When healthy: we were the best team in the league.

[Mr. WEO]

Injuries, you say?  Hmmm...let me consider this

[The Red King]

49 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

It depends on who is injured. Outside of losing your franchise qb teams will still find ways to compete and win. That’s the NFL in a nutshell. Some teams have even won Superbowls despite losing their QBs. 

 

Yes, but the Bills didn't just lose one star, did they?  Again, look at KC's injury report for that game, look at ours, and then look me in the eyes and say it was a wash.

[Mikie2times]

I mean, the Bengals had most of the offensive line out in 2022 and just destroyed us. Baltimore had basically its entire team out last year and nearly upset the Bengals in Cincinnati. Who on this board is actually taking inventory of other teams injury situation and then storing it long term so they can have perspective on any of this? Nobody on this forum has context outside a situation or two. Nobody has any actual value to assign to rankings but an opinion which isn't even educated as it relates to this subject. Meanwhile oddsmakers had us as a 3 point favorite. They said we should actually win the game. Neutral with home field just like it was when we went to KC. How wrong was that line? We had the ball last and didn't score. On comes the yahoo who says it's not oddsmakers job to predict but rather to split money. Sure, but they also aren't missing a line by a lot in a divisional playoff game. 

 

You got your QB? It's enough to win. We lost and we lost because we weren't as clutch (AGAIN). That is why. We need to be better. 

Edited February 20 by Mikie2times

[90sBills]

1 hour ago, The Red King said:

 

Yes, but the Bills didn't just lose one star, did they?  Again, look at KC's injury report for that game, look at ours, and then look me in the eyes and say it was a wash.

I was responding to the comment about NFL injuries in general. As long as the QB is healthy there’s still a chance to salvage the season.

 

As for the divisional game…of course it would’ve been better without all the defensive injuries. Not sure how much they could slow down KC though. Their offense always seem to find a way. Bills offense was relatively healthy and they were in position to win at the end. Just couldn’t get it done. 

[Success]

The negative responses on this thread are pretty much the same:  calling out injuries is an "excuse."

 

Does it never hit a point of no return?  Is there not a time when a team has too much to overcome in that part of the game?

 

It was almost consensus here & elsewhere after the Pitt game:  we were too banged up to make a real run.  We were hoping we could just get past KC to rid ourselves of that demon that we just can't get past them when it counts.  But no one had serious SB aspirations w/ the state of this team.

 

Now, it's all "sssshhhhhh....don't mention it."

 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 2/18/2024 at 5:29 PM, 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.  

 

You’d have to think that Milano, Bernard, etc would’ve ultimately made the different in a 3 point game against KC. 

[The Jokeman]

7 hours ago, 90sBills said:

KC lost Nadi in the WC round. Lost Thunny in the Divisional round. Then lost Omenihu in the Championship round. I think those were significant starters yet they found a way to win it all. It is what it is. 

I'll give Nadi and Thurney were starters. Omenihu was a depth guy similar to AJE for the Bills. Again not near the caliber the Bills lost.

[The Jokeman]

5 hours ago, SaulGoodman said:

 

Like the other poster mentioned, KC lost 3 more starters in the playoffs, including an all pro guard and their best edge rusher. Also, they were without Mike Edwards vs the Bills. 

 

And it's disingenuous to judge all those players by starts. McKinnon wasn't the starting RB, but he had 10 TDs in 2022. 

Best edge rusher? Who? Chris Jones and Karlaftis played. McKinnon is a role player. 10 TDs in 2022 but what about 2023?

[90sBills]

39 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

I'll give Nadi and Thurney were starters. Omenihu was a depth guy similar to AJE for the Bills. Again not near the caliber the Bills lost.

Omenihu is third in sacks behind Jones and Karlaftis.  That’s despite missing 6 games due to suspension. He was one of their big offseason acquisition. Definitely more than depth. Somehow they had a 1st round pick to replaced him in the Superbowl. Why can’t Bills have that kind of luxury? Smh. 

[SaulGoodman]

10 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

Omenihu is third in sacks behind Jones and Karlaftis.  That’s despite missing 6 games due to suspension. He was one of their big offseason acquisition. Definitely more than depth. Somehow they had a 1st round pick to replaced him in the Superbowl. Why can’t Bills have that kind of luxury? Smh. 

 

That's like saying that Elam is a luxury for the Bills. KC's first round pick barely played this year and isn't ready to contribute meaningfully. 

[90sBills]

Just now, SaulGoodman said:

 

That's like saying that Elam is a luxury for the Bills. KC's first round pick barely played this year and isn't ready to contribute meaningfully. 

