Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

[OpIv37]

So, I've had some time to calm down and think about the game and the state of the team right now:

-It sucks to be on the losing end of so many of these epic games. 13 Seconds, Hail Murray, this past Sunday.... it goes back decades to the Mirage and it keeps happening and we keep being on the wrong end of it.

-McD's teams have too few signature wins against top teams and too many losses against inferior competition. And it's not just this season. It's been his whole career here. Bills' fans know as well as anyone how hard it is to find a good head coach, so I don't know what the answer is, but I've lost confidence that McD can win a SB.

-That being said, the real issue isn't losing to the Eagles. No one else can beat them either. And beating the Bengals with a healthy Burrow is a huge challenge too. The real issue is losing to the Jets, Broncos, Jags and Patriots. We should have gone into this game with 2 losses, and even with a loss to the Eagles, we'd still be in the hunt for the #1 seed and still be in the division race.

-The refs were absolutely atrocious. I know, people will point out all the mistakes the Bills made and say that we can't blame the refs. True. Here's the problem: when the Bills make mistakes, they lose games. We're sitting at 6-6, 10th in the conference. Winning the division is virtually impossible and making the playoffs at all is highly unlikely. Those are the consequences for those mistakes. Where are the consequences for the officiating mistakes? There are no fines, suspensions, discipline. There is no L on the season record for them.

-Even if the Bills do sneak into the playoffs, we aren't going anywhere. The Eagles game shows that the D is too depleted to slow down top offenses.

-On the positive front, the OL is playing better and Kincaid looks like he'll be a solid offensive weapon. Not sure what to make of Shakir but he's had some good games too.

-The entire defensive backfield needs to be rebuilt. Poyer and Hyde are great players, but they've aged out. White can't stay healthy and isn't the same player he was, even when healthy.

-The future is not good. We're $42 million over the projected cap for 2024, so it will be difficult-if not impossible- to make any improvements. We are going to waste the rest of Josh's prime rebuilding. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/2024/

[Forward_Lateral]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

If it makes you feel any better, Floyd and Daquan are both signed for next season, for basically peanuts.

I also was able to get the Bills to roughly 25 million under the cap without too much work.

I'm not worried about the cap, not as much as I thought I'd be after messing around on Sportrac.

Beane has been drafting pretty well, of course he's made a few booboos that are glaringly bad like Elam (there's still time for him to develop, I suppose), Boogie, etc. But he has drafted a lot of guys who are starting right now.

Torrence, Brown, Josh, Gabe, Kincaid, Shakir (Is he starting as the slot? I could be wrong)

Benford, Rousseau, Epenesa, Oliver, Benard, Dotson

This upcoming draft will be HUGE for the team, as they are going to have to draft a safety, unless they sign or trade for one, which seems unlikely. They are also likely going to have to draft a WR, unless they re-sign Gabe. I'd still like to see them draft Diggs' replacement, as I can't see him sticking around after 2024, but you never know.

The offensive line has improved a bunch. I would even go as far to say that it's not even an issue of concern at this point.

What sucks is all of the injuries on the Defensive side have kind of skewed what the team actually needs. The corners have played relatively well, even Dane. The D-line is one of the best in the NFL, so really only depth is required there.

It's funny to think and say this, because they are 6-6 and staring at missing the playoffs, but I think this team is in better shape that it was at this point last year, roster wise.

[OpIv37]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

One thing I forgot: How many times is Josh going to put up video game numbers against a top opponent, only to end up losing the game anyway because no one else did their job? He has to be getting incredibly frustrated at this point.

[sukie]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

The D did slow down a good offense. Until the Russification set in. Bills were controlling both sides of this game.

if bills play exactly like this , same plays, they win out easily.

[Mad Max]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

So, I've had some time to calm down and think about the game and the state of the team right now:

-It sucks to be on the losing end of so many of these epic games. 13 Seconds, Hail Murray, this past Sunday.... it goes back decades to the Mirage and it keeps happening and we keep being on the wrong end of it.

-McD's teams have too few signature wins against top teams and too many losses against inferior competition. And it's not just this season. It's been his whole career here. Bills' fans know as well as anyone how hard it is to find a good head coach, so I don't know what the answer is, but I've lost confidence that McD can win a SB.

-That being said, the real issue isn't losing to the Eagles. No one else can beat them either. And beating the Bengals with a healthy Burrow is a huge challenge too. The real issue is losing to the Jets, Broncos, Jags and Patriots. We should have gone into this game with 2 losses, and even with a loss to the Eagles, we'd still be in the hunt for the #1 seed and still be in the division race.

