A Reason for Cautious Optimism in 2026

[st pete gogolak]

Going into 2025 season, I was very optimistic about our chances to win it all for three reasons:

1) schedule - it was as if the NFL actually wanted us in the SB - no overseas game; extra home game; playing worst NFC division, second worst AFC division, easy travel, toughest games were home games. I believe we were preseason favorites in all 17 games, which was wild.

2) division - Jets were going to be a mess, Dolphins could be anything from a mess to mediocre. Pats would be improved but not a threat (LOL). 6-0 or at worst 5-1 in the division.

3) influx of young talent on defense. We had to get better on D so I was pretty happy we loaded up on D in the draft. First four picks, six D picks overall.  But the rookie class really didn’t make an impact. McDermott wasn’t fond of playing rookies. Walker and Hairston flashed. Sanders, Strong and Hancock did to a lesser extent. Jackson was injured and didn’t show much when he played (and now Strong’s career may be in jeopardy because of injury).  In fact the biggest impact from “newcomers” on defense was probably Tre White and Shaq Thompson.  
 

So going into 2026, the schedule will be more difficult, New England will be an obstacle.  Why be optimistic?  Two words. Cole Bishop.  How many folks on this board labeled him a bust and wanted to get rid of him?  Now, his floor is solid starting safety and his ceiling is much, much higher.  I am looking for at least some of last year’s rookies to make similar leaps, especially Walker and Hairston. If we get lucky and three or four make the leap, coupled with a new DC and a new more aggressive approach on D, we could have the defense we need to not only get to the Super Bowl but win it. 

[Big Turk]

Reason for optimism is watching the Pats play a first place schedule for the first time in years.

[Matt_In_NH]

5 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Reason for optimism is watching the Pats play a first place schedule for the first time in years.

We play the same schedule as them except they play jags Pitt and Seattle.  Bills play Houston ravens and rams.   Not super clear the bills don’t have the worst of it.  

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Agree for the most part. NE has a 1st place schedule and works out pretty good as the home and away games gives us a big edge as we have a better bunch of home games for NFC North and AFC west than Pats do.  We go to Rams, Pats go to Seattle(that could be opening night rematch)  We go to Houston, Pats go to Jax, give NE a slight edge on that one.

 

We did have a pretty good looking rookie group in 2025, WR group can't get worse as same with the defense has to get better.  On offense need to possibly fix up the line depending what they do with McGovern and Edwards and get one WR and draft one.  On defense secondary looks solid and have a large number of players that could be good at Edge.  LB is the one area need to improve on.  

 

As for the comment on Bishop, he joins a long list of players labeled busts here at TBD only to look very good to excellent a year later by same people.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

We play the same schedule as them except they play jags Pitt and Seattle.  Bills play Houston ravens and rams.   Not super clear the bills don’t have the worst of it.  

 

 

Look at the home and away for AFC West and NFC North, think we have considerably easier home draw!

Edited February 9 by Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

[Jauronimo]

3 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

We play the same schedule as them except they play jags Pitt and Seattle.  Bills play Houston ravens and rams.   Not super clear the bills don’t have the worst of it.  

Please update thread title to "Zero Reasons for Optimism".

[blacklabel]

Schedules are always kind of a poopshoot tho. Every year there are teams hyped up as powerhouses who falter and then there are teams ignored who have a big, unexpected breakout season.

 

I'm always optimistic mainly because my team has this dude, happens to be my biological stepdad, he wears #17, maybe youse know him...

[Bob in STL]

15 minutes ago, st pete gogolak said:

Going into 2025 season, I was very optimistic about our chances to win it all for three reasons:

1) schedule - it was as if the NFL actually wanted us in the SB - no overseas game; extra home game; playing worst NFC division, second worst AFC division, easy travel, toughest games were home games. I believe we were preseason favorites in all 17 games, which was wild.

2) division - Jets were going to be a mess, Dolphins could be anything from a mess to mediocre. Pats would be improved but not a threat (LOL). 6-0 or at worst 5-1 in the division.

3) influx of young talent on defense. We had to get better on D so I was pretty happy we loaded up on D in the draft. First four picks, six D picks overall.  But the rookie class really didn’t make an impact. McDermott wasn’t fond of playing rookies. Walker and Hairston flashed. Sanders, Strong and Hancock did to a lesser extent. Jackson was injured and didn’t show much when he played (and now Strong’s career may be in jeopardy because of injury).  In fact the biggest impact from “newcomers” on defense was probably Tre White and Shaq Thompson.  
 

So going into 2026, the schedule will be more difficult, New England will be an obstacle.  Why be optimistic?  Two words. Cole Bishop.  How many folks on this board labeled him a bust and wanted to get rid of him?  Now, his floor is solid starting safety and his ceiling is much, much higher.  I am looking for at least some of last year’s rookies to make similar leaps, especially Walker and Hairston. If we get lucky and three or four make the leap, coupled with a new DC and a new more aggressive approach on D, we could have the defense we need to not only get to the Super Bowl but win it. 

Cole Bishop is your reason for optimism.   I need a little more than that.  

 

The new DC makes me optimistic but he needs players that fit what he wants to do.  Corners that can plan man, and a DL that can bring a pass rush.   

 

Not to mention the need for a playmaker at WR#1.  

[Gregg]

New HC as we don't know what Brady will be like running the show. New DC implementing a new scheme/system. Can Beane have a good offseason with the draft/FA to upgrade the roster. With 17 and 4 the Bills probably win the division or at the very least get a WC, but it wouldn't surprise me if 2026 is a step back with 2027 the year the Bills compete for a Super Bowl. It might take more than 1 year to get the defense to where Leonhard wants/needs it to be at. 

