LAMP - Anyone else still overall pessimistic about this season/Super Bowl chances?

[Virgil]

Ugh, while I hate a LAMP post, I've been struggling with my disconnect from the Bills season so far and more so am curious to see if anyone else is feeling the same way.  Many people know me on here as a poster for over 20 years, season ticket holder of both the old and new stadium, and definitely capable of allowing this "game" to affect me on an emotional level that isn't super healthy.

Going into this season, my expectations were #1 seed and Super Bowl or bust.  Last season, I genuinely believed we were going to the Super Bowl and were going to beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.  I had visions of a Super Bowl parade, which is something I never dared allow myself to think about.  With this season, between our easy schedule, easy division, offseason focus on the defense, and expectation that our offense would continue to find dominant success, it felt like our time.  Now, 5-2 later with a half-game deficit to the surging Patriots and peaking Chiefs coming in this week, I find myself just waiting for the 5 seed and a division round exit from the playoffs.  In prior years, I would have chalked this all up to BBFS, which would have been washed away with our beating of the Panthers in such dominating fashion.  Yet here I am the next day, writing this, because I still just can't shake the feeling that we've peaked and Josh won't bring one home.  Yes, Josh probably has another ten years in him at least, and that assumption is a ridiculous one to make.  But here I am.

 

When I try to pinpoint where all of this is coming from, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's stemming from the rising Patriots.  I never expected the AFC East to always be terrible, nor did I want to be handed anything.  Seeing the Pats and Maye grow as a team and building a potential winning culture is reminding me of what we've had over the past five years and how quickly things can change.  While it was just us vs the Chiefs for a while, now we have the Chiefs getting their offense of 3 years ago back, a genuine challenger in the the Pats who already beat us at home and equally have an easy schedule, plus the rise of other teams.  All of that together just makes me feel like we really missed our opportunity these past five years to seize our window.  

 

There's also the human element in that sometimes we forget that Josh, McD, Pegula, and everyone else are just people that are capable of crashing out.  Think about job hunting.  It would only be natural to get defeated after going through numerous interviews, putting your best game face on with a great resume, only to get passed over time and time again.  Josh has had the Super Bowl right in front of him multiple times, only to come up short.  At what point, does he start to doubt himself or those around him?  Would you blame him?  I'm not saying that's what is happening this season, but something is clearly off with Josh.  I get having a bad game or making a bad throw, but I used to count on one hand how many errand throws Josh would make in a game.  This season, I need more hands.  I'm not going to play the game of guessing why, because I can't possibly know.  Things just feel different. 

 

With McD, I'm incredibly torn.  Like most coaches, I think McD struggles to find the right amount of influence to put out there.  I think McD has a very specific vision for how he wants both sides of the ball to operate, and knows he is more than capable to run the defense.  But as McD has said, he also knows that he needs to trust his coaches and focus on other things as a Head Coach.  Like a parent, you have to know when to let your kid fail and skin their knee.  However, as this is a job, he needs to also know the threshold that could cost him his job.  All I know is, this is his team, he has the support of the Pegulas, and this is the bed we've made.

 

Yes, I'm rambling a bit and don't have the answers.  All I know is, I didn't enjoy the win yesterday as I should have.  I don't have the any real optimism about this team anymore.  I wish it wasn't the case, but it's just how I feel.  I'm still not going to miss a game.  I'm still going to wear by gear.  But even with the Chiefs game this week, I feel like it's a lose lose.  If we win, it keeps us up with the Pats and gives us the tie breaker for the one seed, but we've seen what beating the Chiefs in the regular season gets us.   If we lose, which I think we will, then I feel like the one seed and division are gone.  

 

Anyways, sorry to crap in anyone's cereal and I'm sure some will take the opportunity to flame away.  But if I we get one LAMP a season, I'm cashing mine in now.

[CirclnWagons]

My opinions on the rest of the season rely heavily on the actions taken by the front office prior to the deadline. There are some gaping holes on this team and if we make a meaningful move or two then I am optimistic that there is belief they can compete for a championship. If not, it’s just another year of seeing how far they can ride on Josh’s other worldly talent and being totally fine going home early 

[Einstein]

I think we will know more around 7:30pm next Sunday.

[bmur66]

What's a LAMP?

