On Wednesday, the NFL and HBO introduced that the Buffalo Bills would be the focus of the 2025 coaching camp version of “Arduous Knocks,” set to premiere on August 5.
Under, we look at three issues we’re most considering seeing when the docuseries premieres this summer time.
Temper after one other playoff loss | The NFL relaxed its rules for who’s eligible for “Arduous Knocks” in April, scrapping the earlier stipulation that stored groups who had made the playoffs in both (or each) of the 2 seasons previous the coaching camp documentary collection from being thought-about.
That allowed Buffalo, which has made the playoffs in six consecutive seasons and 7 of the previous eight, to be granted a flip within the preseason highlight.
It is going to be fascinating to see what the temper is like at Orchard Park after one other season — the fourth in 5 years — ended with a playoff loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Since 2019, solely the Chiefs have a greater common season document (78-22) than the Payments (71-28). Kansas Metropolis has three Tremendous Bowl wins to point out for its exceptional run, whereas Buffalo has but to recover from the hump.
The variety of playoff heartbreaks the Payments have endured in recent times could possibly be dispiriting. We’ll get an early take a look at how a lot struggle they’ve left.
Sean McDermott’s motivational speeches | We hope McDermott, getting into his ninth season as Payments head coach, has improved in delivering messages to his workforce from 2019, when an ill-conceived speech would later trigger a media firestorm.
As reported in 2023 in a three-part Go Lengthy TD series from Tyler Dunne, McDermott as soon as tried to emphasize the significance of communication through the use of the September 11, 2001 terrorist assault aircraft hijackers for example.
McDermott addressed the incident after it surfaced, telling reporters he apologized to the workforce on the time for the poorly conveyed message.
McDermott has doubtless fine-tuned his motivational techniques within the years since, though previous habits die onerous. We will not put it previous him to overlook the mark once more.
Large receiver competitors | The Payments had a tough time changing former No. 1 large receiver Stefon Diggs, who they traded to the Texans final April, in 2024. Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman enter the offseason as the highest two receivers on Buffalo’s unofficial depth chart and flashed potential final 12 months, though each should take leaps in the event that they wish to develop into a respectable WR1.
Shakir led the Payments with 821 receiving yards final 12 months however averaged a career-low 10.8 yards per reception. In the meantime, Coleman averaged a powerful 19.2 yards per catch, gaining 556 yards on 29 receptions, however vanished within the playoffs, catching three of eight targets for 22 yards in three postseason video games.
Buffalo added Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore in free company, however neither is more likely to develop into the focus of the workforce’s passing assault. One of many largest tales in Payments camp shall be who emerges because the chief at wideout, if somebody does in any respect.
