After losing their last two games, questions have quickly emerged about whether the Buffalo Bills have what it takes to truly contend for a Super Bowl in 2025. However, according to former Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman, things may only go downhill for the team if they don’t win a championship this season.
The Bills have found out that they are no longer the undeniable best team in the AFC East, falling to the New England Patriots in Week 5, who they are now behind in the division standings.
When you add in the fact that Buffalo may be in line to lose key players on expiring contracts after the 2025 season, like defensive ends Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa, and linebacker Matt Milano, pressure is certainly looming for the Bills to capitalize on the window they currently have to contend.
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This is at least the argument raised by Shawne Merriman on Thursday’s edition of the “Up & Adams Show”, explaining how he believes this season is likely the final year of Buffalo’s “championship window”.
“If you look at history with any championship team, you have this four-year window, where you can be dominant and win at least one trophy,” said Merriman. “I am speaking from experience when we were really good from 2005 to 2010, when we were a really really good team. We all know what happens: the team breaks up. Coordinators, the front office, whoever. The assistant GM is, he goes and gets another job with another team. Head coaches may be on the line to get fired and bring somebody else in.
“My concern with the Bills are that they have to get themselves in position to win one. Because they are not gonna be the same team next year, they just won’t. The staff, players, contracts coming up. Players are gonna go get big contracts somewhere else. You don’t want that opportunity to pass on you. They are still good, but you just hope that they don’t drop these games they are supposed to win. I think this year will be the last year, because that division is just gonna keep getting better. That’s what they are gonna be up against.”
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This exact argument laid out by Merriman is the reason that many have named the Bills as a likely candidate to be buyers at the upcoming NFL trade deadline, particularly for a true No. 1 receiver to give Josh Allen a reliable receiving threat that has been absent in Buffalo’s offense thus far.
Regardless of whether or not the Bills do make a blockbuster move at the trade deadline, they will attempt to reestablish themselves as AFC contenders in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, who come into the game riding a three-game winning streak.
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