Success

The ONLY thing that's harder these days is the internet. One thing I think I'll always be grateful for is that we didn't have that back in the SB days. It would have been unbearable (or, I would have just stayed away from it, as I have this week except for this board).

I'm not a big fan of cliches like "you have to knock out the champ." They completely oversimplify something as complex as situational football. We were up against a superior opponent. I understand reverting to more conservative calls in some areas - I had no issue at all w/ the FG right before the half, and with playing more of a prevent D. There were other calls I had some issues with, but McD knows a lot more than me, and he has earned my trust as a fan. It's always fun for pundits to play HC in hindsight.

It's like Ms. Pac Man. You don't know what you need to do to beat the banana level until you get to the banana level. But the 1st time you get to the banana level, you're probably not going to advance unless you get a lot of luck. Then, the next time you make it back to the banana level, you're ready. Am I dating myself?

Nothing to me would be worse than losing our 5th SB to TOM BRADY, after 2 weeks of the media talking about his record against the Bills over 2 decades. I would have had to spend weeks in church, just looking to the heavens and asking what terrible things I had done in previous lives to warrant such an outcome. I'd probably cope by creating a state of denial about the whole concept of football, like "There's another league beyond the MLB, NHL and NBA? Are you sure?"

In the drought, we had massive changes that needed to be made, every season. It was almost overwhelming at times how many units on the team had to be addressed. I don't see that here. We're closer to KC than we think - it's just a few upgrades here & there. Just improving the running game and getting more pass rush will work wonders toward making us more balanced, which is what we need to be. And I have 100% confidence in Beane. I'm can't wait to see what he does this offseason.

Without doubt, and that's how it goes. Hearing Pats fans talk over the past decade, the regular season became like preseason for them. When we were already talking about the draft in November, they were talking about how they might face in the AFCCG or SB. I saw some this past season even be glad that they could get back to celebrating and feeling good about regular season wins.

Agreed on all of that. My OP wasn't clear on that point - watching the actual game was just as tough as watching any other big loss. Very tough at the time. I just think the circumstances made it easier to get over. We're not at KC's level yet.

I think about the '90's, and every one was rough. We were a better team than the Giants in '90, and should have won that game. The other SB losses were just brutal, on so many levels. Even later on, I thought we were better than Pittsburgh, but didn't have Bruce, and Kelly was hurt (and there were some bad calls in that one). We were better than Jax 3 years ago, and better than Houston last year - and losing a 16 point lead was tough to deal with afterwards. Those losses all stuck with me for a much longer period of time, and took at least a week to get over. I'm already over KC, which I never would have guessed prior to the game. I thought we were at their level, but we're not. They're more experienced and better. I feel like we lose that game 8 out of 10 times. I also realized how one-dimensional we are right now. Take away our pass game, and we're not beating you with the run or our defense. I guess because of our history, I have always felt that I didn't want to get to a SB without at least a little more balance. It almost feels like a relief, especially with Brady waiting there. It also helps that it feels like this is just the start of a long run. And we finally have an awesome QB in JA, a great GM, and excellent coaching.

Personally, while I like more aggressive play and think McD was much more aggressive overall this season, I agreed w/ the more conservative decision of taking points at the end of the 1st half. That was a long drive, and it would have been very demoralizing not to get some points there. Get the points and regroup at halftime, with some momentum. It's funny how hindsight works. Reich DID go for it in the same situation a few weeks back, and was 2nd guessed all over the place for not taking the points.

We finally have 1st world problems...

These threads are great. And this is without doubt our biggest unit of need. I 100% agree on Oliver. I think he just needs better players around him, but if you watch him play, he has a real aggressiveness to his game that isn't easy to find. Whenever there is a tackle for a loss, he always seems to be making it or assisting on it.

I'd disagree w/ the characterization of "great." We need to upgrade at certain positions, but after so many years in the drought where we had JAG's everywhere, and the offseason "needs" list was epic, catching KC in one offseason seems very feasible. I don't think the gap was as stark as we saw the other night. Get a better running game & go into the re-match with a receiving corps that isn't as compromised by injuries, and we're right there on offense. Obviously, we also need a better line and pass rush on the other side, but I could see a good draft and a key 1-2 FA acquisitions getting that unit up to speed.

I think Rodgers just missed it - one glance to the right there, and he would have seen that he could have coasted in, but he was too focused on the receivers. Tough day of "what if's" for GB. At least we didn't have that in our game. Not that I'm some kind of prognosticator, but I was definitely thinking on that TD before the half that the Packers should worry more about the hail mary than about trying to prevent a FG attempt. Probably my time as a Bills fan always thinking of worst case scenario.

I think opposing fans might be disappointed to visit here & not see a thread like this....

I went to their main board last night, and I was actually kind of stunned. I thought it was a parody or something - it didn't seem possible. It wasn't a few bad eggs or something like that; it was over 90% of the posts and posters. Just laying into Bills fans that showed up w/ congrats unmercifully. It didn't really compute for me; I can't imagine being that way after WINNING. It made me really appreciate this board. The mods here run a pretty tight ship, and wouldn't allow most of what I saw posted there. And of course you can't judge a fanbase by a board or by the internet in general - but it was unusual. I frequent other fanbase's boards, and they are nowhere close to that. Completely toxic.

You can't really compare the circumstances. We didn't really have a pass rush yesterday, and KC did. Allen was under much more pressure than Mahomes.

I was waiting for the "Josh's skin coloring" thread....

"The Belichick Heritage Annual Classic." I like it. Players kicking balls out from behind trees while no one is looking, dropping balls next to water hazards and saying "hey, I found it!" Grumpy, barely verbal pressers afterwards.

I lived through the 4 Falls. I don't really want to go back to the SB unless we have a defense that can make stops consistently. It doesn't have to be smothering - but it needs to be better than what we have now. Maybe I'm rationalizing, but part of me is relieved we didn't quite make it yet. That D needs to get better.

I mean, does anyone remember Peyton Manning for the 1st 4-5 years that he tried to get by the Patriots? They made him look silly at times. There were some games where he threw multiple picks and looked like he was in completely over his head. He couldn't figure out BB's defenses. I think the Colts only scored a FG in one AFCCG. Then, he got it. The last half of his career, he evened things out w/ that team.

Allen shouldn't have to prove his clutch cred to any Bills fan who watches games at this point. He has been amazing in 4th quarters throughout his career. That pass he made with 30 seconds left against AZ is one only a few QB's in the league can make. Hot take nation. Only one team wins the Super Bowl. Every other team - and their QB's - are overanalyzed and overreacted to.

What Orlovsky is describing has nothing to do w/ being "nervy." And pundits are awesome. I love Orlovsky, but I've seen the same takes here and elsewhere: Allen shouldn't hang onto the ball too long, but the receivers are all covered. He shouldn't force it into coverage, but also has to make something happen. Just pure contradictions all over the place. And if Mahomes had a whole game of that - no one open, pressure in his face every play - he'd have the same facial expressions at the end of the game. And he'd probably throw the ball at a defender and pundits would love his competitive fire for it.

Oh, for the sake of pete....

I doubt I'd be able to walk to the fridge with a broken fibula. This is really kind of astounding...since week 16? Unreal. The rest of the team needs to feed off of that next season.

That is absolutely legendary. He has become one of my favorite all-time Bills, in a pretty short time. I can't think of a player we've had who is tougher, or more reliable. Some just as tough - but not tougher.