[BillsFan130]

I don't see this team winning the Super Bowl as I don't trust their coaching and I think they have massive holes on the roster.

 

But... I hope I'm Wrong of course and there's always a chance with JA17 at QB

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I mean, the passing game is God-awful.

[Success]

I agree on the Pats' rise. That team reminds me so much of where we were 4-5 years ago.  And it's impossible to not notice the difference in body language if you watch their games & our games.  And for us fans, the specter of the Pats reclaiming the division before we even get a ring w/ Allen is like a theme from so many movies they'll show this week for Halloween.  "Just when you thought it was over...."

 

I'm probably reading too much into body language, or what I see as some weariness in Josh in some of his pressers - but it feels like a kind of malaise over this team right now.  Even putting up a 40 burger yesterday felt more like we NEEDED that just to have a bit of hope that the team we've come to know is still there, but so much of it still felt kind of flukey.  The passing game still underwhelms.  It's hard to tell if the D really turned a corner even though they had a solid game.

 

Sports is kind of a tough thing most of the time.  I'm the same as you - it's not healthy how invested I get.  My son talks like we HAVE to win a SB with a QB like Josh, but life isn't really about fairness and balance.  The Pats might win 6 more before we ever win one, if we ever do, for all I know.  That sounds pessimistic, but I'm just saying it's as possible as any other outcome.  We're not promised anything, or guaranteed anything.  Lots of great QB's have never won the Super Bowl, and lots of fans have gone their whole lives without seeing a title.

 

All that said - all it would take for me would be getting a headline about Olave or BTJ or someone like that, and I'd be all in for a ring this season.

Edited 4 hours ago by Success

[zow2]

Sometimes a perennial playoff team has a down season.. and it's natural to think it's just not their year.  But then they make the playoffs and go on an unexpected run. That's pretty much where I'm at.  Hoping for the best, but preparing for an early exit.

[Sojourner]

I’ll only ever be in entire belief of a superbowl if we made an appearance the year before; win or lose. 
 

Getting to the big show is a rough obstacle where we’ve come extremely close but fallen just short continuously. 
 

Always live in hope, never pessimistic. Just a realist. 

[Kirby Jackson]

I’m with you @Virgil. Last year, I was pleasantly surprised. Coming into this year, and after week 1, I was POSITIVE that they were getting the 1 seed. This year set up PERFECTLY for them. They have an easy schedule. Burrow is out for a while. Lamar has been out and has the Ravens in a massive hole. KC started slowly and really missed Rice. The Bills were basically playing with a head start. They haven’t been nearly as good as last year, despite an easier path. The WR hole is still massive and limits the potential to be great IMO. 
 

Yesterday, was nice to see. That’s the best game that they’ve played this year. When the Bills get the lead they’re tough. They can run the ball and teams can’t run against them. When the Bills get behind, it’s tough to imagine them closing the gap (yes I know the Baltimore game). If teams can run the ball and the Bills are forced into just the passing game, with the current roster, it’s tough. Those guys legit stink. The lead is so important for this group.

[Gregg]

I don't see them playing in one much less winning one with this FO. Nine years and they still can't get it done. Change (IMHO) is needed but Terry won't fire them at least not anytime soon.

[billsbackto81]

25 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Ugh, while I hate a LAMP post, I've been struggling with my disconnect from the Bills season so far and more so am curious to see if anyone else is feeling the same way.  Many people know me on here as a poster for over 20 years, season ticket holder of both the old and new stadium, and definitely capable of allowing this "game" to affect me on an emotional level that isn't super healthy.

Going into this season, my expectations were #1 seed and Super Bowl or bust.  Last season, I genuinely believed we were going to the Super Bowl and were going to beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.  I had visions of a Super Bowl parade, which is something I never dared allow myself to think about.  With this season, between our easy schedule, easy division, offseason focus on the defense, and expectation that our offense would continue to find dominant success, it felt like our time.  Now, 5-2 later with a half-game deficit to the surging Patriots and peaking Chiefs coming in this week, I find myself just waiting for the 5 seed and a division round exit from the playoffs.  In prior years, I would have chalked this all up to BBFS, which would have been washed away with our beating of the Panthers in such dominating fashion.  Yet here I am the next day, writing this, because I still just can't shake the feeling that we've peaked and Josh won't bring one home.  Yes, Josh probably has another ten years in him at least, and that assumption is a ridiculous one to make.  But here I am.

