What's the Bills team identity?!?

[Ray Stonada]

A team whose identity should be formed by the players, is formed by their coaches, who give them:

 

1) a tight attitute and lots of rules about how to play and difficult systems to master

 

2) no great designed plays to run when we really need a first down or a stop

 

3) no help in terms of adapting game plans or strategy at the end of close games

 

It will be bittersweet if Josh Allen ends up on another team, gets unshackled and has receivers, and throws for 5000 yards and 50 TDs.

[90sBills]

49 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Just Win Baby !!!! Go Bills !!!

Might as well take that one. It’s not like the Raiders are using it anytime soon. 

[Mike R]

Vanilla.

[Pete]

Confidence is one hell of a drug.  Josh and company do not look confident.  What happened to the Bills swagger?

[Buffalo Boy]

The Process: Boring and conservative 

[nuklz2594]

dazed and confused. turn josh and cook loose. Bring the heat on defense...Bills Blitz

 

[dave mcbride]

10 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

For sure. I think it’s evolved from scrappy hard workers believing to a bit of desperation. I’m not sure it’s “believe in Josh because we trust him” as much is “believe in Josh because that’s the only way we can get it done.” It kind of goes back to the whole swagger conversation. They don’t have that edge anymore. It isn’t always coming from elite players but it was there even with guys like McKenzie. They believed. Maybe it’s all of the years of coming up short but they don’t feel like they believe anymore.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6732294/2025/10/20/drake-maye-patriots-bills-afc-east/

 

1. The Bills went 24-6 in the AFC East from Brady’s Patriots exit through 2024. They finally have competition in the division.

Maye’s development and the Patriots’ growth come at an interesting time for the Bills. Buffalo ranks fifth in offensive EPA per play but only 23rd on the defensive side.

 

“The (Buffalo) defense is good when they have a lead, but they are small, and you can lean on them a little bit that way,” an opposing coach said.

 

Think Mike Vrabel (listed playing weight: 261) might want to lean on an undersized opponent? Did you see the way the 227-pound Rhamondre Stevenson was running in Tennessee?

 

To be clear, no one is writing off the Bills.

 

“Mentally, as much as anything else, it’s hard to stay that hungry, and I see Buffalo as a team that thinks they can flip the switch at some point, because they have been good for a long time,” an exec said. “They have been taking everybody’s best shot for 3-4 years now. It is just hard to stay sharp.”

[BillsVet]

11 hours ago, Chaos said:

Personality wise the Bills now fully reflect their head coach.  They are the  DMV of the NFL.  Its all about being part of a predictable process.  No fun. No fire. Just doing a job, knowing the customers have no where else to go. 

 

Yeah, the Bills identity is essentially McDermott's personality at this point.  I'd only add the Bills aren't innovative, stubbornly refuse to change, and go with what they know.  See it in the coordinator picks, personnel decisions, the scheme, almost ever facet of the football side of that franchise.  

 

Something's gotta give.  

[JP51]

Josh Allen and stop them at an equal level as they stop Josh and hope your Defense can force a few field goals every game as opposed to a TD every time...  but there really is no thought to the defense actually stopping anyone from moving the ball unless they get a turn over...  this is the worst Bills defense I have seen in almost 50 years...  there were some in the 70s that were pretty bad too... 

[Kirby Jackson]

12 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

Yeah, the Bills identity is essentially McDermott's personality at this point.  I'd only add the Bills aren't innovative, stubbornly refuse to change, and go with what they know.  See it in the coordinator picks, personnel decisions, the scheme, almost ever facet of the football side of that franchise.  

 

Something's gotta give.  

He gives off “Rudy” vibes. Who cares about talent when you can try hard?
 

The Bills are the only organization, in the history of sports, that tried (and pretty successfully) convinced their fan base that it’s better to have 4 quarters than a dollar. The concept of “everybody eats” should have had people with pitchforks. Instead, it had a bunch of sheep defending it. “Why have 1 WR that’s fast, separates, good on contested catches, good hands, runs after the catch when you can have 4 guys that can each do one of those things?!? If you don’t have a guy that’s good at everything you don’t have to throw him the ball as much and other, lesser talents can get a turn.” 🤣🤣 That’s literally what they built and people are wearing shirts and hats supporting that. 
 

