Is the “Bills window is closed” talk finally over?

[BADOLBILZ]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

It was never closed. It is open less wide than it has been IMO, and I still think that. Bringing Amari in opened it a touch more. Maybe I have even more confidence after last night too. I think it will be open wider the next couple of years as they develop and hopefully add to this young core, but you always have at least a punchers chance while you have Josh Allen and who knows maybe this is the year we get a bounce or two of the ball in the post season? I always remember Tony Dungy saying he thinks the Colts team that finally broke through was one of his less talented rosters, but they had a unity, a cohesion and a bit of luck that previous Colts teams didn't. 

 

Yeah it is not uncommon at all for less talented versions of teams to win SB's when the more talented could not.   They are just often forgotten.   The 76' Steelers team that lost to the Raiders was their most talented team of that dynasty.   Since that all-time talented kinda' team lost there have been many instances of a teams lesser roster winning a subsequent SB or multiple.  Most recently of course the past 2 Chiefs teams that were less talented than the team that lost the AFCCG to Cinci.   In hindsight it's NOW easier to say that the 2 most recent Chiefs teams had much better defense's........but should this Bills team win a SB we might look back and say they were better than prior Bills teams because they had young defensive stars in their prime in 2024.   It's why I never bought into the window closing.   They were getting younger where they needed to and simultaneously more experienced where they need to.   They had to resolve the boundary WR position and with Coleman emerging and Cooper's acquisition they've closed up that hole.   They've also, so far,  limited the emotional up's and down's that plagued the 21'-23' teams.   

[Don Otreply]

10 hours ago, Rigotz said:

9-2 going into the Bye in a “rebuilding year.”

 

Tons of draft assets in the upcoming draft.

 

Young core of players at key positions.

 

Josh cementing himself as a top 1-3 QB.

 

Did this year finally kill the “window is closed” talking point? I never hear that kind of talk about the Chiefs or even the Ravens or Bengals. Is it finally dead for the Bills?

Even before the season, those spouting that silliness were obviously not paying attention to what was actually happening in Buffalo last season and into this season. 

[The Red King]

Buffalo had aging talent, lost to the Chiefs at home in the playoffs and lost both their #1 and #2 receivers.  Meanwhile you have teams like Baltimore and Houston on the accent, and Rodgers returning. The Bills didn't even make the playoffs until Week 18.

 

Predicting a drop-off for the Bills was not unreasonable.

 

That being said, Buffalo bounced back much, much better then expected, and at this point the window hs been proven to be wide open.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Pretty sure even the biggest pessimists on this board said with Allen the window is always open. 

To me the issue is the win now mentality. 

Getting Cooper and getting Shakir back healthy changed everything this year. Beane realized either due to injury or just lack of talent the WR group wasn't good enough. He made the trade he failed to make in 2021.  Still would have liked to see him add a pass rusher but with Cooper and getting some guys back healthy after the bye, they have a legit chance at a  Championship run. 

 

[JerseyBills]

Whoever started this narrative either has low football iq or is a hater..

 

Lot on here said it though, was saying all off season,  we'll be SB contenders

[RyanC883]

the claim is absurd and always was.  You have a franchise QB, your window is not closed.  Get that QB enough talent, and you can win it.  We have enough.  Even our WR corp now looks great if Samuel keeps playing like last game, and Cooper and Coleman come back at 100%.  Shooeless wonder boy is a great #4 also.  

[msw2112]

In my opinion, the coaching on the offensive side of the ball is the biggest difference.  While the stats under Dorsey were very good at times, the offense was way too predictable.  They were not able to stick to the run and they were far too reliant on Diggs.  Allen, at times, was the ONLY reliable running option.  They used little pre-snap motion to confuse the defense.  Now, they may line up in the same formation twice or more, but run a completely different play on the second or third time.

 

The current offense runs the ball consistently.  That said, the Chiefs have a great run defense, so the Bills used it more sparingly and appropriately yesterday.  They still pounded the ball enough to keep the defense honest.  They spread the ball around on offense, which keeps the defense on its heels.  Allen is developing into a more mature player, taking what the defense gives him.  I think that Brady's coaching has helped him do that.  He can still be the hero and difference maker, but he doesn't have to be that every snap of every game.

 

They're not perfect.  The trick play against Baltimore was a terrible call and the final series at Houston was equally bad.  Note that those are the only 2 losses....Overall, it's much better than what the Bills have had on offense in recent years.  Credit to Brady and Kromer, and to McDermott for putting the right people in place and letting them do their jobs.

Edited November 18 by msw2112

[without a drought]

Off season clickbait zombie thread?

 

 

Sorry didn't notice this was a new thread about the 9-2 Bills.

 

Can't wait for the bye to be over.  j/k, I think I may take one too.

[nedboy7]

Yes, until we are down by 3 in the first quarter...

[Jukester]

Good article here on exactly this topic

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-12-power-rankings-bills-super-bowl-window-remains-wide-open-lions-new-no-1-after-chiefs-loss/

 

interesting tidbit I hadn’t heard Iefore: “McDermott had eased up some. In the past, he had a tendency to ruffle his assistants. But he now allows offensive coordinator Joe Brady -- who has done a great job harnessing some of Allen's wild-horse play -- and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to do their jobs. That's growth for a coach who knows he had to change in an attempt to try and get this team over the top.”

[Wagon Circler]

Window still closed and Josh Allen is overrated. 😉

[colin]

16 hours ago, nedboy7 said:

Yes, until we are down by 3 in the first quarter...

 

I represent that comment.

 

our window was closed after we got hamstrung by the diggs and knox contracts and the injuries to milano and von, but in the wall beside the window there is a Josh Allen cut out sized hole he just ran through.

[Bookie Man]

With the foundation and young talent on this team, window should be open til 2030. Hopefully will have a few trophies by then.

[Rew]

Prior to the season I think it was fair to say the Bills had more questions than in prior years.  From a probability standpoint I don't have any issues with someone who viewed them as less likely to go all the way (than '23 or '21).  The "Window was still open", but with turnover a down season would have been understandable.  Also, there was reason for optimism. "If" several players developed the way that was hoped for, there was enough talent there to think that SB was still a good shot.  Call it mini-rebuild, transition year, getting younger, whatever tf you want to call it, but it did happen and could have gone worse.

 

That is a far cry from the few pundits or "fans" that thought the Bills were likely to miss the playoffs.  That was and still is an asinine take. As long as a good chunk or the roster returns and Josh is here we should be considered a perennial playoff team with some variance on floor or ceiling.

 

Personally, I thought Center/Guard and Safety were going to hold us back more (I never thought WR was a huge issue or a huge strength).  Happy that concerns were for naught.  Line play has been shockingly awesome and somehow Safety has been serviceable with ridiculous LB/CB performance making it not matter.  I really thought we would need Hyde on roster by this point to solidify a run.

 

With the way our talent has developed I think you can almost claim the Allen's "2nd Window has opened".  It's incredibly challenging and requires some luck to not have a down year or two to reset in the course of a QB's career.

Edited November 20 by Rew