Immediate Reaction: Bills 2014 Record Will Be?

[DraftBoy]

Schedule is out, so let's hear it before anything actually happens how will the 2014 Bills do if the season started tomorrow?

- - - Updated - - -

I'm between 7-9 and 8-8. The Raiders are my iffy game.

[Turf]

10-6 wildcard.

[TacklingDummy]

6-10 will hard to accomplish.

5-11

[Mr. Pink]

5-11

[Buffalo Thriller]

15-1.

[mrbojanglezs]

9-7

[MikeInRoch]

6-10

[OpIv37]

Do it right- post the whole schedule and let people call it game by game.

Unofficial- there will be an official prediction thread after preseason

[jimmifli]

16-0

[BertSquirtgum]

10_6

[BuffaloRedleg]

0-16 of course right

[better days]

GO Bills

Screw the pessimists that think the Bills finish .500 or worse.

10-6

[Dr. Lecter]

0-17. They lose a close one during the bye week.

[Dr. Lecter]

GO Bills

Screw the pessimists that think the Bills finish .500 or worse.

10-6

Those pessimists would also be correct 13 out of the last 14 years

[DraftBoy]

Do it right- post the whole schedule and let people call it game by game.

Unofficial- there will be an official prediction thread after preseason

There is a thread with the whole schedule, don't be lazy.

[Fletch]

First of all, almost nothing has changed with this team from last season to this coming one. We've been 6-10 for four of the last five seasons and 4-12 in the odd season.

Secondly, the schedule this year is more difficult than last year's, particularly vs. offensive side of our opponents.

So 4-12 to 6-10 seems logical.

As to the schedule, the following teams are better than we are:

NE (two games)
GB
CHI
DET
DEN
KC
SD

The following teams are better but only marginally:

NYJ (two games)
MIA (two games)

HOU and MIN have about the same level of talent as a whole.

CLE and OAK are worse on paper.

5-11 sounds about right.

[Novacane]

1 Sep 7 1:00PMEDT ) AT Bears loss

2 Sep 14 1:00PMEDT * Dolphins Win

3 Sep 21 1:00PMEDT * Chargers win

4 Sep 28 1:00PMEDT * AT Texans win

5 Oct 5 1:00PMEDT ) AT Lions win

6 Oct 12 1:00PMEDT * Patriots loss

7 Oct 19 1:00PMEDT ) Vikings win

8 Oct 26 1:00PMEDT * AT Jets loss

9 BYE
10 Nov 9 1:00PMEST * Chiefs win

11 Nov 13 8:25PMEST , AT Dolphins win

12 Nov 23 1:00PMEST * Jets win

13 Nov 30 1:00PMEST * Browns win

14 Dec 7 4:05PMEST * AT Broncos loss

15 Dec 14 1:00PMEST ) Packers loss

16 Dec 21 4:25PMEST * AT Raiders win

17 Dec 28 1:00PMEST * AT Patriots loss


10-6 I don't think any of those wins are reaching. Of course if they are the same old Bills they will find a way to lose some of them.

[Novacane]

The following teams are better but only marginally:

NYJ (two games)
MIA (two games)



.


No they're not!

[Pinkerton Security]

Ill go with 8-8

[Figster]

9-7 and Playoffs!

[soapman]

Undefeated going into the bye. Finishing 11-5 BOOK IT

[sukie]

10th overall pick next year... actual win loss is secondary

[The King]

We could've had a worse year to face the NFC North. At least Schwarz is familiar with these teams.

[SpikedLemonade]

An optimistic 8-8.

[Novacane]

If they can't get to 8-8 with that schedule we have the wrong coach and or QB and will be restarting the rebuild.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

7-9. Obviously the draft hasn't happened yet, but this team improved marginally on offense and backslid on defense through FA.

[Historian]

7-9, perhaps 8-8

[DesertFox24]

Why are we playing this stupid game.

We do this every year and we get playoff predictions and drafting first overall guys (TD and Op mainly).

Lets just look forward to HOF game and hopefully see EJ be more consistent with his accuracy and making faster reads. Additionally the run defense that is all I care about.

