I Am Not Optimistic Going Into This Season

[mjt328]

8 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Because we have drama queens around here.  The OP talks about being a fan since 1963.  I’ve been a fan since 1960.  I still hold the memories of the AFL championships near to my heart.  I lived through the horrors of the late 60’s-early 70’s and the late 70’s-early 80’s.  I had the pleasure of watching the Juice and the Super Bowl era teams, and have watched the ups and downs in the 2000’s.  I am excited to watch this year - with guys like Josh and Diggs and Miller and Milano we have as good a shot as anyone.

 

I understand both perspectives.

 

There are some fans who are just happy the Bills are winning again.

 

There are others who will never be satisfied until the Bills bring home the Lombardi trophy.

 

[Lane Meyer K12]

It is probably better to take that approach. If they underperform then it is not such a letdown and if they perform as well as they should then it is a pleasant surprise. At the end of the day, it is only a football game and how they perform either way is out of anyone's control other than who is actually on the field playing. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

21 minutes ago, Lane Meyer K12 said:

It is probably better to take that approach. If they underperform then it is not such a letdown and if they perform as well as they should then it is a pleasant surprise. At the end of the day, it is only a football game and how they perform either way is out of anyone's control other than who is actually on the field playing. 

Pessimism is a disease, so is cynicism

 

[dave mcbride]

3 hours ago, MJS said:

A perfect passer rating is 158.3, actually.

Yes, my bad. A small brainlock. More evidence, though, about counting stats: Kirksey had far opportunities to make plays than Edmunds last season because the Houston D was on the field for 1,134 plays while the Bills D was on the field for 997. In 2021, the Bills’ D played 1,014 plays to Houston’s 1,101. The Bills D simply gets off the field more quickly than Houston’s because opponents’ drives are shorter and consist of fewer plays.

Edited August 31, 2023 by dave mcbride

[jletha]

48 minutes ago, Ramza86 said:

Todays league is about having a high powered offense and we continue to neglect that

Continue to neglect that...by having a top 3 offense in the league every year? 29 other teams are envious of our offense

 

 

I really dont see a path for our offense to be worse than last year. Status quo I can comprehend but not worse than having to sign Brown/Cole late in the season. And that offense was top 3 in almost every metric.

 

The defense has many more pathways to being worse statistically than last year (No Edmunds, aging secondary, Von out for significant time, change at DC). Im not saying it will happen but the pathways are there more-so than the offense. That said I will take that if they can situationally show up when it matters in the playoffs.

 

End of the day ill take improved offense and worse defense any day.

[Ramza86]

3 minutes ago, jletha said:

Continue to neglect that...by having a top 3 offense in the league every year? 29 other teams are envious of our offense

 

 

I really dont see a path for our offense to be worse than last year. Status quo I can comprehend but not worse than having to sign Brown/Cole late in the season. And that offense was top 3 in almost every metric.

 

The defense has many more pathways to being worse statistically than last year (No Edmunds, aging secondary, Von out for significant time, change at DC). Im not saying it will happen but the pathways are there more-so than the offense. That said I will take that if they can situationally show up when it matters in the playoffs.

 

End of the day ill take improved offense and worse defense any day.

 

Its literally because of one player my friend.

 

They are going to cut Josh's career short by 5 years if they dont protect him with a line and better scheme.

 

Can you imagine this team without Josh Allen?

 

 

[jletha]

Just now, Ramza86 said:

 

Its literally because of one player my friend.

 

They are going to cut Josh's career short by 5 years if they dont protect him with a line and better scheme.

 

Can you imagine this team without Josh Allen?

 

 

Can you imagine any team without their Franchise QB? What are we even saying here? We have better skill position players than the Chiefs FWIW. What are the Bengals doing without Burrow, how is their O-line? Burrow was sacked 41 times last year (6th in the league) and they beat our brains in in the playoffs.

 

Every single fan base hates their O-line. Josh runs out of clean pockets all the time.

[Blackbeard]

1 hour ago, Ramza86 said:

Todays league is about having a high powered offense and we continue to neglect that.

So what was your solution?  Sign an aging, overpriced stud at WR (see: OBJ, Hopkins, etc.)?  All while neglecting other needs?

 

There is this thing called "the cap".  

 

I think Beane did an amazing job drafting Kincaid, and bringing in decent depth at WR.  But to say he's neglected it is ridiculous.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Blackbeard

[Beast]

1 hour ago, Ramza86 said:

I think the defense is overrated, and it frustrates me how much money is spent on it and fail to produce when it matters.

 

Todays league is about having a high powered offense and we continue to neglect that.

 

Two big things to watch for me is:

- Can this offense finally put it together or will it be the same crap with Josh running for his life AGAIN.

- Can the defense stay healthy and actually dominate.

 

 

We continue to neglect offense yet the Bills have one of the best scoring offenses in the NFL and drafted a TE in the first round.

 

OK.

[Heitz]

"And I don't worry about nothing, no, because worrying's a waste of my time." - Axl Rose

 

Ya'll need to learn to enjoy life... 

[Ramza86]

19 minutes ago, Beast said:

We continue to neglect offense yet the Bills have one of the best scoring offenses in the NFL and drafted a TE in the first round.

 

OK.

 

The Bills are putting Allen through the wringer. Hes not going to last if we keep neglecting HIM (I guess thats where we will go with this).

 

I promise you he will leave this team if they dont do right by him.

