Every Monday morning, I show up to the WGR studios to do the Extra Point Show from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. It’s a show about reaction to, and reflecting on the game from the day or night before.
I also often use the show to reflect on Buffalo Bills’ history. You’ve heard me talk a lot about that, especially this year. Where the Bills have been. How they got here. The ups and downs along the way.
From parallels to the 1988 and 1989 teams to this year’s team, to wandering through the quarterback wilderness trying to find "The Guy", to the constant changing of head coaches and general managers throughout the playoff drought.
I just want to take you back about five months or so. Right around July when training camps were supposed to start. At that point, they were delayed and we were wondering what was going to happen with the entire National Football League season.
During the summer, I was doing a series of articles at WGR550.com on the "State of the Bills", going position-by-position. I have a little handy-dandy color-coded spreadsheet for the entire roster that I’m always adjusting and updating, and often tweeting out.
Before the season, it was clear, on paper, this was going to be a good football team. I remember people even tweeting back at me things like, “Wow! I can’t remember this much depth across the roster since the 1990s.” And I agreed.
Obviously there’s a difference between depth and talent on paper and going out and doing it. There were still questions, like if Josh Allen could take another step after a really nice one from Year 1 to Year 2. Questions about Stefon Diggs fitting in with Allen and the offense, especially in a shortened offseason. Questions about where the Bills fit in the AFC East, considering there were still the New England Patriots to deal with, it was still Bill Belichick, they had just signed quarterback Cam Newton.
Check. Check. And checkmate.
The Bills aren’t just where we thought they might be able to be after 16 weeks, they’re where we hoped they would.
There is no doubt that at this very moment the Bills are one of the four or five best teams in the NFL. That doesn’t guarantee them a Super Bowl, or even a playoff win, but this team is everything Bills fans have wanted.
They have their franchise quarterback. There’s no more doubt about that.
They have a terrific head coach who understands the league and how to prepare and manage games and players.
They have a fantastic, vibrant front office.
They have very good young players.
They have the AFC East division title.
And fans got the absolute beatdown of the Patriots on Monday night that was a long time coming.
Here. We. Are.
Where and what Bills fans wanted and hoped for, and some even expected. All that’s left to do is buckle up, enjoy the ride, and see where it ends.
Follow me on Twitter: @SalSports
