On Wednesday, the NFL and HBO introduced that the Buffalo Bills would be the focus of the 2025 coaching camp version of “Laborious Knocks,” set to premiere on August 5.
Under, we study three issues we’re most excited about seeing when the docuseries premieres this summer time.
Temper after one other playoff loss | The NFL relaxed its rules for who’s eligible for “Laborious 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 sequence 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 will likely 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 file (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 combat they’ve left.
Sean McDermott’s motivational speeches | We hope McDermott, coming into his ninth season as Payments head coach, has improved in delivering messages to his crew 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 airplane hijackers for example.
McDermott addressed the incident after it surfaced, telling reporters he apologized to the crew on the time for the poorly conveyed message.
McDermott has seemingly fine-tuned his motivational ways within the years since, though outdated habits die onerous. We won’t put it previous him to overlook the mark once more.
Large receiver competitors | The Payments had a troublesome time changing former No. 1 vast 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 official 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 prone to develop into the point of interest of the crew’s passing assault. One of many greatest tales in Payments camp might be who emerges because the chief at wideout, if somebody does in any respect.
