The Nearly Men Of Buffalo

ibmax

Some call them the most patient fans in the NFL. Other would say success starved!!!

As an original founding member of the AFL, the Buffalo Bills found almost immediate success, bringing consecutive titles to upstate New York in 1964 and 1965. 1970 saw them join the NFL and also saw a turn in fortunes for the franchise. The 70’s brought little cheer and the 80’s began in similar fashion. However, owning the 14th pick in the 1983 Draft, the Bills drafted a quarterback from “The U” who went by the name of Jim Kelly. Unfortunately, the poor attendances and cold weather in Buffalo combined with the promise of riches saw Kelly defer for the Houston Gamblers of the USFL. When financial troubles saw it fold in 1986, Buffalo finally got it’s guy and things quickly began to turn around. 8 playoff appearances in 11 years. 6 divisional championships between 1988 and 1995. Superbowl appearances in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. But NO championship. The Bills became the NFL’s nearly men!!!

When Kelly retired in 1996, much of the team he led to the Superbowls were coming to the end of the road too. Thurman Thomas had worn most of the rubber from his tyres. Andre Reed had lost his burst. Bruce Smith would leave in a big money move to Washington (some things never change!!!). Time’s were changing in Buffalo and when head coach Marv Levy stepped down in 1997, the Buffalo Bills became irrelevant....

.... But not anymore. After years of watching JP Losman throwing interceptions, Trent Edwards throwing checkdowns and Drew Bledsoe throwing hissy-fits, the Bills ripped up the roster, the front office, the back office and started over for the BFL. Being 412 years old, owner Ralph Wilson knew his window for finally winning a Superbowl was closing. Placing all his eggs in one basket, he appointed Danger Dave to lead his beloved Bills into a new era. Danger Dave arrived with little fanfare. In his first press conference he listed Buffalo greats from the past, the Buffalo way, the “K-Gun” no huddle offense, and how he would be bringing all this back.

The new look Bills were assembled and it quickly became apparent, that despite the initial promises, there would be no blow-outs, no shoot-outs and the no huddle offense would not be welcome in Buffalo. In their poor weather surrounds, Tim Tebow and Danny Woodhead combined to rush their way over, through and around anyone who got in their way – smash-mouth football!!! The defense, led by Derrick Johnson and Troy Polamalu quickly gained a reputation as one of the stingiest around. The first BFL iteration of the Bills ground out wins. But wins were not enough. The Bills gained an identity but like the many teams since Kelly's retirement, they could not win a division. The AFC East featured the dominant Jets. Two regular season wins over the Bills and a 16-0 record showed just how far Danger Dave would have to go. The team made the playoffs but that was it.

Changes were needed and trades were made. Arian Foster was brought onboard at the beginning of the 2012/2013 season to bolster the league’s top rushing attack. The Bills won a lot of games... but the Jets won more. Soon, with pressure growing on the GM, the switch at QB was made. Tebow was dropped in favour of the “girly-armed” Kyle Orton. This lead the Bills to a wildcard spot and an eventual divisional playoff game against their arch enemies. The Bill’s held a 17-3 lead and had the ball on the goalline. Tebow was brought in to give them an unassailable lead but disaster struck, an awful interception was thrown and the Jets went on to win 28-24. The Bills became the BFL’s nearly men!!!

2013/2014 arrived with sweeping changes in Buffalo. Accepting the Jets could not be beaten with an archaic offense, Danger Dave set about revolutionising the roster. Jay Cutler was brought in at QB. Santonio Holmes was snapped up to play across from Vincent Jackson. Foster was shipped out, Woodhead resumed his role as the number 1 back and the offensive line was shored up. After a 2-0 start, the Jets were welcomed into an expectant Ralph Wilson stadium. However, there was little sign of any offensive improvement as the Bills limped to a miserable 21-9 defeat – Cutler managing less than 100 yards passing. The GM decided enough was enough and took a break from the BFL. The time away proved interesting as the interim head coach masterminded a win over the Rams and then an embarrassing 98-20 defeat to the Raiders. This did not discourage Danger Dave and upon his return, revitalised, he vowed to put things right. As luck would have it, he soon found his Bills heading to MetLife stadium. Despite claims and counter claims of match fixing, the Bills finally beat their nemesis and all but guaranteed a wildcard spot in the process.

Following the Bucs win over the Raiders in week 17, the AFC will once again pass through New Jersey. The Bills begin their quest on Wednesday against the Titans. Surprisingly, the number 5 seeded Bills go into the game as 10 point favourites following their week 17 thrashing of the same team. However, they will be acutely aware of the pitfalls of being a heavily favoured number 5 seed. In recent years we have seen the Seahawks, led by Marshawn Lynch, trample all over the heavily favoured Saints. The year prior to that, a fancied Greenbay team lost in a shoot-out in Arizona. Will the Bills be overconfident? Will the homefield advantage help the Titans? The romantics among us will look for the Bills to win, we’ll look for the Chargers to go into Cincinnati and beat the Bengals. A subsequent Bills win over the Raiders with the Jets beating their AFC West rivals would see the dream matchup as the two AFC powerhouses meet in the championship game and do battle one final time. One final time to define the Bills’ BFL journey....

... For Danger Dave and his Bills, it’s time to move on from being the nearly men!!!

Danger_dave1

No pressure so ! :pac:

thanks for the write up Ibmax !

BigBadRob83

Excellent work ibmax, very enjoyable read.
Maybe the vagabond Jay Cutler has finally found a home after being found wanting by Dallas, Cincinnati and Houston.

Trying to figure out how Bills article, leading up to the Bills-Jets rivalry, felt the need to say this though:

ibmax wrote: »

we’ll look for the Chargers to go into Cincinnati and beat the Bengals.

Has some word come down from on high (maybe the Commissioner's office or through the mods) that the Chargers are to win?

ibmax

BigBadRob83 wrote: »

Excellent work ibmax, very enjoyable read.

Trying to figure out how Bills article, leading up to the Bills-Jets rivalry, felt the need to say this though:

Has some word come down from on high (maybe the Commissioner's office or through the mods) that the Chargers are to win?

Cheers... very kind words

If you beat the Chargers and the Bills beat the Titans then the Bills and Jets will face off in the divisional round again. Given this is the last year it almost seems as if it was written for Dave to go into The Meadowlands in the championship game and finally get a win that counts against Berty!!!

I might have been watching too much "America's Game" of course I can hear Morgan Freeman already reading that script in my head!!!!

etloveslsd

ibmax wrote: »

I might have been watching too much "America's Game" of course I can hear Morgan Freeman already reading that script in my head!!!!

Nah it will be Martin Sheen on the "Missing Rings"

It seems Rob is on the Bills cheat to win bandwagon too. The tide dies down Dave but always comes back in....