I am so PROUD of This Team

[notacon]

For the record....

Yeah, the Bills got their asses handed to them. Cincy outplayed us in every phase of the game. They were clearly the better team today.

There are going to plenty of sourpuss threads and posts, the usual cynics are going to revel in their negativity. If you want to ****post, do it one of the those threads. I’m not going to wallow in the outhouse with an overflowing toilet, the **** cascading down and stinking it up.

I choose to avoid and ignore the ****posting. Have fun wallowing in your own misery. It’s not fun.

Actually, I am not going to wallow in any kind of misery. For a Bills fan of almost 60 years, I’m used to losing the last game of the year.

BFD. It’s just a game and this is just a sport. No lives were lost (at least almost not lost). The sun is going to come up tomorrow (at least here in Vegas....I don’t know about in Buffalo). I still have a loving wife and kids. Life goes on.

With the final disappointment, I STILL am SO PROUD of this team. They had incredible obstacles this season. Key critical injuries that had a strong effect.. Off the field challenges that WERE life and death. So much emotional baggage this team had to endure....looks like it finally caught up with them.

And STILL they brought so much joy and excitement.

A 13-3 regular season....the forth consecutive season with 10 or more wins....only the second time in the Bills history to do so. Winning ten games or more is the exception in Bills history (16 times in 62 years....14 times in the Super Bowl era since 1966....and I am enjoying the successes of this team with great joy.

I look back to the “drought” and, except for a handful of “Super Bowl” years, this team and the complete turnaround we have seen since the ownership change with the fourth starting year in the playoffs....third straight AFCE crown.

The present 4 year consecutive playoff appearances of the Bills is the second longest today. Only KC is longer at 8 seasons.

Believe it or not, there are only THREE teams in the NFL that have been in the playoffs three years or more consecutively.....and only SEVEN teams in the NFL that have been in the playoffs two years or more consecutively.

1. KC - 8
2. Buffalo - 4
3. Tampa Bay - 3
4. Philadelphia, San Fran, Dallas & Cincinatti - 2

Seven other teams are in their first playoff season after not being there last year. And that means that 18 teams have a ZERO streak of playoff seasons.

Every year, 31 teams lose their last game. Every year 24 teams do not even get to the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Buffalo Bills are built well, and have a stellar organization that most other franchises are looked to emulate.

We have a solid core of players. An Elite QB. We draft well and free agents want to come and play in Buffalo.

The Bills are still one of the top 3 teams in the the AFC, and one of the top 5 teams in the NFL. That is not going to change next season.

So, I’m disappointed, like all Bills fans. But, I am also grateful for such a great season of promise. Grateful for a group of players with character and grit.

On to the 3023 season, and starting to ay attention to the upcoming draft. Next year is not only a new season, but a new team.

GO BILLS!!!! You have my thanks and loyalty forever!!!

[Novacane]

I enjoyed the season but I want to win it all. There has to be some real changes if that's going to happen.

[Lexwhat]

It was an exciting season and I would take years like this over the Dick Jauron garbage we experienced for 20 years. They went through a lot of adversity this year, and it will make a positive change to many of our players.

This loss hurts, but I was definitely hurting more after the KC loss last season.

I think the Bengals put to rest who is the better team, and we now have a new nemesis to chase (in addition to the Chiefs).

I hope the Bills make the right changes this off-season to have a chance next year.

It was good discussing / debating throughout the year with you.

[OpIv37]

You said they were going to win the SB so you are already lowering the standard.

The Bills already have all of our loyalty or else we wouldn’t be here.

And 3023? They MIGHT win a SB by then but none of us will be around to see it.

[DraftBoy]

You’re on your own there.

[Woodman]

Love the Bills .... we have some work left.

Obviously there will be some changes.

Always and forever. GO BILLS!

[notacon]

You said they were going to win the SB so you are already lowering the standard.

The Bills already have all of our loyalty or else we wouldn’t be here.

And 3023? They MIGHT win a SB by then but none of us will be around to see it.

Please.

Like I said, if you want to ****post, there are plenty of other threads to do that.

[kgun12]

Notty I was seriously waiting for this thread. I love how positive you are and what you say is mostly true. Most of us have lived through the bad years and this is better for sure! However, when I read Ingtar “Bills 2022 - Team Eval and offseason needs” I’m not as positive, there is a lot of changes to be made and I’m not sure we can fix it all in one offseason.

BTW, the off-season is my favorite time of the year, I like free agency and love the draft. Time for this coaching staff and administration to get to work!

[sahlensguy]

This season put Buffalo on the map in the eyes of strangers around here. Football fans and not, and in a good way, too.

Ill take it.

[YardRat]

I'm frustrated and disappointed. Granted it's a lot more fun during the regular season when the team is winning, but after over 50 years of following the team and experiencing everything else possible except for a championship, it's Super Bowl or bust and anything less is a failure. This team has enough silver linings and moral victories on it's resume' they need to add the trophy.

[Mr. Pink]

This is the year where they were supposed to win. This is the year where things were aligned to win. This is the year before we're looking at salary cap hell and trying to fill holes. There is nothing to be proud of, they literally shat the bed and believed their own press numerous times during the year. And worst of all they saved their absolutely worst performance of the season for the playoffs on a day where every guy on that sideline should have been pumped up, ready to go and destroy the Bengals.

