What makes you think things could end differently for Josh Allen and the Bills in 2026? 'GMFB'
NFL Network's Manti Te'o discusses what about the Buffalo Bills remains the key for them to realize success in the 2026 NFL season.
Video Transcript
The Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl rematch will kick off our 2026 NFL season.
We are seven days and a couple hours away.
8:20 PM Eastern kick next Wednesday.
Can't wait, Jamie.
Seven days.
Next Wednesday.
Seven days.
Never been more excited.
Seven days and 14 hours GMFB on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Not that you're counting.
Jamie Erdahl, Manttei Te'o here in LA.
Kyle Brandt and Willie Colon are on the East Coast.
I just asked you to clarify a quote for me, Manttei.
Mm-hmm.
It was, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again- And expecting a different, different result expecting a different result."
Yep.
Is that how Josh Allen's starting to feel a little bit?
Like they keep doing the same thing- That's where you're going and they want something different at the end.
Stop us if you've heard this one before.
Josh Allen and the Bills once again failed to live up to the expectations set for the team in 2025.
But that doesn't mean the expectations change for '26, just how do they go about their business differently?
Yesterday, the quarterback spoke on this topic with the local media.
Take a listen.
Yeah, I think I, I'll always have a chip on my shoulder.
You know, the way that last season ended, you know, wasn't I actually wasn't happy with it.
Haven't been happy with any of the seasons the way they've ended, so gotta continue to find ways to, to keep getting better, keep pushing ourselves and, you know, just keep grinding away and, keep knocking at the door.
All right, here's how it's different.
New head coach, new coordinators on both sides of the ball, and a new number one wide receiver.
So what makes you think that things could end differently for Josh Allen and the team in Western New York in 2026, Willie Colon?
Well, well, for me, it has to start with the defense.
To be honest, I know what Josh Allen is capable of and what he can do.
We know he can wear the cape.
We know he's big in the fourth quarter.
We know he can close out games.
But come January, man, he needs a defense.
He doesn't need the '85 Bears.
He just need a defense that can show up in January, because the Bills are already projected to make the playoffs, win the division, make the playoffs, and potentially, make the Super Bowl.
But defensively, man, have they done enough?
I think they're Super Bowl capable.
We just have to see if they have a Super Bowl caliber defense, all together.
You, when you bring in Jim Leonard as a new defensive coordinator, he's shifting schemes from a 4-3 to a 3-4.
He wants to be a lot more aggressive.
They have to be a lot more stout against the run.
They were ranked 28th in the league against the run.
That's not good.
So collectively, with, with the additions they have with Bradley Chubb, and you talk about C.J.
Gardner-Johnson, and obviously they have Rousseau and Ed Oliver and Dion Walker and T.J. Parker on the edge.
They have guys, man.
They have, they have some really legit guys on the defensive side of the ball.
But Josh Allen needs a defense that can close out games.
It just can't solely be on him.
We know he can score 30.
Hell, he can score 35.
But we need a defense that can show up through all four quarters and close out games and not put so much on that young man's shoulders.
Let, let's- KB let, let's, let's specify real quick, though, what different is.
Like, what does a different ending look like?
A different ending is winning the AFC Championship.
We're not even gonna get to winning the Super Bowl.
They've made it to the AFC Championship before.
Can they win it?
That's the question.
When I look at what's different about this Buffalo Bills team, I don't know specifically what's different.
You, you, you elevate Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to now head coach.
You have Josh Allen, you have D.J.
Moore.
You're adding to an already really good offense, right?
You had the rushing title, winner, with James Cook.
Defensively, I know there's a lot of talk, and Willie pointed out a lot of talk about the defense, that the defense needs to be better.
The defense was the number one passing defense in the league last year.
Their biggest Achilles heel was their ability to stop the run.
So have they made those type of adjustments this off-season to, to, to handle that?
My answer is I don't know.
Like, you bring in Jim Leonard from, Denver.
You know what Denver brings with that defense.
So you're hoping that, okay, you know, Jim Leonard has that experience over there in Denver.
Hopefully they can bring that type of defensive mentality over there to, to, Buffalo.
There's one guy on that team that I think can help out with that mentality that helps a defense to elevate in the rush game, in the rush defense category, and that's C.J.
Gardner-Johnson.
Everywhere that C.J.
Gardner-Johnson has been, for some reason, there's a nastiness that those defenses start to play with.
Whether he was with the Saints or whether he was with the Eagles, wherever the man has been, they start to play with a little bit of edge.
So that's my X factor, is C.J.
Gardner-Johnson.
Now, can he make the type of difference where they can win the AFC championship?
Again, KB, I don't know, because there are The carryover from last year is what they were already good at, last year.
That's a really good offense, and that's guys like Bradley Chubb that they added to the fold that's a really good pass rusher.
What have you done to make your rush defense better?
That's to be determined for me.