Oh and not being on Hard Knocks

[trapezeus]

6-10...they'll be an afterthought by the bye, per usual.

the only way it isn't is if the D continues to improve and EJ can stay healthy and really become a very good game manager.

Also Marrone will have to step up his game in coaching and not get flustered and blow a game or two by doing what a fan would do, but do what a good coach should do.

[TacklingDummy]

They will win just enough games to keep the out of the Winston and Mariota Sweepstakes.

[better days]

7-9. Obviously the draft hasn't happened yet, but this team improved marginally on offense and backslid on defense through FA.

Adding Spikes is NOT backsliding.

His addition more than makes up for the loss of Byrd.

[Skooby]

9-7 and Playoffs!

I feel this might be right.

[jills]

5 wins max.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Adding Spikes is NOT backsliding.

His addition more than makes up for the loss of Byrd.

Adding a two-down backer (on a one year rental deal, no less) does not compensate for a multiple all-Pro, regardless of position. But losing Pettine for Schwartz, necessitating another scheme change, is backsliding.

[Ed]

9-7, but still miss playoffs.

Home: 5-3
Road: 4-4
Division: 3-3
NFC: 2-2
AFC: 4-2

[feldspar]

Why are we playing this stupid game.


Some people do it for fun. Other asswipes do it in hopes of beating their scrawny chests afterwords, so they can tell everybody how right they were.

Anybody that has THAT much confidence in their predictions should put their money where their mouth is. BET on the games...BET on the over/under season totals. If they know as much as they claim, they could make a fortune...seriously. I believe the over/under on the Bills is 6.5 games right now (or at least it was last month).

I'd take the over.

[jamze132]

6-10. The end.

[DesertFox24]

Some people do it for fun. Other asswipes do it in hopes of beating their scrawny chests afterwords, so they can tell everybody how right they were.

Anybody that has THAT much confidence in their predictions should put their money where their mouth is. BET on the games...BET on the over/under season totals. If they know as much as they claim, they could make a fortune...seriously. I believe the over/under on the Bills is 6.5 games right now (or at least it was last month).

I'd take the over.


I live in Reno NV and you are correct on the over under.

I am leaning towards the over as well but I do not have the discretionary funds available to make a bet that would be worth the payout.

[Figster]

I feel this might be right.


I've been repeating the same prediction for years,

we're bound to get it right sooner or later eh...

[coastal]

6-10

[feldspar]

I live in Reno NV and you are correct on the over under.

I am leaning towards the over as well but I do not have the discretionary funds available to make a bet that would be worth the payout.

I hear ya.

Funny story: my dad lives in Las Vegas. He bet $100 on the UNDER 6 wins in 2011 where ties lose. So the Bills go 5-2 to start the season, and I begin to yank his chain about his bet, as a guy sometimes will. Then the Bills proceed to lose the next seven games, and a part of me is rooting for his measly bet. I was actually in Vegas when the Bills stomped on the Broncos in week 16, and I gave him my condolences. Then we got killed by the Pats the following week...6-10, ties lose. A farewell to Benjamin Franklin.

I would think about betting something like this, but your money is in limbo for too long to me. I should have bet the Packers to win the Super Bowl the year they did with Rodgers, because I had a crystal ball feeling about that.

[sudzy]

5-11

[Lone Stranger]

7-9. If they had a QB I would think differently.

[DesertFox24]

I hear ya.

Funny story: my dad lives in Las Vegas. He bet $100 on the UNDER 6 wins in 2011 where ties lose. So the Bills go 5-2 to start the season, and I begin to yank his chain about his bet, as a guy sometimes will. Then the Bills proceed to lose the next seven games, and a part of me is rooting for his measly bet. I was actually in Vegas when the Bills stomped on the Broncos in week 16, and I gave him my condolences. Then we got killed by the Pats the following week...6-10, ties lose. A farewell to Benjamin Franklin.

I would think about betting something like this, but your money is in limbo for too long to me. I should have bet the Packers to win the Super Bowl the year they did with Rodgers, because I had a crystal ball feeling about that.


I enjoy sports to much as it is and if I started betting on sports I would probably treat every game like the buffalo bills. I can watch any other team and not care one way or the other but when the bills play I get mad or really happy and it is a problem. I have really worked to cool my emotions once my kids where born because my screaming woke my son up and my wife got very upset.

