mannc Posted February 19 Posted February 19 5 hours ago, Success said: The Jets game was just weird. The season opener, Rodgers getting hurt early, Allen kind of falling apart. But after that, we tore through September. Allen was firing on all cylinders, and the defense was as good as I've seen in the McDermott era. It was smothering, aggressive, flying to the ball. Man, was that D good. Our D when we faced KC at the end was a shell of that D. Every team has to deal with injuries. No doubt. But seriously, who dealt w/ more, and which team was clearly impacted by losses? We lost Hines & Damien Harris before things really started. Then, in one fell swoop, we lost Milano, Tre & Jones. Arguably the top 3 guys on our defense. Then we lose Benford, Rapp, Spector and Bernard, the latter of whom had picked up the slack in ways that were completely unexpected. So excited to see him AND Milano on the field this coming season. It wasn't just that we had to navigate the playoffs without quite a few of our best players. Even some of the guys playing, like Rasul Douglas, were clearly playing hurt and less effective. People always say the same thing: "excuses, excuses." To which I respond: "reality." If KC had the extent of injuries we had, and we were as healthy as they were, I have no issue saying that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell they would beat us. Last I heard, there is no Lombardi Trophy awarded to “Best Team When Everyone’s Healthy.” All NFL teams have injuries. And BTW, our offense was almost 100 percent healthy all season. I can’t think of an important starter who missed a game. Unheard of… Quote
Success Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 1 minute ago, mannc said: Last I heard, there is no Lombardi Trophy awarded to “Best Team When Everyone’s Healthy.” All NFL teams have injuries. And BTW, our offense was almost 100 percent healthy all season. I can’t think of an important starter who missed a game. Unheard of… Did I say that they should be awarded a Lombardi? 1 Quote
BufBills83 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 2 hours ago, Billl said: @SuccessThat’s a pretty big qualifier given that Allen, Milano, Diggs, Dawkins, Tre, etc. were added more than 3 seasons ago. This is a declining roster, and it’s no longer at a championship level. Losing a close game in the Divisional round doesn’t change that. The team was closer to missing the postseason than winning a Super Bowl. Oh boy, you just won the SB and now you're coming to this board and saying this isn't a championship-caliber roster when we were about 20 yards away from beating you. It is a championship-caliber roster. There is obviously going to be some retooling, which every team does every year, but the core is still in place to win a SB next year. QB, the entire starting offensive line, starting RB, 2 starting receivers, both starting TE's are all under contract next year. We need a couple WRs (FA and/or draft). On defense, we need safety and Dline. Four LBers and 4 CBs are under contract next year, as well as Oliver and Rousseau on the D line. Jones will prob be resigned. We'll be right there next year, trust me. Quote
BillsFanForever19 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) I am in agreeance that our health was the key factor in us not beating KC in the Playoffs this year. Here's what we were looking at: - Matt Milano gone for the year - Von Miller didn't return REMOTELY to form - Micah Hyde didn't return REMOTELY to form - Tre White done for the year - Christian Benford Out - Gabe Davis Out - Terrel Bernard Out - Tre's replacement Rasul Douglas playing at MAYBE 50% - Jordan Phillips done for the year - Daquan Jones not at 100% from IR - Taylor Rapp Out - Baylon Spector Out On top of these things, we were starting a MLB who was on the couch 3 weeks before, who then rolled his ankle badly during the game and Tyrell Dodson, who entered the game hurt, also went down again to start the game. We had ZERO true Outside WR's opposite Diggs - being forced to put slot guys like Shakir, Sherfield, and Harty on the outside. Amongst all of these things, we still only lost the game against the Super Bowl Champs by 3 points. It's ridiculous to simply boil down all of those things too "injuries happen - find a way". Yes, injuries happen. But that many injuries at key spots is downright impossible to overcome against the best of the best in the NFL. I often say that the difference between winning and losing in the :13 seconds game was not having a healthy Tre White. Competition in the Playoffs is so razor thin amongst the top teams that 1 major player on your team being out can be the difference between winning and losing. And we had MANY key players out. Looking over the myriad of health problems we had, I honestly find it a miracle we were able to do what we did. When we made the Playoffs, and especially after injuries sustained against Miami and Pittsburgh, I thought "this is nice, but this isn't a unit healthy enough to hoist a Lombardi". I honestly feel if we had Milano, Bernard, Benford, Davis (say what you will, but he at the very least took some attention away from Diggs and provided key blocks down field), and either White or Douglas at 100% - we would have won that game and may very well have hoisted a Lombardi. Hell, even if we had only some of that and not all of it - we could have overcome. Here's hoping next season we have better luck with health. Combine that with some key adjustments and I think we have a much better chance than we had this season. Edited February 19 by BillsFanForever19 1 1 Quote
