Success

Beane shocked me last year. I had no expectations that we could possibly sign anyone, then he just found a way. I know a lot of that was pushing money out to the future, but it still felt like a bit of a magic trick. Hoping for the same this year. I hope he goes bold, and instead of just restructuring a bunch of guys, works some trades and makes a few cuts. It would be cool to get younger, and start moving away from contracts that aren't in the best interest of the team. Easier said than done. My knowledge of how to manage an NFL cap wouldn't fill a thimble.

The negative responses on this thread are pretty much the same: calling out injuries is an "excuse." Does it never hit a point of no return? Is there not a time when a team has too much to overcome in that part of the game? It was almost consensus here & elsewhere after the Pitt game: we were too banged up to make a real run. We were hoping we could just get past KC to rid ourselves of that demon that we just can't get past them when it counts. But no one had serious SB aspirations w/ the state of this team. Now, it's all "sssshhhhhh....don't mention it."

I get the point you're trying to make. But it's very noticeable how many excuses you make for Mahomes & the Chiefs, while largely dismissing disadvantages the Bills have had to deal with. I mean, "freezing temps"?

It's not what I look for going to opposing teams' boards. I don't expect it at all, and rarely see it. I don't really get it. KC won the Super Bowl a week ago. That ain't enough? I've been genuinely surprised by the posts from KC fans here over the past week. Enjoy the win. Fans here are still grappling w/ playoff frustration and an underachieving team that so far has squandered some good years of Allen's prime. Maybe the days right after another KC SB win aren't going to be the best to find hype for your team or even proper "credit."

Thank you. That's really all I was saying w/ the OP. Sometimes, you hit a critical mass on the injury front. Most pundits even talked about that before the KC game, and said they didn't think the Bills could overcome the losses against a relatively healthy Chiefs team. Even Nick Wright alluded to that. But, of course, after the game it's only "Mahomes bested Allen again."

Probably true. But we almost managed to do that. Our D didn't do as well against them as the Ravens, or Niners. Both teams got more stops than we did. We dominated TOP in our game w/ KC - all we needed was 1-2 more defensive stops. I mean, that drive they had coming out of the half was hot knife through butter. We didn't give them any resistance compared to other teams.

Kind of laughed at the bolded. There are so many posts on this board that are borderline worshipful of KC. KC gets too much praise on here, imo. Even a KC-hater like me gives them credit for what they have accomplished, and praises Mahomes frequently. He's one of my favorite QB's to watch, though after his meltdown in the regular I lost some respect for him. And I'd reiterate: this actually is a BILLS board. There is an astounding amount of KC talk and praise just considering that alone. You want more? I wouldn't expect to go to a KC board & see overflowing praise for the Bills or Allen. In fact, after our exchange, I went over to the Planet just to see if it had changed, and saw many more posts calling Allen & the Bills chokers and saying they weren't a real threat in the AFC.

I mean, plenty of good linemen "disappear" against Mahomes. He's a tough dude to sack.

Exactly this. We've all seen it. We can THINK we have a great D, but they simply do not show up in the playoffs. Probably more of an excuse this past season w/ the injuries - but I roll my eyes when I see someone talking about our regular season D ranking. For whatever reason, and it may be because McD overthinks it, or injuries, or some other factor - our defense in the playoffs has been mediocre. And it has been, as you said, particularly bad against the Chiefs. Though the Bengals game last year also stands out.

That's all pretty fair. My take immediately following the KC game was that we just lost one guy too many. Just give me either Bernard or Milano in that game. I felt like the situation at LB was simply too weak w/ the top guys out. I think what drove this thread was all of the hand-wringing about Beane I've been seeing, and to a lesser extent McDermott (with the latter, I think there is legit concern). If we hadn't been hit quite as hard, there is a chance we'd be singing the praises for both guys today. But your overall point is solid: great teams overcome it all.

He's already very good, and he's 23. We've seen so many players here take a leap - Oliver, Epenesa, Bernard. I don't think we have seen Rousseau's best yet. But he's already very good.

I don't mind it. It's not some crazy idea. Football is a team game. Mahomes has had much better coaching to this point, and better all-around teams. Obviously, most think Mahomes is better at this point, and even the GOAT. It reminds me of Brady/Manning. After Brady won a few SB's, some considered the debate over. But how could you compare a guy w/ the GOAT coach to a guy who played for 5 different coaches? Coaching is so important to winning that final game. In the end, of course, Brady proved himself the better QB. And Mahomes might still do that also. But I'll be actively watching the next decade or so to see how it all plays out.

