JGMcD2

I was specifically countering the poster who was trying to make the case that the Steelers’ defense is some sort of measuring stick through the first four weeks of 2025. I didn’t really have much to say about the Patriots’ offense - though that poster was hyping them up for moving the ball against Pittsburgh, conveniently ignoring the five turnovers they committed when claiming they could move the ball at will against Buffalo. Let me get this right... the jury is still out on Buffalo because they played well against weak teams while missing multiple defensive starters, and at the same time, your argument is that the jury is still out on the Patriots’ defense just because they got a starter back after performing poorly against weak teams? Make it make sense. I’m not convinced this is the best team Buffalo has faced. They played the Ravens at full strength, and Baltimore is on another level compared to New England. I’m pretty confident that will be reflected in their record by the end of the 2025 season, assuming Lamar Jackson gets healthy.

The Steelers defense that ranks bottom-5 in yards allowed per game (382.5) and bottom-third in points allowed (24.5)? That same unit let the Justin Fields-led Jets, the Sam Darnold-led Seahawks, and the Carson Wentz-led Vikings move the ball at will. Meanwhile, Buffalo ranks 9th in yards allowed per game (290) - and that’s even with the 400+ they gave up in Week 1 against Baltimore. Since then, no opponent has topped 300 yards. The Bills just held those same Fields-led Jets to 150 total yards and 10 points, a week after New York hung 300 and 32. I’m not saying it’ll be a blowout, but the idea that New England walks into Orchard Park on primetime and rolls up offense just because they did it against Pittsburgh feels… questionable.

And at one point in time Pittsburgh had never done it? Or had been doing it for 1 year? How do you think traditions start? Lol

I’d push back on that. Traditions usually form organically - look at “Renegade” in Pittsburgh. “Mr. Brightside” is something the players enjoy, the fanbase has embraced, and the players themselves participate in. That’s exactly how traditions take root. It wasn’t manufactured - it grew naturally.

Vikings, Browns, Steelers (x2), New England and Packers won't be a cakewalk. They should beat Miami, Chicago, New York and Cincinatti (x2).

He's on pace for a very typical Josh Allen season. He's just done it for 5 years in a row, so we don't think too much about it. Projected 2025 stats: 70% completion percentage 4,097 passing yards 30 passing touchdowns 4 interceptions 675 rushing yards 13 rushing touchdowns 2024 MVP season: 63.6% completion percentage 3,731 passing yards 28 passing touchdowns 6 interceptions 531 rushing yards 12 rushing touchdowns His career 17-game average: 63.5% completion percentage 4050 passing yards 30 passing touchdowns 13 interceptions 636 rushing yards 10 rushing touchdowns

A quote from the same article was listed under the Chiefs section, but it applies to us too: “With all these successful teams, that’s what people don’t realize. When you are successful every year, having to pick at the end of each round, the talent is drained. Yet, they are still finding players and culture fits.” If Brett Veach takes over the Chiefs with only Mahomes - without Chris Jones, Travis Kelce, or Tyreek Hill (all drafted before him) - does it look and feel the same? If the Eagles don’t pick in the top third of the draft from 2021–2023, does it look and feel the same? Between Cook, Benford, and Spencer Brown - all either elite or on the cusp - doesn’t that feel a bit stronger than the Chiefs’ hits in that tier, like Humphrey and McDuffie?

They weren’t direct disciples at all. They were complementary pieces in a system where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Brandon Beane has even said on record that he trusted Joe Schoen’s player evaluations more than his own. Beane is the big-picture architect, his best skill is taking all of the information into account and making decisions that align with their organizational values. Schoen is a scout who is playing GM by chasing talent and only has the concepts of a plan. And Brian Daboll? He’s not half the leader McDermott is. Relationship issues have followed him everywhere he’s been - including Buffalo, where they had to move him off the sidelines because he was far too unpredictable. They started out on the exact same path as Buffalo, with a surprise playoff appearance. Then their hubris at the QB position saw them hitch their wagon to a guy they weren’t sold on. In contrast, Tyrod Taylor was traded for a 3rd round pick after breaking the 17-year drought so Buffalo could clear the way for their pursuit of the most important position in sports.