JoshAllin Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) Losing Bernard was like losing Josh Allen, he was the Josh of the defense (Also down Milano for that long as well). I'm still a bit upset he had a chance to play it seemed since he was questionable but sat him instead for next week. Totally unexpected for them to be 20 yards from victory, which was amazing in itself Edited February 19 by JoshAllin 1 Quote
Big Blitz Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) 6 hours ago, Aussie Joe said: Our mate from Kansas City that posts here did make a good point the other day… Outside the QB … is there another superstar on this Bills team ? KC has a couple …including Chris Jones who I think is the most valuable defensive player in the game at present … They got 2 great CBs ( better than anything we got) … superior interior OL ( that handled Oliver with ease… ) and Kelce on the decline but still a big game winner … Bills have got a lot of “above average “ players … but not too many game winners outside JA.. Pre injuries Milano White Bernard emerged at LB like McDuffie at CB for them Oliver Poyer and Hyde better then Chiefs Safeties Torrence is our potential version at Guard like their 2 guys Thuney and Smith Kincaid emerged Shakir emerging Dawkins is a stud McD to defense is close to Reid to offense. In the Bengals and Chiefs losses his defenses were hurt. Like to see Reid without Creed Humphrey and Kelce on the field. And Allen is better than Mahomes - I wonder what Allen would have done vs our D that day and if Mahomes went against his. And until Greenlaw got hurt and the 49ers fumbled punts the Chiefs were not winning that game. Give me Allen. Get me to 2024. Edited February 19 by Big Blitz Quote
prissythecat Posted February 19 Posted February 19 3 hours ago, Success said: That's an interesting way to look at it. I'm aware of the "ifs" that go against the Bills. But the underlying, main point is that the Bills are rightthere w/ the Chiefs. The games come down to a play or 2. Would you agree? Or are you of the mindset that the Bills are somehow light years behind the champs? Please expound. the playoff game against the Chiefs wasn’t as close as the score suggests . The Chiefs were gaining something like 8 or 9 yards per play …. while we were gaining 4 ish? Cowher made a pretty good comment about how the game wasn’t really close and that the Bills were just hanging on . Quote
Big Blitz Posted February 19 Posted February 19 3 minutes ago, prissythecat said: the playoff game against the Chiefs wasn’t as close as the score suggests . The Chiefs were gaining something like 8 or 9 yards per play …. while we were gaining 4 ish? Cowher made a pretty good comment about how the game wasn’t really close and that the Bills were just hanging on . We were up the whole game basically until the Chiefs took the lead and we fake punted in the 4th quarter. Then the Chiefs were up 3 but fumbled out of the end zone. We then proceeded to take the lead again after that. And yea, considering our LBs and CBs that day we always were just hanging on. Quote
Success Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 21 minutes ago, prissythecat said: the playoff game against the Chiefs wasn’t as close as the score suggests . The Chiefs were gaining something like 8 or 9 yards per play …. while we were gaining 4 ish? Cowher made a pretty good comment about how the game wasn’t really close and that the Bills were just hanging on . In some ways, it felt that way - especially after the fake punt. But we absolutely dominated TOP. It was a close game. Both teams had breaks & mistakes. Quote
billsfan89 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 Tim Duncan said it best, it takes a lot of luck to win a championship. Right now the Bills simply haven’t had the luck fall their way. But the Bills time will come… 1 Quote
Richard Noggin Posted February 19 Posted February 19 2024, semi-retired, 32-year old, practice squad version of AJ KLEIN was the primary, man-to-man coverage plan for stopping Travis Kelce on far too many snaps. Reeaally disconcerting design, despite the crippling injuries. NO LB should be tasked with covering Kelce m2m without a serious pressure package. Feels more like a gameplan problem than a depth chart issue. 1 Quote
Brand J Posted February 19 Posted February 19 51 minutes ago, Big Blitz said: And Allen is better than Mahomes - I wonder what Allen would have done vs our D that day and if Mahomes went against his. Can we stop doing this? Pretty please? 1 2 Quote
LABILLBACKER Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) 1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said: We are at a point that was expected though. Due to age and injuries it's time for "pruning" of this roster. I felt it should have happened this year,but they decided to " run it back" ( I hate that term) and it failed. But that happens. I hope Beane learned his lesson,and cuts bait this year with every contract that needs to be, and really hits on the draft. I figure this is a retool year where we go 9-8 or 10-7 with a wild card spot hopefully, and come roaring back in 2025. Yup, we got some big contracts with underperforming players that need to be extinguished. Start chipping away. Von...the gift that keeps on "not giving"..... Edited February 19 by LABILLBACKER 1 Quote