Needless to say if I started betting on sports a random bs game would get me to that level and it is not worth it to me.

And I agree about money in limbo too long, I might do a pickem pool or something with friends but never with vegas.

Also I stopped doing fantasy not because I got addicted but because I got tired of everyone caring about their stupid fantasy team rather than their team.

[Fletch]

1 Sep 7 1:00PMEDT ) AT Bears loss

2 Sep 14 1:00PMEDT * Dolphins Win

3 Sep 21 1:00PMEDT * Chargers win

4 Sep 28 1:00PMEDT * AT Texans win

5 Oct 5 1:00PMEDT ) AT Lions win

6 Oct 12 1:00PMEDT * Patriots loss

7 Oct 19 1:00PMEDT ) Vikings win

8 Oct 26 1:00PMEDT * AT Jets loss

9 BYE
10 Nov 9 1:00PMEST * Chiefs win

11 Nov 13 8:25PMEST , AT Dolphins win

12 Nov 23 1:00PMEST * Jets win

13 Nov 30 1:00PMEST * Browns win

14 Dec 7 4:05PMEST * AT Broncos loss

15 Dec 14 1:00PMEST ) Packers loss

16 Dec 21 4:25PMEST * AT Raiders win

17 Dec 28 1:00PMEST * AT Patriots loss


10-6 I don't think any of those wins are reaching. Of course if they are the same old Bills they will find a way to lose some of them.

When's the last season that we won, more or less, all the games that "we were supposed to win" or beat all the teams that "weren't reaching?"

[Fletch]

No they're not!

Yeah, they are. 8-8 is better than 6-10 and their schedules were comparable.

Only one of the Jets' last 6 season was a losing season and they have a good coach with playoff experience.

The Fins have had better records than the Bills for five of six seasons as well with an equal one in that odd season, and have a very successful OC as their head coach that took their team to a one-game improvement last year with a very questionable lineup and a somewhat inexperienced one at that. That coach also has playoff experience.

Either way, they're not worse.

This notion that we win every winnable game, I mean haven't we learned.

There ought to be a separate forum for people trying to discuss the team seriously.

[Fletch]

The more that I look at our schedule, the more I wonder where even 6 wins are coming from assuming that we more or less split with teams on or about as good as we are.

Last year we had an incredibly easy schedule of offensive opponents, which has changed drastically this year.

[better days]

Adding a two-down backer (on a one year rental deal, no less) does not compensate for a multiple all-Pro, regardless of position. But losing Pettine for Schwartz, necessitating another scheme change, is backsliding.

Byrd did not even play the first 6 games last year. He is a talented safety, but I think Spikes will have a bigger impact this year than Byrd did last year from game 7 on.

And while we all loved watching the aggressive defense Pettine ran last year, it was not all that successful, with players being caught out of position, giving up huge yardage & TD's that cost the Bills games last year.

I expect the defense Schwartz runs to be an improvement over the defense last year.

[Typ0]

5-11

[HAMMER]

9-7, no playoffs, the streak continues. It really doesn't matter because EJ Manuel isn't going to beat Brady or Manning in a playoff game.

[stuckincincy]

Favorable schedule. 9-7.

[Generalissimus Gibby]

Lets see now


<tbody>
1

Sept. 7
at Chicago Bears
1 p.m.
L, close defensive battle but another opening day loss



2

Sept. 14
vs. Miami Dolphins
1 p.m.
W, close battle but we win the home opener



3

Sept. 21
vs. San Diego Chargers
1 p.m.
L, I don't think we can keep the pressure on Rivers and I know that if he gets going our O can't match the Bolts O



4

Sept. 28
at Houston Texans
1 p.m.
W, A very tight game, but a good road win



5

Oct. 5
at Detroit Lions
1 p.m.
L, If it was in the Ralph I'd give us the W, but it ain't so I can't



6

Oct. 12
vs. New England Patriots
1 p.m.
L, one of these years we'll beat the Pats, but not yet



7

Oct. 19
vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 p.m.
W, We snap the two game losing skid



8

Oct. 26
at New York Jets
1 p.m.
L, We split the series this year, but they win in NJ



