Success

This is kind of what gets me. It's hard to imagine getting to the playoffs as healthy as we were this year again. Feels like we didn't take advantage of that. Of course, KC was actually a little healthier. We had a really good opportunity to finally get a title this year, and it's gone now. That might always sting if it never happens. Maybe it will and all of this will be erased, but my optimism isn't as strong as it used to be.

Yeah - I go over that in my head a lot (how talented the D is). The talent acquisition needs to improve. We need some stars. We need a Garrett, or Crosby Beane tried to do that w/ Miller, but he was past his prime. And you can't call any of his early round picks on D busts, really - but none have panned out into stars, which you'd like to see once in awhile. I still think maybe Groot could be, but he's not there yet. We haven't had what most would call a championship-caliber defense. It has been a fine regular season defense, but once we get to the playoffs, the flaws are glaring.

I feel like we keep looking for blame, because it's so frustrating. But it might just be that McD is just not quite as good as Reid, and Beane is not quite as good as Veach. And Reid & Veach are almost inarguably the 2 best in the game.

I have a hard time w/ this. I think McDermott is one of the better coaches in the league overall. He really did a great job this season - and ultimately, his one flaw is that we end up a few points short of one of the best teams in history (sorry if that offends anyone, but they are one of the true dynasties now). BUT, we are in the minority of teams that have a defensive HC. And the defense is always the unit that lets us down in these games. 2 chances in the final 2 minutes to stop KC from getting a 1st down, and giving JA one last chance - and they didn't even really come close. And they gave up more points to KC than ANY OTHER TEAM. It's tough. Obviously, McDermott will stay as our HC - and looking at most coaching around the league, I'm okay w/ that. But we have a defense problem. I almost wish we had brought Saleh or someone like that in - someone proven. McD would never go for it, but I like him as HC - he's just not the defensive guy we need.

There is a parallel universe where the one ref wins out on the 4th down spot, we get it, we get the TD, we take a 9 point lead & never look back. And every thread on here is about Philly and our chances in the big game. It was that close. Just another one to haunt me - starting w/ Harmon's drop & wide right, the MCM, 13 seconds & the rest (and there are way too many to list). I'll never understand how opposing fans can still revel in Buffalo's misery. It's endless.

There was some questionable officiating. I'm really not hung up on it. All of the calls were borderline - they did go the Chiefs way almost every time, but there was nothing egregious. The 4th down was really close - I thought he had it, but it's a judgment call. That's how the cookie crumbles. I think about Ravens fans the week before - Andrews probably makes that catch over 90x out of a 100. It's different from officiating, but no less flukey. We've been really unlucky against KC. The law of averages hasn't panned out. To lose the last 3 the way we did - just so close every time. You'd think one would go our way. Not related - but I have come to a kind of epiphany about KC. I just don't hate them anymore, or rue their fans the success. They're a market like us, and after years of futility & heartbreak, they broke through & are on a great run. And they deserve the success - they're well constructed, and well coached, and play the game the right way. I'll get some eyerolls - it sucks to be the team that keeps coming up short against them. But it's just petty jealousy that leads to the negative emotions about them.

I still get crazy thinking about these plays. All year, they were basically guaranteed. I have to give credit to Spags & KC. They were ready.

Gotta say - it bums me out that I can't watch replays of that game. I can't even remember many of the plays now - just that it was the most exciting game I think I've seen. But I just can't go near it.

I'm not really boycotting so much as I just don't think I can watch it.

I mean, that's kinda accurate, imo.

People always say "I'm not even going to watch the Super Bowl," and I've never really understood it. I've always been such a big fan of the game as a whole that it never occurred to me. It's still over a week away - but I'm fairly certain I won't be tuning in. I'm looking forward to football just being over for this season so it's not even talked about much on the national shows & podcasts.

I thought you were talking about me.

My take on "outcoached": Reid is better than McDermott, but it's not a landslide. McDermott is a good coach, capable of making it to a SB and winning it. But he is being outcoached in these game, imo, because it's McD against TWO excellent coaches - Reid & Spags. Spags might be the best DC out there. I really don't know how much of our defense is Babich and how much is McDermott, but I'd guess a lot of it is the latter. Feels like too much of a one-man show here.

I can't even take criticism of him seriously. He was amped on the 1st drive and played poorly. Then, he was either really good, or great. Once again, he had a miraculous pass that his receiver could have caught, and likely would have changed the outcome. Kind of a tough catch, but one Kincaid should be expected to make. If you look at the stats, once again, he was as even w/ Mahomes as you can get. Allen has been one of the best playoff performers in memory. He pretty much always shows up. He's just a great QB.

I didn't see this game as controversial. There were some borderline calls. But you have to knock out the champ - you can't leave it to the judges. On that 4th down, we're responsible for that being a judgment call. I thought he made it, but it was too hard to tell. We could have had that game, but we made too many mistakes. The failed tush pushes were a microcosm of the whole game - opportunities that were there, but we just didn't seize.

It's so close - but they're just a little bit better. I like McD, but he's not Reid, and he's certainly not Reid & Spags combined. It's really not a huge gap, which shows in the games. They almost always come down to a play or 2. But they're better by just enough. Just enough where we need breaks to come out on top. We're good enough to have been dominant during certain periods of time, but we're just not good enough in this era. Maybe that will change. I'm not gonna hold my breath, though.

I posted after the game - almost incessantly - that I was done, done, done. Done being dedicated so much to this team & sport. It was a self-pity party, for sure. I apologize to all who encountered me in a thread that night. I was like a lunatic. But it was good for me. I felt embarrassed that a game should mean so much to me as an older dude. It's kind of pathetic. I'm not as extreme about being "done," but there is a change going on for sure. I think I'm making - finally - the transition to being a much more casual fan. Not caring about draft weekend, catching games when I can in the regular, and not consuming so much sports commentary & news. I'll enjoy it if the Bills have success, but won't care if they come up short again. I'll never be a fan at the level that I was. I've watched since wide right, and it's really too much. Like, why am I putting so much emotion into it? It seems crazy. Life is too short, as they say.

I kind of agree. We're just not gonna get there.

Thanks, man. I'm glad I have a place where I can be pretty raw. pretty irrational - and people still understand.

I've always been the optimist. I'm so pessimistic tonight. Too much emotion. I feel like we'll never, ever get there.

Sorry for all of the "pity me" posts, my brothers. I'm really struggling right now. Really struggling.

I appreciate it, man. You're a good dude, and a good contributor here. I'm talking to my son right now. I just don't think I can continue. This is TOTALLY unexpected - I've been through it all, since the 80's. But I thing the best think for my health is to step away from this sport.

I'm leaving this sport. Maybe sports altogether. It's too much, man. I can't keep doing this.

This sums it up for me. I never go full pessimism - but I am now. We can't do it. We just can't do it. I'm out.

Good post. I'm quitting. I'm a quitter. I literally cannot do this anymore.