Welcome to Buffalo, New York; low-key quiet city of west New York. Niagara Falls is the biggest attraction to see if you’re a tourist. Near the Canada borderline, which feels like a hop and skip. But in Buffalo, these fans bleed Bills football. You can say they’ve suffered heartbreaks, setbacks and were always punched in the face. In what’s been an eight season run, the race feels over for Buffalo.
A team who slowly rose from the ashes of NFL purgatory and built a contender to compete with their AFC counterparts. It all feels like they’ve hit their peak with head coach Sean McDermott. Buffalo has gone astray the last couple seasons, and it stems from one player in particular: quarterback Josh Allen. To break down the core muscles of the self-inflicted wounds, let’s keep it a buck.
Josh Allen is one of the young premiere quarterbacks in the league. Embraced Bills mafia, cold weather aliments, low-key lifestyle and all which include being a western New Yorker. Fans have their guy, but now…they’re questioning how it got this bad in a span of two seasons. Josh’s interceptions have been troubling and it’s causing Buffalo to lose their footing in the snow. To say this is more about ball security is an understatement. It’s the difference in swinging momentum to winning big games.
Josh’s interceptions arrive on schedule; just like a social security check on the first and fifteenth. Fans know soon as he peddles back or pats the ball, a turnover is already scripted. There’s no denying how it ripples through a team who has yet to adjust to their adjustments. You can defend the bad offensive line, no run game to mesh the inconsistencies in which becomes stagnant. No real creativity in getting other guys involved and it becomes predictable. Now that ex offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired upon the loss to Denver on Monday Night Football, more questions and criticism are warranted.
When star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is seen demonstrative on the sidelines, it sends a warning siren. Clashing with Josh Allen during a heated playoff matchup with Cincinnati in 2022 was on full display. Stefon wanted to help his team win and when his targets aren’t impacted, he has every reason to be frustrated in the offense. It trickled into the season and reached a boiling point. After the loss to Denver, Diggs’ younger brother Trevon tweeted out: “Man 14 gotta get outta there.” Now…Bills fans are starting to see the real issues which are bigger than this fiery tweet. This isn’t something which occurred overnight. It’s now plain as day and when Diggs’ brother who plays in Dallas sends a cryptic tweet, sirens are louder than what noise cancellation headphones can block out.
Head Coach Sean McDermott’s gaffe didn’t help matters either. Twelve men on the field goal attempt is inexcusable and one could tell his body language says “it’s not my fault, we practiced this a few times. Blame the players.” This tells me McDermott is not holding himself accountable for this horrendous mistake in which Buffalo had the game won. Defense is his forte and hasn’t really been addressed by any means.
Aging all-pro Von Miller hasn’t been the player Buffalo envisioned when he signed in 2022; while coming off an ACL injury. Losing all-pro cornerback Tre’Davious White for the second time in three seasons, linebackers are horrendous due to the departure of Tremaine Edmunds and former Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier stepped down after the 2022 season. They haven’t improved on defense and it’s going to be difficult in their final stretch to make the playoffs. The sauce is beyond heat tolerance, and nobody can finish eating the chicken wings without acid reflux.
With upcoming games against: New York Jets, a battle of a sputtering offense behind Zach Wilson should be a winnable game; it could be unbearable to watch. Roam to Philadelphia and try to slow down an Eagles offense with a better receiving core and quarterback. Flying to Arrowhead Stadium with a showdown against Kansas City, which has become must see television. Host the Dallas Cowboys, where a snowstorm could be in their favor but not a sure thing. A west coast trip to Inglewood, California in hopes of saving their season with the Los Angeles Chargers. New England to close out the home slate for 2023 and try to stay head above water in Miami for what could be a wildcard berth or elimination depending on how the AFC playoff picture rounds out.
All in all, Buffalo has roamed away from home with no return. If this season ends in disappointment, there’s going to be major changes in the head coach position. Roster moves and trading away players for draft picks will be on the forefront of 2024. Buffalo has very little room for error; the window is closing week by week. Josh Allen knows and must find a way to get Stefon Diggs involved to help them down the stretch. Buffalo, the wing sauce is too hot; stop tossing the advanced heat levels and serve the wings as they are: seasoned and crispy.
Get back to the original flavor profiles which gave you the most success. Balance your seasonings before complementing with sauce. Sauce is fine, but not overpowering the chicken itself. In other words, spread the ball around and go back to your identity. Each player needs to be all in or stay out in the snowstorms. With seven games left, the chicken will overcook and trying to over sauce them won’t take away the horrible texture. This will be a difficult path to conquer, but it starts with Josh Allen; along with Head Coach Sean McDermott being on the same page. If you keep roaming with no direction, Niagara Falls will be on the other side.
Stai tuned…
