Challenge the Bills

[Triumph]

We are still 1-2 years away but without a doubt on the right path, finally

Thats what I was referring to when I asked "are we back?"

 

[sb1]

I'd like to think the Pats in 2025 will be a step ahead of what the Buffalo Bills were in 2017. Almost a complete overhaul of their coaching staff including McDermott replacing Rex. McDermott started to build the locker room culture and the foundation. Good draft including Tre White, Dion Dawkins and Matt Milano (even though they sent their pick in a trade down to the Chiefs who used it to pick Mahomes). Broke their playoff drought that year when the Bengals beat the Ravens. The Pats would be a step ahead because we have Maye already while the Bills at the time would draft Allen in the following year.

They had work to do to be able to contend with the Pats and other top teams in the league (as do the Pats right now) but I think the pieces were almost in place to do that.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Well, one advantage is that their schedule as a division winner includes the Eagles, Texans and Chiefs. They could easily lose all of those. Our corresponding opponents as cellar dweller are the Giants, Titans, and Raiders, which we should all win.

 

[denverpatsfan]

I'll be excited when this team can beat Tua. That's what I am looking for this season. Allen and the Bills can wait.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'll be excited when this team can beat Tua. That's what I am looking for this season. Allen and the Bills can wait.

I want it all now. Tua. Allen. Mahomes. Hurts. Send them home on a stretcher. Put everyone on notice.

 

[stinkypete]

The schedule differential is real. We draw Tennessee, Vegas and the Giants. They draw Houston, KC and Philly.

 

[MrTibbs]

With a far better roster, coaching and overall direction of the team. It feels like we can challenge Buffalo for the division.

Yes of course the roster will work itself out by camp battles. Think back to the last few seasons of how close be played Buffalo with inferior talent. We should be optimistic as fans that we can challenge them in the division. Vrabel has built the defense to compete and frustrate offenses like the dolphins.. Justin fields scares no one and don't laugh me off the forum... but if seems like our WR room may be better than the Bills.

like to get posters thoughts on where have a chance to finish in the division?

This should be rewritten, "Challenge the Dolphins" - Let's see if the Patriots can finish ahead of the Dolphins for once in who knows how many seasons.

We're starting to sound like Jets fans now. The offseason has "looked" great so far but we're talking a whole new coaching staff and half the roster turned over. They've yet to play a game. I think it makes sense to slow down and just watch how it unfolds.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

I may have said this before but the Bills’ window is closing fast. With their cap space or lack of and the guys that will be FA soon….actually it may have closed already. Can they be a top 15 team? Sure. SB caliber they are not and have NOT been since losing 4 times in the 80s. Actually I think if they don’t win it all this year, ownerships going to be doing a little “housecleaning” and that won’t bode well for Allen. Too bad too, kids got talent….maybe once he’s fallen off that cliff, he can come be Drake’s backup… >=D

Also their window is closing because we are on the move up. Soon, we will once again be the loathed Patriots that everyone wants to knock off and are terrified of…

 

[IcyPatriot]

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think this Patriot team can win 10 games and a possible wild card spot, but unless the Bills falter significantly the Patriots have no real shot at the division.

 

[The Gr8est]

I may have said this before but the Bills’ window is closing fast. With their cap space or lack of and the guys that will be FA soon….actually it may have closed already. Can they be a top 15 team? Sure. SB caliber they are not and have NOT been since losing 4 times in the 80s. Actually I think if they don’t win it all this year, ownerships going to be doing a little “housecleaning” and that won’t bode well for Allen. Too bad too, kids got talent….maybe once he’s fallen off that cliff, he can come be Drake’s backup… >=D

Also their window is closing because we are on the move up. Soon, we will once again be the loathed Patriots that everyone wants to knock off and are terrified of…

I think the Pats’ future is easily the one we would want to be following in the AFC East, and one of the most compelling in the entire league, on paper at least.

If you squint and add a couple of drops of irrational exuberance, you can see the start of the next Pats dynasty.

Such a 180 from a year ago.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

I think the Pats’ future is easily the one we would want to be following in the AFC East, and one of the most compelling in the entire league, on paper at least.

If you squint and add a couple of drops of irrational exuberance, you can see the start of the next Pats dynasty.

Such a 180 from a year ago.

I honestly think the exuberance needs to be irrational. All the stars are aligning for us to be a powerhouse soon. New COMPETENT COACHING STAFF, franchise QB, good possibly great draft? Yea the 180 we have made is impressive….I wonder if the new dynasty will have new “gates”…

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think the Pats’ future is easily the one we would want to be following in the AFC East, and one of the most compelling in the entire league, on paper at least.

If you squint and add a couple of drops of irrational exuberance, you can see the start of the next Pats dynasty.

