I’m very happy with how far we made it.

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

Fair or not, the season is a failure for me if they can't get to the SB. It doesn't matter if they exceeded expectations. They are here now. Have a great opportunity. They've earned the right.

 

With an elite QB, you need to be able to get over the hump (KC) eventually. These opportunities aren't guaranteed each year. Losing 4/5 years to these guys just isn't acceptable for me.

 

Sorry.

 

I agree, actually, with the remaining teams, we should win the SB.  Preseason "expectation" from outsiders who knew little about the team (i.e. Shakir's role) mean nothing and do not prove "overachieving."  

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

1) 1/21: I am fine, win or lose.

2) 1/29: I want the head of Sean McDermott.

 

I won't want his head after a win.  That's weird

[Einstein]

I will never understand this line of thinking. 

 

No one in that locker room was thinking 2nd or 3rd in the division. No one in that locker room was thinking no playoffs.

Those are all made-up narratives.

Fans set the bar low based off media narratives and then claim victory when we surpass artificially low expectations.

 

SUPER BOWL OR BUST!!!

[RyanC883]

32 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

And we all know perfectly well that after the Bills win the Super Bowl, they will soon be just as miserable and critical again.  If you have been on this board for years, it is inevitable.  As soon as that first loss or decision they don't like happens the next season, they will be fully loaded once again--but likely before that.

 

 

 

Really, each year is different.  The goal is the SB every year.  And fan boards are a place to be positive and critical--armchair coach, GM, etc.   Ask teams with winning DNA like the Steelers, etc. if simply "being competitive" is the goal year in and out.  It's not. Most teams that win want to do so again.  KC was not happy with 1 win, neither were the Pats*.  Lets win 5 to have a 5-4 SB record at least!!  We go this.  

3 minutes ago, Einstein said:

I will never understand this line of thinking. 

 

No one in that locker room was thinking 2nd or 3rd in the division. No one in that locker room was thinking no playoffs.

Those are all made-up narratives.

Fans set the bar low based off media narratives and then claim victory when we surpass artificially low expectations.

 

SUPER BOWL win OR BUST!!!

 

fixed it

[technobot]

If we lose it will be a groin snap kick for sure and I'll be in a dark mood for at least a week but yes, I am very happy with this season.

 

My expectations were low, still felt we were the front runner for the AFC East until proven otherwise, but expected a choppy season like the end of last (have to go on a heater to win the division).

 

We all read the reports in last years training camp, and I was aware that Diggs had worn out his welcome/was becoming toxic. And ole' Gabe Davis was never meant to be a #2 but he was about to be paid like one. So even though there was the possibility of addition through subtraction, the expectation was a step back offensively, since you're losing your #1 and #2 receivers from the previous season.

 

Everybody ate, and even though we haven't fully integrated Cooper, we've been obviously fun to watch. Aside from the blip at the beginning of the season and the inability to stop the Rams (at all), the boys took care of business. They won another game they allegedly had no chance of winning on Sunday.

 

It's a fun group of guys, and yes winning fixes everything. Probably the smoothest Bills season since 2020... no midseason swoon, just what turned out to be a star-crossed chase for the #1 seed. Watching them break records and stacking wins made for an enjoyable season. Seeing Josh at his best... stats aside, his beautiful refusal to try stupid sh!t has fully unleashed his potential. Even though there was a point in November when I just wanted the damn playoffs to start.

[loveorhatembillsfan4life]

Back after 13 seconds, McDermott made a comment along the lines of when we do win one, the 13 second game will be apart of our story. I agree with that, the pain and agony that it's taken to get back to this point has been well documented.

 

I don't think this is the year to be satisfied. The opportunity has arrived and if not now. When?

 

Just look at the QB's and teams that one single team has to beat to get to the Super bowl in the AFC. Harbaugh said it best, it's a gauntlet and the team that gets there sure as hell earned it. 