-The refs were absolutely atrocious. I know, people will point out all the mistakes the Bills made and say that we can't blame the refs. True. Here's the problem: when the Bills make mistakes, they lose games. We're sitting at 6-6, 10th in the conference. Winning the division is virtually impossible and making the playoffs at all is highly unlikely. Those are the consequences for those mistakes. Where are the consequences for the officiating mistakes? There are no fines, suspensions, discipline. There is no L on the season record for them.

-Even if the Bills do sneak into the playoffs, we aren't going anywhere. The Eagles game shows that the D is too depleted to slow down top offenses.

-On the positive front, the OL is playing better and Kincaid looks like he'll be a solid offensive weapon. Not sure what to make of Shakir but he's had some good games too.

-The entire defensive backfield needs to be rebuilt. Poyer and Hyde are great players, but they've aged out. White can't stay healthy and isn't the same player he was, even when healthy.

-The future is not good. We're $42 million over the projected cap for 2024, so it will be difficult-if not impossible- to make any improvements. We are going to waste the rest of Josh's prime rebuilding. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/2024/

You’re starting to sprinkle a little positivity into your usual barrage of doom and gloom. I’m proud of you man!

As I’ve said repeatedly the NFL is meh right now, there are zero dominant teams. Every single contender has holes, holes which just as we won’t be able to they aren’t going to be able to completely fill next year.

Like Forward stated the cap can be manipulated, we need a good draft, maybe one or two key FA, get everyone healthy, and improve the punter and kicker. We’ll be right back in it.

[Novacane]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

I don't necessarily agree it's hard to find a good HC. I think most of our discarded HC would have had similar success if they'd of had Josh Allen. Great players make good coaches. The great coaches provide that little Xtra to get over the hump.

[Novacane]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

In other words, it's not all going to go to hell if McDermott is fired. Not as long as JA is here.

[Buffalogic]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

If it makes you feel any better, Floyd and Daquan are both signed for next season, for basically peanuts.

I also was able to get the Bills to roughly 25 million under the cap without too much work.

I'm not worried about the cap, not as much as I thought I'd be after messing around on Sportrac.

Beane has been drafting pretty well, of course he's made a few booboos that are glaringly bad like Elam (there's still time for him to develop, I suppose), Boogie, etc. But he has drafted a lot of guys who are starting right now.

Torrence, Brown, Josh, Gabe, Kincaid, Shakir (Is he starting as the slot? I could be wrong)

Benford, Rousseau, Epenesa, Oliver, Benard, Dotson

This upcoming draft will be HUGE for the team, as they are going to have to draft a safety, unless they sign or trade for one, which seems unlikely. They are also likely going to have to draft a WR, unless they re-sign Gabe. I'd still like to see them draft Diggs' replacement, as I can't see him sticking around after 2024, but you never know.

The offensive line has improved a bunch. I would even go as far to say that it's not even an issue of concern at this point.

What sucks is all of the injuries on the Defensive side have kind of skewed what the team actually needs. The corners have played relatively well, even Dane. The D-line is one of the best in the NFL, so really only depth is required there.

It's funny to think and say this, because they are 6-6 and staring at missing the playoffs, but I think this team is in better shape that it was at this point last year, roster wise.

Floyd is not under contract next year, just fyi.

[Mace]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

Lost my whole post, screw it.

[Ed]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

Floyd is not under contract next year, just fyi.

That's correct. Floyd, Daquan, Hyde and Settle all show up on the 2024 roster as cap hits because of void years. They're just dead money at the moment.

[YardRat]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

I agree with everything except this...

-Even if the Bills do sneak into the playoffs, we aren't going anywhere. The Eagles game shows that the D is too depleted to slow down top offenses.

If we get in we can beat anybody, there isn't an offense out there that can't be stopped, all we need is a couple of breaks.

[Mad Max]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

I agree with everything except this...



If we get in we can beat anybody, there isn't an offense out there that can't be stopped, all we need is a couple of breaks.

Agreed. I guarantee no one will be looking forward to playing us.

[sukie]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

Agreed. I guarantee no one will be looking forward to playing us.

Especially Philly

[Forward_Lateral]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

Floyd is not under contract next year, just fyi.

That's correct. Floyd, Daquan, Hyde and Settle all show up on the 2024 roster as cap hits because of void years. They're just dead money at the moment.

How can Floyd be dead money next year? He was only signed this off season?

[YardRat]

Re: Some thoughts about the game and the team in general...

How can Floyd be dead money next year? He was only signed this off season?

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/leonard-floyd-18957/

Teams are allowed to spread out the signing bonus over 4 years max if the player is signed after a certain date, I believe. Helps expensive vets that have been a cap casualty get a (basically) one year deal with somebody else, and helps the team stay under the cap, so both the owners and NFLPA are good with the intentional loophole.