Matt_In_NH

Two more were added before the SB including Thuney. So lets just agree the Chiefs were on the good side of injury luck this year. The Bills were not as devastated as some make it sound. You know going into the season you have to deal with attrition and with key guys. Some they dealt with , for instance with Tre White they eneded up trading for a guy I think is actually better right now. Tre white has barely seen the field for the last 2.5 years. Milano was a great loss, carrying Von was a liability but there were deeps at DE. Bernard really hurt for the KC playoff game but I just think you have to be able to overcome losing Bernard for a game even after Milano has been gone for 12 weeks. If you want to point to injuries then we can write the story of future seasons right now, there will be injures next year, the year after and the year after than until Josh retires. Last years injuries were something they could have and should have overcome.

He was credited with half a sack with Oliver in the playoff game vs Chiefs is all I am saying. If i remember correctly it was a coverage sack. But your overall point I agree there was no pressure on Mahomes.

He was credited with half a sack in that game and had a great sack vs the Steelers but I think we are aligned in general.

I dont like how that article breaks it down with saying age/injury concern, while that can be true, that is different than saying what kind of player he is. The one place the Bills lack is "blue chip" players. Allen is one, Diggs is (hopefully still is). Milano is one. But after that, not sure what the Bills have other than a lot of good players. They lack a difference maker in some areas. Oliver is great, Chris Jones is a beast, we need a beast. Same thing at DE, unless Von makes a huge comeback, there are just some good players there, no beast. The offense is largely set, they need re upgrade/replace some WR's and maybe find a future beast. But DL and Safety are issues right now.

I hear Joe talk about pass rush win rate a lot. It makes sense on the surface and I think it matters. I also think it matters if you "close" and get the sack or not. I like Rousseau and agree many don't realize his value in the run game. However there are times no rush is generated and we are left with "well the pass rush win rate is good". What does that do for us? Is there correlation between pass rush win rate and sacks? Is it common for a guy to h ave a hgh win rate and low sack rate and what does that mean?

My take is we lost a couple plays that were the difference. Guys just needed to execute. Dawkins got walked into Josh on probably a TD to take the lead. Bass shanked the FG. Butger hits everything when it matters.

The NFL has always been a game of attrition. Just here to say this is nothing but excuses, reality? Sure it's reality the Bills have 7 guys on IR this year and some bad luck in the Steelers game that left the Bills shy at LB but overcoming that is not monumental. If Allen and Diggs went down you would have a much better argument. Injuries are partly luck, partly player selection, partly training staff. The perception the Bills were super unlucky with injuries I don't think is justified. The Chiefs ended the year with 9 guys on IR and from scanning the list the Bills were one of the lowest IR teams. Now guys on IR is just a list, it does not address the impact of the specific players. In the past I have seen data from starts lost and whatnot, I dont know where to find that but I bet it shows the Bills were not unlucky. In the NFL every team deals with it, life is not fair so injury impact is not equal but guys are playing injured by the end of the season. The Chiefs lost Thuney for the SB, his loss was noticeable yet they found a way rather than make an excuse.

I assume you think losing the SB means you have more to show. I don’t but I get the argument. This team goes toe to toe consistently with KC. KC is their problem and they are one of the best groups in the history of the league with 3 of 5 super bowls and winning three. bills runs into them earlier than SF based on the conference they are in. I can criticize McDermott but the reality is someone else is much likelier to make the team worse than better. So my question for those who want him gone is for who?

Advancing to the Super Bowl is not what I am interested in. Sure it will make some people think that is closer to the goal but this team has to win it all. Shanahan is in a similar position to McDermott even though he has advanced to the Super Bowl twice

And the title of this thread

To catch up to the Chiefs

Correct, not in the playoffs. It would be nice if he can clean up his regular season turnovers some but this is just another example of feeding the narrative that isn't actually all that true.

Who is getting fired?

That is a generality and not absolute.