 

When I try to pinpoint where all of this is coming from, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's stemming from the rising Patriots.  I never expected the AFC East to always be terrible, nor did I want to be handed anything.  Seeing the Pats and Maye grow as a team and building a potential winning culture is reminding me of what we've had over the past five years and how quickly things can change.  While it was just us vs the Chiefs for a while, now we have the Chiefs getting their offense of 3 years ago back, a genuine challenger in the the Pats who already beat us at home and equally have an easy schedule, plus the rise of other teams.  All of that together just makes me feel like we really missed our opportunity these past five years to seize our window.  

 

There's also the human element in that sometimes we forget that Josh, McD, Pegula, and everyone else are just people that are capable of crashing out.  Think about job hunting.  It would only be natural to get defeated after going through numerous interviews, putting your best game face on with a great resume, only to get passed over time and time again.  Josh has had the Super Bowl right in front of him multiple times, only to come up short.  At what point, does he start to doubt himself or those around him?  Would you blame him?  I'm not saying that's what is happening this season, but something is clearly off with Josh.  I get having a bad game or making a bad throw, but I used to count on one hand how many errand throws Josh would make in a game.  This season, I need more hands.  I'm not going to play the game of guessing why, because I can't possibly know.  Things just feel different. 

 

With McD, I'm incredibly torn.  Like most coaches, I think McD struggles to find the right amount of influence to put out there.  I think McD has a very specific vision for how he wants both sides of the ball to operate, and knows he is more than capable to run the defense.  But as McD has said, he also knows that he needs to trust his coaches and focus on other things as a Head Coach.  Like a parent, you have to know when to let your kid fail and skin their knee.  However, as this is a job, he needs to also know the threshold that could cost him his job.  All I know is, this is his team, he has the support of the Pegulas, and this is the bed we've made.

 

Yes, I'm rambling a bit and don't have the answers.  All I know is, I didn't enjoy the win yesterday as I should have.  I don't have the any real optimism about this team anymore.  I wish it wasn't the case, but it's just how I feel.  I'm still not going to miss a game.  I'm still going to wear by gear.  But even with the Chiefs game this week, I feel like it's a lose lose.  If we win, it keeps us up with the Pats and gives us the tie breaker for the one seed, but we've seen what beating the Chiefs in the regular season gets us.   If we lose, which I think we will, then I feel like the one seed and division are gone.  

 

Anyways, sorry to crap in anyone's cereal and I'm sure some will take the opportunity to flame away.  But if I we get one LAMP a season, I'm cashing mine in now.

Right now Virgil I'm just trying to see us in the playoffs, regardless of seeding. 

 

Also, NE hasn't reclaimed the East or anything other than the appearance of a competent football team. Its not like their 4 games up with 3 to go. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by billsbackto81

[strive_for_five_guy]

We beat the Chiefs next weekend, we’ll

all be feeling a lot better about the outlook for this season.  Win against the Chiefs or not, I don’t believe the Pats have actually surpassed us, and this team will leave no doubt who the top of the AFC East belongs to later this season.  We’ve seen it before with McD and Josh, and we’re going to see it again.

[Big Turk]

No. When the Bills best is required, we typically get it. Now we need to see that actually carry over for the defense against KC in the playoffs if we meet them.

[Process]

We'll have a much better idea where this team stands in two weeks

 

We play the chiefs, there is the trade deadline, and then we play one of the worst secondaries in the league and a team Josh historically owns. 

 

If the passing game still looks bad, oof

[BillsFan130]

2 minutes ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

We beat the Chiefs next weekend, we’ll

all be feeling a lot better about the outlook for this season.  Win against the Chiefs or not, I don’t believe the Pats have actually surpassed us, and this team will leave no doubt who the top of the AFC East belongs to later this season.  We’ve seen it before with McD and Josh, and we’re going to see it again.

I think the bills are better than the Pats even though we lost that game.

But the problem is the Pats schedule is such a joke. Bills will probably have to go at least 12-5 to win the division. (Which of course is possible)

[billsfanmiamioh]

The only consolation I keep telling myself is that it’s a long season and a long road once the playoffs start. A lot can still happen between now and then. The Pats look formidable but they are not “battle tested” like the Bills are. I do agree however that there are some major concerns with this team right now, and it doesn’t “feel” like a Super Bowl team. 
 

