We are under a week away from the start of training camp, and there is a buzz around Bills land.
It's the typical late-July buzz, but this year the din seems to be a bit louder. Players are excited, coaches are excited, and fans are excited.
Even some of the media is starting to catch on, calling this Bills team a possible "Sleeper" in the 2008 season.
And for good reason, as I have mentioned before in parts one and two of my pre-pre-season preview of the 2008 Bills.
But something has been bothering me almost every time I hear any player talk about this upcoming season.
Sure there is great optimism, and there are many good reasons to believe (returning players, new players, system is established, good talent level on this team, good depth) ... but what are they believing in?
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"I want to be the best I can be and I want to take this team to the playoffs and I want to win some football games," said QB Trent Edwards.
Did you see it? What is it that Trent (and seemingly every other Buffalo Bill) wants from this season?
To make the playoffs.
Granted, when a franchise has not attained that level in nine seasons, that seems a respectable goal.
But is it enough?
Is it like in karate (I don't really know what I'm saying here) where you try to break a board, you have to envision your hand going through the board, not to the board.
If the Bills dream of only the playoffs, might they only get that far... and miss the chance to advance in the post season?
To me, it seems they are not thinking far enough ahead.
I have heard the popular sports adage, "Cross one river at a time." We often heard it coming from the mouth of our beloved Marv Levy. And I do understand that thinking also.
But really, is it enough to only want to make the playoffs?
Don't we want to at least win a playoff game?
Shouldn't we be thinking we have as much right to that Lombardi Trophy as the other 31 teams?
Maybe more??
As we enter training camp, I'd like to see the Bills language change slightly.
It may be only a word, but I think it might be important.
Once we see the players start thinking they really can win, they really are good... perhaps they will start to talk like they believe that too, and maybe that will bring about a change not only in language and thinking, but on the football field as well.
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about 1 month ago
Good article and I agree, but... making the playoffs in the AFC is very difficult. Just a couple of years ago I believe the Chargers were 10-6 (that could be wrong) and missed the playoffs and I think the Bills would be extremely happy with a 10-6 season
from about 1 month ago
Browns were 10-6 last year and didn't make it. I love the Bills but I'm not sure I agree with all this hype they are getting. They have an extremely poor offense and a defense that gives up a ton of yards. I hope they will be as good as you think/hope.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah completely forgot about the Browns last year, whoops haha
about 1 month ago
The Bills beileve in themselves more than you do, as did a team last year everyone wrote about as not putting themselves into it as much as they would need to....( GIANTS.)
about 1 month ago
I agree with the sentiment here. I look at the start of every season as Super Bowl or Bust. It's nice to make it to the playoffs. It's great to know your favorite team was effective, but what we really want is glory. Dominance plays a close second, but seven months of bragging rights until it's time to do it again should always be the objective.
Aside from that, good article. As a Jets' fan, the Bills are really the only other team that scares me in the AFC east. This may still be the Patsies conference, but their time is coming to a close. I feel like the Jets and Bills are nipping at one another's heels to establish dominance for the next 5-6 years.
about 1 month ago
I have Been A Bills fan for over 40 years, and every July and August, I hear the same ole Stuff. Its nice to be positive about the Season, But I SEE US AS THE TEAM WE HAD IN 86-87 Right Now. we are deffinatley Going to see many Positive Changes, and This Time I believe Russ Brandon Will make all the right moves to WIN IT ALL THIS TIME , For MANY YEARS TO COME. and Maybe in a few Years we will Have a WINNING SUPER BOWL RECORD. because 0 for 4 SUCKS. HOLD ON BILLS FANS, WE WILL BE COMPETETIVE, Its gonna be a crazy Ride Thou.
ccccccccccccccccc ya all In the Stands.
about 1 month ago
BS to this article. The reason the Bills did not make the playoffs (aside from injuries and last year is due to blowing the Denver and Dallas game. In the Denver game, on the final drive they had a 3rd and VERY long and went in a prevent D, slant pass got them 4th and short. Dallas (the most suicidal I've ever been in my life), why the hell Fairchild called a pass instead of a run to set up a 2 score game is still beyond me (goodbye to that jerk).
The point is this...
Its not about what they say, how far they "believe" they will go, its about believing in themselves and understanding what it takes to win AND the coaching staff calling the right calls in those crucial game moments.
It aint that deep.
about 1 month ago
When you're in the same division as the team of the decade, it's not easy doing anything other than just making the playoffs.
That said, it's tough to make the playoffs in the AFC. The Super Bowl champs from last season wouldn't have made the playoffs in the AFC.
