Bills 2024 Season Autopsy

[Doc Brown]

4 hours 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 

 

Not sure about dominant but those were two good games by him.  Didn't do much after the wrist injury.  Unfortunately all of the advanced metrics showed that he can't separate which we all know too well was the biggest knock on him coming out of college.  I still think he can become a good #2 WR but he's going to really work at his craft this off-season.  Besides Ray Davis this was a really underwhelming draft class so far.

[LABILLBACKER]

Well done and very accurate @corta765.  Let me just say there's not much I disagree with, except for a 1 pt spelling deduction. Not making a greater effort to land BTJ will forever haunt this team. I'm sorry but I have my serious doubts about Coleman and Kincaid moving forward.  I don't know if Brady can properly use 12 personnel.  And Keon may be a funny dude but his inability to separate is hilarious. 

 

Another playoff loss. Another "right on schedule" defensive let-down.  I've never been as high on Greg or Ed as some are. They're good "not great" players who disappear too often. We desperately need game wrecking Dawgs like Garrett/Crosby. And we need monster DT's.  Not these merry go round rotational jags.

Edited 11 hours ago by LABILLBACKER

[Freddie's Dead]

Autospy?

[Niagara Dude]

15 hours 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.

 

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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 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.

I like the add a defensive coach from outside but this will never happen because McDermott only want yes men and thinks he is a defensive genius.  Yes Andy Reid fired him in Philly because he is useless when it comes to defensives or at least on how to stop playoff level teams.  

 

We have not had one play year where our defence has stopped the other team,  3 opening drive TD'S this year and if Mark Andrews does not drop an east pass maybe the Bills are not even in title game because our defence could not stop anyone .

 

One thing that needs to happen, get rid of Hamlin,  he is one of worse covering safeties ever.  So tired of seeing these small and slow then everyone else players we always seem to have on this team

 

Get some players who are bigger and faster

[corta765]

1 hour ago, Freddie's Dead said:

Autospy?

Were enhancing the operation of the team to spying also now lol

[The Firebaugh Kid]

I autospy on my wife when she's aerobisizing. 

[corta765]

5 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Well done and very accurate @corta765.  Let me just say there's not much I disagree with, except for a 1 pt spelling deduction. Not making a greater effort to land BTJ will forever haunt this team. I'm sorry but I have my serious doubts about Coleman and Kincaid moving forward.  I don't know if Brady can properly use 12 personnel.  And Keon may be a funny dude but his inability to separate is hilarious. 

 

Thank you and I will say this about Coleman and Kincaid. Every offseason posters will put up best case scenario for the team and certain players. I can't remember how many "Curtis Samuel is putting up 1300 total yards season" posts/comments came without maybe considering he could just be average or actually kind of stink. Conversely Spencer Brown was thrown to the wolves for his first two years before emerging into a truly good RT.

 

I agree with you that there is legitimate reason to be skeptical about Coleman (lack of separation/speed) & Kincaid (not big enough and regressed this year). By the same token I won't be surprised if one of them emerges into a solid player. Not saying they become like Brown who has emerged into a real pro bowl caliber player, but into a solid starter.

[quincy]

 

I just found the above video randomly - they say that Buffalo needs WR help and everyone can be replaced on defense aside from Greg, Ed and Benford.

 

[sunshynman]

1 minute ago, corta765 said:

 

Thank you and I will say this about Coleman and Kincaid. Every offseason posters will put up best case scenario for the team and certain players. I can't remember how many "Curtis Samuel is putting up 1300 total yards season" posts/comments came without maybe considering he could just be average or actually kind of stink. Conversely Spencer Brown was thrown to the wolves for his first two years before emerging into a truly good RT.

 

I agree with you that there is legitimate reason to be skeptical about Coleman (lack of separation/speed) & Kincaid (not big enough and regressed this year). By the same token I won't be surprised if one of them emerges into a solid player. Not saying they become like Brown who has emerged into a real pro bowl caliber player, but into a solid starter.

Kinkaid had a knee injury most of the year. He will be better. Coleman had some rookie growing pains. We still need a WR1 big strong speed guy. But Coleman is a nice piece of the puzzle. 

 

A bluechip pass rusher to be what Von should have been and more DB help is a must.

[JP51]

11 hours ago, Sojourner said:

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!!!

I am more worried it was less the injury and more the violence of the hit that derailed him... like is he gun shy, I dont know but I am interested to see him next year... I would expect solid progress from him... if not, then I will be concerned. 

[sunshynman]

5 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I am more worried it was less the injury and more the violence of the hit that derailed him... like is he gun shy, I dont know but I am interested to see him next year... I would expect solid progress from him... if not, then I will be concerned. 

No doubt a violent hit. And it may have stuck a little in his mind. After an offseason with NFL weight training. I doubt it lingers. He seems like a smart kid and has a hunger for the game.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

The one thing that worries me in 2025 maybe more than anything, can they sustain the TO numbers battle like they did this year..  There's a lot  of luck involved there, being in the right place at the right time.  It's kind of like winning one score games, think it was 3 years ago, the Bills lost only like one one score game all season, the following year lost a few of them.     

[corta765]

27 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I am more worried it was less the injury and more the violence of the hit that derailed him... like is he gun shy, I dont know but I am interested to see him next year... I would expect solid progress from him... if not, then I will be concerned. 

I am not concerned about injury. I am concerned about maturity more than anything. Beane's presser he said the biggest frustration was Colemans inability to get it together as a pro as he is very young. The talent is there, but he really needs to learn the ins and outs of being a pro from practice to 100% intensity in games. The final against NE he mailed in that game and it was telling.

 

I like the kid a lot but he needs to really evolve as a professional more than anything if he is to become a really dynamic player.

16 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

The one thing that worries me in 2025 maybe more than anything, can they sustain the TO numbers battle like they did this year..  There's a lot  of luck involved there, being in the right place at the right time.  It's kind of like winning one score games, think it was 3 years ago, the Bills lost only like one one score game all season, the following year lost a few of them.     

 

It is why I said the offense and Josh specifically need to play the way they did this year in terms of taking the easy stuff while waiting for the kill shot. The defense will not get the same amount of turnovers, but the offense can limit theirs. Brady and NE excelled at rarely giving you anything to work with in terms of turnovers which made it incredibly tough to beat them.

[JP51]

5 hours ago, quincy said:

 

I just found the above video randomly - they say that Buffalo needs WR help and everyone can be replaced on defense aside from Greg, Ed and Benford.

 

I think Ed can totally be replaced... an upgrade there would be nice.