 

Just look at how hard and how long it has taken our team to get back to a conference game. 

 

In my eyes, we have a more complete team than ever. Josh is more mature and in in full control than ever. MCD also is a different coach than years ago.

 

This team has taken on all the best this season. We know we can play with anyone and win.  I think these guys know the opportunity and are going to leave it all on the line. 

 

If there is any Karma in this world for things to be made right, Mcdermott, Josh, the Buffalo Bills story has come full circle. 

[GunnerBill]

I am conflicted on this. I'll explain why. 

 

1) I did not think at the start of this season this was a Superbowl contending roster. My take was they were a playoff team, they'd be the class of the AFCE again, but they were not guaranteed to win a playoff game and might be as vulnerable as they have ever been in the wildcard round. 

 

2) I think it is a huge credit to Sean McDermott, Joe Brady and Josh Allen in particular that they are where they are. McDermott has coached his ass off with this group of players, Joe Brady has been a brilliant hire at OC and Josh has played at an MVP level. 

 

3) However, making a Superbowl, let alone winning one, is really, really difficult. Even when you have a great Quarterback. Some years you will get to the post season beaten up physically (2023) or mentally (2022) and it will feel like you are running on fumes. We just saw that happen to the Lions a few days ago. This is not the case this year for the Bills. Sure they have a couple of injuries to watch in the secondary but they are broadly healthy, they are here, one step away. 

 

4) Baltimore had a great season. Lamar was an MVP level player. They had multiple all pros and yet they lost on Sunday and slid all the way back to the bottom of the mountain. They were two wins away from playing for a Lombardi..... now they are back to being 0-0. One of these two teams by Sunday night will be right there with them. The other will be one win from history - the Bills first ever Lombardi or the NFL's first ever threepeat. 

 

5) I do think with a smart offseason the Bills have the potential to be a significantly more talented roster next season compared to this one. But that roster will have to survive 18 weeks and a playoff game or two to be where this group is right now. Seize the opportunity. This is as good a chance as they have had in my fandom. It is only the second AFCCG I can remember as a fan of about 23 years.... and the first one was against a team I wasn't sure we could beat. I now know we can beat Kansas City. The players know they can beat Kansas City. They need to leave every last ounce of everything they have on the field on Sunday to do it. 

 

 

This season has been above my expectations, it has been a fun ride we have played some really enjoyable games. It isn't a total failure if it ends here. But I don't feel like Sunday is a free hit. I feel like it is a great opportunity that doesn't come around that often. I admit I will be gutted if they lose. I will probably need a couple of days to get my head around it. 

 

Let's go Buffalo!

[Billsfanatic8989]

4 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Yes, it is shortsighted. We are knocking on the door, and you’d toss McD and start over because you are frustrated. Again, “shortsighted” is being generous, imo. 

It depends.

 

If it's a clean game that ends in a 21-18 lossor something, McD is good in my book. If Allen is great. The D is bad. And we lose 44-39 or something, yeah I want him gone.

 

It's not just one game at this point. How much longer can you allow another organization to shred your D in the postseason. Especially when you are pretty much the DC?

 

You can't be a defensive HC and consistently have your season end with YOUR D getting shredded. 

[MrEpsYtown]

57 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

I respectfully disagree. I think two statements at the start of the season are true. This is a rebuilding year. And the Bills window is never closed with Josh Allen.

 

Beane has 10 picks in a defense heavy draft. And a bit of cap space to work with that he didn't have this year. 

 

He needs to land some difference makers on defense, and another outside receiver threat. Both of those are doable next off season. 

 

I'm not remotely counting the Bills out against KC. But a tough loss at Arrowhead means nothing for next season the (hopefully) retooled roster Beane is able to build. 