What makes you think people think that? The question is more how much of a cut and weighing any cut he is willing to take with just moving on which might be the better option. It is not unreasonable to think that given his history and skill level. I understand the decline he had which started under Dorsey for a couple games. Brady will have to work it because Diggs route running and hands say it makes sense. I think the chances he just hit a physical wall after week 6 and can never regain that level of play are small.

To the bolded, that is the rookie and/or vet I mentioned. Even though I said what I said, I am good with a first round rookie WR if it is the right guy and they don't give up other significant draft capital to get it. I think there is value to be found in the second round also at that position, that has been proven in recent years and this is supposed to be deep at WR so I would not panic if it does not happen in the first round. Where I differ with most is we need "several new weapons" and the perception Josh is not provided with weapons. The team has spent a lot of resources at WR, TE and RB. I hear a lot on WGR that they just need more and more weapons and that s the way to beat the Chiefs....well that is not how the Chiefs beat you! I think we have seen what Davis is and can be. I like him, he is a pro and has gotten a lot out of his physical gifts. However, his physical gifts are limited yet easily acceptable on a rookie 4th round deal. He is elite at blocking which most fans don't care about, coaches and GM's do. Signing him to a big or moderate contract I think is a mistake given the Bills cap situation and his limitations. On the BPA vs need thing, I think Beane has gotten players he wants at positions of need by moving around the board. He does not just stand pat and take BPA, when he sees value at hs need position he goes and gets it. Not super clear that is the best approach but that is how I see what Beane has done. Later round picks don't make the roster because the roster is so deep. I would rather them not sign a vet or two and allow for the 6's and 7's to make it if they are able. We see a lot of those picks on other 53's.

The perception that you have to have a bunch of high priced guys to win the SB is false. Draft develop and be careful/judicial about how many guys you re-sign. The flaw with this team is they think they have to re-sign everyone they draft and contributes The whole "window" term is manufactured by the loud mouths on TV and internet and so overused and then the fans use it excessively like its a thing with all teams.

Yes 100%

I would argue there is hardly a receiver issue which I know will get big reactions. Diggs Shakir and Kincaid are a pretty good set of three pass catchers with two still developing. A rookie and vet are likely. The holes on defense are much larger, they have 1DT but they need at lease 4, They have 2 DE's (3 if you count Jonathan) but need at least 4. Hyde has to be replaced. Possibly some other holes could be made if they have any cap casualties.

Yes

Living in NE there was talk about the rift for years. It is also not a secret many players don't like BB's style, it lasted because it worked. The fact he left alone demonstrates that....they were still winning, the fans love him in NE and yet he left on his own doing after 9 SB's and everything else.

They will both be in the HOF if they continue on their current trajectories for a little longer. That is great Lamar has 2 MVP's, I dont care at all...t's a silly award and this year it could have gone to any number of players. Josh has been great in the post season except the team as a whole is only 500. Mahomes stats added. The Bills can go 8-0 the next two post seasons and win two SB's and he will still be below Mahomes production. Josh... 5-5 playoff record 2,723 yards passing 21 touchdowns 4 interceptions 563 yards rushing 5 rushing TDs . Jackson... 2-4 playoff record 1,324 yards passing 6 touchdowns 6 interceptions 521 yards rushing 3 rushing TDs. Mahomes 15-3 playoff record 5,135 yards, 41 TD's 8 INT's 524 yards rushing 5 rushing TD's

You don't win Super Bowl's with point differential. You win Super Bowl's by winning a number of individual games by any amount of points. There are a lot of numbers that show the Bills have been very dominant over the last 4 years. Point differential is one, Offensive and Defensive rankings are also at the top of the league which is unusual. The team should have had more playoff success that is why everyone is frustrated. Some are in the "they can do it in the regular season but not in the playoffs and that will never change until you fire everyone" camp. It comes down to plays here and there in the playoffs.

I assume you are talking about concussions. I assume you feel the same with taron Johnson? He has had the same number. I am not the least bit concerned with his health. He is fine and has been very heathy and played most games. However they should consider moving on for cap purposes. Bates is still in the roster

Now that’s unpopular! Ross Tucker had him at like 24 or something. And he still defends it.