What is the most likely balance (offense & defense) for the Bills to win a superbowl?

[PoundingDog]

The old adage of "scoring one more point than your opponent" is always true. But it manifests itself in many forms. Here I'll just focus on offense and defense only (excluding special team stuff, assuming no punt blocked, makeable field goals are made, etc.).

 

We have Josh Allen. A key component for any chance of a superbowl appearance. Compared to the very top QB who has won superbowls last decade, I'd say Allen is not as consistent as Brady, Mahomes, Manning. On par with Stafford. Certainly better and more consistent than Hurts and Foles. Allen is still young enough to improve, last year might be his more consistent year. But overall, if you want to be a team to consistently outscore people by investing heavily into offensive weapons at the expanse of defense, at superbowl which usually means against one of, if not THE best, defense in that year, it may not be the best strategy. Last two years the Bills' offense had the ball at the end of the game and failed to execute. You can argue its Allen or his weapons or both. But the fact is if it were Mahomes or Brady, history showed they were more likely to pull thru. Allen is just not there yet.

 

Now look at Rams and Eagles example. Those team won it all pretty much on the back of their defense. They have playmakers (Hall of Fame level) on D to stop the opponents whereas their QBs made enough plays (or in the Foles' case, got lucky winning enough plays of gambling nature). Allen can certainly do that, likely more than that. The Bills D never lacked solid players. They just don't have elite players that in the model of outscoring people, you need one or two elite plays from that kind of players to stop opponents. 

 

Strategy wise, I'm on board with what OBD is doing this off season. Investing in D to make solid all the way around. First 4 round, they drafted very high ceiling guys and hoped one of them to become elite. If they executed well - meaning select the right players for the most part, then next few years we may very well see something similar to what the Chiefs have become: a defense being the backbone of the team to limit teams from scoring less than 17 points on average while Mahomes/Allen making a few plays to win games.

[Bob in STL]

Clearly, the Bills defense inability to come up with enough stops in the playoffs was the only thing holding this team back.  

 

The strategy can only be to improve the defense and reduce the number of points this team gives up.  

 

Balance is not the right word, but there is no one on the Bill defense that consistently comes up big like Allen does on offense.   The recent draft was an effort to get more impact players on the defensive side of the ball.  More defensive players have to step up.  

 

After that, it still takes some amount of luck.  Just about every SB winner can point to a few key plays that went their way. 

[JP51]

35 minutes ago, Bob in STL said:

Clearly, the Bills defense inability to come up with enough stops in the playoffs was the only thing holding this team back.  

 

The strategy can only be to improve the defense and reduce the number of points this team gives up.  

 

Balance is not the right word, but there is no one on the Bill defense that consistently comes up big like Allen does on offense.   The recent draft was an effort to get more impact players on the defensive side of the ball.  More defensive players have to step up.  

 

After that, it still takes some amount of luck.  Just about every SB winner can point to a few key plays that went their way. 

Agreed, someone posted a pic of Hurts and Allen... Hurts had his D stop KC 9 times in the game... Buffalo has had Nine stops in the playoffs in the past 4 years... or something like that... can you imagine if the defense got Josh the ball back even 1/4 of that time how many more possessions he would have... even looking at Lamar Jacksons numbers... its nice when you actually dont have to wait 7 minutes in a quarter to get the ball back... 

[Gregg]

The Bills have the QB obviously but then after that it starts up front at the LOS. The Bills have done a good job with the OL. Hopefully the changes on defense lead to a similar result. The only way to really stop great QB's is to get after them with the front four. The Giants did it to Brady, and the Bucs and Eagles did it to Mahomes. Let's hope the changes also lead to an improved run defense. If we get these things, then the Bills will have a great shot at winning the Super Bowl.

[dorquemada]

There has to be a chance in mentality as well.  You could watch the eagles feed on their own success early against KC until they were playing possessed.  Even when the Bills get a big lead in playoff games it just feels like a WWE match where the heel gets back into the match because the hero lets off the gas

[ProcessTruster]

This board spends way too much time agonizing over the tournament. 

 

Eg. the win against the Chiefs last year was absolutely fabulous, one for the ages.  All but forgotten now;   all this board can reflect on is 13 seconds or "getting over the hump" or  McD sucks.. etc.  

 

The Mafia are becoming just like the old Pats " call me when the playoffs start..." fans: 

[The Jokeman]

Ideally we'd have the 1999 Bills defense and the 1990 Bills offense yet in these days of the salary cap it likely won't happen. To me if our defense can hold teams below 20 points a game we should be able to win almost any game unless the offense has a major disaster or unsurmountable injuries . 

[Success]

Defenses can dictate championship games much more than offenses, imo.

 

And we see that in so many title games.  When you have a smothering defense, it creates much better opportunities for the offense - better field position, turnovers, TOP.

 

I disagreed w/ most of the hand-wringing about WR during the draft.  Let's build that defense to be smothering and dictate the big games.  JA will put up points w/ just about anyone.