most important pieces of the team (qb/hc team cores) have not changed. I’m not saying KC has Bills number. I’m acknowledging KC has beaten the Bills when it counts the most regardless of excuses. It’s seems like you’re having a hard time just saying the Bills are a little behind the Chiefs right now. It doesn’t mean they won’t catch up. 

[NewEra]

26 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

So this means Bills better even though KC won the Superbowl? Hmmm I’m not sure about that logic but whatever floats your boat.

 

The head to head record is relevant because the most important pieces of the team (qb/hc team cores) have not changed. I’m not saying KC has Bills number. I’m acknowledging KC has beaten the Bills when it counts the most regardless of excuses. It’s seems like you’re having a hard time just saying the Bills are a little behind the Chiefs right now. It doesn’t mean they won’t catch up. 

Lol…. Wth are you even talking dude?
 

Did I say we were better?  Please, show me where I said this.  This thread suggests there is a gap between the two teams and if we’ve closed it.  It’s my opinion that there isn’t a gap.  We can beat them.  They can beat us.  Game plans change.  Which team plays and coaches better on any given Sunday win the game.  
 

The majority of the world considered us to be the best team in the league last year for the majority of the year.  Injuries devastated our DL and secondary. Our QB injured his throwing arm and had to alter his throwing motion.  Leslie had become too predictable.  Our rookie OC ran into some hiccups and never figured out how to make them go away.  Leslie has become too predictable. 
 

We’re right there with them. I don’t see a gap and I never said we were better, so stop putting words into my mouth.  It’s nonsense and runs rampant on this board with bad posters. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

On 4/30/2023 at 12:57 PM, Einstein said:

 

I know that this is a common theory, but in my opinion it ignores a mountain of evidence.

 

For example, the Bengals walked down the field and scored a TD, and were carving up chunks of yards again on their second drive before Hamlin went down.

 

The Dolphins gave us all we could handle the week before, and that was with a 3rd string QB (yes, I know the Dolphins offense did very little, but the game was still very tight). We lost to Zach Wilson and the Jets too.

 

I think it was more than an aberration.

 

Looking at the season on it's entirety.  13-3.  We were 2nd to last in the league in turning the ball over, and we are 2nd in points.  On defense, we were 6th in yards per play, and 2nd in points per game allowed.  With all of the injuries, struggles etc.  

 

They have to figure out how to attack the cincy defense better, and i think getting a bit stouter up the middle would help - their DT's abused our interior line.  They tend to line their LBs up close to the LOS and create confusion - and a big hands target in the middle of the field could do wonders on forcing them to adjust. 

 

As for how to stop their offense?  Need to kill their run and screen game, and get them behind the sticks.  You want Burrow to hold the ball.  

[90sBills]

15 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Lol…. Wth are you even talking dude?
 

Did I say we were better?  Please, show me where I said this.  This thread suggests there is a gap between the two teams and if we’ve closed it.  It’s my opinion that there isn’t a gap.  We can beat them.  They can beat us.  Game plans change.  Which team plays and coaches better on any given Sunday win the game.  
 

The majority of the world considered us to be the best team in the league last year for the majority of the year.  Injuries devastated our DL and secondary. Our QB injured his throwing arm and had to alter his throwing motion.  Leslie had become too predictable.  Our rookie OC ran into some hiccups and never figured out how to make them go away.  Leslie has become too predictable. 
 

We’re right there with them. I don’t see a gap and I never said we were better, so stop putting words into my mouth.  It’s nonsense and runs rampant on this board with bad posters. 

I’m referring to how you phrased your post. ‘KC won the Superbowl. They didn’t beat us. We beat them.’ Readers can infer that you mean Bills are better from the wording.

 

Yeah we beat them. They beat us. Just a coincidence that they beat us when it mattered most…twice. ‘The majority of the world considered us the best team in the league…’ If only they give trophies for being media darlings. All that hype just to crumble under the pressure. I prefer the team to fly under the radar and prove it where it matters…on the field in the playoffs.

 

Again deducing from your words. Bad poster apparently applies to anyone that doesn’t think the Bills are on the same level with the Chiefs?

 

 

[SCBills]

1 hour ago, 90sBills said:

So this means Bills better even though KC won the Superbowl? Hmmm I’m not sure about that logic but whatever floats your boat.

 

The head to head record is relevant because the most important pieces of the team (qb/hc team cores) have not changed. I’m not saying KC has Bills number. I’m acknowledging KC has beaten the Bills when it counts the most regardless of excuses. It’s seems like you’re having a hard time just saying the Bills are a little behind the Chiefs right now. It doesn’t mean they won’t catch up. 

I’ll tell you this … even with how mentally and physically beat up we were last year … give us KC’s road to the Super Bowl, which for us would be been BYE, JAX (home), KC (home) and I’m not so sure we don’t make the Super Bowl….

 

Hyde was set to come back for the AFC CG and that BYE week would’ve been monumental for that team. 

[NewEra]

5 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

I’m referring to how you phrased your post. ‘KC won the Superbowl. They didn’t beat us. We beat them.’ Readers can infer that you mean Bills are better from the wording.

 

Yeah we beat them. They beat us. Just a coincidence that they beat us when it mattered most…twice. ‘The majority of the world considered us the best team in the league…’ If only they give trophies for being media darlings. All that hype just to crumble under the pressure. I prefer the team to fly under the radar and prove it where it matters…on the field in the playoffs.

 

Again deducing from your words. Bad poster apparently applies to anyone that doesn’t think the Bills are on the same level with the Chiefs?

 

 

You can infer whatever you like.  The context of this thread is a gap.  From the start my premise was- there ain’t a gap and I listed why I think that way. 
 

and your last paragraph is super cringe.  Deducing from my words, bad posters put words into other peoples mouths. 

 

[Drew21PA]

2 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I’ll tell you this … even with how mentally and physically beat up we were last year … give us KC’s road to the Super Bowl, which for us would be been BYE, JAX (home), KC (home) and I’m not so sure we don’t make the Super Bowl….

 

Hyde was set to come back for the AFC CG and that BYE week would’ve been monumental for that team. 

Agree but 

 

damn wanna stop doing shoulda could a woulda stuff

[SCBills]

5 minutes ago, Drew21PA said:

Agree but 

 

damn wanna stop doing shoulda could a woulda stuff

Yup … at the end of the day, we didn’t get the 1 seed.    
 

Some posters want to pretend like that doesn’t matter … except KC keeps finding ways to get that 1 seed, or at the very least, put themselves in position to be the pseudo-one seed.  
 

Mahomes has literally never played an away playoff game and KC has had multiple BYE weeks over the course of Mahomes tenure. 
 

Not coincidentally, they’ve won the last two AFC Super Bowls. 
 

 

Edited May 1, 2023 by SCBills