Best non Super Bowl Bills Team, SB era, ever

[GunnerBill]

21 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

I think 2021 gets too much credit because of the spectacular playoff performance.  That team was 7-6 before running the table against poor opponents.  2022 lost three games by like a total of 8 points.

 

Yea it is a fair point on 2021. I suppose I kind of feel like that was a team that just underperformed itself most of the year, partly cos the oline really struggled. When that clicked down the stretch the team improved to its potential. The thing about 2022 is the first 7 or 8 weeks the Bills were without question the best team in football.

[Talley56]

I honestly think the 2020 team was the best non-SB team.  I don't know that many would agree on this, but, I think, when you consider both whole seasons between 2020 and 2021, from beginning to end, I believe the 2020 team was overall better.  Yes, the 2021 team was playing out of its mind in the playoffs and towards the end of the regular season but there were also some really bad stinkers earlier that year (9-6 loss to the three-win Jaguars, 41-15 home loss to the so-so Colts who choked away the playoffs).  I know, the Bills played the Chiefs much closer in the 2021 playoffs than in 2020 but I think the Chiefs might have been better themselves in 2020 than they were in 2021 and I just think the Bills' overall season in 2020 was better.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

5 hours ago, Another Fan said:

The 1980 team.

 

A bit before my time but they beat a tough Jets team in the road in the first round.  Then I know someone dropped an INT that woulda beaten the Chargers in the next round.

 

That Bills team that year beat the Raiders in the regular season that went on to win the Super Bowl 

 

Was that the year Ferguson got hurt or was that 1981??  I'd go with whichever year it was he was hurt.  Believe they played in the Bengals in playoff game, temp was rea; cold and lost

[Thrivefourfive]

4 hours ago, pennstate10 said:

I’ll say the 2021 13 sec team. 
Also, as opposed to this years Eagles, who I think would have beat the Bills, the 2021 Rams were very beatable. 
 

Ddnt Bills easily beat Rams to kick off 2022 season?

Difficult to pick a point in a season and say that’s the best season the team had. The 2022 team wasn’t going anywhere after the dust settled. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

4 hours ago, Special K said:

How about the 99 Bills.....if Ralph Wilson would have stayed out of the Flutie/Johnson situation, and if the "Homerun Forward-Pass" did not happen, that Bills Defense was Super Bowl caliber, and they definitely would have made the Super Bowl that year, and likely would have won it, IMO.

 

Like everyone wants to talk about the 13 second game in that the Bills were leading when Allen walked off the field.  Bills were leading that day too when Johnson walked off the field.  They didn't lose because of Johnson, they lost because of ST.

 

The year prior, Flutie's first year, he played lights out.  2nd year 99 Bills, they won because of their defense and Flutie did OK   He was nothing that special that second year, but he was special in trying to take the credit and deflect all blame in press conferences.

[Thrivefourfive]

I’m struggling with the 1980 team because of Ferguson’s health. Can’t excuse that. And their playoff run. 
 

I can’t say 88 because they were outclassed by the Bengals who lost to San Francisco. The 2024 team was right they at the end of the conference championship game. 
 

The 2021 team had a defense.. until it was time to use it 👎 This team was a lot like the 89 team to me. I like them both, a lot. 
 

I realize how and when the team exited is hugely important, since results speak for themselves, and we’re basically cornered by “results” anyways (non-SB team).

 

What team(s) were better than a Super Bowl team??

[I'm Spartacus]

1980s Bills team.

[Boatdrinks]

45 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Was that the year Ferguson got hurt or was that 1981??  I'd go with whichever year it was he was hurt.  Believe they played in the Bengals in playoff game, temp was rea; cold and lost

Fergy played a very good game on a bum ankle vs Chargers , 1981 team. 

[Another Fan]

1 hour ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Was that the year Ferguson got hurt or was that 1981??  I'd go with whichever year it was he was hurt.  Believe they played in the Bengals in playoff game, temp was rea; cold and lost

It was the 80 season but that Charger playoff game was in 1981.   Fergs was hurt in that game 

[vincec]

There were only two times in my years following the Bills that I thought they had the best team in the NFL. 1990 and 2021. So the 2021 team is my choice.

[Mikie2times]

Pro Football reference has them ranked as follows using SRS/simple rating system. 

