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BLeonard

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    LOOKING FOR SIGNS THATS IT'S TIME

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    So, I went out last night for some cardio at around 2:30AM.  On my mp3 player, I have 80ish songs and I always set it to "random," so I have no idea what songs I'm gonna hear until they're on.  This is the list of what came up last night:

     

    Three Six Mafia - It's A Fight
    Ace of Base - The Sign
    REO Speedwagon - Roll With the Changes
    Joe Esposito - You're The Best
    Billy Joel - This is the Time

     

    Take that for what you will.

    • Awesome! (+1) 1

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    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.

    • Like (+1) 2

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    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.

    • Awesome! (+1) 1

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted · Edited by BLeonard

    1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

     

    Going back on your other posts, you seem to be pretty understanding of other people's prerogative. So I probably shouldn't have singled you out. You just happened to be the one commenting at the same time.

     

    But for much of the replies - it seems like an offense to the team and the board for OP to say that they're pleased with how far this team has come this year. Or that it's a defeatist attitude to say anything less than a win this weekend and/or in the Super Bowl is completely unacceptable. And that not being pissed if it doesn't come is an unacceptable point of view.

     

    I can understand wanting it (we all do). I can understand being disappointed if it doesn't come (we all will). But I can't understand some posters telling someone else they're wrong for being happy with what the team's done this year if we don't get what we want. Especially when we've made it as far as this regime ever has, in a year that wasn't supposed to be ours and we'll be set up even better next year.

    I mean, I can only speak for myself, but I go into every season feeling that the Bills should win the Super Bowl.  Unrealistic?  Sure, but I have no control over it, so why not shoot for the top?  Obviously, they never have and I've been disappointed at the end of every season.  Doesn't mean I didn't look back later and say "hey, they had a good year."  But, during the season, especially while in the playoffs?  Nah, can't bring myself to be saying "it's OK if we lose."  I didn't even like losing during the drought years, when it would help our draft position.

     

    One thing that really bothers me, though is this "we weren't supposed to be this good this season" junk.  Says who?  Many teams weren't "supposed to be good" ended up winning a Championship.  The Chiefs haven't been favored in the last two Super Bowls, but ended up winning.  They were favored against Tampa and got crushed.  Denver was 11 point dogs when they finally broke through and beat Green Bay for their first Championship.  The Patriots started their dynasty by beating a Rams team that was favored by two touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXVI.

     

    The point is, you never know which teams are going to finally break through, regardless of what the "experts" on TV say, or what the odds in Vegas are.  Sometimes, those stars align and as I type, they may just be aligning for the Bills, yet some seem to be falling back on "it's OK if we lose, cause we weren't supposed to be here anyway."  To me and I'm guessing others, that IS a bit of a defeatist attitude.

     

    If not this year, then WHEN?  When will "having a good season" no longer be acceptable for those who seem to be OK with it this year?  Some say Ralph was cheap and didn't care about winning, especially in the later years.  Well, why should he have, if some fans don't seem to care and are OK with just having a "great season"?

     

    Next year, draft picks and salary cap relief are all well and good, but they hold no guarantees.  Again, I can only speak for myself, but I don't wanna look back on this like others do on "13 seconds" and say "Damn...  What if..?"  Even if we ultimately have no control over the end result.

    • Like (+1) 1

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted · Edited by BLeonard

    23 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

     

    Yeah... we all do. There isn't a true fan on this board that doesn't want a Championship.

     

    But you saying you want a Championship winning team for once and you'll be upset with anything less changes nothing.

     

    More importantly to the point, the OP saying that he's happy with what the team's done this year win, lose, or draw - also changes nothing. So what does it matter if someone feels that way?

    I mean, I'm guessing at least 99% of what's posted on these boards "changes nothing" when it comes to the Bills.

     

    With that line of thinking, why should anyone post anything at all?  After all, none of it is going to change anything, right?

     

    There are still posters here who think "13 seconds" was the Bills' best chance at winning a Championship.  Yet, here we are, one round closer than they were then, one win away from playing for a Championship. 

     

    I'm curious - How many that have said "13 seconds" was our best shot are OK with a loss on Sunday, because the Bills had a "good season"?