9


Bye




10

Nov. 9
vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1 p.m.
W, I don't think the Chiefs are as good as they seemed last year and as long as anyone but Tuel is in at QB we win



11

Nov. 13
at Miami Dolphins
8:25 p.m.
L, Yet another series split



12

Nov. 23
vs. New York Jets
1 p.m.
W, we win to split the series



13

Nov. 30
vs. Cleveland Browns
1 p.m.
W, these matchups are always nutty but I think we win this time



14

Dec. 7
at Denver Broncos
4:05 p.m.
L, hahahaha, Peyton tunes up for the playoffs and sets a couple dozen records, it gets ugly fast



15

Dec. 14
vs. Green Bay Packers
1 p.m.

L, Nope not beating a team in the playoff hunt that has a real qb



16

Dec. 21
at Oakland Raiders
4:25 p.m.
W, we have no business losing to Oakland



17

Dec. 28
at New England Patriots
1 p.m.
L, its New England, we only win if Brady and co are resting.


</tbody>

7-9

[YardRat]

The last month is killer. So many questions that need to be answered before one could seriously considering a huge leap over last season, but I think a modest improvement to 8-8 is doable.

[better days]

Lets see now


<tbody>
1
Sept. 7
at Chicago Bears
1 p.m.
L, close defensive battle but another opening day loss


2
Sept. 14
vs. Miami Dolphins
1 p.m.
W, close battle but we win the home opener


3
Sept. 21
vs. San Diego Chargers
1 p.m.
L, I don't think we can keep the pressure on Rivers and I know that if he gets going our O can't match the Bolts O


4
Sept. 28
at Houston Texans
1 p.m.
W, A very tight game, but a good road win


5
Oct. 5
at Detroit Lions
1 p.m.
L, If it was in the Ralph I'd give us the W, but it ain't so I can't


6
Oct. 12
vs. New England Patriots
1 p.m.
L, one of these years we'll beat the Pats, but not yet


7
Oct. 19
vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 p.m.
W, We snap the two game losing skid


8
Oct. 26
at New York Jets
1 p.m.
L, We split the series this year, but they win in NJ


9

Bye




10
Nov. 9
vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1 p.m.
W, I don't think the Chiefs are as good as they seemed last year and as long as anyone but Tuel is in at QB we win


11
Nov. 13
at Miami Dolphins
8:25 p.m.
L, Yet another series split


12
Nov. 23
vs. New York Jets
1 p.m.
W, we win to split the series


13
Nov. 30
vs. Cleveland Browns
1 p.m.
W, these matchups are always nutty but I think we win this time


14
Dec. 7
at Denver Broncos
4:05 p.m.
L, hahahaha, Peyton tunes up for the playoffs and sets a couple dozen records, it gets ugly fast


15
Dec. 14
vs. Green Bay Packers
1 p.m.
L, Nope not beating a team in the playoff hunt that has a real qb


16
Dec. 21
at Oakland Raiders
4:25 p.m.
W, we have no business losing to Oakland


17
Dec. 28
at New England Patriots
1 p.m.
L, its New England, we only win if Brady and co are resting.

</tbody>

7-9

If EJ gets injured or has a mediocre year, I think this is a realistic expectation.

On the other hand, if EJ stays healthy & plays as he did at his best last year for the entire year, I think 9-7 or 10-6 is likely.

[Mace]

Gives me uncomfortable flashbacks, but a promising 7-9 that's not going anywhere again.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Byrd did not even play the first 6 games last year.

Yes, and? He also played for us before last season.


He is a talented safety, but I think Spikes will have a bigger impact this year than Byrd did last year from game 7 on.

I think Byrd was better in pass coverage than Spikes is in run coverage, and Byrd plays more snaps on a per game basis.


And while we all loved watching the aggressive defense Pettine ran last year, it was not all that successful, with players being caught out of position, giving up huge yardage & TD's that cost the Bills games last year.

Yes, early in the year players were being caught out of position - because they were young players (Roby, Alonso), new faces on the team (Hughes, Lawson, Branch), or new to the system (basically everybody else but Leonhard). I was skeptical of Pettine in the offseason, but he won me over and I wanted to see what he would do with another offseason to build. Making yet another scheme switch means another several weeks of players learning under fire. It could be worse though, we could be facing four of the top ten wideouts in the NFL and the Offensive Rookie of the Year in the first five weeks.

