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

[Chandler#81]

I’m very happy too!

 

[BLeonard]

31 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Pretty much every analyst. Pretty much every fan on the board. We lost Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Leonard Floyd, Mitch Morse, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Dane Jackson, Tre White, and 15 other roleplayers to the team.

 

We were rolling out AJ Epenesa, Dorian Williams, Taylor Rapp, and Damar Hamlin on Defense. Reconstructing our Offensive Line with a guy who hadn't played Center since College replacing Morse and a Backup last year starting at Guard. Rolling with Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, and an injured Curtis Samuel on the Outside at WR. And a new play caller on Defense. On top of the perceived drop off in talent and leadership was the obvious many moving parts to come together in one season.

 

"The Super Bowl window for the Bills is closed this year" was a discussion done ad nauseum league wide by talking heads and spectators alike.

Maybe stop setting expectations based on what "analysts" and "experts" say?  How many times have they picked Miami and/or the Jets in recent years to win the East?  This certainly isn't the first year the "analysts" and "experts" were comically wrong.

 

33 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

OP says that expectations for this season have been exceeded. Honestly, I agree with that. They've at least been met. No one was looking at this team before the season saying "this is a Super Bowl roster".

No one?  Betcha the players would disagree.

 

35 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

My dude - we've won the AFC East Title 5 years in a row. We've made the Playoffs 7 of the last 8 years. Josh Allen is 28 years old. And next season we'll be able to build an even better team. Whether we win the Super Bowl this year or not, this isn't going to be our last shot. 

I'll bet Dan Marino thought that too, when he lost his first (and only) Super Bowl.  Nobody can predict the future.  You can say "next season we'll be able to build an even better team" all you want, doesn't mean it'll happen.

 

41 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

Wanting it to happen REALLY bad right now (as we all do) and ignoring any possibility that we may not do it doesn't improve the chances of the team winning. Just as thinking about how you'd feel if they were to lose or even if one were to accept that (I haven't and OP hasn't) doesn't decrease our chances of winning it. And telling yourself "if not now, WHEN?" doesn't make it happening in the future any more or less likely.

I'm not "ignoring any possibility" of anything.  I'm just not gonna sit here and say I'm content with this season at this point in time.

 

As far as "And telling yourself "if not now, WHEN?" doesn't make it happening in the future any more or less likely," that's true, but having more draft  picks and salary cap money next year doesn't guarantee anything, either.

 

They may win this year, they may not.  They may be better next year, they may not.  Again, there's no way to tell if "this isn't going to be our last shot" or not.  Hopefully, it isn't, but it could be.

[BLeonard]

1 hour ago, BringBackFergy said:

So, it seems this is a “fandom” competition. I don’t need to tell you about my age or devotion to this team to say I like what this season has brought. I “get it” (like you told the poster above). You are a better fan than me because anything short of a Super Bowl win for the next 10 years is unacceptable? There’s no defeatist mentality. I’m not hoping they lose. Saying I’m happy with this team win or lose does not make me less of a fan, it’s just an expression of appreciation for what we have. So enjoy it. 

Has nothing to do with being a "fandom competition."  As far as age goes, I'm guessing you're older than me, but that really doesn't matter, either.

 

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing.  We just have differing opinions on what we consider "successful."  Some are happy with having "great seasons," even if none of them result in a Championship and that's fine.  I'm just not one of them.

[ChasBB]

Have to win AFC Championship and then have to win Super Bowl.  There is no consolation prize for being close and nothing to feel good about short of a Lombardi trophy.

[Alphadawg7]

McD is safe.  That is a lock.  Exceed expectations, beloved by your players, beloved by your superiors = Keeps job.

 

BUT...while expectations have been exceeded, thats old news.  We are here now, we have the best shot at a SB in the McD/Allen era THIS year.  NO previous season have we been this close, including the AFCCG the first time against the Chiefs where we entered that game clearly the lesser team, a team on the rise but a team that wasn't as balanced or ready.  

 

Right now, there are new established expectations...and that is we are the better team, we already beat this team again in the regular season, they barely got by in several of their wins, and many of which were controversial or flat out lucky.  Meanwhile, we were decisively beating teams week in and week out and tied a record for most wins by 20+ points in NFL history.  

 

A loss this weekend doesn't cost anyone their job, but if we can't get by the Chiefs this time with the team that has played better the whole season, then I think McD has to enter next year on the hot seat in what could, and probably should, be a make it or make the change type season.

 

NOTE:  I personally fully believe we will win, it's maybe the most confident I have ever been entering a KC game.  And honestly, I am less nervous heading into this game than I was against Denver and especially Baltimore.  

Edited 2 hours ago by Alphadawg7

[SoMAn]

21 hours 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. 

