corta765

"Buffalo's hardest hitting reporters asking the tough questions!"

This is kind of the spot on point. Losing the most important game four times is bad. Doesn't me the era and winning through out it + relevance wasn't fun, but the you lost four times the most important one of them all which in turn has cast a shadow that hangs to today. It was bad losing four in a row.

I need a version with red or white helmets (do both lol). The uniforms are actually pretty slick, but too giants esq with blue helmet.

Can we hang a 29th banner?

This is pretty on spot. My posting and interactions have dropped dramatically because of the fact far more threads since the Cincy loss have been just hot takes or outrage without much substance. TBD is at its best when you can read and have thoughtful discussion that either adds perspective or at least is well based arguments. Since the CIN loss far too often things have resembled facebook political discourse which is a tire fire the moment it is posted. I really do not care if your opinion is negative, but if your going to post back it with some actual rational and facts. Far too often the posts for example are "The Bills Are Faltering" and then literally it is two sentences of gibberish rather then maybe adding the division is tougher, stats on injury recovery, the numbers on first year TE's are not stellar for offensive production etc.. You go from community member to SUPER community member

I actually fully agree with you it has gotten really bad... BUT for the sake of fun, F*CK YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO

It went from reasonable points to nuclear in a blink of an eye

your mom!

After going back to back with Rex as off season champs in 15-16, its nice to finally end the offseason title drought

-EJ Manuel was a franchise QB, I bought it hook line and sinker -Should've drafted Rosen and Allen would be a massive flop if they did draft him. I was so mad when they drafted Josh I left the draft party we were at -I once wanted Brandon Weeden -In 2021 I wanted Hyde gone after season as I thought his skills were down as he missed a few big plays... then proceeded to INT vs NE playoffs and yeaaaa -I thought Marrone was going to be BB 2.0

They had the best offensive performance in NFL history vs NE when it was frigid. CIN game was one game, they beat BAL in a similar cold slugfest. I will always take home games first, but I do have confidence with them on the road.

So just a reminder not winning the AFCE is not the end all be all. Bucs won the SB in 2020 despite being a Wild Card and beat the Saints in their house who won the division that year. Rodgers only SB win came as a Wild Card. Steelers won the SB with Big Ben as a wild card in 2005. Elway's first SB in 1997 actually was as a WC team that beat ironically the Chiefs in their house who won the division. It is not uncommon at all for Wild Cards to make runs, generally though it is a top QB that drives that train which we have in Josh. This is the most resistance Buffalo has faced on paper heading into a season since 2019 in division. The run NE had for the division was unprecedented in NFL history and won't be repeated as much as I would love Buffalo to. Not saying this year Buffalo won't win the division I think they are still the favorite at this time, but the resistance is real at least heading into the season.

It will take more the one non playoff year for McD to be canned. Pegula has seen under McD the team go from nothing to yearly contender that wins a lot and is a major national brand right now. No way he is touching that unless there is years worth of regression. Now for me I would not say this is a make it or break it year, but if he fails to breakthrough again or worse does miss the playoffs I think 25' for me would be make it or break it at that point. Josh still has a lot of prime years left and if after 25 the result is the same you make the move finally so you can get a different voice and leader while you still have Josh at some good years.

Honestly I am not sure I have an NFC team I have a real rooting interest though. I root many times for the story like Brees and the Saints SB run, Cards run in 08, SEA was really fun in 13', or the G-Man knocking the Patriots both times. By the same token I have rooted against these teams later on also haha. Detroit I have empthay for but I would never want them to win before us. Minnesota might be the closest I have any rooting interest as my buddy is a huge Vikings fan so for him I pull for them. The Rams might be the team I have a real like for as their history is pretty awesome, their colors and unis until recently are amazing, and I like what they are as a franchise. But again it is not breaking my heart if they lose. Ironically if I had a second team it might be the Raiders which is probably against the rules, but I loveddd Rich Gannon as a kid and the Gruden Raiders. I have his autograph on a picture and a Raiders hat. The brashness of what they are and culture always was super awesome to me. So as long as Buffalo is not losing to the Raiders I generally pull for them a bit.