He didn’t see the field because Omenihu and Dana were tearing it up. My comment was a compliment to the Chiefs organization for having such quality backups. Why are you so defensive? Your team just won back to back. How would you be able to handle losing if you’re this sensitive when winning? 

[SaulGoodman]

10 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

He didn’t see the field because Omenihu and Dana were tearing it up. My comment was a compliment to the Chiefs organization for having such quality backups. Why are you so defensive? Your team just won back to back. How would you be able to handle losing if you’re this sensitive when winning? 

 

Danna had 6.5 sacks and this was easily his best season. He's not going to keep a really productive player off the field. FAU just wasn't ready for meaningful snaps. Even with Omenihu out, he only saw the field on 9% of snaps. 

 

I wouldn't say I'm being very sensitive. Just pointing out facts. I'd say this board is a heck of a lot more sensitive to KC fans than I am to any post or poster. 

 

I just find it comical that KC's roster sucked prior to the game in Buffalo, but suddenly Mahomes is surrounded by all pros at every position. 

Edited February 20 by SaulGoodman

[RyanC883]

On 2/18/2024 at 8:28 PM, Mikie2times said:

If Josh's fumble is recovered by Kansas City he doesn't even get the throw to Shakir. If Kansas City doesn't fumble in our end zone that drive doesn't matter. If Toney isn't Offside we don't make the playoffs. It's funny how these what if's only seem to work in our favor. 

 

we are also the only team with injuries. 

[90sBills]

25 minutes ago, SaulGoodman said:

 

Danna had 6.5 sacks and this was easily his best season. He's not going to keep a really productive player off the field. FAU just wasn't ready for meaningful snaps. Even with Omenihu out, he only saw the field on 9% of snaps. 

 

I wouldn't say I'm being very sensitive. Just pointing out facts. I'd say this board is a heck of a lot more sensitive to KC fans than I am to any post or poster. 

 

I just find it comical that KC's roster sucked prior to the game in Buffalo, but suddenly Mahomes is surrounded by all pros at every position. 

I obviously don’t pay as much attention to KC as you do. From the way you make it sound FAU must be a bust. Imagine spending a 1st round draft pick and have him not contribute in any meaningful way. That’s bust. Just ‘pointing out facts’.

 

Btw…whenever you respond to a comment with an attack it’s being defensive. Just say you misunderstood my comment. It’s all good. 

[SaulGoodman]

21 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

I obviously don’t pay as much attention to KC as you do. From the way you make it sound FAU must be a bust. Imagine spending a 1st round draft pick and have him not contribute in any meaningful way. That’s bust. Just ‘pointing out facts’.

 

Btw…whenever you respond to a comment with an attack it’s being defensive. Just say you misunderstood my comment. It’s all good. 

 

It wasn't an attack. You're the one being sensitive here. I was just making a point. I'm assuming you don't consider first rounder Elam a luxury, even after two years. And at this point I definitely wouldn't consider FAU a luxury either. 

 

He might ultimately be a bust...who knows. But I think you know that some players take longer, especially when they aren't thrown into the fire right away. 

[Gregg]

[SoonerBillsFan]

I feel Terry needs to (if he hasn't already) address why the hell we fade physically, or have a ton of injuries, late in the season, It's becoming the norm.  He paid to build the best training facility in the NFL, but this keeps happening.

[Sweats]

Well, it wasn't injuries on the O when we were making a run into the playoffs. It wasn't injuries on the O playing against KC in the post season this year. It wasn't injuries that caused Diggs to drop passes.

The injury excuse is not credible to me......championship teams find a way to win.

 

Now, injuries on the D is a different matter, however, on the last series against KC, it was our O on the field, not the D.....so what else you got?

 

[SoCal Deek]

11 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I feel Terry needs to (if he hasn't already) address why the hell we fade physically, or have a ton of injuries, late in the season, It's becoming the norm.  He paid to build the best training facility in the NFL, but this keeps happening.

Terry has his hands full with the Sabres. I got to watch the game yesterday against the Ducks as it was televised out here in SoCal. That team is an utter mess…..still! Unbelievable 

[colin]

On 2/19/2024 at 1:08 AM, Richard Noggin said:

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.

 

elam and williams not being able to get burn in the divisional game so we just agree to lose somewhat more slowly (mainly by holding the ball on o no less) is a coaching/scheme issue.  if you can't alter your recipe to work with the ingredients on hand, then you aren't a chef who can cook for all occasions.

 

mccoach's addiction to "safe" d players has us tying up a huge chunk of our cap on old slow and injured guys.  if some of the von, tre, milano, poyer, hyde money went to some kind of fast wr who can play or a younger pass rusher we'd maybe have won vs kc and would be in a better stich going into the next season.