Success

I've been vocal that we should hire someone else this offseason - but only because of the coaches who are available. It's rare to have this many proven coaches out there. But, I disagree that he is not top 15, and would even argue that he is top 10. Coaching in the league is simply not very good. Reid, Harbaugh & Demeco Ryans are excellent, imo. After that, it drops off. Sirianni was hot last year, but his team totally fizzled this year. McDaniel was hyped, but I wouldn't want him. I like Dan Campbell, but he still has to prove he can get to a SB also. Pederson won a SB, but really squandered a talented Jags team this season. Like, who is that much better than McDermott out of maybe a top 5-7 guys? He's a solid coach. And he would for sure be a hot candidate if he were available.

I didn't listen to it - but the loss to KC is still pretty fresh. He's likely pretty gutted this week, just like all of us. This team IS in good shape going into next year. The O-line is set. How many times have we been able to say that? We have Allen, and a good youthful core on offense w/ Cook, Shakir & Kincaid. On defense, we may see the best LB corps in the JA era next year, with both Milano & Bernard playing, and if Williams can take a step. We're always good at CB, and have good players there. The line should be okay if Oliver can keep up his great play. Hopefully we sign Epenesa, and Von can be more impactful. Safety is the area that needs addressing, but I'm sure we draft someone, and pick up a FA. The team just has to stay a little healthier next year. We're right there w/ the top teams in terms of talent.

I know what you're saying, but it's all hot-take stuff. Lamar would vault ahead of Allen for a year - but Allen could reclaim the hype this time next year w/ a deeper run. I'm thinking about 10 years down the line, looking back on all of their careers. I still want Allen to catch Mahomes in terms of accomplishments, and think he can.

Can anyone remember another QB getting called a "choker" for choosing the wrong open receiver at the end of a game? It's usually reserved for throwing a pick or overthrowing someone who is open. I can't recall a time when a QB was so criticized for having 2 open guys, and choosing the 1 that would have been a TD.

It's not the kind of overview that you want to be on the wrong side of. We're underachievers, not overachievers. We are unlucky, not lucky. I don't believe in curses, at all - but it's weird. We seem to have a team that has a large weight of history on it now. It seems like we keep adding to that weight every year, and it becomes progressively harder to overcome. So many "what ifs." It's crazy. It will make it that much better if we finally get a title, but I do wonder if we ever will.

Positive thoughts & prayers for a quick and full recovery.

The charity thing really set us apart for awhile, though it doesn't seem like we do that as much anymore. But the level of heartache & disappointment also sets us apart. That's not something we control - but it does create a special bond & weirdly, a very unique experience. When I see Bills fans when I'm traveling, it's like seeing family. It's not like that w/ my other sports loyalties. There are a lot of great fanbases, for sure. But there is something about the experience of a Bills fan, especially the older ones. I just don't see its equivalent.

The D-line - I just don't get it. Oliver was incredible all year, and didn't seem to do anything this past Sunday. It feels like every time we hit the playoffs since 13 seconds, "underperforming" is the theme. It's discouraging. I really don't know at this point if we're ever gonna win one. Even w/ a QB like Josh Allen.

No GM in history would take Aikman over Kelly. How's about that context?

Context. It's a thing.

I think what will make me happy is seeing drunk Pats fans 20 years from now still yelling, 'we got 6 Super Bowls!' Pretty negative, for sure. But that will make me smile.

Dude.....

They're all babies, except for Kelce.

Why do people dislike the Ravens? I feel like they have almost no negative history w/ the Bills. I like Jackson a lot, too. Fun to watch, and seems like a good dude. Unlike crybaby.

Really? I've always seen the playoffs as kind of a "coach filter." It's rare that a mediocre coach wins a SB. Most SB champs have pretty historically great coaches.

I'm watching w/ very keen interest. The Ravens should beat the Chiefs handily. They're better pretty much everywhere but QB, and QB is pretty close. And that could work out well for us. The Chiefs losing will truly establish the "Josh Allen curse," whereby every team that beats JA in the playoffs loses the following week. And if the Ravens make the SB and lose, the "SB hangover" that most teams get could potentially lessen their impact as competition in the AFC next year.

Heard another podcaster call that throw "hero ball" again today. Maddening. It's "hero ball" because it's Allen. Once a QB establishes any reputation in the league, it sticks. For most QB's, that's a 20+ yard pass to an open receiver.

I mean, it comes out in the end that Mahomes is 3-0 against Allen in the playoffs. People forget: in that 1st AFCCG - the top 4 Bills receivers had significant injuries. Diggs had an oblique. Beasley had a broken leg. Allen left the field w/ the lead w/ 13 seconds in the next one. Not much more to say on that. Last Sunday - decimated defense, drops from Diggs & Sherfield (while KC receivers made tough catches they were dropping all year), missed FG. Football, as we know, is a team game. We pull our hair out about McDermott, while Reid is now widely acknowledged as the best coach in the league. As another poster just pointed out - if any one of a few plays goes the Bills way and they pull it out on Sunday, at least some of the conversation this week would have been 'is Allen the best now?' That's how quickly narratives can turn.

And how have our defenses performed in the playoffs? How were they on Sunday?

Not a chance, imo. Allen has been undone by coaching, and the team in general. He carries the Bills - it's a one man show at times, and it was on Sunday. Mahomes has rarely carried his team the same way. Mahomes wouldn't have a ring here. And Allen for sure would have at least one in KC.

So, just a thought exercise (and it's been posed here before, I know): if Mahomes came to the Bills in that draft, and Allen ended up in KC - with all of the rest being the same - do you think you would still be saying all of the above? Would Reid be without a SB? Would McDermott have 2?

I mean, I'd agree. I'd like to say it's Diggs, and think he could be. But his production doesn't match what you would expect of a #1.

It's crazy to me at times, but it has always been this way. When analyzing what happened Sunday, I've heard pundits & opposing fans cite the Bills injuries on defense, the poor play of their defense, the huge drops by Diggs & Sherfield, and the plain fact that Reid (with Spags) is a much better coach than McDermott & adjusted more at halftime. But the conclusion is always the same: Mahomes bested Allen, again. Mahomes is better by a mile. Look at the AFCCG's and Super Bowls. It's just the way it's gonna be until the Bills can break through in the playoffs. I don't mind people ranking Mahomes #1, but it's not the blowout that so many say, imo. I think Allen would have the same accomplishments if he had ended up on KC all those years ago.

I haven't seen a single pundit talk about the failure of the defense all week. Ridiculous average yards per play for KC. They marched up & down the field all day. All they've talked about is "hero ball" Josh blowing it again by going for the big play. Why do I like sports? When I compare the amount of time I'm aggravated to the amount of time I'm actually happy, it makes no logical sense..

Winning usually trumps all, though. I'm really mystified by the apparent lack of interest. The whole "he plays chess, everyone else plays checkers" thing is pretty accurate, imo. For many years, he was just head & shoulders above everyone else. He's not quite at that level anymore - but he's still a great coach.