I feel the same way, considering the anticipated outcome for 2024 prior to the start of the season.

 

The Bills have far exceeded expectations.

Yes, we will be disappointed if they fail to win it all, but I can't honestly say it could be viewed as a failed season. When the schedule was released last May and we saw the gauntlet of top teams they'd face, how many fans actually thought there was much chance of having double-digit wins and securing the division title by early December?

 

And in 2025, with a stockpile of draft picks they can bundle to either move up, or just target good prospects they can coach up. Hopefully, they'll be able to plug some of the holes. Would love to see Josh get an elite WR and find a wide-body athletic DT disrupter to man the middle of the D-line and reinforce the run D.  Could use another corner. Expect Mr. Inactive, Elam to be gone. Additionally, they'll have greater ability to sign free agents with more available cap money.

BTW - Buffalo has become an attractive destination for free agents looking to be part of a championship team. 

 

If they manage to win a Super Bowl, it will be a real Cinderella story. It would sure make for a great real life feel-good movie highlighting the path of Buffalo Joe, ending with a Bass 47-yard FG to win the Super Bowl.  🙂

 

Whatever happens, I'll look back on the 2024 season that gave us a lot of joy.  

Edited 1 hour ago by SoMAn

[MrEpsYtown]

So this is an interesting thread and a good read and I appreciate everyone's input. 

 

Here's my question...when we say the Bills have exceeded expectations...whose expectations are we talking about? 

 

Ours? The fans? The national media? 

 

Because I am sure, internally, the Bills have not exceeded expectations. They expect to win a Super Bowl. And we can sugarcoat it all we want and say they have cap space coming and all that. To the players and the coaches, that doesn't matter. And to lose to this team again will be a massive franchise-altering event. 

 

Look at the energy from those clips from the Ravens after the game. They are devastated. But they will recover eventually and the biggest difference is that their coach has a ring and ours does not. And I know it was over a decade ago, but it gives him credibility above all.  Mark Andrews may never be the same, but the Ravens will be okay. 

 

I know, Marv Levy, Sir Andrew, all that stuff, but if the Bills don't get this done, regardless of our own expectations, it is a massive letdown. 

 

I think it will be very difficult to recover from. And as others have said, they will dust themselves off and bounce back, but they may never be the same. They know what's at stake and I believe, unless the game is officiated the way the Texans game was, the Bills will get the job done. 

 

Doubt and fear are mind-killers. It destroys confidence, and if we lose to KC, that darkness, that doubt has to creep in just a little bit. And that is when all is lost. 

 

I believe they will win, because they have to. 

Edited 35 minutes ago by MrEpsYtown

[colin]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

McD is safe.  That is a lock.  Exceed expectations, beloved by your players, beloved by your superiors = Keeps job.

 

BUT...while expectations have been exceeded, thats old news.  We are here now, we have the best shot at a SB in the McD/Allen era THIS year.  NO previous season have we been this close, including the AFCCG the first time against the Chiefs where we entered that game clearly the lesser team, a team on the rise but a team that wasn't as balanced or ready.  

 

Right now, there are new established expectations...and that is we are the better team, we already beat this team again in the regular season, they barely got by in several of their wins, and many of which were controversial or flat out lucky.  Meanwhile, we were decisively beating teams week in and week out and tied a record for most wins by 20+ points in NFL history.  

 

A loss this weekend doesn't cost anyone their job, but if we can't get by the Chiefs this time with the team that has played better the whole season, then I think McD has to enter next year on the hot seat in what could, and probably should, be a make it or make the change type season.

 

NOTE:  I personally fully believe we will win, it's maybe the most confident I have ever been entering a KC game.  And honestly, I am less nervous heading into this game than I was against Denver and especially Baltimore.  

 

we went into that game the same way that DC is going into philly.  upstart team, young qb, on a heater, all about offense, going further than expected, crazy skill talent, etc.

 

aside from experience, seasoning, and all of that, this year we have the best combo of OL, QB, and Backs in the NFL.  it feels insane to say that when the ravens are in the NFL, and henry is head and shoulders better than anyone we have at RB, but we have 3 of them and lamar was frequently impacted while josh might have been once.  

 

we need to be healthy on D, and we need our better players to show up and show out just like they did the first two games, and we need a defensive game plan and good play calling and execution and all that, but in terms of lining up, punching people in the face, and imposing will no body can do that like what we have right now on O.  i fully expect us to have a lot of trouble getting kc off the field like we did with baltimore, and i also expect us to create some turnovers to compensate for that.  this game is going to be won by the O line being the most dominant unit on the field and putting in body work on KC all day.  Allen will run on fools, and make allen plays as is needed.  i'll call it now, if james cook can hit 100 yards we walk on this