corta765

I would say expectations last year were so high it invited a very negative outlook. 2023 many people have the opposite view so watch it be a more positive outcome because sports lol

Lol I don't think that is remotely controversial more logical if anything

happens way more then you think. Steelers of 2010s, Saints of 2010s, Seahawks of 2010s, etc.. its why making a SB is such a big deal. Getting good is not easy, but then taking that next step to the SB is even more difficult.

Brees was legit screwed by the way the NFL handled bountygate. Headcoach was gone a full year, draft picks gone, and cap space altered. 2014-16 shows what happens when a team gets blown to bits for a year. They recovered to make the playoffs in 13, but you lose years of development with what happened.

Lol my bad It wasn't too bad until like 2020 which is conversely when the Bills upswing started so you got back some fans who probably took a break or some new ones joined. I will say the last year or two especially has been a bit frustrating as conversations went from some really good strong topics like this to just pure complaining.

So it is interesting because there are more teams to compete with now so in theory the playoffs are harder, but there are actually more playoff spots open % wise and the prioritization to the league being so QB friendly helps a ton. You really can't compare times as pre free agency once you built a group you could run for a long time without change, that doesn't happen anymore. Even with a great QB you reload two hopefully three times at a lot of spots and you really have to plan it well. The Kelly Bills ascended in a way you kind of dream of by first regaining footing, then relevance, and finally breaking through in 3-4 short years. By comparison HOF guys like Farve were year 6, Manning year 9, and Brees year 8 for their first ring (and for some only). No path for any QB looks the same, Aaron Rodgers is an all time great and if you reversed his career he would've been a chronic failure until the end. Instead he got a ring but never has broken through since for a variety of reasons. Winning a SB title is beyond tough and if you were to take Brady/Pats out of your equation you would see it is so insanely hard to get there multiple times. I hate the Phillip Rivers comparison because it literally is unique to the Chargers as an org (cough Dan Fouts also) and their unwillingness to pay. There isn't a QB of that caliber otherwise who didn't break through with a SB appearance and the league is even more QB friendly. But as a Buffalo fan I get it full heartedly. We go through drought and finally its like maybe its our time... except when is it our time. The 4 SB losses and not breaking through are forever a weight on the franchise and every single player, especially 17 who wears the weight of the region proudly until a title comes. 2018-21 was ascension for this group, 2022 was the first time mortality hit where you maybe had to ask "well this could've been the year so when" and "will it actually happen". That is legitimately fair and tough to have to consider because the other side of the coin blows that we went through. My father use to joke with me "hopefully in my lifetime" and he is turning 67 this year... so f*ck lol starting to run a little short on time here haha. I have dreamed of watching a SB with him and them winning and what that would be like. I have told people I have no desire to see the Bills in their next SB, I want to be in Buffalo and god willing with my father, wife (who is better bills fan then me), and family that day. I already plan on visiting grandparents grave sites with a shot for them in honor, the shout song, and just a nice moment that they broke through finally. I know that the entire fanbase has similar feelings like this when that day comes of how the celebrate which is part of what's organic and real about being a Bills fan, you cannot replicate the community that exists and how it goes. For me I am just enjoying the ride as much as I can, I have said they have until 2030 and I believe they will get a ring in that time. So allll of those feelings mesh into this tension/pressure that sets around that is unavoidable. But remember you have a demigod at QB who has many good years left and if nothing else as long as he is there you got a shot.

Gonna post and run for cover here: 1. Fan expectations were so insane last year coupled with the media hype that anything less then a SB was forever going to be failure despite the fact they did legitimately have obstacles that were unprecedented for any team and once Damar happened the season was toast. This has now spilled over to the offseason and peoples view of the team. 2. Bills fan front run too hard at points, but the moment things go awry the pessimistic attitude runs in spades. 3. Finally the drought unintentionally spoiled us with 1:00pm games and now you have two generations which got wayyy too use to it haha 4. Josh Allen's injury last year impacted him far more then people realize and that had more of an impact on the offense looking how it did then Dorsey's play calling. Additionally Dorseys play calling Jets on was a product of running what plays were easiest for Josh throwing and moving. 5. The Bills are going to have one run with Josh for the title and that will be their shot. It will happen, but with the way the AFC is loaded and Mahomes now an immovable object + Burrow hanging around they will get one shot to define themselves and that will be it. 6. Gabe Davis is a fine WR3 and the greater issue was not replacing Beasley for 5-6 yard catch's that ate yards and downs. Had Buffalo had that player in the slot no one would complain about Gabe. 7. McDermott's defense allows the safeties to be highlighted in their roles and once Hyde-Poyer retire you will see similar play with time to groom new guys in.

why in gods green earth does Grand Island have a f*cking vistors center

It wasn't a mistake that the Bills signed the Toronto deal back in 08' for games nor Rogers interest. I have always believed had those games been better attendance wise and Ralph passed earlier + Rogers himself not passed as quick that was the destination. The whole St Louis -> LA thing was crap and the NFL showed where its loyalty lies. The NFL rules state that if a city is willing to support a team with a new stadium and is working in good faith the team is supposed to stay in the area until otherwise. The Rams got out on a BS clause which they now are paying for and back St Louis while the NFL showed by not keeping the team there market loyalty really means nothing. St Louis straight up said will give you a new stadium no qualms and they said no. I understand part of it was getting the new LA stadium and such, but it jaded me as a fan that it could be such callous thing as any hope for smaller markets that the NFL gave one ounce of a crap about where they played went out. BUF-GB-PIT are basically tolerated for their "history" and "uniqueness" to the game with their markets. Reality is they could put those three teams in Toronto, Mexico City, & Vancouver (or London) and make way more.