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    49 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

     

    We just want our city and team to be champions once. It's all apart of our memories with friends and family watching this team. 

     

    My first big memory is going to the bills eagles game in 1996 in Philadelphia. I still remember my father going crazy and us screaming when Gabe Northern blocked a punt and returned it for a td. Me, my father and brother went. It's memories like that, which bring me to this moment. 

     

    The bills are apart of all of us emotionally and apart of our shared memories growing up. Winning a championship means a lot to me and my family. It's special because it's something we chose to be apart of 

    This guy gets it.

     

    In baseball, I'm a Cubs fan.  It took them until I was 38 years old to FINALLY win a Championship.  When it happened, you know what?  I wasn't really so much happy for "me," per se.  I was happy for the city of Chicago and other fans of the Cubs, many who never got the opportunity to see what I did.

     

    I'd like to see a moment like that for the city of Buffalo and fellow Bills fans, too.  If they can't pull it off, I certainly won't be happy about it.  I'll be just as heartbroken as I'm sure many other fans will be.

    • Like (+1) 1
    • Agree 1
    • Awesome! (+1) 1

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said:

    If your happiness is defined by something you can’t control, I don’t know what to tell you. Just a different way of looking at things, I guess. It’s not like you’re sitting behind an XBox controller planning how you can win this for all of Bills Mafia. It’s out of your control. 
     

    Go Bills!! Great team no matter what. 

    My happiness as a person?  Regardless of what happens over the next few weeks in the NFL, I'll still wake up and go about living my life.

     

    There's plenty of things that are "out of our control" that can still make us happy or sad.  Hell, had the Bills been bought by someone in 2014 who then decided to move the team, while "out of my control," I wouldn't have been happy about it.  I'm not happy about the Oakland A's being moved, even though I have no control over it and they aren't even a favorite team of mine.  I can still be unhappy and empathize with those who are taking it far worse than I am, even though it's not in their control either.

     

    As far as "great team, no mater what," we've had great teams before.  For once, I'd like a Championship winning team.  Go Bills.

    • Like (+1) 1

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said:

    Did you come up with 11,320 off the top of your head or have you kept Buffalo News/Courier Express calendars all these years just counting down the days?? If so, this thread applies to you. Stop devoting your life to a game where you can’t control the outcome. No matter how much you scream at the TV or write sternly worded letters to the commish. You are a speck of dust on the NFL ball sack. 
     

    You can’t control the outcome. You just can’t. It doesn’t make you a better fan than me. I’ve suffered through this team (Hank Bullough, 2-14, Super Bowl losses, etc). 
     

    I don’t enjoy being second best, but if it happens, it’s out of my (and your) control. Just enjoy the ride. 

    May come as a surprise, but here in 2025, we have the technology to calculate how many days are between two specific dates.

     

    As for "devoting my life to a game where you can't control the outcome," I never said I could control the outcome.  But, I also don't have to be happy or complacent with the outcome, just because some talking heads didn't think the Bills would get this far.

     

    As for "enjoying the ride," never said I wasn't.  But, I can also not be happy with the end of the ride when it happens if I choose to be.

     

    If you're "just happy to be here," again, that's your prerogative.  I sure hope the players in the locker room don't feel the same as you do, though.  Hopefully, their bar is higher than yours is.

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

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    12 hours ago, BringBackFergy said:

    Can only get better. 

     

    I'm guessing many were saying this after each of the four Super Bowl losses, too.  How's that worked out?

     

    Here's a number for you - 11,320  That's how many days on Sunday it will have been since Super Bowl XXVIII.  It took the Bills 25 Super Bowls to get to the game and since losing their last one, 31 more have been played, without the Bills making it back a single time.

     

    On Sunday, it will have been 1464 days since the Bills have been this close.  I'm guessing, for the majority of that time, many fans were saying "Can only get better" after each season.

     

    There's no guarantees from year to year in the NFL and any Bills fan that's been paying attention should have learned that in spades by now.  It's very hard to make a Championship run and there is no promise that, if you fail, another chance will present itself.

     

    If some of you are content with being second best to the Chiefs year after year, I guess that's your prerogative.  I'm sure there are fans of the Washington Generals basketball team out there, too.