 

Yeah I'd agree that everything is pointing upward and agree, that the window stuff is silly. The window will always be open with Josh, at least for the next 6-7 years. My thing is the mental headspace and how hard it would be to recover if they lose this thing again to that darn team. I have come off the the fire McDermott space I was in with how he has these guys fighting. The vibes are good in Buffalo, there is love and trust and camaraderie that I haven't seen before. McDermott and Beane get all the credit for that. However, what happens to those good vibes if they lose again? What happens to their confidence in their leader? That's my concern. Yes they are professionals and will dust themselves off and get ready for another year. They can certainly do it and I am sure they will. But at what point do they stop believing? 

 

People have mentioned guys like Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, you can even think about Sean Payton in NO. Those guys have had some strong longevity on their side with many ups and downs and their teams have stuck by them as they should. The biggest difference is that they have won Super Bowls. That's the difference between those guys and Marty Schottenheimer and Dan Reeves. WIn that SB and McDermott gets a lifetime pass from me. But first, they have to slay the beast. 

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

It depends.

 

If it's a clean game that ends in a 21-18 lossor something, McD is good in my book. If Allen is great. The D is bad. And we lose 44-39 or something, yeah I want him gone.

 

It's not just one game at this point. How much longer can you allow another organization to shred your D in the postseason. Especially when you are pretty much the DC?

 

You can't be a defensive HC and consistently have your season end with YOUR D getting shredded. 

 

Sure, let’s bring in another Rex because you couldn’t get past the dynasty that is the Chiefs. Let’s roll the dice and start over. A new guy brings no assurance that they are better, or even equal. Missing the playoffs carries less anxiety. 

 

If you are right there knocking on the SB door in what was supposed to be a down year, I say let McD continue to get better at his job while we retool for next season with a lot of draft capital and more cap space. 

[Motorin']

1 minute ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Yeah I'd agree that everything is pointing upward and agree, that the window stuff is silly. The window will always be open with Josh, at least for the next 6-7 years. My thing is the mental headspace and how hard it would be to recover if they lose this thing again to that darn team. I have come off the the fire McDermott space I was in with how he has these guys fighting. The vibes are good in Buffalo, there is love and trust and camaraderie that I haven't seen before. McDermott and Beane get all the credit for that. However, what happens to those good vibes if they lose again? What happens to their confidence in their leader? That's my concern. Yes they are professionals and will dust themselves off and get ready for another year. They can certainly do it and I am sure they will. But at what point do they stop believing? 

 

People have mentioned guys like Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, you can even think about Sean Payton in NO. Those guys have had some strong longevity on their side with many ups and downs and their teams have stuck by them as they should. The biggest difference is that they have won Super Bowls. That's the difference between those guys and Marty Schottenheimer and Dan Reeves. WIn that SB and McDermott gets a lifetime pass from me. But first, they have to slay the beast. 

 

I'm reminded of Payton Manning and the Colts. The Brady led Pats had won 3 Super Bowls. And the Big Ben Stillers had won one Lombardi before Payton got his first. At the age of 30. In his 9th NFL season. 

 

I'm not rooting for the Bills to lose at KC. But I think we are witnessing a tidal shift in the Bills offense philosophy to accompany the second half of Josh's career. And that is the methodical, (Tom) Brady ball. It's just the first season playing this way for the whole season. 

 

I truly believe the Bills will win at least one Super Bowl with Josh Allen at QB. I hope it's this season. But I think the hope for the future is bright by continuing to build a better defence, and focusing on the #1 seed and first round bye.

 

We can't lose a 3 point game to the Texans and a shootout to the Rams. Those two results are the difference between having played our first playoff game against the Texans this week, and waiting on the winner of KC/Baltimore at Rich next Sunday. 

 

[Success]

I'm with the OP.

 

The divisional round was such a hurdle. Making the final 4 is an incredible accomplishment this season.

 

And no, that doesn't mean I'm happy to just be here.  But if it does end, we took a big step forward this season, and should be even stronger next season.

