Did we already miss the window with Josh

[Awwufelloff]

The window is always before the QB gets the big contract, very difficult to do after that unless a HOF QB and we have that. Coaching and bad drafting has destroyed us. 

[nedboy7]

It’s surreal but when Mack Hollins and Cooper left the window closed.  I know. It’s insane.  

[90sBills]

53 minutes ago, Success said:

 

Sometimes, you just have to make a change.  We seem to be in an endless rinse/repeat mode - maybe we'll actually break through this year, but I think most feel that it's starting to look like a divisional round exit or worse.  Maybe the AFCCG if we're lucky.  

 

And I feel almost silly complaining about that after the drought.  But what are the chances McDermott is the 1st coach to break through and win a Super Bowl after this many years w/ the same QB?  It just seems like he's not going to be the guy to bust through that ceiling.

 

Agreed. Sometimes a new voice is needed to reach new heights.

 

I’m not giving up on this season though. There’s plenty of time to right this ship and I think they will come out of the bye with more focus. I hope so anyway. 

[mjt328]

19 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I don’t think that the Bills have “missed the window” but they haven’t done nearly enough to increase their chances within the window. They probably have another 6 years(ish) of prime Josh and a couple more years where he’s still a good QB. They are further now though than they were 4 years ago. That’s not ideal. It isn’t over but they don’t seem to be getting closer. They’ve played 1 good 1/2 in 6 games.

 

Older folks here can probably remember the good old 90s Bills.

 

That team exploded on the scene in 1988.  Packed full of future Hall of Famers, and a revolutionary new offense.  Finished with a 12-4 record, first division win in 8 seasons and made it all the way to the AFC Championship game.  Two years later, the Bills were playing in their first Super Bowl.  Of course they ended up going to four straight.

 

Then suddenly it was over.  The 1994 season saw the O-Line fall to pieces, Jim Kelly suffer a season-ending knee injury and Thurman Thomas hit the downside of his career.  That team barely mustered up two more playoff births, but they were never serious Super Bowl contenders again.  Kelly retired after the 1996 season, setting off a downslide that took over 20 years to turn around.

 

Two decade runs like Tom Brady are by far the exception.  Not the norm.  I would like to believe we get prime Josh Allen for another 5-6 years.  But there are already signs that maybe he's lost a step running the ball.  And even if he's still physically able to do certain things, there may be a point where he's reluctant to keep doing them.  And if we can't pull off a Super Bowl run when he's at his peak, why would we do it when he's past his prime?

 

[Livinginthepast]

2021  was the year but the 13 seconds debacle killed it. Had they won that game they win the SB. Cincinnati was tough but not yet as good as when they beat us the next year. The Rams were there for the taking as well. I also believe had they won that SB, the boost would have pushed them forward to winning another. Instead they got failure against the Chiefs in their heads going forward. 

 

A different coaching staff of competent game managers, Defense and a great OC (all of which we lack badly) would have won at least 2 SBs. But we are Bills fans and we can never have nice things.

[Gregg]

18 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

 

Older folks here can probably remember the good old 90s Bills.

 

That team exploded on the scene in 1988.  Packed full of future Hall of Famers, and a revolutionary new offense.  Finished with a 12-4 record, first division win in 8 seasons and made it all the way to the AFC Championship game.  Two years later, the Bills were playing in their first Super Bowl.  Of course they ended up going to four straight.

 

Then suddenly it was over.  The 1994 season saw the O-Line fall to pieces, Jim Kelly suffer a season-ending knee injury and Thurman Thomas hit the downside of his career.  That team barely mustered up two more playoff births, but they were never serious Super Bowl contenders again.  Kelly retired after the 1996 season, setting off a downslide that took over 20 years to turn around.

 

Two decade runs like Tom Brady are by far the exception.  Not the norm.  I would like to believe we get prime Josh Allen for another 5-6 years.  But there are already signs that maybe he's lost a step running the ball.  And even if he's still physically able to do certain things, there may be a point where he's reluctant to keep doing them.  And if we can't pull off a Super Bowl run when he's at his peak, why would we do it when he's past his prime?

 

 

They can still win a Super Bowl with Allen when he is past his prime. I think Allen will be good enough to win a Super Bowl with for another 8-10 years. But he won't be running like he used to as he ages. The most important thing is he needs a stronger team around him on both sides of the ball. 

