Bills 2024 Season Autopsy

[corta765]

Background: The Bills 2024 season came in with low expectations as the team reset its talent base with many veterans leaving holes that needed to be filled by youth and cheaper free agent additions. The division was expected to be a dog fight and the conference itself a buzzsaw as usual with the typical faces up to ready for battle

 

What Happened: The Bills exploded through the season to a 13-4 record as QB Josh Allen put up an MVP worthy season, the offense became more balanced than ever setting a record for TDs scored between rushing/passing, the defense was solid for the most part, and the Bills cakewalked to a 5th consecutive division crown. The Bills entered the post season with a formable path but the first two games at home before having to head to the monster known as KC. The Bills blitzkrieg through the Broncos and then outlived the Ravens setting up another matchup in Kansas City.

 

Time of Passing: 9:45 EST as a prayer of a pass was dropped by Dalton Kincaid

 

Cause of Death: The defense for a 5th straight elimination failed to keep the opposition under 27 points and couldn't get any pressure on Mahomes who had another lights out game, the coaching staff was a step behind the opposition the entire time, special teams failed to make plays in coverage, some questionable calls hurt opportunities for Buffalo to stay ahead, and the offense had a B to B+ performance at best on a day they need to be A- to A with the defense struggling.

 

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Antidotes & Remedies For The 2025 Season

 

Offense:

-Needs to add another pass catcher that can be better at separation and more dynamic on deep balls

-Offensive coordinator who had a very good first year needs to be more creative in short yardage situations and less predictable at times vs better schemed defenses

-Keep the theme of limiting turnovers and playing fundamentally sound through 2025. The Bills offense was very successful at creating opportunities because they did not let the opposition get turnovers or favorable starting points.

 

Defense:

-Add a bluechip pass rusher if at all possible. The Bills have two really nice/good at times rushers in Oliver/Rousseau who have had their moments but come up small when it matters. The names are out there for trade that could truly add some punch.

-In general realign the talent base on the defensive line which has decisions to be made with Von, Jones, Phillips, & Smoot. DeWayne Carter was drafted last year and he had some solid moments in 2024 as did Javon Solomon, but the defensive line truly needs more young talent to build with.

-Move on from Rasual Douglas who faded unfortunately in 2024 after a nice 2023, cut Elam if he can't be traded, and fine a true CB2 to play alongside Benford. The idea of DJ Reed mixed with a CB in round 2/3 would give a CB group of Benford Reed Johnson Rookie Ingram which takes a decent core into potentially elite level.

-Safety Bishop looks ready to take the reigns with Rapp. Let Hamlin go and if a quality veteran exists consider adding them for insurance.

-Add a defensive coach from outside the org for fresh ideas and perspective. Babich/McD had some good and bad in 2024 but again got their lunch eaten in January. The defense has not added an outside voice to the staff since Frazier. The time is present to reframe the approach and adjust.

 

GM:

-Be more aggressive with your needs in the draft rather than splitting one eggs. Elam & Coleman are examples of drafting need but trying to do so without taking a swing. Brian Thomas & McDuffie both were available in those drafts and Buffalo did not move for them. For as good as Beane has drafted overall, his last 3 picks to lead off the draft have left a lot to be desired in terms of impact (Elam/Kincaid/Coleman) and in general his best two first round picks being Josh/Edmunds both being in 2018. Again Oliver 2019 & Rousseau 2021 have been decent to at times very good and Diggs was acquired with the 2020 1st which was awesome. But with the window as open as it can be and resources finally back to being plentiful the time is now to make a trade for a proven player or move up for a player that has that bluechip impact you can't normally find in 20-32 range.

Edited 4 hours ago by corta765

[Kelly to Allen]

5 minutes ago, corta765 said:

Background: The Bills 2024 season came in with low expectations as the team reset its talent base with many veterans leaving holes that needed to be filled by youth and cheaper free agent additions. The division was expected to be a dog fight and the conference itself a buzzsaw as usual with the typical faces up to ready for battle

 

What Happened: The Bills exploded through the season to a 13-4 record as QB Josh Allen put up an MVP worthy season, the offense became more balanced than ever setting a record for TDs scored between rushing/passing, the defense was solid for the most part, and the Bills cakewalked to a 5th consecutive division crown. The Bills entered the post season with a formable path but the first two games at home before having to head to the monster known as KC. The Bills blitzkrieg through the Broncos and then outlived the Ravens setting up another matchup in Kansas City.

 

Time of Passing: 9:45 EST as a prayer of a pass was dropped by Dalton Kincaid

 

Cause of Death: The defense for a 5th straight elimination failed to keep the opposition under 27 points and couldn't get any pressure on Mahomes who had another lights out game, the coaching staff was a step behind the opposition the entire time, special teams failed to make plays in coverage, some questionable calls hurt opportunities for Buffalo to stay ahead, and the offense had a B to B+ performance at best on a day they need to be A- to A with the defense struggling.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Antidotes & Remedies For The 2025 Season

 

Offense:

-Needs to add another pass catcher that can be better at separation and more dynamic on deep balls

-Offensive coordinator who had a very good first year needs to be more creative in short yardage situations and less predictable at times vs better schemed defenses

-Keep the theme of limiting turnovers and playing fundamentally sound through 2025. The Bills offense was very successful at creating opportunities because they did not let the opposition get turnovers or favorable starting points.

 

Defense:

-Add a bluechip pass rusher if at all possible. The Bills have two really nice/good at times rushers in Oliver/Rousseau who have had their moments but come up small when it matters. The names are out there for trade that could truly add some punch.