This year will be telling if he still has it and can perform at a high level for a few more years or if he is damaged for good. ACL injuries typically take a year and half to truly return to complete health both physically and mentally. Just because outliers exist where guys returned super fast and just as good does not mean it is the norm. Also position matters big time, CB relies heavily on quick cuts and movement so you really need to be able to trust your body and that it will perform. In Vons case it is a little easier as he just attacks forward without the quick cuts and turns the way a CB does. Doesn't mean it still doesn't impact pass rushes but they seem to have an easier bounce back compared to CBs.

Agreed, I think I would say a QB who works incredible hard, is a solid leader, and is detailed will forever out perform talent. Kyler & Baker both had/maybe still have the potential to be something that could've really shined. But they never seemed to evolve the way you want. Fitzpatrick was believed because for having garbage physical tools he was a franchise guy in every other category and teams could have modest success with that. I will always want my franchise QB to hopefully have enough talent to function, but the other areas really seem to shine. The other thing is your team has to has to has to HAS TO have a cohesive plan for the QB. This starts from building an offensive line so your QB isn't killed to then adding skill players who maximize the QBs best attributes. I forever will stand by Beane adding Beasley and Brown was two of his smartest moves as Josh got a guy who couldn't out throw and a guy who could catch anything and regularly eat 5-7 yards. If you can add Jamar Chase obviously that is awesome, but having the vision to maximize a QBs skill set is something the best do and the worst never seem to understand.

I would say I am more measured and less reactive opinion wise then when I was younger a decade ago. At that time I lived and died on every play, w/l, move made or not made, etc.. now I do a better job at the long vision and perspective. Additionally and maybe its with having kids but its not serious to the point of letting it wreck, football is fun and the Bills are something my wife and family and I truly enjoy. Doesn't mean I don't have a loss that gets me mad for a day, but I rebound far faster and don't let it get to me the way it use to. Perhaps finally seeing the team have some real success also helps too as the good days out weight the bad for years now. But overall I am more just enjoying the ride and having fun watching football then anything else. With that said I am good for one bad thread a season with my magnum opus being the time I said we should cut Micah Hyde after the season... and then he had the INT of the century WHOOPS!

@Jets - L Raiders - W @Commanders - W Fish - W Jags (London) - L Gmen - W @Pats - W Bucs - W @Bengals - L Broncos - W Jets - W @Eagles - W @Chiefs - L Cowboys - W @Chargers - W Pats - W @Fish - L 12-5 By the way the Broncos game feels like the classic dud at home that happens yearly so I reserve the right to be correct unfortunately if that happens.

Optimism: -Josh Allen is one of top 5 best players in the NFL -odds are Bills defense will not have the injuries on D that literally decimated- the secondary and our most import pass rusher -said returning injuried players all come back healthy with Von at least having done this before -offense got some needed investment in areas that desperately needed to address and at least on paper seemed to address players who were needed if the scheme were to improve (YAC players, deep burn, Cole Beasley type short-mid range players) -schedule is very opportunistic before the tough games and late bye is a huge help -Only 4 games not on Sunday -Josh Allen again because he is a demigod -At this time Tom Brady is retired lol Pessimism: -Division is legitimately tougher which even if you win the division you probably are adding a loss or two making the 1 seed harder -Edmunds gone is a hit regardless of your feelings as he was a good player and now someone else needs to fill the role. -This could be a better Bills team then last year and end up 11-6 with a single home game or even on the road -Jaguars in London is a bummer as they look good and I would've liked that here. Might be tie breaker in AFC seeding -Bills WR corp missed two straight years at adding a good long term replacement/complement to Diggs in the draft. On a pure cost control setting that stinks as upgrades are pricier and not rookie contract -RIP camper lot during construction of new home -CIN looks to have added more depth and firmly is another team in the way. It is no longer KC-BUF, but KC-CIN-BUF in the AFC plus BAL and other improved nipping at their heals -In true seriousness camelot has fallen. Even after 13 seconds I would say most fans were relatively rosy of the team and McBeane. The way the Bills were eliminated and the failure to make the SB again has now created a very critical fanbase that understands the window is open but opportunities have been missed and the coach/GM are finally being at least viewed critically for real now at not striking on this window. The good vibes are gone, its all or nothing to many at this time. Bills mafia is more fun when peeps want to have fun and be optimistic, but I can't disagree in some regard to having to readjust and ask some real questions on what is happening. So for that its bummer because it was a nice run without being forced to ask the hard questions to some degree.