[DeepPass]

On 10/14/2025 at 3:26 AM, gobills404 said:

2023 should’ve been the year.

 

- Cook had his breakout year

- Diggs, Davis, Kincaid, Shakir, and Knox catching passes

- Dawkins, McGovern, Morse, Torrence, and Brown (breakout year) on the OL

- Defense was #4 in the league

- Leonard Floyd had the most sacks by a Bills player in the McBeane era

- Benford breakout year and Rasul playing great after trading for him

- Taron 2nd team all-pro and Bernard breakout year

- Ended the regular season on a 5 game win streak (3 playoff teams)

- Homefield advantage over the Chiefs

 

If McD couldn’t get it done with that team he’s never gonna get it done

I feel the same way.  That was our best opportunity -and Josh's- to get to the big game!

[8BallSippin]

Elway finally won at 37 and 38, in a different era here he took a beating as did all players.  Yes he went to more Super Bowls, but he won when he wasn't asked to carry the team anymore.

 

Beane has been very good, but probably needs to go- need someone to build a strong, deep, diverse roster with a more dynamic play makers.  

 

 

[Billsfanatic8989]

On 10/14/2025 at 10:42 PM, 90sBills said:

Superior coaches and FO. Also, hate to say it but Brady and Mahomes seem to have that ultra competitive gene that not everyone does. There’s a reason why Brady named Mahomes as a current qb that reminds him most of himself. They’re just different from a competitive and motivational standpoint. 

I'm not denying Mahomes/Brady have that clutch gene. But they always had/have a coaching advantage. There has never been a Gronk or Kelce on the Bills. Where is our Chris Jones? How about our Vince Wilfork or even a Devin McCourty?

 

I've always said, it's not Mahomes vs Allen that is costing us in the postseason. It's Reid vs McDermott.

Edited yesterday at 01:46 AM by Billsfanatic8989

[Billsfanatic8989]

7 hours ago, 8BallSippin said:

Elway finally won at 37 and 38, in a different era here he took a beating as did all players.  Yes he went to more Super Bowls, but he won when he wasn't asked to carry the team anymore.

 

Beane has been very good, but probably needs to go- need someone to build a strong, deep, diverse roster with a more dynamic play makers.  

 

 

 

The Rams found a top 10 receiver in the later rounds. The Colts get a stud TE at 14th overall. Skattebo was fourth round. The 49ers got Warner in the third round.

 

I'm not debating it's tough to find late round gems. But these other teams find ways to draft huge difference makers. So if they are finding ways, what's Beane's excuse?

 

 

[90sBills]

15 minutes ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

If you put Mahomes with McDermott, I don't think they beat Allen with Reid consistently. In otherwords, QB isn't the issue in the postseason. It's coaching. The games have been close. 

 

I'm not denying Mahomes/Brady have that clutch gene. But they always had/have a coaching advantage. There has never been a Gronk or Kelce on the Bills. Where is our Chris Jones? How about our Vince Wilfork or even a Devin McCourty?

I don’t think I said anything about qb being a problem in my post. 

[Billsfanatic8989]

1 minute ago, 90sBills said:

I don’t think I said anything about qb being a problem in my post. 

My bad. I'm replying to so many messages that I got confused. 

[PauleeeWalnuts]

Window closed after 13 seconds but they had a chance last season. Defense once again cost them a shot at the Lombardi, and now they have little talent surrounding JA to go along with a bad defense. It’s going to be another disappointing playoff exit while being expected to continue to trust a broken process.  

[Bookie Man]

Not sure if we missed it. But he should have 2 rings already.

[Mikie2times]

13 hours ago, Gregg said:

 

They can still win a Super Bowl with Allen when he is past his prime. I think Allen will be good enough to win a Super Bowl with for another 8-10 years. But he won't be running like he used to as he ages. The most important thing is he needs a stronger team around him on both sides of the ball. 

To assume Allen is playing in his late 30‘s is crazy to me. It might happen. It just as easily could be 35. He will be a billionaire by then. Probably with kids and a wife that would rather he hangs it up. Beaten body probably falling apart. Appreciate this now, it could change quick.

