atlbillsfan1975 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 (edited) Well said OP. I see both sides of this. It’s so easy to get emotional about this team. I am guilty as the next guy. After a loss I want to look for a reason why and then I asses blame and then I want actions to be taken. The fact is the action is underway. It became underway the minute McDermott was hired and then Beane. Process has become a joke around here, but ThIS IS the process. First year asses. Second year, break it down and lay foundation Third year build on foundation Fourth year Add more finishing pieces. This team is right on the path that Beane and McDermott want. I am sure they see the opportunity that is in front of them this year. The Bills can and have played with some of the best teams in the league. A playoff win this year would leave me satisfied after I calm down from the disappointment when and if we lose the last game. I don’t think this Bills team will get blown out while Beane, McDermott, and Josh are here. Edited December 22, 2019 by atlbillsfan1975 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 7 minutes ago, Billsfan1972 said: SF went 3-13 last year & are 12-3 this year with a much harder schedule. So tired of people so enamoured with this team..... They are 25-22 under McD & were 24-24 prior three years..... I'm a fan & always will be but yes expect more. Next year will be a much harder year, with a tougher schedule (NFC West), so will be interesting to see what happens. ^angry, miserable, hateful attitude people like me despise. And he's one of like a million people like that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patzen Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I agree wholeheartedly with the OP. This was one of the easiest losses for me to ever deal with as a fan (my fandom started in the early 2000s). We're in the playoffs and I'm not expecting a championship so I'm just enjoying watching the team as it tries to improve and go as far as they can go this year. Seeing everyone freak out is very confusing to me since this is easily our best season in 20 years. I'm excited to watch the rest of this season and for the upcoming seasons. Go Bills! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan4 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I said in the post game thread yesterday that this team is a year ahead of schedule. This was really the first year of the “build” part of their re-build. Last year they finished the tear down and got the cap back in order. This was the first offseason where they started truly adding talent back in. If they can win a playoff game this year I’ll consider the season a pretty huge success. Just making the playoffs with 2 weeks left in the season was a big step IMO and makes this season a success. But I really want to see a playoff win, so... I think this season was always mainly about Josh Allen’s growth. They gave him a lot more responsibility at the LOS, rebuilt his o line and got him a few weapons on offense. We need him to continue his growth if we want the Bills to be a true contender. But he’s not there yet. He was the most raw 1st round QB from his draft class. He didn’t get the top tier QB coaching other draft prospects get. He said himself that he didn’t receive any coaching in high school or Junior college and barely any at Wyoming. We can’t expect him to be an elite, franchise QB overnight. But for the first time in a long time I feel pretty good about the growth and development of our young QB. The future is definitely exciting. How many contending teams have $25M in cap space left over this season, and $90+M next season? The Bills are in a great spot to continue their upward trend next season (and beyond). They should have an easier time attracting free agents now. They have the best facilities in the NFL (or damn close), they have an elite defense, are in the playoffs and have a young QB + owners+coach+GM+team culture that all the players just rave about. The Bills window is just starting to open. It’s probably not our time this year, but I see a bright future! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 33 minutes ago, Billsfan1972 said: SF went 3-13 last year & are 12-3 this year with a much harder schedule. So tired of people so enamoured with this team..... They are 25-22 under McD & were 24-24 prior three years..... I'm a fan & always will be but yes expect more. Next year will be a much harder year, with a tougher schedule (NFC West), so will be interesting to see what happens. So you don't think it's likely the Bills will improve as much next year as they did this year? We're in position to add talent through the draft and FA, ton of cap space. Are contributing rookies will have a whole off season of NFL strength and conditioning, Oliver, D Johnson, Songletary, Knox... And Josh will have an entire off season to build on his improvements this year. But no chance of being better next year, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easterner Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 "Because the Bills aren't championship caliber yet". This is a now league my friend. Just because you make the playoffs this year doesn't mean much due to free agency and who knows how the draft pans out. The Rams went from the SB loss last year to missing the playoffs when many of there fans thought they would win the SB. Many teams have 1/3 in change of personnel. We know what McD is, we know what Allen is, what we don't know is what the front office will do this spring and summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magox Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said: I get that you wouldn't understand. Your history is your history. Irregardless to what you believe, making good points while also calling people delusional doesn't strengthen the thread. It does just the opposite as evidenced by your presence. No it doesn't, you are one of the very few that could have