Oh wait.


I expect the defense Schwartz runs to be an improvement over the defense last year.

Of course you do.

[better days]

Yes, and? He also played for us before last season.

What does the PAST have to do with anything? Spikes had a better year last year than Byrd even though he was injured.



I think Byrd was better in pass coverage than Spikes is in run coverage, and Byrd plays more snaps on a per game basis.

Of course you do.



Yes, early in the year players were being caught out of position - because they were young players (Roby, Alonso), new faces on the team (Hughes, Lawson, Branch), or new to the system (basically everybody else but Leonhard). I was skeptical of Pettine in the offseason, but he won me over and I wanted to see what he would do with another offseason to build. Making yet another scheme switch means another several weeks of players learning under fire. It could be worse though, we could be facing four of the top ten wideouts in the NFL and the Offensive Rookie of the Year in the first five weeks.

Oh wait.

Not just early in the year, Players were caught out of position ALL YEAR long right up to & including the last game against the Pats* because of the aggressive defense Pettine called with all the blitzing.



Of course you do.

​Yes I do. I expect the Bills to give up both fewer yards & less points this year with Schwartz as DC.

[swiper]

Dick Jauron has the brought the Bills their best records over the past 9 years:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/

Can't wait for the cheers to bring him back.

[sudzy]

They will win just enough games to keep the out of the Winston and Mariota Sweepstakes.

This is why they have mastered in mediocrity since 2000.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

What does the PAST have to do with anything?

You're the one who brought up last season in a thread about next season.


Of course you do.

Yes, I do. It's a widely held opinion, would you like some links? Even PFF, the site you always bring up to puff up Spikes, ranked Byrd as a better player last year.

​
Yes I do. I expect the Bills to give up both fewer yards & less points this year with Schwartz as DC.

I expect them to give up fewer rushing yards, but to instead give up more passing yards, get fewer sacks, get fewer turnovers, and ultimately give up more points.

[better days]

[/COLOR]You're the one who brought up last season in a thread about next season.

True
Yes, I do. It's a widely held opinion, would you like some links? Even PFF, the site you always bring up to puff up Spikes, ranked Byrd as a better player last year.

​

[COLOR=#ff0000]You must be thinking of someone else, I never bring up PFF. But if you want to link that, go ahead, I would like to see what they have to say.

I expect them to give up fewer rushing yards, but to instead give up more passing yards, get fewer sacks, get fewer turnovers, and ultimately give up more points.

​Time will tell which of us is right. I expect to throw this back in your face at the end of next season.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

You must be thinking of someone else, I never bring up PFF. But if you want to link that, go ahead, I would like to see what they have to say.
I was actually, I was posting with both you and jimmifli and mixed up who said what (http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php/223192-Grade-the-Bills-Free-Agency-period-%28thus-far%29/page2)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/01/2014-free-agents-buffalo-bills/


​Time will tell which of us is right. I expect to throw this back in your face at the end of next season.

Why wait? Feel free to go back to our posts from last offseason and throw things in my face if you like.

[better days]

I was actually, I was posting with both you and jimmifli and mixed up who said what (http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php/223192-Grade-the-Bills-Free-Agency-period-%28thus-far%29/page2)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/01/2014-free-agents-buffalo-bills/



Why wait? Feel free to go back to our posts from last offseason and throw things in my face if you like.

Well, all I can say about last off season is things played out pretty much as I said they would.

The Pats* won the division as I said

Brady started to decline as I said

And the Bills finished 6-10 the minimum amount of games I said they would win.

[The Popcorn]

I'm thinking 8-8 but 5-11 wouldn't surprise me either. Regardless, I don't see them making the playoffs again.

[BillsImpossible]

I can't make a prediction until the draft is over.

If the Bills have a great draft, everything changes.

[better days]

I can't make a prediction until the draft is over.

If the Bills have a great draft, everything changes.

We won't know just how great the draft is until they start playing games.

[stuckincincy]

Barring a draft crop that clicks, 6 and 10. Management isn't in line for any epiphany that I can see.