[MJS]

1 hour ago, dave mcbride said:

Yes, my bad. A small brainlock. More evidence, though, about counting stats: Kirksey had far opportunities to make plays than Edmunds last season because the Houston D was on the field for 1,134 plays while the Bills D was on the field for 997. In 2021, the Bills’ D played 1,014 plays to Houston’s 1,101. The Bills D simply gets off the field more quickly than Houston’s because opponents’ drives are shorter and consist of fewer plays.

Well, the offense plays into that too. If offenses are on the field sustaining drives, the defense is on for fewer plays. Both reasons play into it.

[FilthyBeast]

20 hours ago, longtimebillsfan said:

Please talk me off the ledge.

 

I could see this season with the Bills going 2-2 in their first four games.

 

The Jets will go into their home opener sky high.

 

We should be able to handle the Raiders and Commanders. 

 

The Dolphins game could go either way.  At least the game is in OP.

 

I just think that our team is weaker than last year.

 

I could realistically see the Bills missing the playoffs this year.

 

With all the pundants saying the Bills window is closing, I am starting to think that Josh may never get us to the Lombardi trophy.

 

My mindset this year is expecting the worse (i.e. 7-10 type season, no playoffs) but hoping for the best.

 

But for this to happen I think JA17 would have to have a true career year/MVP season to overcome the horrendous coaching and defense that I think might be terrible.

 

I also see this team losing to Jets and Dolphins early but they hopefully they can rack up a few wins and stay around .500 before the brutal 2nd half schedule where wins are likely going to be elusive.

[teef]

Just now, FilthyBeast said:

 

My mindset this year is expecting the worse (i.e. 7-10 type season, no playoffs) but hoping for the best.

 

But for this to happen I think JA17 would have to have a true career year/MVP season to overcome the horrendous coaching and defense that I think might be terrible.

 

I also see this team losing to Jets and Dolphins early but they hopefully they can rack up a few wins and stay around .500 before the brutal 2nd half schedule where wins are likely going to be elusive.

i honestly feel better about the season after seeing this post.  no prediction you've made has ever come true...ever.

[mjd1001]

If Josh Allen is fully healthy they are a top 5 team in the league and division winner.

 

Only thing I see them not being a serious Superbowl contender is an injured Allen OR the middle of the Defense being even worse than I think.  Poyer and Hyde I think are not going to be the strength everyone thinks they are anymore.  As long as they still are 'good', things will be ok.

[stlbills13]

Yeah I have to agree with the title of this thread. I initially thought we would have an undefeated season averaging 37 points per game and giving up less than 7 all while Josh Allen throws 58 touchdowns and runs in 12 more on the way to an MVP season barely beating out Ed Oliver who picked up 33 sacks from the defensive tackle position on the way to a blowout Super Bowl win. But given the legit improvements of the other teams in the division as well as a questionable offensive line and some aging players in the defensive backfield, I will pivot to a 14-3 season, #1 seed, and a tightly fought Super Bowl win

[BillsFan4]

I don’t see how this team is worse than last year.

 

-WR looks better/deeper.

-RB looks deeper (and hopefully better).

-Tight End looks better/deeper.

-O line looks improved, especially the guard positions.

-Safety looks better with Hyde back, Poyer healthy and Rapp for depth

-D line looks better/deeper with Floyd, Poona Ford

-CB should be better too with a healthy Tre White and Benford playing well

 

Where are they worse besides MLB and maybe backup QB? I’d say they look better at most positions compared to last year.

 

They definitely face what could be a tough opponent week one. I think the Jets are going to be very hyped up and confident. I expect them to play with a lot of energy. But the Bills will hopefully be hyped up and confident too. I’m hoping the Jets will still be working out some kinks, being a new system and all. That also means the Bills won’t really have much tape though.

 

Even if the Bills lose week one, or start out 2-2 with 2 division losses, it’s not the end of the world. It obviously wouldn’t be ideal to start out with 2 division losses. But it wouldn’t be insurmountable. And we’ve seen teams peak too early. We’ve also seen teams start out slow and win the super bowl. Ideally, we want the Bills playing their best football entering the playoffs.

 

I’m not predicting anything. I’m hoping it will be a super bowl year, but who knows.

I’m going to try my best to just enjoy the ride. It’s only a game. We should enjoy it. If watching/following the Bills makes us miserable, then what are we doing? Why follow at all? Life is too short for that. My perspective has really changed with recent events that have happened in my life. I’m sick of worrying about non-consequential things like sports. I’m going to try my best to just enjoy watching the games like I do for other teams.

[dpberr]

I think the Bills are primed for a fantastic season.  Stacked roster with years of corporate knowledge of the system, love the roster moves at RB, and I think McDermott calling the defense is additive.  I also think the team, coaching staff included, realizes this season is "it" for the current iteration of the roster.  There's a remodeling coming next season, so the time is now.   

 

I think the idea of the "uber" Jets is overblown to a degree.  Teams take time to gel, and I expect them to be inconsistent Monday night on offense.  Miami rides and dies on an injury prone-QB.  The 2023 Patriots are the 2008 Bills.  Dangerous in September, but fade as the season goes on.  

[Fan in Chicago]

1 hour ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

My mindset this year is expecting the worse (i.e. 7-10 type season, no playoffs) but hoping for the best.

 

Considering the team you are a fan of, your statements of "best case" and "worse (sic)" are reversed. Just own up to the fact you are not a Bills fan

[SoCal Deek]

I look at it much like Gene Hackman’s line in Hoosiers when he’s addressing the pep rally before the first game: “THIS is your team.” The draft is over. Free agency is over. Preseason is over. The roster is set!  Now it’s up to the coaches to do something with the roster they’ve assembled.