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

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

I still feel pretty good…I think fans are a little bit disconnected from win probability because nobody likes it when their team runs the football a lot haha feels like there’s a lot of ‘defensive coordinators just haven’t cared about stopping the run yet but just you wait they will soon’ style of thinking which I don’t really agree with
 

i really think this running game with Hawes/gilliam involved is very much approaching the ‘you know it’s coming and good luck stopping it with your modern nfl defense’ level. 
 

I get the panic over the wide receivers and would like to see them add one, but to me a lot of it comes down to the defense which I’ve been pretty optimistic on them turning it around.  If they get boatraced by kc ill probably be in panic mode haha 

Edited 2 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan

[DapperCam]

I think we split with the Pats and still win the division. I think the offense has sort of been figured out. If a team can stop the run and has decent corners they can give us a really hard time. The defense really lacks talent all over, and a lot of our talented players have seemingly regressed (Benford, Taron Johnson, Bernard). Hard to see us winning a Super Bowl like that unless Allen and Cook go Super Saiyan (it's possible).

 

I'll feel better about the offense if we can somehow trade for a good boundary WR, but the defense is still going to be a problem and, like playoffs past, will be our undoing.

[ngbills]

35 minutes ago, Success said:

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.

Reading your comment about body language really stands out. Thinking about the Bills this year it does seem like they are coasting and just a mellow kind of care free attitude. I don't see a ton of fire from most of the guys. The positive spin would be this is a mature team now and understands the expectations are super bowl. The games dont mean a lot until you get to the playoffs. The concern is that its more a reflection of the culture, settling for be good not great, life is bigger than football, lack of that fiery and tough leader, etc. 

[gonzo1105]

I say it every year, we have just as good a shot as anyone to win it. About making clutch plays at the clutch times 

[TheBrownBear]

4 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Reading your comment about body language really stands out. Thinking about the Bills this year it does seem like they are coasting and just a mellow kind of care free attitude. I don't see a ton of fire from most of the guys. The positive spin would be this is a mature team now and understands the expectations are super bowl. The games dont mean a lot until you get to the playoffs. The concern is that its more a reflection of the culture, settling for be good not great, life is bigger than football, lack of that fiery and tough leader, etc. 

To be honest, I got that vibe while watching Hard Knocks. It just seemed like the Bills were so relaxed, as if the philosophy was that they didn't want or need to be super sharp, focused and aggressive right from the get go. That they would ramp up as the season wore on or something. You kind of saw that in the Bears preseason blowout (I know it was our second string vs their starters).

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 hour 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.

My opinion is, this season will be what it will be. The older I get the more I focus on just enjoying the games one by one. Enjoying the time with friends and family that come with the games. A Super Bowl win would be amazing in my lifetime. But if not, it is what it is. Gone are the days that I sit up unable to sleep pondering possible trades. If we hit the one seed, if we make it in as a Wild Card, it is what it will be. I have no control over it 

[Virgil]

Just now, TheBrownBear said:

To be honest, I got that vibe while watching Hard Knocks. It just seemed like the Bills were so relaxed, as if the philosophy was that they didn't want or need to be super sharp, focused and aggressive right from the get go. That they would ramp up as the season wore on or something. You kind of saw that in the Bears preseason blowout (I know it was our second string vs their starters).

 

The one thing I'm not giving us credit for is how the Chiefs also seem to do this every year.  They come out slow, we deem them to be washed and their offense to be old, and then they turn it on.  They obviously get more of the benefit of the doubt because they've won it all and we haven't, but it does feel similar.  

[extrahammer]

FWIW - I generally have a rule to let former players in the media give me analysis on my team only, not coaches or anyone else, and we're still getting a lot of respect from former players in the media. FWIW!!!! I've been here since the 80's, lol. 

[starrymessenger]

Looks like the Pats have found their guy. He made some great throws yesterday with guys in his face. Extremely cool hand for a second year QB.

Pats are a team on the move and headed in the right direction, like we were years ago. Honestly im fine with that. I’d rather play (and hopefully beat) a good team than wipe the floor with dishrags week after week. 

I’m less concerned about them than I am about us.