[GoBills808]

Got to strike while the iron's hot 

 

 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

McDermott would have to go.  8 years and can't cracks the superbowl being this close and having Allen?

 

 

Not to get into a long debate about this, but I completely disagree. 

 

True story:  After the Packers beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl 1, an NFL owner said to an AFL owner something like, "I told you our league was better.  Your best couldn't beat the Packers."  To which the AFL owner said, "Well, no one in your league can beat the Packers, either."

 

There's no shame in not having beaten the Chiefs, because no one else is beating them, either. The Chiefs have a great, great coach and a top 5 all-time QB.  The Chiefs have been dominating in some ways that are greater than what the Patriots did - not for so long, but actually more dominant over five or six years than the Pats were.  

 

If memory serves, there has been only one season when the Bills were the preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl, and that was the year of Tops, Kim, the blizzard and Damar.  So, if they've been favored to win it only once, and if they've had the Chiefs to deal with every season, it's hard to claim that McDermott has been some kind of failure. 

 

McDermott is a great coach already on his way to the Hall of Fame.  Every season he does a stellar job, this season maybe more than most.  The fact that he hasn't won a Super Bowl yet hardly tarnishes his record at all.  

 

Andy Reid was a head coach for 20 seasons before he won a Super Bowl, at age 61.  Belichick was 49 and coached for 7 seasons when he won. McDermott is 50 and has coached for 8 seasons. 

 

It is way, way too early to give up on McDermott. 

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, BringBackFergy said:

For a team that was projected to be second or third place in AFCEast. 
A team that lost veteran safeties, a stud WR, other departures. 
 

Win or lose vs KC, I’m at peace with our team. 
 

If we win, awesome. 
If we lose, it happens. 
 

Im very relaxed about this year’s team. Can only get better. 

 

No.  F That. You only get so many great looks at a Super Bowl and to simply say "I'm good with not getting there" because you think you overachieved is absurd. Overall the AFC had a down year outside 3 teams and we went thru the one that beat us down earlier in the year and now all that's standing in our way is our arch-nemesis. We need to finish them.

Edited 11 hours ago by Big Turk

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

If you don’t win it all your season was a failure.

 

Yes.

 

Correct.

 

McD and Josh have said this many times. Their only goal is a Super Bowl. 
 

Anything else is failure. 

[Nephilim17]

I will not be ashamed of this team and organization if we lose Sunday. But I will still be heartbroken.

[GoBills808]

2 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

No.  F That. You only get so many great looks at a Super Bowl and to simply say "I'm good with not getting there" because you think you overachieved is absurd. Overall the AFC had a down year outside 3 teams and we went thru the one that beat us down earlier in the year and now all that's standing in our way is our arch-nemesis. We need to finish them.

Division will never be this easy

We had a 16/2 regular season fumble recovery/fumble lost ratio which has continued into the playoff where we recovered 2/2 fumbles

You have got to win it when everything aligns

[PBF81]

50 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

What fans think has zero affect on the locker room. I don't even think that is worth mentioning. 

 

Not the point, but agreed.  

 

 

47 minutes ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

That's my point though.

 

Winning the division doesn't say much. The Bills are better than the other three. Nobody doubts that 

 

Then it shouldn't be heralded as some kind of monumental achievement.  

 

Brady had the run of the mill in similar fashion for 20 years.  It helped them tremendously with seeding come playoff time.  

 

 

[Augie]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

 

Yes.

 

Correct.

 

McD and Josh have said this many times. Their only goal is a Super Bowl. 
 

Anything else is failure. 

 

This is athletics, not academia. It’s not a math problem. But you feel free to consider it a failure. You’re too entrenched to see the light, apparently. 

 

 

[Einstein]

Just now, Augie said:

 

This is athletics, not academia. It’s not a math problem. But you feel free to consider it a failure. You’re too entrenched to see the light, apparently. 

 

 

If you don’t want to believe me, that’s okay. But won’t you at least believe McD and Josh?