Success Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 1 minute ago, Brand J said: Can we stop doing this? Pretty please? I don't mind it. It's not some crazy idea. Football is a team game. Mahomes has had much better coaching to this point, and better all-around teams. Obviously, most think Mahomes is better at this point, and even the GOAT. It reminds me of Brady/Manning. After Brady won a few SB's, some considered the debate over. But how could you compare a guy w/ the GOAT coach to a guy who played for 5 different coaches? Coaching is so important to winning that final game. In the end, of course, Brady proved himself the better QB. And Mahomes might still do that also. But I'll be actively watching the next decade or so to see how it all plays out. 1 Quote
Big Blitz Posted February 19 Posted February 19 10 minutes ago, Brand J said: Can we stop doing this? Pretty please? No. Mahomes is great. But he’s always always had the better situation. Until this year when the Bills fired their OC, lost key guys to injury all year long, and then (the most underrated part of the loss) the Chiefs had 7 days to prepare we had 5 due to weather. These aren’t excuses. These are my explanations why I’m not conceding anything. 1 Quote
Brand J Posted February 19 Posted February 19 7 minutes ago, Success said: I don't mind it. It's not some crazy idea. Football is a team game. Mahomes has had much better coaching to this point, and better all-around teams. Obviously, most think Mahomes is better at this point, and even the GOAT. It reminds me of Brady/Manning. After Brady won a few SB's, some considered the debate over. But how could you compare a guy w/ the GOAT coach to a guy who played for 5 different coaches? Coaching is so important to winning that final game. In the end, of course, Brady proved himself the better QB. And Mahomes might still do that also. But I'll be actively watching the next decade or so to see how it all plays out. Football is the ultimate team sport, no doubt, but players are still recognized on an individual level and accolades awarded. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding both players, this is Patrick Mahomes trophy case: 3× Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII) 3× Super Bowl MVP (LIV, LVII, LVIII) 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (2018, 2022) NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2018) 2× First-team All-Pro (2018, 2022) Second-team All-Pro (2020) 6× Pro Bowl (2018–2023) 2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2018, 2022) NFL passing yards leader (2022) Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2020) And this is Allen’s: Second-team All-Pro (2020) 2× Pro Bowl (2020, 2022) Objectively speaking, our guy is not better than theirs. If you want to say he’s at least on par, I still wouldn’t agree, but at least an argument could sort of be made. It just gets tiring reading over and over how “Allen is better than Mahomes” yet has none of the accolades, awards, or trappings of success to prove it. 3 Quote
90sBills Posted February 19 Posted February 19 21 minutes ago, Brand J said: Can we stop doing this? Pretty please? Yes please! It feels like cosmic karma is against Allen and the Bills whenever this gets spewed into the universe. With every passing year of another Mahomes’ Superbowl MVPs and Allen’s early playoff exits this notion gets more and more delusional. Even among the fanbase. Quote
Buffalo03 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 8 hours ago, Aussie Joe said: Our mate from Kansas City that posts here did make a good point the other day… Outside the QB … is there another superstar on this Bills team ? KC has a couple …including Chris Jones who I think is the most valuable defensive player in the game at present … They got 2 great CBs ( better than anything we got) … superior interior OL ( that handled Oliver with ease… ) and Kelce on the decline but still a big game winner … Bills have got a lot of “above average “ players … but not too many game winners outside JA.. I mean there's Milano when healthy. Terrell Bernard. Ed Oliver played at an elite level this season. Rasul Douglas. Those are more than just above average guys Quote
Aussie Joe Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Buffalo03 said: I mean there's Milano when healthy. Terrell Bernard. Ed Oliver played at an elite level this season. Rasul Douglas. Those are more than just above average guys I’ll give you Milano whom I overlooked given his absence … let’s hope he makes a full recovery by Week 1 next season and is backto his best…superstars show up in the playoffs so Oliver is out, although he had his best year so maybe he is still ascending … Bernard might get there one day soon … Douglas is a fine player but not elite Edited February 19 by Aussie Joe Quote
Shortchaz Posted February 19 Posted February 19 This is the manta to replace “first team to go to the superbowl four years in a row” 1 Quote
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