We don’t ever discuss it but why not apply that to other positions? We don’t need an elite pass rusher. We just need 1 guy with a quick first step, a different guy with great hands, and a 3rd guy with a good bull rush. They can all take turns and everyone eats. 
 

This season, so far, is way more frustrating to me than the drought. This team had a super easy schedule and its biggest competitors struggling early. They have Super Bowl aspirations and they look like an average football team. There is still a lot of time and guys coming back defensively. To this point though, it’s infuriating to watch them not take advantage of their greatest opportunity.

Edited 9 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[ganesh]

Super Bowl Contenders !!!  Go Bills !!!

[Gigs]

Their identity went from Humble and Hungry to Crumbled and Comfy. They lack desire. They're the Hollywood Bills.

 

If one of Josh's commercials air during the SB, does he get a ring? Asking for a 6'5 friend...

[90sBills]

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

The concept of “everybody eats” should have had people with pitchforks. Instead, it had a bunch of sheep defending it. “Why have 1 WR that’s fast, separates, good on contested catches, good hands, runs after the catch when you can have 4 guys that can each do one of those things?!? If you don’t have a guy that’s good at everything you don’t have to throw him the ball as much and other, lesser talents can get a turn.” 🤣🤣 That’s literally what they built and people are wearing shirts and hats supporting that. 
 

This was the same concept KC used after trading away Tyreek Hill. They won back to back Lombardi’s with guys like MVS, Kadarius Toney, Sky Moore, Juju, Hardman. Literal jags that can’t make it anywhere else. 
 

Sometimes it feels like this team follows KC’s footsteps but, of course, always late to the party. 

[Kirby Jackson]

1 minute ago, 90sBills said:

This was the same concept KC used after trading away Tyreek Hill. They won back to back Lombardi’s with guys like MVS, Kadarius Toney, Sky Moore, Juju, Hardman. Literal jags that can’t make it anywhere else. 
 

Sometimes it feels like this team follows KC’s footsteps but, of course, always late to the party. 

No, no, no. KC used 2 seconds (Moore & Rice) AND traded up in the 1st (Worthy) for WRs SINCE Tyreek Hill left. They signed former 1st rounders, Toney and Hollywood Brown along with former 2nd round picks Hardman and Juju. They took lots of swings on high end talents with varying degrees of success. That’s 7 guys with a first or 2nd round pedigree added since the Tyreek trade (off the top of my head). They did literally the opposite of just roll with whatever. They spent a ton of resources trying to find the number one and they have it with Rice.

[NoSaint]

2 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6732294/2025/10/20/drake-maye-patriots-bills-afc-east/

 

1. The Bills went 24-6 in the AFC East from Brady’s Patriots exit through 2024. They finally have competition in the division.

Maye’s development and the Patriots’ growth come at an interesting time for the Bills. Buffalo ranks fifth in offensive EPA per play but only 23rd on the defensive side.

 

“The (Buffalo) defense is good when they have a lead, but they are small, and you can lean on them a little bit that way,” an opposing coach said.

 

Think Mike Vrabel (listed playing weight: 261) might want to lean on an undersized opponent? Did you see the way the 227-pound Rhamondre Stevenson was running in Tennessee?

 

To be clear, no one is writing off the Bills.

 

“Mentally, as much as anything else, it’s hard to stay that hungry, and I see Buffalo as a team that thinks they can flip the switch at some point, because they have been good for a long time,” an exec said. “They have been taking everybody’s best shot for 3-4 years now. It is just hard to stay sharp.”

it’s almost as if I keep saying the WR addition might dramatically help the defense key in on just stopping the pass. 
 

It’s the old colts undersized defense that needs to play with a lead, essentially. Stop the run by scoring early and not letting up. Rush the passer one dimensionally and get the turnover.

Edited 7 hours ago by NoSaint

[26TrapDraw]

Everybody eats……ricecakes

[Kirby Jackson]

3 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

it’s almost as if I keep saying the WR addition might dramatically help the defense key in on just stopping the pass. 
 

