The Buffalo Bills of the 2000s- a lost decade, to say the least.
From the 2000 season on, we have made a grand total of ZERO playoff appearances and ONE winning season.
Now that it's over, I ask- where did it all go wrong?!
One reason why- offense.
As someone who lived in Buffalo during their no-huddle, high-scoring glory-days of the late 80s and early 90s, their offense this decade was enough to bring a tear to my eye.
Other than 2002, the Buffalo offense was a threat to nobody. To put it in perspective, 4 quarterbacks on the 2009 Bills combined for 2,789 passing yards. Drew Bledsoe in 2002 threw for 4,259 yards- that's nearly a 1,500 yard difference!
After the aforementioned 2002 season, the Bills tore up the astroturf for FieldTurf. In the seven seasons since, the Bills offense has been awful and the team has been mediocre. I know everyone hates the fake stuff, but the Bills are NOT a team made for the real stuff. The Bills I knew and loved were a turf team- they are NOT a grass team! Purists be damned, it set my team back for years!
We can't do anything right- firing Wade Phillips, letting players like Flutie, Bledsoe, Price, Fletcher and McGahee walk, etc.
They have not beaten the Pats since I was a sophomore in high school- I am now a college senior!
Now, we have a new coach- Chan Gailey. Oh, dear god.
The fall of the Bills is so sad to watch.
I hope someday, they will rise from the dead. For now, we're the laughingstock of the AFC (the Raiders and Chiefs have more upside).
From the 2000 season on, we have made a grand total of ZERO playoff appearances and ONE winning season.
Now that it's over, I ask- where did it all go wrong?!
One reason why- offense.
As someone who lived in Buffalo during their no-huddle, high-scoring glory-days of the late 80s and early 90s, their offense this decade was enough to bring a tear to my eye.
Other than 2002, the Buffalo offense was a threat to nobody. To put it in perspective, 4 quarterbacks on the 2009 Bills combined for 2,789 passing yards. Drew Bledsoe in 2002 threw for 4,259 yards- that's nearly a 1,500 yard difference!
After the aforementioned 2002 season, the Bills tore up the astroturf for FieldTurf. In the seven seasons since, the Bills offense has been awful and the team has been mediocre. I know everyone hates the fake stuff, but the Bills are NOT a team made for the real stuff. The Bills I knew and loved were a turf team- they are NOT a grass team! Purists be damned, it set my team back for years!
We can't do anything right- firing Wade Phillips, letting players like Flutie, Bledsoe, Price, Fletcher and McGahee walk, etc.
They have not beaten the Pats since I was a sophomore in high school- I am now a college senior!
Now, we have a new coach- Chan Gailey. Oh, dear god.
The fall of the Bills is so sad to watch.
I hope someday, they will rise from the dead. For now, we're the laughingstock of the AFC (the Raiders and Chiefs have more upside).