taken offense from his post. I would go as far as to say that his post was one of the most reasonable posts that I have read all day. Your post on the other hand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted December 22, 2019 Author Share Posted December 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, Easterner said: "Because the Bills aren't championship caliber yet". This is a now league my friend. Just because you make the playoffs this year doesn't mean much due to free agency and who knows how the draft pans out. The Rams went from the SB loss last year to missing the playoffs when many of there fans thought they would win the SB. Many teams have 1/3 in change of personnel. We know what McD is, we know what Allen is, what we don't know is what the front office will do this spring and summer. Totally, what reason is there to believe that the Front Office can strengthen the roster in an off season through draft and Free Agency? And you are so right, we know exactly what Josh Allen is, and there's no reason to believe that anyone at the QB position can change and grow... No evidence that can happen... Once a Wyoming QB always a Wyoming QB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dopey Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said: What made you decide to ruin an otherwise perfectly decent thread by adding large chunks of snark and also demeaning those around you? Is that your clickbait style or are you an ass? Good job to the OP in bringing one out of the woodwork. I guess crippled wasn't snarky or demeaning cuz he asked politely if your an ass. Maybe he feels 2 wrongs make a right ?!? But IMO the OP isn't wrong. 1 hour ago, Motorin' said: The game day experience is ruined for me in large part by the pervasive negative attitude I've described in this post. I'm calling out a type of fan behavior, exhibited on this forum, that I despise. It's the behavior that turns me off, in the context of where the Bills are and where there's good reason to think they are going. I wish there were 2 game day threads. One to talk about what the Bills need to do to win, and one for posters to talk about who needs to be blamed and fired... I'd always post in the solution focused thread. But clicking through page after page of raw hatred just makes me want to leave and stop communicating on the forum with fellow Bills fans. Separating the 2 is a great idea, but we have that " can't have good things" group that would post in both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dopey Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 28 minutes ago, Easterner said: "Because the Bills aren't championship caliber yet". This is a now league my friend. Just because you make the playoffs this year doesn't mean much due to free agency and who knows how the draft pans out. The Rams went from the SB loss last year to missing the playoffs when many of there fans thought they would win the SB. Many teams have 1/3 in change of personnel. We know what McD is, we know what Allen is, what we don't know is what the front office will do this spring and summer. As you say, this is a now league. Why some can't enjoy the "now" is just stupid. Depending on this week's outcome there could be only 6 teams with a better record. At worse 8 teams with a better record. Maybe you should enjoy the "now" you speak of, my friend. Or don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said: It gets a lot harder once you pay Josh. This year and next is a crucial time 1 hour ago, Motorin' said: He's on a 5 year contact, no? 4 with a 5th year option. The QB market keeps chugging along at about 20% of the salary cap. The question is, can we win 10+ games per year with Josh Allen taking up that cap space. Or inversely, how many games would we win this year if we subtracted 35M in salaries from our defense. To my eye, JA has a long way to go before we can safely afford not paying his supporting cast in favor of paying him, and still win more football games than we lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaw66 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 2 hours ago, Motorin' said: It's clear to me that the process McD preaches has several stages. He has achieved a major step, establishing a culture and roster that is playoff caliber. In 2 of his first 3 years the Bills are in the playoffs. After last year's 6-10 season, it would be extremely unrealistic for fans to expect or demand a "championship caliber team" this year. And yet, playing the top 2 teams in the AFC late in the season (Ravens and Pats) the Bills were within one score and had the ball in scoring position late in both games. There are clear improvements the team needs to make to move from playoff caliber to championship caliber, and the fact that those needs are clear is an amazing accomplishment! I am so encouraged that the next 3-5 years of Bills football is going to put the team in position to compete for the Super Bowl. At the same time, the number of delusional fans that expect the team to be championship caliber this year, and call for the firing of McD, or Daboll or Allen, well. In my opinion, you all deserve another 20 years of musical chairs at head coach and qb, and another 2 decade playoff drought... Maybe you can buy a billboard that calls for Josh Allen to be cut if it makes you feel like you have power? As for me, I'm looking forward to talking about ways to improve, to talk about what the Bills can do to make that transition from playoff caliber to championship caliber. But I don't have the need to have a public crucifixion after a Bills loss, to call for blood to satisfy my inability to accept disappointment... I'm looking forward to the playoffs, and I'm excited to see what adjustments the coaching staff makes to get better themselves. But I'm not expecting a championship this year, and that's ok. Because the Bills aren't championship caliber yet. And that's ok. Right on the money. Exactly right. The challenge is to get better - better coaching, better execution. Some of getting better will involve personnel changes, some will involve people just getting better at their jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dablitzkrieg Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said: I get that you wouldn't understand. Your history is your history. Irregardless to what you believe, making good points while also calling people delusional doesn't strengthen the thread. It does just the opposite as evidenced by your presence. Irregardless isn't a word, no matter what you think, say or link. It's not a word! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobobonators Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said: SF went 3-13 last year & are 12-3 this year with a much harder schedule. So tired of people so enamoured with this team..... They are 25-22 under McD & were 24-24 prior three years..... I'm a fan & always will be but yes expect more. Next year will be a much harder year, with a tougher schedule (NFC West), so will be interesting to see what happens. Who should Bills fans be enamored with, the 49ers like you are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SactoBillFan Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Good post. Agree that knee jerk reactions after a loss are common. But then again I think that's part of being a fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoBills Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said: SF went 3-13 last year & are 12-3 this year with a much harder schedule. So tired of people so enamoured with this team..... They are 25-22 under McD & were 24-24 prior three years..... I'm a fan & always will be but yes expect more. Next year will be a much harder year, with a tougher schedule (NFC West), so will be interesting to see what happens. I have a hard time trying to understand these type of points. SF is playing great this year BUT last year most posters using a team to compare the Bills to were the LA Rams. Look where they are right now. Maybe they didn't build the proper way and tried to buy a team. Maybe (we don't know yet) the Bills are doing a better job moving methodically forward. As for the teams record over the last 3 years I don't know what you're point is. Do you want a new coaching/GM staff? Personally I would 100% against that. Instead of going backwards with last years record you would of preferred they stayed with TT? Going to a rookie QB (especially one as green as Allen) usually takes some time to get back to winning. Next year is next year. The AFCE will face the same teams. All in all it's been a fun year so far and there is more to come........................I'm enjoying that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyDays Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 2 hours ago, Billsfan1972 said: SF went 3-13 last year & are 12-3 this year with a much harder schedule. They were 4-12 last year but that's besides the point. Do you think Garrappolo being injured for the entire season last year might have something to do with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twist_to_open Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 3 hours ago, Motorin' said: It's clear to me that the process McD preaches has several stages. He has achieved a major step, establishing a culture and roster that is playoff caliber. In 2 of his first 3 years the Bills are in the playoffs. After last year's 6-10 season, it would be extremely unrealistic for fans to expect or demand a "championship caliber team" this year. And yet, playing the top 2 teams in the AFC late in the season (Ravens and Pats) the Bills were within one score and had the ball in scoring position late in both games. There are clear improvements the team needs to make to move from playoff caliber to championship caliber, and the fact that those needs are clear is an amazing accomplishment! I am so encouraged that the next 3-5 years of Bills football is going to put the team in position to compete for the Super Bowl. At the same time, the number of delusional fans that expect the team to be championship caliber this year, and call for the firing of McD, or Daboll or Allen, well. In my opinion, you all deserve another 20 years of musical chairs at head coach and qb, and another 2 decade playoff drought... Maybe you can buy a billboard that calls for Josh Allen to be cut if it makes you feel like you have power? As for me, I'm looking forward to talking about ways to improve, to talk about what the Bills can do to make that transition from playoff caliber to championship caliber. But I don't have the need to have a public crucifixion after a Bills loss, to call for blood to satisfy my inability to accept disappointment... I'm looking forward to the playoffs, and I'm excited to see what adjustments the coaching staff makes to get better themselves. But I'm not expecting a championship this year, and that's ok. Because the Bills aren't championship caliber yet. And that's ok. I misinterpreted the title of your post and was expecting you to start slamming this team for some reason, but I thought you summed up this team and where we're at perfectly. Well done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott7975 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 4 hours ago, Billsfan1972 said: SF went 3-13 last year & are 12-3 this year with a much harder schedule. So tired of people so enamoured with this team..... They are 25-22 under McD & were 24-24 prior three years..... I'm a fan & always will be but yes expect more. Next year will be a much harder year, with a tougher schedule (NFC West), so will be interesting to see what happens. Kyle Shanahan is 22-25 with the 49ers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 7 minutes ago, Scott7975 said: Kyle Shanahan is 22-25 with the 49ers. *mic drop* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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