 

[freddyjj]

9 hours ago, Another Fan said:

The 1980 team.

 

A bit before my time but they beat a tough Jets team in the road in the first round.  Then I know someone dropped an INT that woulda beaten the Chargers in the next round.

 

That Bills team that year beat the Raiders in the regular season that went on to win the Super Bowl 

Sorry but wrong sequence.  Bills beat Jets in WC in Shea in 1980 playoffs then lost to Bengals on the road in divisional round. 

 

The Bills lost in divisional round to Chargers in 1981 playoffs.

Edited 17 hours ago by freddyjj

[Milano]

17 hours ago, Stenbar said:

99 Bills. One of the best all around defense they ever put on the field.

Pow! The 98 and 99 teams are always overlooked. More talent than even the SB Teams of the early 90's IMO.

Most don't realize how damn good those teams were, especially the 99-2000 team. Play Flutie, win it all. (btw, that was a forward pass) I'm out.   

[Gregg]

I was at Shea during the 1981 WC game. What a game that was. Charles Romes returns Bruce Harper's fumble on the opening KO for a TD. That play happened right in front of me. Ferguson and Frank Lewis hit on two big scoring plays. I was loving life when the Bills jumped out to a 24-0 lead. I didn't expect "nervous time" at that point. But the Jets made a furious rally to cut the lead to 31-27. Thankfully Bill Simpson intercepted Todd at the goal line to stop a Jets drive that would have won the game for them. Leaving Shea and seeing all of the sad Jets fans.... PRICELESS.

[Xwnyer]

19 hours ago, Another Fan said:

The 1980 team.

 

A bit before my time but they beat a tough Jets team in the road in the first round.  Then I know someone dropped an INT that woulda beaten the Chargers in the next round.

 

That Bills team that year beat the Raiders in the regular season that went on to win the Super Bowl 

that was a great team, Fergy injured ankle and barely could move in the pocket.   TALKING PROUD years!

[Gregg]

Just now, Xwnyer said:

that was a great team, Fergy injured ankle and barely could move in the pocket.   TALKING PROUD years!

 

For the older fans who were around back then I would say the 17-7 win over the Dolphins in the 80 opener was/is the greatest regular season win in Bills history. 

[Stenbar]

1 hour ago, Xwnyer said:

that was a great team, Fergy injured ankle and barely could move in the pocket.   TALKING PROUD years!

The whammy weenie..lol

[Kelly to Allen]

16 hours ago, Talley56 said:

I honestly think the 2020 team was the best non-SB team.  I don't know that many would agree on this, but, I think, when you consider both whole seasons between 2020 and 2021, from beginning to end, I believe the 2020 team was overall better.  Yes, the 2021 team was playing out of its mind in the playoffs and towards the end of the regular season but there were also some really bad stinkers earlier that year (9-6 loss to the three-win Jaguars, 41-15 home loss to the so-so Colts who choked away the playoffs).  I know, the Bills played the Chiefs much closer in the 2021 playoffs than in 2020 but I think the Chiefs might have been better themselves in 2020 than they were in 2021 and I just think the Bills' overall season in 2020 was better.

 

The AFC championship vs kc would've been way better if all our wrs didn't get hurt. Kc still would've won but it really hurt our offense. Gabe getting hurt vs Baltimore was huge 

[JP51]

I think of 2... 

 

1980 Team that won the division... Fergy sprains an ankle is totally hobbled.... and we go to San Diego... close game... Dan Mannucci is in at QB playing so badly that they bring out Fergy literally on Crutches... to try to win... close game... but in the end Ron Smith takes a Fouts pass past Bill Simpson to put the game away... Fergy isnt hurt... we have a shot... 

 

2001 team with Flutie... Wycheck forward lateral... blown call blown coverage blown season... beat the Titans and you at least make it to the bowl... win, I am not sure...  The other piece was benching Flutie for an unproven Johnson... in a playoff game... really questionable move... although, despite a less than stellar career Johnson actually played well in that game... 

 

HON Mention... the 66  Team that lost to KC for the first Superbowl...  I wasnt alive at this point so I cant rank it... from what I have heard we had a solid team that year as well... 

Edited 5 hours ago by JP51

[oldmanfan]

1980 team.