     

    I remember the 4 Super Bowl losses in the 90s and I've waited 30+ years to see them have a shot at another.  Sorry, but I won't be content with being second best yet again.

    Which game(s) do you think get flexed to Saturday and Sunday Night for week 18?

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted · Edited by BLeonard

    2 minutes ago, Buffalo03 said:

    I still think since it only takes a win from the Ravens to take the division that it would have made more sense to make the Bengals and Steelers play first but that's just me

    Don't necessarily disagree, but if the Bengals beat Pittsburgh, then Baltimore would have nothing to play for and could rest their starters.

     

    At least Pittsburgh has something to play for either way, even if it is just seeding.

    • Agree 1

    Week 18 Schedule Announced

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Richard Noggin said:

     

    But then the Bills play on a short week for the WC round, of course. After securing the 2nd best seed in the AFC. And the Ravens get an extra day of rest for their 3rd seeded WC game. It's a disadvantage for the Bills no matter what, I guess. (Really not super invested in this line of argument, other than the fact that it's "technically/pedantically correct.)

    Eh, if the Broncos or Dolphins win the 7, they're both playing later in the day Sunday, so no real disadvantage there.

    Which game(s) do you think get flexed to Saturday and Sunday Night for week 18?

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, Buffalo03 said:

    The NFL botched the times on the Saturday games next week. The games they picked are fine but they should be flipped. The Bengals at Steelers should be on first. If the Ravens win Saturday afternoon, they clinch the North which means no matter what the Steelers do, they will be playing for nothing on Saturday night and will more than likely sit players. At least putting them on first would have met they would have to play starters and would still force the Ravens to have to win on Saturday night to take the division. Complete screw up

    Steelers will still be playing for seeding.  They lose and the Chargers win, they'd fall to the 6 and have to play Baltimore.  Winning locks them into the 5, where they'd play Houston.

    Week 18 Schedule Announced

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

     

    This would give them an extra day of rest when they travel to Orchard Park the following week, though, innit?

    Not necessarily.

     

    They could schedule the Bills WC game on Saturday, Jan 11, with the Ravens game on Sunday, Jan 12

    Week 18 Saturday Games

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted · Edited by BLeonard

    51 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

     

    That's the issue with being British - sometimes overlook the timezone difference. They could have the AFC North games at 1pm, as you say, then the play off match ups in the late slot? I agree, if the one seed is in play,  then the games involving the Chiefs and Bills will be late Sunday.  

    No worries, lol  Hell, I live in EST timezone and didn't know how many hours Denver was behind (it's 2, btw).  I just know they won't start a game sooner than Noon local time, which, at earliest, would be 2P EST.

     

    As I see it, the AFC North games would be best served to be on at 1P, followed by the BUF/NE and KC/DEN games at 4P, especially if the 1 seed is still unsettled.  Keeps eyes on the games as long as possible.

     

    That said, if KC has the 1 seed wrapped, I think the Bills/Pats would be on at 1P as well.  If the 2 seed is still up (meaning the Bills lose to the Jets) they'd want the Bills, Steelers and Ravens all on at the same time, I would think.  Though, they could elect to put all three of those games in the 4P slot, as well.

     

    Just looking at the scheduled games, the KC/DEN, LAC/LV, SEA/LAR, SF/ARZ games aren't going to air any sooner than 4P EST.  Pending on which other games have playoff implications and/or seedings involved with those four, those games likely will be in that 4P window, as well.

     

    As far as the thread topic is concerned, I don't see any reason they'd put the KC/DEN and/or BUF/NE game on Saturday.

    • Like (+1) 1

    Week 18 Saturday Games

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted · Edited by BLeonard

     

    2 hours ago, UKBillFan said:

    The AFC play off battle (games involving Broncos, Colts and Dolphins) might get the 1pm Sunday slot, with the AFC North taking Sunday late.

     

    The KC/DEN game is in Denver.  They're not putting that game on at 11AM Denver time.  It'll be played at 4:25 at the earliest.

     

    If the 1 seed is in play, I'd be willing to bet that the Bills/Pats and Chiefs/Broncos games are both on at 4:25 Sunday.

     

    CIN/PIT and CLE/BLT will be played at the same time, as the AFC North won't be decided until week 18.  Guessing those will both be 1PM Sunday games.

     

     

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