At the same time, we’ve had other teams in recent years that did “feel” like Super Bowl teams and it didn’t work out. All that matters is getting to the playoffs and anything can happen, but I hope we’re not spending an entire offseason again talking about how we came up just short again. 

[corta765]

Seasons to me are all defined by expectations and the eye test. Last year virtually everyone thought it was a reset year of sorts and instead it was a wonderful season that unfortunately ended in "what if". This season the hope was to build on last year and take the final step after years of spinning our tires to get the 1 seed and finally make the SB. The defense was always going to be a work in progress and the injuries have derailed whatever max potential exists, but the offense while good in many ways fails the eye test when it comes to passing right now. The one flaw which people have said going back to Diggs final year was the WR corp where you have wanted to add talent and they haven't done that.

 

I enjoyed yesterday, winning is always nice and to knock a team down like that was a good return to form. But I can feel your sentiment at the same time because:

-Josh is not getting younger 

-McD is year 8 with a defense that is shaky right now even if the potential in areas like the dline is more

-KC is hot and their offense looks dynamic especially passing the ball something we use to be dynamic in

-NE's fast rise with Maye means it is not a cake walk to the division crown as it has been in every year minus 2023 where you could have bad weeks and losses. Additionally it is always more fun to be on the rise as a team then be established (unless you win every year) because optimism is boundless and the sky feels like it is the limit

 

So yea I get your feeling they missed the window or it is narrower because truthfully it is and that invisible clock is far closer to closing time then feeling endless. The window opened in 2019 and like you said we have come oh so close and now you can see we probably have Josh at his max for 4-5 years tops before you need him to be more Brady/Peyton esq in his later years passing the ball more which also means the org consciously building a team that can do that. The KC loss in the AFC title this past year forever altered my view of the org/coach and our window and it seems to have for many others. Time is not limitless and a golden chance went through our fingers with no guarantee it comes back. With that said sports are really weird and winning is hard for even the best. Most elite QBs have a ring/at least have made the dance, but Brady/Mahomes really skew the bar on what is normal. If you told me in 2010 Aaron Rodgers would have only one ring today and not even appeared in another SB I would've been stunned. Drew Brees got royally screwed back to back years in the playoffs from seeing another SB. The frustration that seems to be seeping out for real is we want this window to be as large as possible with what time we have left and the org's moves make you question if that is really being done from how drafts have gone to how the WR corp has been treated to the coach himself. If tomorrow they landed Olave or Ridley and Harrison Phillips at DT (examples not my actual wishes) to help plug with Oliver out there would be a lot of relief by fans on the said window and how it is being handled.

 

The eye test right now says more can be done to help a team with high expectations and previous results have everyone feeling the same ending (or worse) if nothing changes. I sincerely hope that changes so I can just go back to dreaming and not thinking "if only".

[Gregthekeg]

8 minutes ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

We beat the Chiefs next weekend, we’ll

all be feeling a lot better about the outlook for this season.  Win against the Chiefs or not, I don’t believe the Pats have actually surpassed us, and this team will leave no doubt who the top of the AFC East belongs to later this season.  We’ve seen it before with McD and Josh, and we’re going to see it again.

When they played the Pats this season it was the worst they have played at home in years, way too many flags, awful turnovers, terrible officiating, and they only lost by 3 points. This happens any time they lose to someone in the conference. Everyone panicking and saying it looks like the tides are turning and AFCE will be going through NE for the next decade. 

 

If they won that game vs the Patriots the Bills would be in the one seed (even with the Atlanta hiccup game) and nobody would be worried about NE. They seem to have one game every year with this team that you look back on that doesnt make any sense how they lost. I think they will only get better and the teams like the colts, broncos, and pats will show why in the beginning of the season they were expected to be wild card teams.

Edited 4 hours ago by Gregthekeg

[BeastMaster]

18 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Ugh, while I hate a LAMP post, I've been struggling with my disconnect from the Bills season so far and more so am curious to see if anyone else is feeling the same way.  Many people know me on here as a poster for over 20 years, season ticket holder of both the old and new stadium, and definitely capable of allowing this "game" to affect me on an emotional level that isn't super healthy.

