Success

"All in?" You wanted to see every lineman replaced? With better linemen?

We weren't very good in the NE days.

Josh Allen is about to have his best year as a pro.

It's been said - but I wouldn't trade Allen for Burrow or Mahomes. And I think Cincy's fanbase feels the same about their guy, and KC's fanbase feels the same about their guy. It's going to be a fun next decade in the AFC. It will be easier to appreciate the battles if we're able to get a title in the next few years. Until then, I'm just bitter that the AFC is so competitive right now.

Josh doesn't play Burrow. He plays against Cincy's D, and Burrow plays against the Bills D.

I'm not as down on Mac Jones as some (here & elsewhere). I think he's a capable QB. Not many "elite" traits, but I think he can be a solid starter. Which is all Belichick needs. The Pats could surprise people this year. I don't think they will, given how tough their schedule is, but if they had a schedule like last year's I'd have them as an 11 win team this season. As it is, the AFCE & AFC in general are pretty brutal without a top QB.

Yeah - but if you listen to Pats fans, hiring O'Brien will turn Mac into the next Brady. And Mac had a better 1st 2 years than Josh Allen!

Pats fans think they got the steal of the century w/ Boutte. Anyone watch LSU or know why he dropped so far? It does seem like he could be a good one, but obviously there are other issues here...

I kind of doubt this story. He's vindictive - but I don't think so much that he would change a single thing about how he conducts the draft. Doesn't seem like his style.

I have a weird hunch that this will work out like a lot of assumptions last season. The Colts, Broncos & Chargers were all going to be bigtime contenders last offseason. I even thought that, about each of them. In reality, they were paper tigers. Right now, the AFCE is being talked about like the best division in years (and what a turnabout from the Brady years!) We'll see. Rodgers didn't do anything w/ Green Bay the last couple of years. Tua & Miami are legit - but they're not that much better than last year, and we still prevailed, even with subpar efforts against them in 2 of the 3 games we played them. I don't buy that O'Brien is going to magically make Mac Jones that much better. He's a capable QB, but in the game manager mold - which won't cut it in this division or conference. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if we had the division title wrapped up in early December. I didn't answer each question, but that's my general feel for how it's going to play out. Right now, it's all a lot of hype.

I mean, if he performs the best in camp - he should start. I'm fully expecting that. I suppose they're tempering expectations or something along those lines, but he's a 2nd rounder who some thought might be a 1st rounder. Based on what he brings to the table, it's hard to imagine he won't be starting.

We don't know what we're going to get w/ McD's defense - but I'm certainly excited to see how it will look. I'm optimistic about it. I think it will be more aggressive, and take more chances. It could make a very big difference in our playoff success. And I agree. I'm kind of thrilled to be a bit more under the radar. The hype last year was unearned and out of control - and really culminated w/ Romo and all of the "Mr. January" stuff. With Rodgers coming to the East, and KC/Cincy being seen as the 2 top teams, the Bills can hopefully just go about their business without as much spotlight (though we'll still be seen as a contender).

Man, I still remember when people were talking about the "Toronto Bills," and our whole future as fans was in doubt. Very grateful.

I think we signed the guys he was referring to. I have no idea how we'd sign anyone else impactful at this point. I'm not a cap guy - but we have to be right up against it.

Hot take: the Chiefs will NOT be our biggest obstacle in the AFC this year. The stars aligned for them at the right time last season. I think both Cincy and Buffalo were "better," but KC got hot at the right time (which, of course, is one of the keys to winning a title). Credit to them, and they'll certainly be a contender in '23, but I'm just not as worried about them as a few of the other teams. Our division worries me more than any other team in the conference.

And I say this realizing that we will NOT be hyped this year, which I think is a good thing. But it's clear what our deficiencies were last year - and they became even more glaring in the playoffs. We were speed & finesse, and so top heavy - mainly Allen, Diggs and Miller. It's like Beane looked at the Cincy game, and addressed everything we were missing. A deeper & more powerful run game? Check. Physical receivers who have better hands and get YAC? Check. A stronger O-line that can both protect JA and open holes for the RB's? Check. This team is now built more for Buffalo weather - and more for overpowering opponents. For months now on the general boards, both "Buffalo will take a step back in '23" and "The Bills window is closing" have become like mantras. But our 2023 team is our best & most balanced yet, imo. It feels like this team is the one that should get the big hype. And again, I'm glad they aren't.

It's hard to tell if the Jets will really be significantly better w/ Rodgers. Certainly, bad QB play held them back last year. And their defense is stellar. But will a 40 year old Rodgers be that hard to defend? He's not aging quite like Brady, who was still playing at a VERY high level at that age. And he couldn't do anything w/ Green Bay the past couple of years. I'm concerned, but not really freaking out. I wish a HOF QB hadn't come to the AFCE - but I still feel like we can sweep that team w/ the improvements we've made this offseason.

I love our WR corps right now. I kind of shrug when I see fans say we still need a #2 - this is the best WR room we have had in many years. So much versatility and a good variety of skillsets. We added not only size, but speed, YAC, better hands. Allen is going to have a lot to work with.

We have a really good GM.

For all of Boston's success - and they've had a lot - they have also had some of the most epic chokes/failures in sports history. The '86 Sox, '07 Pats and now '23 Bruins are just about in a class of their own.

Just curious - does anyone think we would have taken Overshown if Dallas hadn't picked him? I know zilch about the college game & players, so wondering if these 2 were rated much differently.

I'm so glad the Bills remembered there is another facet to offense besides passing.

That's fair. Naturally, I'd be thrilled if we got him.

Gotta say - I'm genuinely surprised at the downvotes to my "we don't need another WR" comment. The Colts would have had multiple championships with Peyton Manning if they followed the Pats lead - invest in the trenches, build the running game. The Colts always went for MORE receivers, and the rest of the team was lacking because of it.

Just devastating. Horrible to hear this.