-In general realign the talent base on the defensive line which has decisions to be made with Von, Jones, Phillips, & Smoot. DeWayne Carter was drafted last year and he had some solid moments in 2024 as did Javon Solomon, but the defensive line truly needs more young talent to build with.

-Move on from Rasual Douglas who faded unfortunately in 2024 after a nice 2023, cut Elam if he can't be traded, and fine a true CB2 to play alongside Benford. The idea of DJ Reed mixed with a CB in round 2/3 would give a CB group of Benford Reed Johnson Rookie Ingram which takes a decent core into potentially elite level.

-Safety Bishop looks ready to take the reigns with Rapp. Let Hamlin go and if a quality veteran exists consider adding them for insurance.

-Add a defensive coach from outside the org for fresh ideas and perspective. Babich/McD had some good and bad in 2024 but again got their lunch eaten in January. The defense has not added an outside voice to the staff since Frazier. The time is present to reframe the approach and adjust.

 

GM:

-Be more aggressive with your need in the draft rather than splitting two eggs. Elam & Coleman are examples of drafting need but trying to do so without taking a swing. Brian Thomas & McDuffie both were available in those drafts and Buffalo did not move for them. For as good as Beane has drafted overall, his last 3 picks to lead off the draft have left a lot to be desired in terms of impact (Elam/Kincaid/Coleman) and in general his best two first round picks being Josh/Edmunds both being in 2018. Again Oliver 2019 & Rousseau 2021 have been decent to at times very good and Diggs was acquired with the 2020 1st which was awesome. But with the window as open as it can be and resources finally back to being plentiful the time is now to make a trade for a proven player or move up for a player that has that bluechip impact you can't normally find in 20-32 range.

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

Edited 22 hours ago by Kelly to Allen

[BuffaloBillyG]

5 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

I think to say he was really good before the injury is a little overboard. He flashed a couple times. 

 

Even before the injury he was very inconsistent and had some bad drops. If he puts in the work he can still be good. 

[Warriorspikes51]

DJ Reed would be a fantastic add in the secondary.  Underrated player 

[Doc Brown]

4 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

DJ Reed would be a fantastic add in the secondary.  Underrated player 

He's the top free agent CB available so some other team with a lot of cap space will likely price us out.

[uticaclub]

13 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

“Really good” is a stretch

[Kelly to Allen]

1 minute ago, uticaclub said:

“Really good” is a stretch

 

I mean he was pacing 45 for like 850 yds and 6 tds as a rookie. 

He looked pretty dominant vs the Titans and Seahawks 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Kelly to Allen

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

 

Did you mean 'autopsy', or really did mean 'autospy'? 🤔

[uticaclub]

4 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

I mean he was pacing 45 for like 850 yds and 6 tds as a rookie. 

He looked pretty dominant vs the Titans and Seahawks 

 

5/70/1 against Seattle isn't exactly dominant. He did look good against TN, but so did the rest of the league. He did show flashes but at no point did anyone say “Oh man, this guy is going is be our WR1 for a while”

[Kelly to Allen]

Just now, uticaclub said:

5/70/1 against Seattle isn't exactly dominant. He did look good against TN, but so did the rest of the league. He did show flashes but at no point did anyone say “Oh man, this guy is going is be our WR1 for a while”

 

They took a catch away vs Seattle. 

 

He basically had back to back 100 yd games

Edited 21 hours ago by Kelly to Allen

[corta765]

33 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

 

Did you mean 'autopsy', or really did mean 'autospy'? 🤔

Meant autopsy but it autocorrect to autospy and with this picture response I’m not changing it haha

51 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

I expect him to be one of their starting two outside WR. I thought he had some good moments, but overall a C+ campaign. Injury didn’t help but he looked very immature at times.

[MJS]

An autospy sounds fancy. Bill Belichick is salivating at the prospect.

[FireChans]

53 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

I mean he was pacing 45 for like 850 yds and 6 tds as a rookie. 

He looked pretty dominant vs the Titans and Seahawks 

 

Alec Pierce numbers

[90sBills]

1 hour ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

Wrists don’t help with speed. 

[Mikie2times]

1 hour ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

I’m more worried if the hit bothered him 

[90sBills]

55 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

 

Did you mean 'autopsy', or really did mean 'autospy'? 🤔

That’s one ‘formable autospy’!

[Augie]

Has this been Quincy approved? 

 

I don’t think he’d like the cheater. 

 

[Brand J]

Edmunds the 2nd best first round pick? Nah, I’d put him comfortably behind Oliver and Rousseau. After next year, probably Kincaid as well if he takes a step forward.

[The Jokeman]

20 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I think to say he was really good before the injury is a little overboard. He flashed a couple times. 

 

Even before the injury he was very inconsistent and had some bad drops. If he puts in the work he can still be good. 

Inconsistent but showed sparks and some serious skills. His one hand snag against Seattle, the jump ball against the Jets, his catch and run vs Houston. I agree he can be good. Muhsin Muhammad might be a fair comparable. 

Edited 1 hour ago by The Jokeman

[Sojourner]

5 hours ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

Coleman was really good before the wrist injury. I think ppl are going overboard a little on who he'll be going forward 

A wrist injury shouldn’t derail a player who was really good prior to it. Maybe some growing pains on return due to the rookie status but he had plenty of time to get back on track. 7 games is ample time to return. 
 

He’s a rookie so there’s obviously growing pains but I’m not expecting him to burst onto the scene and dominate because of an  offseason. 
 

Hope for the best but expect a season around the one just past, 40-750-6. Not great but certainly not awful. May I be wrong!!!