In some ways, it felt that way - especially after the fake punt. But we absolutely dominated TOP. It was a close game. Both teams had breaks & mistakes.

Did I say that they should be awarded a Lombardi?

For the record, I don't equate that board w/ Chiefs fans in general. From my own encounters, they're like any other fans. And I've always liked KC (in the past) because they were similar to Buffalo in some ways (small market, not a great playoff history, etc.) Though, I certainly do not like them now. Chiefs Planet is more of a product of poor moderating. You're sugarcoating the tone of that board. It's a notorious board in NFL fandom, as you should know, since you seem to have a proclivity for visiting opposing team's boards.

I've been to a lot of boards. It stands alone - most seem to agree on that from what I've seen. It was MUCH more than "some vulgarity." I saw so many posts wishing for injury of opposing players. It was dark.

Chiefs Planet is a toxic place. I went there a few times around the 13 seconds game. Will not go back.

Nope.

I'm starting to see the duality of it more & more. Sometimes, I think posters here are too negative, and I have to remind myself that I'm an incurable homer. I defended Whaley all the time on here, and loved trading up for Watkins. I thought Orton was the answer. I appreciate the back & forth much more now. The "nancies" have actually been right more often than not. Recently, I just feel like things have worked against us. But I get that the end result is really all that matters.. When we get one - WHEN - we'll all celebrate together.

Found it: Page 2 of the discussion. "I totally disagree with the notion that Beane has built a Super Bowl caliber roster over the past three seasons." Pretty definitive. I respect the Chiefs. They're a great team, with a great coach & QB. But they have had luck we haven't had. With the officiating last year, and w/ injuries this year. Honest question - really think about the answer: if the Chiefs had the injuries we had on defense going into the playoff game, and we were as healthy as they were: who wins?

Not in the thread I'm thinking of. You specifically said that Beane had not built a Super Bowl-caliber roster. I will find it. It was just before the SB.

That doesn't sound very logical. It sounds more like an emotional response to the fact that we lost to them again - but it's not an objective viewpoint.

That's an interesting way to look at it. I'm aware of the "ifs" that go against the Bills. But the underlying, main point is that the Bills are rightthere w/ the Chiefs. The games come down to a play or 2. Would you agree? Or are you of the mindset that the Bills are somehow light years behind the champs? Please expound.

He also said that Beane hasn't built a Super Bowl-caliber roster yet. Which I disagreed with, as his team - which is clearly SB caliber, as they won it - barely squeaked by a very beat-up Bills team in the playoffs. I mean, if Diggs makes that catch, it's a very different game. If Chris Jones gets there a half second later, it's a different game. We were right there w/ KC - so how were we not SB caliber? And I'd disagree a bit on superstars. Diggs is a superstar. I don't think he was healthy down the stretch. Kincaid is a superstar in the making. We have one of the better pass rushes in the league. Our O-line is as good as it has been in the JA era. Cook is easily a top 5 RB. EDIT: I completely forgot to add how much I enjoy KC fans coming here and Chiefsplaining to us why our team isn't good enough.

The Jets game was just weird. The season opener, Rodgers getting hurt early, Allen kind of falling apart. But after that, we tore through September. Allen was firing on all cylinders, and the defense was as good as I've seen in the McDermott era. It was smothering, aggressive, flying to the ball. Man, was that D good. Our D when we faced KC at the end was a shell of that D. Every team has to deal with injuries. No doubt. But seriously, who dealt w/ more, and which team was clearly impacted by losses? We lost Hines & Damien Harris before things really started. Then, in one fell swoop, we lost Milano, Tre & Jones. Arguably the top 3 guys on our defense. Then we lose Benford, Rapp, Spector and Bernard, the latter of whom had picked up the slack in ways that were completely unexpected. So excited to see him AND Milano on the field this coming season. It wasn't just that we had to navigate the playoffs without quite a few of our best players. Even some of the guys playing, like Rasul Douglas, were clearly playing hurt and less effective. People always say the same thing: "excuses, excuses." To which I respond: "reality." If KC had the extent of injuries we had, and we were as healthy as they were, I have no issue saying that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell they would beat us.