Idk, maybe read the rest of the blurb… General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott share a like-minded view on roster acquisition. And while there have been inconsistencies in the draft, the Bills were still able to reload on the fly over the last two years, shedding veterans for a youth movement. “They have a really good staff and a clear vision for what a Bill looks like,” an executive said. “With few exceptions, their guys are always tough and competitive.” There’s a real significance in building through the draft in Buffalo, too. Quite poignantly, it hadn’t been a priority destination for free agents, at least not before Allen took off. “They identified the QB and built around him,” another executive said. “They’ve got a good group of scouts who work hard, grind, know how to get information and they’re really organized.” EDIT: Here is the blurb on KC, what’s the difference? Other than John Dorsey drafting 3 Hall of Fame players before Beane took over as GM of the Bills? Former general manager John Dorsey drafted quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defensive lineman Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce. Still, his protégé, Brett Veach, has maintained the operation's integrity since his 2017 promotion. Veach, who followed coach Andy Reid to Kansas City in 2013, worked on the college side and had a hand in the evaluation of the Chiefs’ three most impactful additions. That continuity has been an asset. The player evaluation process is known to be especially thorough, and the coaches have trusted the scouting department, which has resulted in strong chemistry within the draft room. “They all speak the same language and know what the coaches want,” an executive said. The Chiefs don’t have a flawless draft record, but other executives insist that the overall body of work is impressive, considering they consistently select late. For example, consider 2021, when they selected linebacker Nick Bolton and center Creed Humphrey late in the second round. Kansas City then picked right guard Trey Smith in the sixth. “They obviously crushed the Mahomes pick, which is an all-time great one, and he is just so good that can cover other things,” an executive said. “With all these successful teams, that’s what people don’t realize. When you are successful every year, having to pick at the end of each round, the talent is drained. Yet, they are still finding players and culture fits.”

There was no author... The Athletic asked 29 general managers, head coaches and high-ranking team executives to rank their top front offices in the NFL (no one was allowed to vote for their team). We tabulated the votes and solicited specific feedback on the top teams to put the focus on why these front offices have set themselves apart from the pack.

Oops, yeah my bad. I had a server timeout. Mods, can you please merge? 🙏

As the 2025 season began, The Athletic asked 29 general managers, head coaches and high-ranking team executives to rank their top front offices in the NFL (no one was allowed to vote for their team). We tabulated the votes and solicited specific feedback on the top teams to put the focus on why these front offices have set themselves apart from the pack. 1. Philadelphia Eagles 2. Baltimore Ravens 3. Los Angeles Rams 4. Buffalo Bills It all starts with the quarterback in Buffalo, but don’t diminish the process. Reigning MVP Josh Allen was a tough player to evaluate leading up to the 2018 draft, but the Bills packaged a pair of second-round picks to move up five spots from No. 12 to select the Wyoming quarterback. Then they had to hold steady for a couple of years while he refined his skills. They’ve cashed in ever since. “They nailed the QB, and that goes a really long way,” an executive said. “I was not a huge Josh Allen fan (before the draft). They put in the work and the time, and that was not a slam-dunk pick by any stretch. But they identified him.” General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott share a like-minded view on roster acquisition. And while there have been inconsistencies in the draft, the Bills were still able to reload on the fly over the last two years, shedding veterans for a youth movement. “They have a really good staff and a clear vision for what a Bill looks like,” an executive said. “With few exceptions, their guys are always tough and competitive.” There’s a real significance in building through the draft in Buffalo, too. Quite poignantly, it hadn’t been a priority destination for free agents, at least not before Allen took off. “They identified the QB and built around him,” another executive said. “They’ve got a good group of scouts who work hard, grind, know how to get information and they’re really organized.” 5. Kansas City Chiefs

As the 2025 season began, The Athletic asked 29 general managers, head coaches and high-ranking team executives to rank their top front offices in the NFL (no one was allowed to vote for their team). We tabulated the votes and solicited specific feedback on the top teams to put the focus on why these front offices have set themselves apart from the pack. 1. Philadelphia Eagles 2. Baltimore Ravens 3. Los Angeles Rams 4. Buffalo Bills It all starts with the quarterback in Buffalo, but don’t diminish the process. Reigning MVP Josh Allen was a tough player to evaluate leading up to the 2018 draft, but the Bills packaged a pair of second-round picks to move up five spots from No. 12 to select the Wyoming quarterback. Then they had to hold steady for a couple of years while he refined his skills. They’ve cashed in ever since. “They nailed the QB, and that goes a really long way,” an executive said. “I was not a huge Josh Allen fan (before the draft). They put in the work and the time, and that was not a slam-dunk pick by any stretch. But they identified him.” General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott share a like-minded view on roster acquisition. And while there have been inconsistencies in the draft, the Bills were still able to reload on the fly over the last two years, shedding veterans for a youth movement. “They have a really good staff and a clear vision for what a Bill looks like,” an executive said. “With few exceptions, their guys are always tough and competitive.” There’s a real significance in building through the draft in Buffalo, too. Quite poignantly, it hadn’t been a priority destination for free agents, at least not before Allen took off. “They identified the QB and built around him,” another executive said. “They’ve got a good group of scouts who work hard, grind, know how to get information and they’re really organized.” 5. Kansas City Chiefs

Yeah, but I just pulled off a league-altering trade in my dynasty league after two weeks - managed to get Jaxon Smith-Njigba for two firsts and a second. I’ve been in the finals six straight seasons and won four of them. Losing in the finals last year left a bad taste. If I can make moves like this, why can’t Beane? Clearly, he doesn’t want to win as badly as I do.

Our offense is a massive, MASSIVE problem... ... for the rest of the NFL.