Such a 180 from a year ago.

Agree completely, and their timing is really good, as the fish have clearly seen their window close on them, the Jets have no quarterback and a bunch of big bills coming due in Garret Wilson, Vera-Tucker, and Sauce Gardener, and the Bills look like they are struggling to keep a strong roster around Allen. The Patriots are rising just as the rest of the division is struggling, and that bodes really well for their future.

 

[The Gr8est]

Agree completely, and their timing is really good, as the fish have clearly seen their window close on them, the Jets have no quarterback and a bunch of big bills coming due in Garret Wilson, Vera-Tucker, and Sauce Gardener, and the Bills look like they are struggling to keep a strong roster around Allen. The Patriots are rising just as the rest of the division is struggling, and that bodes really well for their future.

And if THIS one becomes what we hope, Bob Kraft can legitimately claim a large part of the credit.

We are not where we are now if he doesn’t admit his mistake and fire Mayo.

 

[Real fan 02]

This should be rewritten, "Challenge the Dolphins" - Let's see if the Patriots can finish ahead of the Dolphins for once in who knows how many seasons.

We're starting to sound like Jets fans now. The offseason has "looked" great so far but we're talking a whole new coaching staff and half the roster turned over. They've yet to play a game. I think it makes sense to slow down and just watch how it unfolds.

It's tons of reasons for optimism. Why would be be trying to measure up to the Dolphins? The measurement is to Buffalo. Anyhow every poster has thier own opinion. I choose to be optimistic haven't been this optimistic in a long time.

 

[stinkypete]

I may have said this before but the Bills’ window is closing fast. With their cap space or lack of and the guys that will be FA soon….actually it may have closed already. Can they be a top 15 team? Sure. SB caliber they are not and have NOT been since losing 4 times in the 80s. Actually I think if they don’t win it all this year, ownerships going to be doing a little “housecleaning” and that won’t bode well for Allen. Too bad too, kids got talent….maybe once he’s fallen off that cliff, he can come be Drake’s backup… >=D

Also their window is closing because we are on the move up. Soon, we will once again be the loathed Patriots that everyone wants to knock off and are terrified of…

It doesn’t work that way. They have a top 5 QB and a nearly decade old program. They will contend for as long as Allen is elite. Whatever roster attrition they experience can be replaced acceptably in two rookie classes.

The only way their window closes is by us getting better, not them getting worse.

 

[farn]

We are still 1-2 years away but without a doubt on the right path, finally

I agree ^.

Truth is : there is a decent chance NE doesn’t break .500 next season. I’m hopeful the team is headed in the right direction, but won’t be shocked if things are still a season (or two) away from true success….

 

[Huckleberry1]

And if THIS one becomes what we hope, Bob Kraft can legitimately claim a large part of the credit.

We are not where we are now if he doesn’t admit his mistake and fire Mayo.

I think you always give credit or blame to those making the decisions. Kraft deserves the credit for having the balls to fire Belichick, who had not done a good job rebuilding the team after letting Brady walk. He deserves full blame for hiring Mayo, which was a terrible decision. And he gets the credit for hiring Vrabel and keeping Wolf, who benefitted from Vrabel, Cowden, and Streicher coming in and working with him, and whose player evaluations and the 140 million he kept around played a significant role in a great offseason they have had. I don’t think it would have been nearly as successful without Vrabel, Cowden, and Streicher coming in, but he still had a significant role in their success.

 

[Uptown]

Who says we can’t take the division THIS YEAR?? With all of our flaws, we only lost by a FG in week 16 last year; and that was with BUF likely needing that win for seeding. They are obviously a good team, but they aren’t that much better. Allen is their team..They haven’t upgraded offensively & their defense was below average. Although they did have a nice draft defensively (on paper). We’ll see how/if they’ve progressed, but if could hang with them Week 16 last year when our roster/coaching staff was in turmoil, I think we have a pretty good shot at dethroning them as early as this year. We’ve made MAJOR upgrades to both our roster & coaching staff; cohesion is the only question with us.

 

[State]

The Pats just beefed up their defense while the Bills didn't really add anyone.

You’re normally of sound judgment, but did you see the Bills draft? Three cornerbacks including their elite first rounder, Maxwell Hairston, who fills a huge hole, then they moved up to 41 for South Carolina’s incredibly athletic DT TJ Sanders, BIG edge rusher Landon Jackson who I think was excellent value, then the Kentucky monster Deone Walker whom I’ve been following since he came out of Detroit. Massive frame and a high ceiling though low floor prospect. If he can learn to keep his pad level low, look out.

Brandon Beane retooled that defense. FA Joey Bosa, too.

No, the Patriots are still fighting the Jets, who now have a real QB, and the Phins to earn second place.