Going into this season, my expectations were #1 seed and Super Bowl or bust.  Last season, I genuinely believed we were going to the Super Bowl and were going to beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.  I had visions of a Super Bowl parade, which is something I never dared allow myself to think about.  With this season, between our easy schedule, easy division, offseason focus on the defense, and expectation that our offense would continue to find dominant success, it felt like our time.  Now, 5-2 later with a half-game deficit to the surging Patriots and peaking Chiefs coming in this week, I find myself just waiting for the 5 seed and a division round exit from the playoffs.  In prior years, I would have chalked this all up to BBFS, which would have been washed away with our beating of the Panthers in such dominating fashion.  Yet here I am the next day, writing this, because I still just can't shake the feeling that we've peaked and Josh won't bring one home.  Yes, Josh probably has another ten years in him at least, and that assumption is a ridiculous one to make.  But here I am.

 

When I try to pinpoint where all of this is coming from, as much as I hate to say it, I think it's stemming from the rising Patriots.  I never expected the AFC East to always be terrible, nor did I want to be handed anything.  Seeing the Pats and Maye grow as a team and building a potential winning culture is reminding me of what we've had over the past five years and how quickly things can change.  While it was just us vs the Chiefs for a while, now we have the Chiefs getting their offense of 3 years ago back, a genuine challenger in the the Pats who already beat us at home and equally have an easy schedule, plus the rise of other teams.  All of that together just makes me feel like we really missed our opportunity these past five years to seize our window.  

 

There's also the human element in that sometimes we forget that Josh, McD, Pegula, and everyone else are just people that are capable of crashing out.  Think about job hunting.  It would only be natural to get defeated after going through numerous interviews, putting your best game face on with a great resume, only to get passed over time and time again.  Josh has had the Super Bowl right in front of him multiple times, only to come up short.  At what point, does he start to doubt himself or those around him?  Would you blame him?  I'm not saying that's what is happening this season, but something is clearly off with Josh.  I get having a bad game or making a bad throw, but I used to count on one hand how many errand throws Josh would make in a game.  This season, I need more hands.  I'm not going to play the game of guessing why, because I can't possibly know.  Things just feel different. 

 

With McD, I'm incredibly torn.  Like most coaches, I think McD struggles to find the right amount of influence to put out there.  I think McD has a very specific vision for how he wants both sides of the ball to operate, and knows he is more than capable to run the defense.  But as McD has said, he also knows that he needs to trust his coaches and focus on other things as a Head Coach.  Like a parent, you have to know when to let your kid fail and skin their knee.  However, as this is a job, he needs to also know the threshold that could cost him his job.  All I know is, this is his team, he has the support of the Pegulas, and this is the bed we've made.

 

Yes, I'm rambling a bit and don't have the answers.  All I know is, I didn't enjoy the win yesterday as I should have.  I don't have the any real optimism about this team anymore.  I wish it wasn't the case, but it's just how I feel.  I'm still not going to miss a game.  I'm still going to wear by gear.  But even with the Chiefs game this week, I feel like it's a lose lose.  If we win, it keeps us up with the Pats and gives us the tie breaker for the one seed, but we've seen what beating the Chiefs in the regular season gets us.   If we lose, which I think we will, then I feel like the one seed and division are gone.  

 

Anyways, sorry to crap in anyone's cereal and I'm sure some will take the opportunity to flame away.  But if I we get one LAMP a season, I'm cashing mine in now.

I'm pretty much right there with you

 

Last season I felt like if there was a time for the Bills to get over the Chiefs hump it was then. They didn't, and everything since has left me uninspired. 

 

Free agency was disappointing to me, and I was not overly impressed with the draft either.

 

The team has looked mediocre at best most of the year, and watching Vrabel in his rookie season with the Pats hand McDermott his behind at home was about as depressing as it gets

 

I decided I wasn't buying Sunday Ticket for the first time in forever, and I took a wait and see approach on planning a trip to Buffalo to see them when I go every year for sure

 

I think the only thing that pulls me back in is if McDermott is relieved of his duties, and that won't happen unless he fails miserably this season (possible).

 

I'm a fan and always will be, but my emotional and financial investment isn't what it was and it won't change until I feel as if the organization is doing everything it can to support Josh Allen and get him a real shot at winning a ring.