[bmur66]

31 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

Look At Me Post.

 

These are typically the cringiest posts where the OP makes it about them and their feelings, not really contributing to a conversation.  

 

Basically, me being a baby about a football team. 

Ahh. I see

[Max Fischer]

If the passing attack showed anything after the bye I would be much more optimistic.

 

I would be fine overpaying for a top receiver who could beat man-to-man because I confident that would loosen up the coverages and get things rolling.  Sounds simple but that might be enough.   

[Kirby Jackson]

Nate Geary was tweeting something similar. Basically, “I’m having a hard time getting all excited about this KC game. I’ve seen them win big regular season games.” It feels like this year, getting to where we’ve been won’t satisfy anybody. I was maybe a little early on the “AFC East titles and a playoff win or 2 isn’t enough.” Lol, I would have fired this regime after 13 seconds like George Steinbrenner. 🤣🤣 I’m not sure if that would have been good or bad. It seems like everyone is there now. The windows in this league aren’t forever. The Bills have had a WIDE open window and it is closing. It doesn’t mean that they can’t win moving forward but teams are catching up and their roster is largely what it will be moving forward. This is the core group that you’ll be rolling with for the next few years. I feel like they are further away today than they were 4 or 5 years ago. That’s not a good feeling.

Edited 2 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[GunnerBill]

I started the season more confident than I started last season. But now I am back to about where I was in 2024. This is a playoff team, they will win a playoff game or two, but they lack the gamebreakers to make them more than that and they'd need a fair bit of luck to get over the hump. 

[ngbills]

8 minutes ago, DapperCam said:

I think we split with the Pats and still win the division. I think the offense has sort of been figured out. If a team can stop the run and has decent corners they can give us a really hard time. The defense really lacks talent all over, and a lot of our talented players have seemingly regressed (Benford, Taron Johnson, Bernard). Hard to see us winning a Super Bowl like that unless Allen and Cook go Super Saiyan (it's possible).

 

I'll feel better about the offense if we can somehow trade for a good boundary WR, but the defense is still going to be a problem and, like playoffs past, will be our undoing.

Pats need to lose to TB and BUF; Plus one of the games they should win. That gets them to 12-5.

Bills will need to beat the Pats and can only lose KC, TB, PHI. Losses to PIT or HOU could give NE the division. 

[Chicken Boo]

40 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

Look At Me Post.

 

These are typically the cringiest posts where the OP makes it about them and their feelings, not really contributing to a conversation.  

 

Basically, me being a baby about a football team. 

 

I thought it was Long Aaah Mf Post 😄

[Pete]

If Bills trade for a true #1 WR, and if Bills stay healthy, they are winning the SuperBowl IMO.

 

If we do not get a #1 WR, we might not make the playoffs, or just barely make a wildcard IMO

[boyst]

It's not out of this world to see where we have losses to KC, TB, Phili, Houston, and NE. If we are playing that bad it'd be conceivable to lose to Pittsburgh, too.

 

That's 8 losses. 

[T.E.]

When you have the best QB in football and still struggle to get into any rhythm in regards to the passing game, that is pretty alarming. It's difficult to look at what this coaching staff is doing with Allen as a fan and not be discouraged; I can't even imagine how he must feel as the guy actually experiencing it.

 

I just don't see how a deep playoff run is possible when giving your best player opportunities to succeed is like pulling teeth, but that could very well change.

[HOUSE]

1 hour ago, bmur66 said:

What's a LAMP?

Stops you from missing the stairs and an easy path to the bathroom

[starrymessenger]

6 minutes ago, T.E. said:

When you have the best QB in football and still struggle to get into any rhythm in regards to the passing game, that is pretty alarming. It's difficult to look at what this coaching staff is doing with Allen as a fan and not be discouraged; I can't even imagine how he must feel as the guy actually experiencing it.

 

I just don't see how a deep playoff run is possible when giving your best player opportunities to succeed is like pulling teeth, but that could very well change.

Josh is a good citizen. He is trying to do what he is being asked to do. But it’s just not him. They have turned a stallion into a gelding. That is a capital felony.

Edited 2 hours ago by starrymessenger