Success

Tre White was working back from injury. He was clearly (imo) getting better in the last few games of the season.

I actually don't see any of those as "needs." It would be nice to have upgrades at some of the positions, but if the season started today, I feel like they're pretty set. It's not like we have JAGs at those positions. DT, RB & the line in particular seem fine. I get that it's a risk counting on Brown at RT - but we upgraded the guard positions, and Morse & Dawkins were always going to be our starters in '23. I don't feel like Brown is some massive risk - he has flashed real potential and the general feeling seems to be that the offseason injury really set him back last year. RB is 100% set. We do not need another RB.

It's all about Cincy, KC & Philly. The rest are games we should win. Obviously, the "shoulds" don't always happen. But they are games where we're the better team, and should win.

Sometimes, I feel like we don't play as well against the "easy" teams. So, I'm good w/ this.

Damien Harris. Our new favorite running back. Over 100 yards, 2 TD's and will grind out 1st downs when we have the lead in the 4th.

What a fun schedule. The late bye is the takeaway here. And smack dab between our 2 toughest games. Plus, we start off w/ a series of really winnable games. Probably the easiest part of our schedule. The Jets as game 1 is perfect. They're still going to be figuring out their identity. The table is set. Giddy.

The OP made me unexpectedly, deliriously happy. NOW we have the league just where we want them. The hype last year made me so uncomfortable. I want this year's team to be like the '21 team - sneaking up on everyone, and peaking at the right time. I hope to see more of these rankings/predictions where the Bills are an afterthought. Bring 'em on.

Our defense looked like they were wearing ski boots. We weren't about to win that game.

Great breakdown! Pretty much agree w/ all of it. Spot on w/ the Pats. Belichick keeps that team in contention for a playoff spot. Just about any other coach & they would be sub-.500. Good, proper deference to KC, which should please the humble bragging Chiefs fans who post here. Despite all of the bluster, the AFC, to me, is still the big 3 of Cincy, KC & Buffalo.

"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.