Edited yesterday at 04:40 AM by Mikie2times

[Richard Noggin]

Should have one already in 2021, and now should be fighting to cement and build upon legacies each season. Instead, we're stuck in the cycle where good has been and still seems to be the enemy of great.

[Buffalo Ballin]

11 hours ago, DeepPass said:

I feel the same way.  That was our best opportunity -and Josh's- to get to the big game!

That's why I still don't understand why there is McDermott Defense Force existing on this forum. Boggles our minds. We have plenty of evidence to fire him.

Edited 23 hours ago by Buffalo Ballin

[JP51]

On 10/14/2025 at 4:51 AM, GolfandBills said:

No.. The roster has just been very poorly managed around him the last few years 

Agreed, we may need to get worse before better... they need to get rid of some of these players they are paying a ton of cap money too that are not even remotely producing... Samuel for starters...  Rapp... 3 or 4mm for Tre, Jones,  too early to part ways with Rousseau and Oliver but I am not sure they are worth their contracts... Ed has looked better in the 1 or 2 games he played... bottom line is lots of Cminus to Cplus players getting paid like B or Bplus players... thats never good... 

[corta765]

On 10/14/2025 at 3:26 AM, gobills404 said:

2023 should’ve been the year.

 

- Cook had his breakout year

- Diggs, Davis, Kincaid, Shakir, and Knox catching passes

- Dawkins, McGovern, Morse, Torrence, and Brown (breakout year) on the OL

- Defense was #4 in the league

- Leonard Floyd had the most sacks by a Bills player in the McBeane era

- Benford breakout year and Rasul playing great after trading for him

- Taron 2nd team all-pro and Bernard breakout year

- Ended the regular season on a 5 game win streak (3 playoff teams)

- Homefield advantage over the Chiefs

 

If McD couldn’t get it done with that team he’s never gonna get it done

 

I would kind of agree with this except the defense was so wrecked by the end of the year they were starting AJ Klein at LB in the game against KC. They had literally one way to win and they almost got there as they had to basically ball control the heck out of the game to help the defense.

 

I still agree to an extent the premise and the defense has been a shell of itself compared to 2019-23 the last two seasons. 2023 though is the one year I give McD some real credit for what he did at the end given their injuries on D and where the team was mid year. 

[corta765]

13 hours ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

 

The Rams found a top 10 receiver in the later rounds. The Colts get a stud TE at 14th overall. Skattebo was fourth round. The 49ers got Warner in the third round.

 

I'm not debating it's tough to find late round gems. But these other teams find ways to draft huge difference makers. So if they are finding ways, what's Beane's excuse?

 

Just gonna say if you praise the Rams remember Les Snead has been GM since 2012 and he had a lotttt of misses until they moved to LA and even after that there were some moves that failed. I do think Beane is a top 10 gm as the hit rate for GMs with the draft itself is basically 33% over time and much more of the GM job is finding talent late or in FA along with managing the cap. The other thing is GMs a lot of times get a grocery list of sorts on what the head coach wants and goes shopping for that. I do not like Beane's arrogance with the WR spot this year and I would like him to admit to it by trading for help.

 

I believe Peter King had a thing or it was Barnwell on the top drafted classes over the last 15 years and the Bills 2018 class was like top 3 in terms of talent. The Ravens with Lamar and the Saints 2017 class would two recent other ones. My basic point is you want to obviously hit big, but it is not nearly as frequent as we would like. His first round picks have generally been good to very strong, his biggest misses have been in rounds 2-3. For some reason round 4-6 he has found a ton of truly good quality starters which makes zero sense why 2-3 he is so shaky.

 

He probably missed badly in 2024 in that draft unfortunately, but from 2021-23 he did draft Spencer Brown, Rousseau, Cook, Bernard, Benford, Shakir, Kincaid, Torrence, and Dorian Williams which is solid group/hit rate. GMs do miss as much as we hate to admit, KC had a spot their guy missed but he kept going and found guys again. This 2025 draft class and 26' probably are more crucial because he needs some gems to come like Walker to really help finish restoring the foundation if they want to be a top roster through 2030. If he missed with the 2024 draft, fine whatever that sucks, jury is out on 2025 as it takes time and 2022 looks amazing now, but he either needs to hit his picks in 2026 OR utilize them for some good talent to help this season and forward.