I mean, who are the Bills better than? The Pats, Colts, Jags, Chargers, Steelers, Browns, Titans? That's seven teams right there....only six make the playoffs.
about 1 month ago
Just to clarify... my article is not really about whether I think the Bills will make or advance in the playoffs in 2008, but rather about their choice of words - revealing what they think by the chosen words. When they keep saying they "just want to make the playoffs" ... aren't they setting themselves up to achieve that goal? (And only that goal?) It's one thing for fans and prognosticators to say, "Well look at the reality of the situation... it's tough to make the playoffs in the AFC." But if you are the athlete, or the team, or the coach that is competing... you might as well not compete if you don't think you have a chance to win every single game - including the championship.
To reply specifically to Sean's question above: Yes, I actually do think the Bills are at least as good as (with the new additions, assuming they play near their potential) the Jags, Steelers, Browns, and Titans. Should be a fun race this year in the AFC. Maybe 9 teams with winning records? I mean, what about Baltimore, Cincinnati, Houston, and Denver? Definitely a tough conference, but I think the Bills will be in the thick of that competition this year. We'll see!
from about 1 month ago
Here's the problem.
The Patriots, Colts, Browns/Steelers, and Chargers all get into the playoffs by winning their division. That leaves two spots.
The Jags probably take the first wild card, as they're on another level...they just happen to play in the Colts division so they're stuck in wild card territory.
That leaves one playoff spot for the loser of the Steelers/Browns, the Titans, the Bengals, the Broncos, the Texans, and the Bills.
To me, the Steelers/Browns loser is by far the best of that bunch, with the Titans as a team that could sneak into the playoffs again. The rest are somewhere between seven and nine win teams stuck in a conference that requires 10 to 12 wins to get into the playoffs.
I just don't see 10 to 12 wins on the Bills' schedule.... I like the Bills, they'd be a top-6 team in the NFC for sure. But not the AFC....maybe a top 10 team in the AFC.
from about 1 month ago
Hey Sean. Totally agree. Don't like the division set up for that reason... should be the best 6 teams. But, that's cool. As for the Bills... they are still definitely unproven. And it would be silly to just assert that they WILL make the playoffs and succeed there. I just have a feeling, watching this team develop over the past three years. There's gonna be some surprisingly good stuff out of Buffalo. Stuff that people who watch from a distance will be ... well... surprised by. :-)
I think the Bills do hang with Jax this year (and, glad we get to play them). I think they are as good as the Browns certainly, Steelers probably, and definitely the Titans. All of this depends on whether the new OC is what he's supposed to be (a gun slinging, chance taking, QB-minded play caller) and if the 2nd year QB keeps getting better, and if James Hardy gives them a red zone threat, and if the defense with Marcus Stroud, Kawika Mitchell, the returning Paul Posluszny, and the rest of the gang can actually hold up against the run this year...
See, there are many "ifs" ... but I'm pretty comfortable saying they are not such bad bets. Keep your eye on the Bills this year, and remember you did hear it here. :-)
about 1 month ago
So would you have been happier if they said, "we want to make the playoffs....and once there we'll see what happens" (with a wry smile on their faces?) Me too.
But this team with 11 players on IR won 7 games, should have beaten Denver and Dallas if not for stupid playcalling that they must change if they ever want to win anything. Then they should have beaten Jax last year but JP blew that game like a Thai hooker. That's 10 and the Browns game they should have at least had a chance with if not for the fact they made exactly zero adjustments until there were 2 minutes left (when they actually moved the ball quite well despite the weather). Then they probably would have played much better against Philly if the season wasn't already over. So they could have potentially had 12 wins last year. I don't think anyone would suggest they are not extremely improved as a squad compared to last year.
Now it just depends on whether or not the coaches will not screw them...and us.
about 1 month ago
Donte Whinter stated he's goal is to bring a championship to Buffalo in Bills/Toronto press conference it's on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beoNLFeQSaM
from about 1 month ago
Hey Richard, thanks. That's perfect. That's exactly what I'm talking about. Donte was actually one of the players I had in mind (besides Trent) who has said repeatedly, "We just want to make the playoffs." He's a great young player for the Bills, and glad to see him saying things like this. This is what we need from the Bills... believing it can be done, and then going out and doing it.
Hopefully Whitner can bring the championship to Buffalo. And keep it here for a while!
about 1 month ago
There is a lot of parity in the nfl, any team can beat anyone, the key is who stays healthy, consistant,hungry and who gets the breaks. The bills will be better but they have to believe in themselves no matter what happens, their play and execution and adaptation of their game plan will tell the story. The old bills of the nineties made their own break and they were call the most resilient team in football, just never give up and play sixty minutes hard. JMc
about 1 month ago
I like your attitude and I do think teams set their goals for the Superbowl, it's the fans that are always gunshy. A word of advise though, just like the JETS, you still have questions at quarterback. Maybe not as big, but still questions. All the same, good luck and I hope we sweep you.
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