BillsFanForever19

Von won't be here. If we do what we all hope we do, I'm positive he'll retire on that. If we don't, he may still retire and if he doesn't - it's the end of the line for him here. His contract when we signed him was always viewed as a 3 year deal. And we need to free Cap Space. On top of Von, Dawuane Smoot will also be a Free Agent. We have Rousseau and Epenesa (our two current starters) under contract. If the price is right, I could see Mack being someone we'd pursue to fill as an upgrade to one of those roles.

It's a good thing Beane didn't subscribe to that line of thought in 2018 and went with the guy from Wyoming.

Pretty much every analyst. Pretty much every fan on the board. We lost Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Leonard Floyd, Mitch Morse, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Dane Jackson, Tre White, and 15 other roleplayers to the team. We were rolling out AJ Epenesa, Dorian Williams, Taylor Rapp, and Damar Hamlin on Defense. Reconstructing our Offensive Line with a guy who hadn't played Center since College replacing Morse and a Backup last year starting at Guard. Rolling with Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, and an injured Curtis Samuel on the Outside at WR. And a new play caller on Defense. On top of the perceived drop off in talent and leadership was the obvious many moving parts to come together in one season. "The Super Bowl window for the Bills is closed this year" was a discussion done ad nauseum league wide by talking heads and spectators alike. Thankfully, Josh has had an MVP season and things have worked out. But that doesn't change the perception that this roster is less than. Which makes where we've gotten all the more impressive. OP says that expectations for this season have been exceeded. Honestly, I agree with that. They've at least been met. No one was looking at this team before the season saying "this is a Super Bowl roster". We all HOPE for a Super Bowl win every year. Regardless of whether that's realistic or not. This year, didn't seem realistic. Now it is a very real possibility. And we all want it. We're all rooting for it. And that's where the disconnect is for me. OP didn't say he wants the team to lose. Or that he expects the team to lose. He didn't say he wouldn't be disappointed. He didn't say he'd be happy with a loss. Just that he'd be at peace if it were to happen. Not raking the team over the coal's over the mere possibility of a loss (the game hasn't happened yet so *gasp* that is something that DOES exist) doesn't make anyone less a fan or anyone less disappointed if it were to happen. My dude - we've won the AFC East Title 5 years in a row. We've made the Playoffs 7 of the last 8 years. Josh Allen is 28 years old. And next season we'll be able to build an even better team. Whether we win the Super Bowl this year or not, this isn't going to be our last shot. Wanting it to happen REALLY bad right now (as we all do) and ignoring any possibility that we may not do it doesn't improve the chances of the team winning. Just as thinking about how you'd feel if they were to lose or even if one were to accept that (I haven't and OP hasn't) doesn't decrease our chances of winning it. And telling yourself "if not now, WHEN?" doesn't make it happening in the future any more or less likely. Well, first off, I don't know if you've heard but Ralph is dead. And Brandon Beane is an extremely good GM when it comes to managing the cap, finding good players that fit our scheme, and Drafting (especially in the later rounds) - so I don't think you have to worry about that either.

Stink putting some stink on it! 😂

Going back on your other posts, you seem to be pretty understanding of other people's prerogative. So I probably shouldn't have singled you out. You just happened to be the one commenting at the same time. But for much of the replies - it seems like an offense to the team and the board for OP to say that they're pleased with how far this team has come this year. Or that it's a defeatist attitude to say anything less than a win this weekend and/or in the Super Bowl is completely unacceptable. And that not being pissed if it doesn't come is an unacceptable point of view. I can understand wanting it (we all do). I can understand being disappointed if it doesn't come (we all will). But I can't understand some posters telling someone else they're wrong for being happy with what the team's done this year if we don't get what we want. Especially when we've made it as far as this regime ever has, in a year that wasn't supposed to be ours and we'll be set up even better next year.

Yeah... we all do. There isn't a true fan on this board that doesn't want a Championship. But you saying you want a Championship winning team for once and you'll be upset with anything less changes nothing. More importantly to the point, the OP saying that he's happy with what the team's done this year win, lose, or draw - also changes nothing. So what does it matter if someone feels that way?

I don't think it's a defeatist attitude for OP to say that they're happy we've made it this far. This is the furthest the team has made it in 32 years (albeit we did it once before a few years back). This team was NOT supposed to make it this far. Not being able to do much in Free Agency, eating a crap ton of Dead Cap, moving on from so many key players, and starting the offseason 50 million over the cap. This was supposed to be a down year where we had to eat a little crap. Yet against all odds, here we are. Truly wanting the team to win this week, make it to the Super Bowl, and win it AND saying you're proud of how far the team made it regardless of what happens this weekend aren't mutually exclusive ideas. Most of the board spent all offseason looking at the shape of the roster and wondering how we can compete. Now some of those same posters are saying anything short of a Super Bowl win is simply unacceptable. I firmly disagree with the idea that there's no coming back from the worst happening this weekend. Next year we have 10 Draft Picks, including 3 in the first 2 Rounds. We have much less to have to replace and the cap will be more manageable, with contracts we can walk away from that won't hurt us. We're in a position to be even better next season. Of course we all want to win and go on and win it all. But it's okay to say that you're proud of the team, happy about how far we've come, and aren't going to go nuclear and psychotic whether we win or lose. That's not a "losing" thought process. OP's mindset and your own personal views have zero effect on how the team performs this weekend or going forward.

