What is so encouraging

[ProcessTruster]

7 hours ago, Pete said:

A stud DT will do wonders for our D.

I see this coming in FA, Beane will fix this IMO

[Dr.Sack]

Does incurring dead cap help teams comply with the minimum salary cap requirement.

[Billsfanatic8989]

7 hours ago, Fleezoid said:

 

As was mentioned by Turk, the defense was not the priority last offseason, but it was the previous 2 or 3 years. What's been gnawing at me the last several weeks is; if the Bills don't do it this year, something is wrong with the player personnel, coaching or the process. Maybe all 3. The roster has been built the last few years to fill gaps and get the kind of guys this coach and GM want. And...they're as healthy as they've ever been in the playoffs. If it doesn't happen this year, something isn't working! They've got their guys and they're mostly healthy. This should not be the team sitting in the locker room eating Snickers bars. 

Bolded is where I think the big issue is. In terms of not getting to the SB. Even last week, in a win, I was unimpressed with the lack of killer instinct from the team. I like the man. I appreciate the turnaround. But we need to start seeing SB appeareances here.

[3rdand12]

8 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

Never take these situations for granted, they don't come around all the time no matter how good you might think we will be in the future.

 

Injuries happen, other teams become better as well and Cincinnati won't likely have another down year, so they will be in the mix again.

 

You have to take advantage of the opportunities you have in front of you RIGHT NOW.

 

Dan Marino probably thought he gets plenty more chances at a Super Bowl ring after getting there his rookie year.

 

Guess what? He never got back there...the rise of Kelly and the Bills kept him out several times. The closest they got was a beat down at the hands of the Bills at home in the AFC Championship game that they lost 29-10, which was a decade after his first Super Bowl appearance as as rookie.

 

And this was during a time with no free agency when it was much easier to keep teams together.

I still agree with OP that Bills could still be in an upswing.

Thought this past year could level out with + production and wins or worse but not expecting it.

 Somehow we have a whole team of really good to very good players with that cap restraint.

 I just cant put next year ahead of Sunday at 630 . Big  you are sure right though about,  be here now , and go take it all the chips!

Never know what tomorrow brings 

 Go Bills !

[Billsfanatic8989]

30 minutes ago, ProcessTruster said:

gonna be open for years.   see OP

How do we know this?

 

What if NE gets it together with Vrabel. And suddenly makes noise? What if Denver gets even better. Chargers? Bengals will be better.

 

Tomorrow will tell us alot. 

[3rdand12]

7 hours ago, Pete said:

We need a #1 WR too, maybe more if Cooper leaves

We need 2 outside specialists who have all the tangibles and half the intangibles

 I wanted to trade and draft two in the 1st round last year !
 

Edited Saturday at 11:03 PM by 3rdand12

[3rdand12]

6 hours ago, ganesh said:

The biggest problem with the assembly of the defensive players - No one is standing out.  One would expect  Oliver and  Rosseau to be stars in this league...They haven't done that....Milano - the only recognized super star by the league has been injured pretty much the past 1 1/2 seasons.  

 

Now I don't know why these players have not reached the stardom...is it because of who they are or the coaching is not that good...

And yet, was just a few years back we and I were furious about not building up the Offense for Josh.

 I would ask you to consider McD doesn't want Stars , he wants everyone to be excellent at their job. let Coaching do the rest.

But they did bring in Miller who played very well till injury

it Is time to work on the Defense again

Bills Offensive line is complete now. Including depth and Coaching  Thank Gosh for Josh !

 I would love to have an unstoppable guy playing nose and 1 tech. seriously.

10 minutes ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

How do we know this?

 

What if NE gets it together with Vrabel. And suddenly makes noise? What if Denver gets even better. Chargers? Bengals will be better.

 

Tomorrow will tell us alot. 

You answered your own question perhaps ? 🙂

[jethro_tull]

9 hours ago, ProcessTruster said:

Bills are in the AFC Title game with

 

1) 2024's  10th youngest roster and

2) after managing past the league's 3rd largest dead cap hit ($75m, of which $70m becomes available for 2025) 

 

What this tells me, assuming JA17 keeps rolling and no major rash of key IR injuries is that: 

 

McBeanes in all likelihood will have this franchise right back here next season, regardless of what happens tomorrow. 