He turns to the Fellowship of the Ring who arrive on foot from Middle Earth. Quite a hike, great endurance, but big eaters after that walk.

Even just the conference title game I think its like DAL-WSH-DET-CLE-HOU as the only teams in the past 25 years or something who haven't made one and DAL/WSH long term have a ton of history. The only kind of guarantee in the NFL is if you have a franchise QB it gives you a much longer leash to and period where you could win. Even so Brees/Rodgers each got one SB and never have gotten back and outside of Brady going to 3 SBs with a guy seems to be the max most of the time. Bill Barnwell had a piece once about trading QBs before they end their rookie contract even if they are good using Goff as the example at the time as he had two pro bowl caliber seasons, made a SB, but was due a big contract. The general thesis was what if you could move him for more assets while keeping the team you had built around him instead of paying the QB which overtime removes the talent you build. Right now the floor still isn't high enough in QB play to do that, but it is a really interesting argument and if the floor of QB play improves where they can be more interchangeable the parity would only flourish more.

The dumbest/toughest piece of the drought is plenty of teams during that time were 6-7 "just need these three wins" and actually had that happen. Buffalo couldn't even catch that break until 2017. At least with the Phins when Tua is healthy their offense is super dynamic so I can at least understand some excitement there. If Tua were to play 17 games healthy they 100% can be a threat, but that remains to be seen. The Pats though.... their QB is as exciting as play dough and crossing 21 pts seems like an accomplishment. When they go 5-11 this year it will be glorious.

I have done a ton of simulations for the Bills. They generally fall between 9-9 and 11-6. Some crazy outliers like a 5-11 one with a ton of one score losses but also some 13-4. Ironically the simulation reallyyy likes the Bills over CIN and PHI but does not like us vs NYG, NE, and TB (?).

So pro football focus has a really cool new tool that allows you to run a simulation of any teams season for 2023. It automatically runs the games through their system and gives a record with stats and grade for the year. It is a beta run so it is not perfect as the Bucs went 13-4 in one I ran for them lol. Most of the Bills simulations landed them between 9-8 and 11-6 which feels fair. There were a few oddities like a 5-11 season where Buffalo lost a ton of one score games, but also 13-4 where they won 9 straight and beat CIN-PHI-KC all in one stretch. Its fun and different, I think as they improve the model it will be better. Anyhoo your probably asking what in gods name does this have to do with the NFL. Well as you simulate through the season you can see the games as they shake out and I got me thinking at how the NFLs greatest asset is its ability to sell hope. You can have a team that is 7-8, but many times you see a team does have that sliver of hope as if they win out they can get a wild card birth or a maybe a division crown. Compared to any other sport the NFL excels with teams "being in the hunt" because regularly a team can go from DOA to a division crown or wild card birth. The flipside and the danger the NFL has to consider is its push to expand games and the playoffs. I would say currently the playoff structure is perfect as roughly 43.75% (14 of 32) make the playoffs and it requires some level of playing well outside of an occasional bad division winner. The number of games though I think would be a mistake to go past 17 even though I know they want 18. The beauty that keeps so many fans interest when you have a 6-7 vs 7-6 matchup is the fact every game matters. There is a tipping point we are not far away from where too many more games will drain the max value you see and the impact of wins or losses.

The Jets game was classic beating yourself when your beating them. Once though they got the first TD you could see they smelled blood. Like I said I loved in year 2 game 1 to see Allen had already progressed so much even if it wasn't perfect. Gave a lot of confidence for the season in total.