It’s the old colts undersized defense that needs to play with a lead, essentially. Stop the run by scoring early and not letting up. Rush the passer one dimensionally and get the turnover.

The best way to stop the run is don’t allow  them to run. Go up 2 scores and keep your foot on the gas. Make teams keep up!! Don’t try to keep it close and hang on at the end.

[90sBills]

2 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

No, no, no. KC used 2 seconds (Moore & Rice) AND traded up in the 1st (Worthy) for WRs SINCE Tyreek Hill left. They signed former 1st rounders, Toney and Hollywood Brown along with former 2nd round picks Hardman and Juju. They took lots of swings on high end talents with varying degrees of success. That’s 7 guys with a first or 2nd round pedigree added since the Tyreek trade (off the top of my head). They did literally the opposite of just roll with whatever. They spent a ton of resources trying to find the number one and they have it with Rice.

Moore was a bust. Toney was a bust. Hardman was a bust. Juju and MVS couldn’t make it anywhere else. Those were their receivers when they won Super Bowl 57 against the Eagles.

 

Rice was a rookie when they won Super Bowl 58 after guys like Toney and Sky Moore were dropping passes all season. Then last year was when they overhauled again and got Brown and drafted Worthy. Rice seems to have developed into a #1. 
 

Yes KC invested in pass catchers. Most have not panned out but they were still winning Lombardi’s. Bills also have invested in a lot of pass catchers. 3 starters out of the ‘22-‘24 drafts. There aren’t any trophies to show for it so it seems worse. 

[Kirby Jackson]

41 minutes ago, 90sBills said:

Moore was a bust. Toney was a bust. Hardman was a bust. Juju and MVS couldn’t make it anywhere else. Those were their receivers when they won Super Bowl 57 against the Eagles.

 

Rice was a rookie when they won Super Bowl 58 after guys like Toney and Sky Moore were dropping passes all season. Then last year was when they overhauled again and got Brown and drafted Worthy. Rice seems to have developed into a #1. 
 

Yes KC invested in pass catchers. Most have not panned out but they were still winning Lombardi’s. Bills also have invested in a lot of pass catchers. 3 starters out of the ‘22-‘24 drafts. There aren’t any trophies to show for it so it seems worse. 

Being right about a selection and trying to find an alpha aren’t the same thing. I’m not using the result to be right. I’m using their process. They have CONSISTENTLY swung early to find a guy. Rice is the guy. He’s a 1200 yard+ guy that demands targets. Worthy looks like a high end 2 and Juju & Hollywood are solid role players. 
 

There is a MAJOR difference in drafting guys early, signing former high end players and having Mack Hollins lead your team in WR snaps. The Bills haven’t actively tried to find an alpha. They’ve tried to find varying skill sets. The Chiefs have tried to find stars. The Bills PROCESS is as flawed as the guys. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[90sBills]

17 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Being right about a selection and trying to find in alpha aren’t the same thing. I’m not using the result to be right. I’m using their process. They have CONSISTENTLY swung early to find a guy. Rice is the guy. He’s a 1200 yard+ guy that demands targets. Worthy looks like a high end 2 and Juju & Hollywood are solid role players. 
 

There is a MAJOR difference in drafting guys early, signing former high end players and having Mack Hollins lead your team in WR snaps. The Bills haven’t actively tried to find an alpha. They’ve tried to find varying skill sets. The Chiefs have tried to find stars. The Bills PROCESS is as flawed as the guys. 

I’m not completely disagreeing with that notion at all. My post was about ‘everyone eats’ philosophy. That’s exactly what KC did the two years immediately after trading Tyreek Hill. They got Super Bowl trophies out of it while we’re getting knocked out of the playoffs the same way year after year. Not everyone can operate the way KC can. Allen needs a legit #1 receiver. Brady also needs to design better schemes. 
 

Rice looks to have great upside. But remember he only played 2.5 games last season. In his rookie year he didn’t come on until late in the season. And this year he has played 1 game. So he hasn’t exactly been the reason they went to 3 straight Super Bowls.