 

We are blesssed to finally have this franchise in the hands of these two guys.  

 

Go Bills

It sure seems that way.....  I agree completely.  

Maybe this is building in a bow out gracefully (you can handle it !) way of dealing with a loss tomorrow but I would be extremely happy with the season even if they lose.  

Of course winning tomorrow would be much much better ! 

[Tuco]

9 hours ago, ProcessTruster said:

Bills are in the AFC Title game with

 

1) 2024's  10th youngest roster and

2) after managing past the league's 3rd largest dead cap hit ($75m, of which $70m becomes available for 2025) 

 

What this tells me, assuming JA17 keeps rolling and no major rash of key IR injuries is that: 

 

McBeanes in all likelihood will have this franchise right back here next season, regardless of what happens tomorrow. 

 

We are blesssed to finally have this franchise in the hands of these two guys.  

 

Go Bills

Certainly there is a lot to look forward to. And this so called rebuilding year has been a pleasant surprise to many.

 

Just a word of caution. That $70 million that becomes available next year is basically already used up next year on players who are already here - namely in the form of cap friendly extensions that were required to keep us under the cap this year with all that dead cap. 

 

Nobody should get the idea that just because we don't have $70 million in dead cap next year means we will be able to go on a crazy shopping spree in free agency. We can't.

[ProcessTruster]

1 hour ago, Tuco said:

Certainly there is a lot to look forward to. And this so called rebuilding year has been a pleasant surprise to many.

 

Just a word of caution. That $70 million that becomes available next year is basically already used up next year on players who are already here - namely in the form of cap friendly extensions that were required to keep us under the cap this year with all that dead cap. 

 

Nobody should get the idea that just because we don't have $70 million in dead cap next year means we will be able to go on a crazy shopping spree in free agency. We can't.

Beane can do a lot, bc those FA signings' first year salaries in many cases will be paid as a single bonus which is pro rated  over many years for cap purposes, meaning you can sign several players both on todays roster (JA, Rousseau, etc) and from other teams under that 70m dead cap which is coming back , plus the cap will increase for next year, plus lots of 2024 cap salary will be dumped or lost to other teams.   No crazy shopping spree, but a hell of a lot more than the nothing he could do last year.   

 

They have this thing wired for several years IMO 

[HOUSE]

We are running out of people to fire

This has been a boring season 

[Ya Digg?]

2 hours ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

Bolded is where I think the big issue is. In terms of not getting to the SB. Even last week, in a win, I was unimpressed with the lack of killer instinct from the team. I like the man. I appreciate the turnaround. But we need to start seeing SB appeareances here.

They have shown plenty of times this season a “killer instinct” even as recently as Denver. One game doesn’t worry me too much 

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, Tuco said:

Certainly there is a lot to look forward to. And this so called rebuilding year has been a pleasant surprise to many.

 

Just a word of caution. That $70 million that becomes available next year is basically already used up next year on players who are already here - namely in the form of cap friendly extensions that were required to keep us under the cap this year with all that dead cap. 

 

Nobody should get the idea that just because we don't have $70 million in dead cap next year means we will be able to go on a crazy shopping spree in free agency. We can't.

Correct.  According to Spotrac.com the Bills have the 8th largest current cap hit for 2025 at 278.9 Million with only 43 players under contract and with about $10 mill in dead cap (5.4 in current dead cap (mostly Tre White) plus void year dead money from 3 current Bills - Douglas, A Johnson and Smoot).  

[ProcessTruster]

14 hours ago, jethro_tull said:

It sure seems that way.....  I agree completely.  

Maybe this is building in a bow out gracefully (you can handle it !) way of dealing with a loss tomorrow but I would be extremely happy with the season even if they lose.  

Of course winning tomorrow would be much much better ! 

I just think single elimination tournaments are such a crapshoot that to win one you need to keep going back year after year until the breaks/refs/turnover margins go your way for 3-4 games in a row and you get through it.   H-ll, only half the teams in the leagues managed 4+ game winning streaks during the regular season  when many games were against crap competition or at home or both. 

 

IMO the way to keep going back over and over again year after year is to have guys like Beane and McD stick to the process of roster and culture building that they have.   go get the Allens, and the Hollins's of the world and build it. 

