A Bum Phillips redux, though a bit mellower.
On January 7th, 1980 Bum Phillips made his now infamous speech in the Houston Astrodome, highlighted with him sayin "One year ago, we knocked on the door. This year, we beat on the door. Next year, we're going to kick the son of a bitch in." History helps us remember that things didn't work out as Coach Phillips had envisioned. The Houston Oilers made the playoffs the following season, were eliminated in the WildCard round, Bum Phillips was fired and a seven-year-playoff drought ensued.
I bring this up because Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott made a similar albeit more mellow rendition of the speech in a private interview with "The Athletic" in which he said "It’s not a matter of if. It’s just a matter of when,” McDermott said of winning a Lombardi Trophy. “That is the relentless pursuit." Pretty ballsy prediction, let's see how it works out.
Maywood.
Comments
It's shocking that McDermott hasn't been fired yet, Buffalo has less and less of a chance every year they don't win it. Diggs keeps getting older and the rest of their receiving corps is awful
Buffalo would seem to be a team whose window is closing. I don't follow them closely but they strike me as old at certain positions, particularly defense, and not having tried to improve their roster with any big moves. Logic would state that if a team is as close as McDermott must think his Bills are that they make a couple of big moves to get them over the hump, that hasn't happened. Buffalo believed that the key to them getting to the next level was playing KC at home in the playoffs: that happened and the result was the same.
I don't think I'm alone in believing that the road to the Super Bowl is much tougher in the AFC than the NFC. That should be even more evident next season. Teams like Houston, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Miami and Baltimore are already putting pressure on Buffalo. Cleveland, Pittsburgh and the Chargers aren't far away so the sledding is tough. Looking at Josh Allen, he's entering his 7th season which means his prime years are now or never. I figure a 12 year career will close his window, so if Sean McDermott expects to make it to a SB he'd better build his team now, this off-season.
That's the thing, they have done nothing on the offense except draft Janes Cook, their WR corps is absolutely where the problem is, Gabriel is awful and I don't even think I can name another receiver.
The AFC is not getting easier that's for sure
Dont forget Diggs had a massive drop that lead to the loss. Diggs also had over half of his yards on the season in the first 6 games. He talks a big game but hasnt shown up for the playoffs the last 3 years other than one game and was a major reason they barely lost to KC this year
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007
No doubt but if they had another capable WR it might have played out differently
Almost certainly, If youre supposed to be the guy though you cant let a long pass in the 4th quarter of a playoff game go right through your hands. They likely win that game if he catches that
https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1749257138927550702
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007
Absolutely, that was on Diggs and he knows it, that's why he wasn't hitting social media acting like an idiot after the game.
My post is saying they wouldn't have had to depend on Diggs making that catch to win or lose that game if other WR's were capable of being a difference maker, Gabriel is their clear #2 and it's absolutely obvious that he disappeared in multiple games all season.
He is completely unreliable and that should have been addressed way before the playoffs started.
The fact that McDermott was satisfied with what he had to compliment Allen screams of incompetence
When I'm saying Gabriel I'm meaning Gabe Davis, I keep forgetting his name
What would Buffalo do if they got rid of Diggs??
Im probably a lot lower on Diggs overall than most people. I dont think he would be that hard to replace with how much he disappears and think Allen certainly makes him better than he makes Allen.
For sure though more is always better and Id be trying to trade Diggs at this point if I was them. Grab a couple pass catchers in the draft and I would like their chances a lot more
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007
I think Diggs is good but not nearly as good as he thinks he is, I'm not sure they could get much for him with his diva attitude and age, he is one injury away from turning into the next OBJ
I think what moved Diggs out of Minnesota is what will eventually move him out of Buffalo, his diva attitude as @perkdog stated. It seems to be an ego problem that is prevalent among WR's and they tend to cause problems when they don't get the ball enough to suit them. The Vikings replaced him easily with Jefferson and I'm sure the Bills will find someone or maybe two someones.
All that said, the 100 receptions that Diggs has annually do have value.
Im okay with the diva part, most WRs are divas and that cockiness is part of what makes them good. What I'm not okay with is his performance and how he just shows up for lack half a season and then the end of year numbers look good from a few monster games and a bunch of average games.
I just dont think hes elite like hes made out to be and I think I could find someone in the 2nd round of this coming draft that could do just as much with Allen
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007
Well that's what you get with the Diva attitude is they cry if they don't get the ball enough, and play hard when they want to.
If the ball is spread around and they win it shouldn't be something they pout about but a lot of times it is
Diggs is above average but not in the elite conversation like Jefferson, Chase or Lamb
I agree Diggs is above average I just dont see him as elite.
I'd be more concerned if my WRs didnt want the ball. I'm fine with the diva part as long as they dont telegraph that the ball wont be coming to them. TO complained a lot for the ball but he also ran decoy routes and played hard
Wisconsin 2-6 against the SEC since 2007