They glow in the dark I have thought Raiders/Bucs/Broncos

I am just going to point out that fear and intimation means nothing until you win the games. Miami if Tua was healthy I think would've been 11-6 maybe 12-5 and finished right on our heals. But regardless this reminds me of drought talk on how the team had improved and the Patriots looked weaker etc... and then the games happened. I certainly think the Jets are improved with Rodgers then without him and Miami IF Tua is healthy has a good shot. There are no easy division crowns, 2020 was blip against the norm.

I think that is fair. To me 11-6 or 12-5 is about right. The schedule is pretty brutal and truthfully getting to 13 or 14 wins you need a little luck factored in along the way.

That would actually be an insanely good and awesome idea.

I think they are putting us in MIA week 18 to close the season with possible division crown on the line. No sun but potentially higher stakes.

I saw Odell at riverworks before the Bruce show last night!

I have thought this as a darkhorse game for MNF or even TNF. Bills host in London, we are at WSH this year so that can't happen

I have thought the Jets will want him before training camp so everyone is up to speed so it may drift past the draft but not much until July.

It is my belief the Bills are going to request a more scaled down schedule in terms of non Sunday games. Last year was a roller coaster just schedule wise as they played seven non Sunday game not including all of the other chaos factored in. By comparison the Chiefs played just three times. They already have to go to London which is a trek and they played three of the last four Thanksgiving. I imagine they will want a more normal Thanksgiving this year. The Jets though for black friday was talked about in this weeks Peter King FMIA piece. I have thought DEN could be our London game or do the Jags request if possible so they stay back to back weeks in London which is probably advantageous to some extent

NFL doesn't care. Rodgers to NY is such an easy marketing thing that they will 100% milk it. Now probably to avoid a R Wilson situation I can see the NFL maybe having the Jets play more primetime games early season with flex later on. It's why I think Buffalo hosts them on Saturday in DEC so they can put at night if the Jets are something, if they suck its a 1pm Sunday game. Miami I 100% becomes the division foe that takes the spot NE had for primetime. I could see Bills TNF host and end of year at Miami with the idea maybe flex in for the division crown if it is tight. Bills in 1998 were good as were Jets who went to AFC title while we lost in WC to Miami. Other then that yea 81 was the last time.

Now that free agency is settling a bit and we have an idea of what some foes are shaping into I got to thinking what our likely opponents could be for night matchups (TNF,SNF, & MNF). The NFL has a 5 game max for primetime games + one additional flex game for every NFL teams. This season also the NFL is allowing for MNF games to be flexed into in the back half the season so there is some talk certain teams and matchups might be setup so the NFL can easily swap out a poor matchup for a better one (which as the Broncos proved was a real issue last year, Lets Roll Broncos Country #ThanksRuss lol). The Bills have been a max primetime team for 2 of the last 3 years with 2021 being 4 primetime games plus a late season flex. This years schedule is loadeddddd with primetime opponents as the Bills host playoff teams in Dallas, New York Gman, and Miami plus the Jets now have Rodgers and Broncos have Sean Payton. Their away schedule is even wilder as they are at KC, Cincy, Philly, & LA Chargers plus the normal of division opponents Jets/Phins. The Patriots for some reason were the divisional opponent of choice the past two years for night games, but given how their appeal is falling while the Jets has skyrocketed and Miami is loading up I would expect both of those games to be at 1pm finally. The NFL has flexed the Bills the past five years for either the Saturday game in December (Pats 2019, Broncos 2020, & Phins 2022) or Sunday for SNF/4pm (Steelers 2020 & Jets 2021). The league does try to rotate so prime matchups that are in conference like KC v BUF are shared between CBS for their national window and the night matchups on TNF, SNF, and MNF. The league will also listen to team requests for things like if they opened on the road last year can they be at home for this year or in the Bills case they have been on Thanksgiving a bunch can they take a break from that. So factoring this in I rank matchups at night as followed and please share yours: 1. at KC (MNF as last year was CBS so back to night) 2. DAL at BUF (SNF // Ratings to the max people) 3. Jets (SNF // I lean towards at NYC but either way with the other probably the DEC flex game for the night matchup) 4. at PHI (MNF) 5. MIA at BUF (TNF) I think the CIN game will be the 4 pm national window spot along with the Chargers.

Way to not list punters Good job as always

Thought the same wasn't in division and now out of conference. Deuces Tremaine

Connor McGovern

Correct!

Might be a lifetime contract but its worth it