 

The only two exceptions to this rule in the past 30 years are maybe the Pats and now the Chiefs.   And the Chiefs and Pats have "only" less than a 30% successs rate; got bounced from the tournament 2 out 3 tries.   And they were loaded with HOF QBs and HCs.  

 

So much has to go right that I lean more on the program building side than the Rams "lets go buy a title" method from a few years back as they have been pretty much toast before and after that one tournament run.   

 

I want to keep getting back into the tournament with a legit shot to win it year after year.   McBeanes IMO have ensured that with how they run the place.   

 

Trust the Process.   By the law of averages, if nothing else, the trophies should come.  

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by ProcessTruster

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

11 hours ago, HOUSE said:

We are running out of people to fire

This has been a boring season 

Did Matthew Smiley do enough to remove the blast furnace from his arse?

[GaryPinC]

23 hours ago, Fleezoid said:

 

As was mentioned by Turk, the defense was not the priority last offseason, but it was the previous 2 or 3 years. What's been gnawing at me the last several weeks is; if the Bills don't do it this year, something is wrong with the player personnel, coaching or the process. Maybe all 3. The roster has been built the last few years to fill gaps and get the kind of guys this coach and GM want. And...they're as healthy as they've ever been in the playoffs. If it doesn't happen this year, something isn't working! They've got their guys and they're mostly healthy. This should not be the team sitting in the locker room eating Snickers bars. 

Yep, the defense is a weak point but if they fail I feel like they have to adjust their overall defensive strategy and personnel.  Not a total teardown, but a significant change in philosophy and personnel.

23 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Christ, the biggest game in the last 30 years is tomorrow and you’re thinking about next season?!

I am praying Washington wins today. Daniels had a phenomenal season, but Buffalo’s D is built to play those types of teams. Philly is a much scarier team IMO

 

Edit: tomorrow not today 

I Definitely want the commanders.  They're playing with house money whereas Philly's got the swagger of past experience.

[jethro_tull]

5 hours ago, ProcessTruster said:

I just think single elimination tournaments are such a crapshoot that to win one you need to keep going back year after year until the breaks/refs/turnover margins go your way for 3-4 games in a row and you get through it.   H-ll, only half the teams in the leagues managed 4+ game winning streaks during the regular season  when many games were against crap competition or at home or both. 

 

IMO the way to keep going back over and over again year after year is to have guys like Beane and McD stick to the process of roster and culture building that they have.   go get the Allens, and the Hollins's of the world and build it. 

 

The only two exceptions to this rule in the past 30 years are maybe the Pats and now the Chiefs.   And the Chiefs and Pats have "only" less than a 30% successs rate; got bounced from the tournament 2 out 3 tries.   And they were loaded with HOF QBs and HCs.  

 

So much has to go right that I lean more on the program building side than the Rams "lets go buy a title" method from a few years back as they have been pretty much toast before and after that one tournament run.   

 

I want to keep getting back into the tournament with a legit shot to win it year after year.   McBeanes IMO have ensured that with how they run the place.   

 

Trust the Process.   By the law of averages, if nothing else, the trophies should come.  

 

 

Absolutely.  McDermott and Beane have earned the right to keep the keys to the car and become tenured.  

[Comebackkid]

One thing about investing in Defense is the more they can do the less u have to worry about your offense.   

both times that the chiefs went to the sb and lost the other teams had a D that overwelmed mohomes.   

everyone..(media) talks about burrow beating pat but really it was that D fense and the continuous ability to harress 

Pat.   Brady did his part with the Bucs but again...constant never relenting pressure from that D.

 

I think a lot of the Bills future success relies on Beanes abilty to get more production from his pass rush players.   

 

Another point of emphasis that will define next season is both Brady and Babbich's growth in the system from

year one to year two.

 

Win or lose today im pretty stoked for next year.   

I

[GASabresIUFan]

28 minutes ago, Comebackkid said:

Win or lose today im pretty stoked for next year. 

You should be stoked.  
 

The offense returns pretty much intact with only depth players Hollins (who will be re-signed), Anderson, Ty Johnson and Cooper as FAs.  
 

Defense is a little different story.  Starters Douglas, Hamlin, and Smoot are FAs but there are internal candidates for the jobs in Elam, Bishop and Carter. 
 

Overall the Bills are in great shape for next year.  Replacing Cooper and Douglas while adding to the pass rush are the offseason priorities.  There is time to worry about them after the SB.