There's something to limiting mistakes, controlling the line of scrimmage, and controlling the clock. But it only worked to overcome a team like the Ravens bc we were able to get 3 turnovers and do enough Defensively to hold them to 25. If we want to win the Super Bowl, we can't play that conservatively. It seems that's how he wants to play things until we have no choice. The problem is, if you wait until then - it can be too late. We don't have the kind of weapons on the edges to be put in a one dimensional offense situation, playing from behind. And it almost feels like a sin to play that style with a thoroughbred like Josh Allen at QB. Here's hoping the Baltimore game plan isn't what he subscribes to against the Chiefs. Bc man - it was frustrating as hell.

When you celebrate too soon...

Hey, hey Don't come around here no more Don't come around here no more Whatever you're looking for Hey, don't come around here no more I've given up, stop I've given up, stop I've given up, stop, on waiting any longer I've given up, on this love getting stronger

And now for something completely different.... Japanese Rock

Every generation that came before criticizes the trends of the generation that comes after. It never ceases to amaze me how soon people forget the old codgers that they used to roll their eyes at when they were growing up, with their "in my day" attitude... only to go on to do the very same thing in their older ages.

If this kind of content was just for 21 and under - TikTok wouldn't be what it is. I assure you, it's not just limited to 21 and under. And to be quite frank, I find this kind of out of touch, generational superiority post way more embarrassing than the cringiest TikTok.

This year has been a down year for him - no question. He was much better last season. Unfortunately for us, that's the truth for a number of our guys on Defense. Taron, Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa, Daquan Jones, Terrel Bernard, Rasul Douglas are all underperforming from last year. The good news is that they have that potential and it's shown up enough when we need it to still be alive. Hopefully we get the best versions of enough of these players going forward to get us to where we want to go.

Ever been on TikTok? This is what it looks like. That's what they're going for.

Personally... I LOVE it! This team plays best when they aren't getting the respect they feel they deserve. One of my concerns after this game was that now that we beat the Ravens - everyone would be talking about us as the favorite going into Arrowhead. That's not what's happening. As you said, all that's being talked about today is the Ravens losing the game, how it happened, and who's to blame. And that the Chiefs are playing in the Championship game in Arrowhead and are set to possibly 3-Peat. The Bills are continuing to fly under the radar and can continue to play with a chip on their shoulder.

In 1 yard situations, yes. Every time. But the frustrating thing is a lot of these situations we find ourselves in are 2 or 2 plus. 3rd and Goal from just beyond the 2 is not a given we're going to get enough push. Especially at the Goal Line and with that defensive front. In hindsight do I wish we would have tried that instead of what we ran? Sure. But that's just bc we know how it went with the play they chose. But honestly, from the spot we were at (which was a rough spot btw) - I wouldn't have called a tush push either. Though I wouldn't have called the play we went with either. I'd have went with an under center handoff with Ray Davis. And if we did go for a Tush Push on 3rd and didn't get in - I'd still have Kicked the FG rather than going for it on 4th anyways. This was the most situational of Situational Football.. situations. Is it possible we got it on 4th and the game was over right there? Sure. You know what else could have happened? We could have been stopped again. And if that happened - we lose the game. Plain and simple. Simply not worth the risk.

You're thinking too literally. You can have a 'Forced Fumble' on the stat sheet by your tackle causing the player to fumble the Football. That's what happened on that play and Damar is credited for a Forced Fumble on the stat sheet.

Bumping this bc Damar was one of my players of the game. - Sacking Lamar, forcing a fumble, leading to a Von recovery return, and a Bills TD on offense with a short field. - Shoestring tackling King Henry on his longest run of the game that would have been a 70 yard TD scamper otherwise. - Leading the Defense in Tackles, including 2 tackles for a loss. Helluva game from #3

So he can win a ring as a Coach? The whole thing was about possibly getting him a ring as a player after all he did for us. It's not like he's on the 53. What would we be doing with the extra Practice Squad spot? Have another Tyreek Maddox-Williams, Anthony Brown, TeCory Couch, or Daequan Hardy level player who, like them and Hyde - also won't see the field?

And they could have been stuffed and then lost the game on the ensuing Touchdown as well. The Field Goal was the right decision. Especially seeing how the rest of the game went.

For all the (unwarranted) noise from his "we're not friends" quote - he sure seemed pretty friendly...

Nope. Dollars to donuts that they'd activate Kareem Jackson, as they did since Hyde has been here, and not play him unless they have to. It's Cole Bishop from here on out.