If Hamlin being in the locker room and then up in the suites watching the game wasn't enough motivation to get this group up for a playoff game, nothing will be.

[Woodman]

All the **** this team and city went through this year just proved to be just too much.

[kgun12]

This is the year where they were supposed to win. This is the year where things were aligned to win. This is the year before we're looking at salary cap hell and trying to fill holes. There is nothing to be proud of, they literally shat the bed and believed their own press numerous times during the year. And worst of all they saved their absolutely worst performance of the season for the playoffs on a day where every guy on that sideline should have been pumped up, ready to go and destroy the Bengals.

If Hamlin being in the locker room and then up in the suites watching the game wasn't enough motivation to get this group up for a playoff game, nothing will be.

I agree this was supposed to be the year but on defense we had way too many injuries with 3 significant loses in Hyde, Hamlin and Miller, these injuries exposed us. Add in all the other games missed by so many different players and it’s a wonder we won 14 games.

Our offensive line was at best above average but the bigger issues were the dropped balls by Knox, McKenzie and Davis. We didn’t run the ball enough and the only reason we won 14 games was we had Josh Allen. BTW, his elbow may have been a little worse than we knew.

Let’s also remember the snow game.

Looking at what this team has gone through and yes, there’s a lot to be proud of, but there is a lot to fix.

[BillsFanCupp38]

Nope. 2019 was a team to be proud of. Made it to the playoffs and played a heck of a game against Houston. Was very proud. 2020 was a team to be proud of. Team had a breakout year and made it all the way to the afc championship. 2021 was a team to be proud of. Rallied after a rough start and played the best playoff game ever and should have won if not for 13 seconds. This year was an embarrassment. Barely beat the dolphins with a 3rd string QB and get completely undressed at home by the Bengals. Sorry broski we too steps back this year. Had Tua played we would have been out in the wild card.

[Historian]

14-4 is nothing to sneeze at, and I'm sure that there are twenty-five or so other cities that would love to have the season that we did.

However, this game left a bad taste in my mouth, for a few reasons.

Last year, it looked like we were 13 seconds from a title, and hope looked eternal.

After this game, it looked like the Bills, (despite winning 14 games) didn't even belong there.

Our team is too young at some positions, (inexperience) and too old at others. (injury)

The fact that we are leveraged to the hilt, and that every team in the division is a formidable opponent, does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

Not like I had last January anyways.

Even though McD downplayed the adversity-filled season, I think even a casual fan could see that there were a lot of external forces weighing on this team, that had absolutely nothing to do with football:

The Tops massacre.
Knox's brother.
Kim's illness.
The wonky schedule.
The two blizzards.
Losing Hyde.
Losing Von.
Hamlin.

I'm proud of the way they battled through this stuff. But I gotta tell ya, I do not feel good about the future, and I do not know if McDermott has the wherewithal to make the necessary changes to stay on top.

Peace.

[kscdogbillsfan1221]

Appreciate the sentiment notty but I disagree

I wasn’t a ‘superbowl or bust’ person
But I did feel like anything less than an appearance in the conference championship would be a huge disappointment

thus I’m hugely disappointed

[Forward_Lateral]

I'm on the same page as Historian. Before yesterday, I felt the team was going to be there with a chance to win. They didn't show up. At all. Half the team looked like they didn't even want to be there. Maybe more than half.

It's going to be an interesting offseason. I expect at least one coach to leave, possibly a mass exodus. Something has to give.

[DraftBoy]

I'm on the same page as Historian. Before yesterday, I felt the team was going to be there with a chance to win. They didn't show up. At all. Half the team looked like they didn't even want to be there. Maybe more than half.

It's going to be an interesting offseason. I expect at least one coach to leave, possibly a mass exodus. Something has to give.

I’m honestly expecting the opposite. Maybe a few position coaches get changed but nothing substantial. Beane will try and find some gems or look to trade up in the first to get a guy. But they’ll say Von coming back, another year of Rosseau development, and Oliver on a prove it year will fix the DL and the offense has Josh so that’s that.

I think you’re looking at a lot of status quo.

[sukie]

Von not til November my guess unless only partial tear. I haven’t hear.

as far as status quo… we kinda just had that and regressed in the playoffs. Lost same game but weren’t competitive.

I suspect player changes will be more evident. The need for fat guys and weapons in that order.

[Forward_Lateral]

I’m honestly expecting the opposite. Maybe a few position coaches get changed but nothing substantial. Beane will try and find some gems or look to trade up in the first to get a guy. But they’ll say Von coming back, another year of Rosseau development, and Oliver on a prove it year will fix the DL and the offense has Josh so that’s that.

I think you’re looking at a lot of status quo.

You would think they'd learn that relying on one person (Von on defense, Josh on offense) doesn't work.

As far as I'm concerned, the entire defensive staff needs to go, and at least half the offensive staff. How does Cincy march out 3 back ups and a one legged Center, yet still manage to dominate? Coaching, that's how.