Did you think this was our year?

[finn]

Only insofar as the universe likes to play impish tricks, like the Patriots going to the championship game with a second-year quarterback, a new coach, and a less than spectacular roster. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Bills had kept stumbling all the way to a Super Bowl victory, the ball bouncing for the and against them the whole time, never dominating, never being dominated. It almost happened. Arguably, it should have happened, since they are definitely better than the Broncos and New England, and they could easily have shown up against the Seahawks or Rams. 

 

But it was an off year, no question. Not just in terms of talent but focus, too. They were flat against opponents they should have crushed, like the Falcons and Dolphins. That might have been on McDermott, since team focus is one of his jobs. But my theory is that the veterans were psychologically fatigued, much like the Chiefs players were this year, too, and maybe the Ravens as well. You go to the well year after year after year, you've seen it all before, and it's just hard to answer the bell game after game, especially in the regular season (in the playoffs they were injured, short-weeked, etc.). Compare to even last year, when they seemed to be surfing a wave that was swelling under them, carrying them, improbably, to destiny. They were genuinely surprised they lost, I think. Or how about the 2021 season, which started off so rocky but then suddenly came into focus, ending in two magnificent games by Allen, who arguably played the best pair of playoff games in league history. 

 

This year felt anticlimactic from the start, the afterparty, or denouement for your literary types, as if they still had a sour taste left over from last season. Doesn't bode well for next year, I'm afraid, not after The Catch. Hard to get over that. Ask Scott Norwood and his teammates. Right now, the narrative is all wrong, and it's not clear what the new one could be. You're no longer the new kid on the block, or the comeback kids, or resilient crew, or Team of Destiny, or the Big Surprise. Now, the Bills are past due, has-beens (or, worse, never-weres). Maybe it was best to fire McDermott for this reason alone. They need a makeover, a fresh story. I'd love to see a young, energetic coach, dynamic coordinators, some bold moves in the draft and free agency to bring in real rock stars. Energy is what they need to combat the deep weariness and faint sense of despair that is setting in. 

[Goin Breakdown]

In my heart of hearts.....no. Too banged up. When you start off a year hoping your suspended players will arrive and put you on the right path, you've already kind of determined you're not exactly good enough. Couple that with inconsistent play. Just felt like we never knew what team we were going to get from week to week. 

Edited January 24 by Goin Breakdown

[Andy1]

At the start of the season, the schedule looked desirable. For the roster on paper, I thought they finally solved the defensive line issues. I still questioned their WR talent but thought they might be able to be adequate with some development from Keon and a healthy Palmer. Those plans all fell apart as the injury bug hit us hard. About midway through the season, I came to accept that it would be very difficult to get to the final game, given who we had lost due to injury. The injuries just kept coming, even into the Denver game. Backups can rarely replace starters adequately. 
 

To get to the final two, you need coaching, talent and luck. At the end of the season, we were short on the ingredients. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

2 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

After we got by Jacksonville I did think we were going to win it all.

same. We beat the best team. These other teams are very mid, at least in the AFC.

[KOKBILLS]

Well... It's never our year because God hates us...

But other than that I felt like the Bills could beat anybody on any given day, and they could lose to anybody... I think this Playoff field set up better than any single one in the Josh years, and I definitely felt like if a couple things went our way we could win it all... But I had zero...and I mean zero confidence in McD and that Defense in the Playoffs... I'm not an idiot and I would not be fooled again. I just figured Josh could go on a 4 game heater and do it that way... It was within the realm of possibility at least...

[Puckman5]

Yes if McDermott was relieved of his duties before the playoffs. 

[BritBill]

Not until after the Jags win. That’ll teach me. 

[Urban Achievers]

Kind of but then not really. After last season I thought we were going to have a great offseason with new weapons for Josh and a good defensive draft.  
 

When training camp finished I was still optimistic but not as confident with the roster. By mid season I had that feeling injuries were gonna get us again not to mention still no one there to help Josh.  It also bothered me that we never knew who the hell was calling the defense and we usually failed to turn it on until 2nd half. 
 

Just a weird vibe from beginning to end. 
 

Hopefully we land a coach and a staff that give us renewed confidence and some moxie which has been sorely missing these last couple of seasons. 

 

Go Bills! 

[Virgil]

After Jacksonville, the thoughts crept in.  But I didn’t think we’d win the Super Bowl.  But the idea of a bye week with McD before the big game made me think it was possible.  
 

I fought to keep myself in check.  

[NeverOutNick]

I think every year we have Josh Allen is our year. That’s why I never wanna hear leadership state it’s a rebuilding year when we have the best player on the planet.

[Buffalo ill]

I thought the Bills had a good shot at going to the superbowl until our offensive stars crapped all over themselves in the first half vs Denver.

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, Governor said:

I haven’t felt an “our year” yet, not even that one.

I hear you, but that’s as close as we have gotten, Sean’s defense was always predictable in the playoffs, it is difficult to overcome that sort of obstacle, 

[Old Coot]

It wasn't our year. We beat some good teams but played down to some weaker teams resulting in losses we should never have had.

 

Injuries degraded our roster.

 

As a 6 seed we get no home games. As others have noted, it's tough to win out in road games to get to the SB.

[4th&long]

No, I never thought it was our season. Look at the D. Look at the Wr. This team is josh Allen. That is good enough to get to the playoffs, not much else. 

Edited January 23 by 4th&long

[BeyondTheProcess]

Thought it was until Hoecht, Palmer, Samuel and Oliver went down.   They had a great roster, and then everyone kept getting hurt

[london_bills]

Well, in terms of this being our year, I wonder if Mcd regrets going for the field goal to go 4 points up.

[Southern McButterpants]

3 hours ago, juno999 said:

We do it every year. Make it harder for ourselves by playing dumb ball and losing games. 

Gee, I wonder what could be the root cause of this?  🧐

[BillsPride12]

Ironically enough I never felt that at all this season until going into the Denver game(hence the post I made about finally seeing the light lol) and it just really came down to thinking how easy the path to get the Super Bowl would be from there and that only makes me feel more depressed about the whole situation haha.

 

If the team was built properly this really should've been the Bills year to dominate.  It was time to go in a different direction the way things concluded 

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

Yes. But I felt that way probably 4 out of the last 6 years. 

[MikePJ76]

No I thought last year was. 
 

last year was magical and Andrew’s dropping the two point conversion is the kind of thing that happens to us.

 

wasn’t to be.