Edited February 9 by Gregg

[skibum]

New coaching staff is my reason, though it is a decidedly cautious brand of optimism. The player side of things seems to work itself out, more or less, by the time they're playing games. 

[2003Contenders]

A bit of a misleading title, as I see little in the way of optimism there. LOL

 

In fact, all of the "breaks" the Bills had going into 2025 serves to remind me of just how much the team under-performed -- and why McD had to go.

[Juice_32]

I think we are going to win it all, easily. It wont really even be very hard.

[Carbonpoke]

Grass field.

Loud stadium.

Josh allen

More cap space

 

Still alot to figure out tho

[Mr. WEO]

35 minutes ago, st pete gogolak said:

Going into 2025 season, I was very optimistic about our chances to win it all for three reasons:

1) schedule - it was as if the NFL actually wanted us in the SB - no overseas game; extra home game; playing worst NFC division, second worst AFC division, easy travel, toughest games were home games. I believe we were preseason favorites in all 17 games, which was wild.

2) division - Jets were going to be a mess, Dolphins could be anything from a mess to mediocre. Pats would be improved but not a threat (LOL). 6-0 or at worst 5-1 in the division.

3) influx of young talent on defense. We had to get better on D so I was pretty happy we loaded up on D in the draft. First four picks, six D picks overall.  But the rookie class really didn’t make an impact. McDermott wasn’t fond of playing rookies. Walker and Hairston flashed. Sanders, Strong and Hancock did to a lesser extent. Jackson was injured and didn’t show much when he played (and now Strong’s career may be in jeopardy because of injury).  In fact the biggest impact from “newcomers” on defense was probably Tre White and Shaq Thompson.  
 

So going into 2026, the schedule will be more difficult, New England will be an obstacle.  Why be optimistic?  Two words. Cole Bishop.  How many folks on this board labeled him a bust and wanted to get rid of him?  Now, his floor is solid starting safety and his ceiling is much, much higher.  I am looking for at least some of last year’s rookies to make similar leaps, especially Walker and Hairston. If we get lucky and three or four make the leap, coupled with a new DC and a new more aggressive approach on D, we could have the defense we need to not only get to the Super Bowl but win it. 

 

 

is cautious optimism different from "excitement and new hope"?  Asking for the other thread..

 

 

[st pete gogolak]

Only point of the thread (probably way to verbose in saying it) is that we have a lot of potential young talent on the defensive side of the ball and if a chunk of that talent takes a leap similar to Bishop, we can have a very good D next year.

[Goin Breakdown]

28 minutes ago, US Egg said:

Wow! I’ll have what you’re having.

My brain was trying to figure how these letters spelled Josh Allen. 

[Matt_In_NH]

42 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

Please update thread title to "Zero Reasons for Optimism".

I don’t know about that but both teams have a tougher go on paper than this year.  I am always optimistic bit the reality is there is not always a clear delineation between 1st and 2nd place schedules for three random divisions.  Would you rather play Pitt or Balt?

[US Egg]

46 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

Please update thread title to "Zero Reasons for Optimism".

Opposite of title would be “Reason for Reckless Pessimism”. 🫠

[nuklz2594]

1 hour ago, st pete gogolak said:

Going into 2025 season, I was very optimistic about our chances to win it all for three reasons:

1) schedule - it was as if the NFL actually wanted us in the SB - no overseas game; extra home game; playing worst NFC division, second worst AFC division, easy travel, toughest games were home games. I believe we were preseason favorites in all 17 games, which was wild.

2) division - Jets were going to be a mess, Dolphins could be anything from a mess to mediocre. Pats would be improved but not a threat (LOL). 6-0 or at worst 5-1 in the division.

3) influx of young talent on defense. We had to get better on D so I was pretty happy we loaded up on D in the draft. First four picks, six D picks overall.  But the rookie class really didn’t make an impact. McDermott wasn’t fond of playing rookies. Walker and Hairston flashed. Sanders, Strong and Hancock did to a lesser extent. Jackson was injured and didn’t show much when he played (and now Strong’s career may be in jeopardy because of injury).  In fact the biggest impact from “newcomers” on defense was probably Tre White and Shaq Thompson.  
 

So going into 2026, the schedule will be more difficult, New England will be an obstacle.  Why be optimistic?  Two words. Cole Bishop.  How many folks on this board labeled him a bust and wanted to get rid of him?  Now, his floor is solid starting safety and his ceiling is much, much higher.  I am looking for at least some of last year’s rookies to make similar leaps, especially Walker and Hairston. If we get lucky and three or four make the leap, coupled with a new DC and a new more aggressive approach on D, we could have the defense we need to not only get to the Super Bowl but win it. 

he will be wearing a "c" on his jersey

[Green Lightning]

I hope to have cautious optimism after FA and the Draft. Then after TC to see how many we injure in practice.

 

I think we regress for half the season until the D has a clue to what it's doing. Also, likely to lose our center and LG, and our receivers would only look good playing for the Argonauts. I'm withholding judgement for a few months and hope that Beane gets the entire draft right for once. So I'm cautiously not-pessimistic.

 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

24 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

I don’t know about that but both teams have a tougher go on paper than this year.  I am always optimistic bit the reality is there is not always a clear delineation between 1st and 2nd place schedules for three random divisions.  Would you rather play Pitt or Balt?

I mean at least you don’t have discrepancies like the bills getting Houston and pats getting Tennessee though like this year haha 

 

it’s gonna be pretty ironic when they blame the first place schedule when we take the division back 😂

Edited February 9 by Generic_Bills_Fan