Bills' Super Bowl window: Still wide open or creaking shut?

kAmw6 H2?E65 E@ <?@H 23@FE E96 qF772=@ q:==D’ @77D62D@?] s676?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C {6D=:6 uC2K:6C’D 56A2CEFC6 W>JDE6C:@FDX] #646:G6C $E67@? s:88D’ >:?5D6E W3C@@5:?8X] (96? E96 ?6H DE25:F> H2D 8@:?8 E@ @A6? Wa_aeX] %96 qF772=@ }6HD[ E9@F89[ EFC?65 E96 E23=6D]k^Am

kAmxD E96 q:==D’ $FA6C q@H= H:?5@H DE:== @A6? 7@C E9:D 4@C6 @7 A=2J6CD 27E6C 7@FC 4@?D64FE:G6 A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46D 92D ?6EE65 @?=J @?6 EC:A E@ E96 4@?76C6?46 E:E=6 82>6nk^Am

kAm“pD =@?8 2D E96J 92G6 E96 BF2CE6C324<[” E96 6I64FE:G6 D2:5]k^Am

kAmk6>mpD =@?8 2D E96J 92G6 E96 BF2CE6C324<]k^6>m xE H2D E96 4@>>@? C6DA@?D6 7C@> E9@D6 :?D:56 2?5 @FED:56 E96 q:==D @G6C E96 =2DE D:I >@?E9D] y@D9 p==6? H:== <66A E96 q:==D :? E96 $FA6C q@H= 4@?G6CD2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 9:>[ E96 D<J’D E96 =:>:E[” 5676?D:G6 E24<=6 s2"F2? y@?6D D2:5]k^Am

kAm“xE’D @A6? 3642FD6 @7 E96 BF2CE6C324<[” 2 D64@?5 6I64FE:G6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“}@] `f[” 2? pur 2DD:DE2?E D:>A=J D2:5]k^Am

kAmqFE 7@C 9@H =@?8n pD E96 D6G6?E9 D62D@? @7 E96 C68:>6 @7 v6?6C2= |2?286C qC2?5@? q62?6 2?5 4@249 $62? |4s6C>@EE 2?5 p==6?’D 7:7E9 D62D@? 368:?D |@?52J ?:89E 282:?DE E96 }6H *@C< y6ED[ BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 q:==D’ 492>A:@?D9:A H:?5@H – H:E9 E9:D 8C@FA[ ?@E 7@C E96 32=2?46 @7 p==6?’D 42C66C – 2C6 =68:E:>2E6] {68:E:>2E6 3642FD6 E96 q:==D 92G6 DEF3365 E96:C E@6D :? E96 A=2J@77D E96 =2DE EH@ J62CD] {68:E:>2E6 3642FD6 …k^Am

kAm%96 C@DE6C :D 86EE:?8 @=56Ci }:?6 A=2J6CD @? E96:C db\>2? C@DE6C =2DE H66< 2C6 2E =62DE b_ J62CD @=5]k^Am

kAm%96 |2C49 a_ac 7C66\286?E =:DEi }:?6E66? A=2J6CD 2C6 :? E96 7:?2= J62C @7 E96:C 4@?EC24ED]k^Am

kAm%96 D2=2CJ 42Ai p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 :?5FDECJ H63D:E6 ~G6C %96 r2A[ E96 q:==D 2C6 ?62C=J Sad >:==:@? 23@G6 ?6IE J62C’D AC@;64E65 42A @7 Sade >:==:@?]k^Am

kAmp?5[ >@DE @7 2==[ E96 pur :D =@2565i "F2CE6C324<D !2EC:4< |29@>6D Wz2?D2D r:EJX[ y@6 qFCC@H Wr:?4:??2E:X[ yFDE:? w6C36CE W{@D p?86=6D r92C86CDX[ {2>2C y24<D@? Wq2=E:>@C6X[ %C6G@C {2HC6?46 Wy24<D@?G:==6X[ %F2 %28@G2:=@2 W|:2>:X 2?5 s6D92F? (2ED@? Wr=6G6=2?5X 2C6 :? E96:C AC:>6 @C @? E96 4FDA @7 :E] p55 p2C@? #@586CD Wy6EDX E@ E96 D9@CE\E6C> >:I]k^Am

kAmx?E6C?2==J[ E9@F89[ E96C6 :D 2 BF:6E 4@?7:56?46 H:E9 E96D6 q:==D]k^Am

kAm“(6 DE:== 92G6 E96 D2>6 8FJD H6’G6 925 E96 A2DE 76H J62CD[ :?4=F5:?8 y@D9 2?5 WC646:G6C $E67@?X s:88D[” ?:4<6= 4@C?6C %2C@? y@9?D@? D2:5] “x 567:?:E6=J 766= E96 H:?5@H :D DE:== @A6?]”k^Am

k9bm‘r=2DD @7 5:G:D:@?’k^9bm

kAm%96 H:?5@H :D @A6?i %96 q:==D C6>2:? E96 pur t2DE’D 36DE E62>]k^Am

kAm%96 q:==D 92G6 H@? E9C66 4@?D64FE:G6 5:G:D:@? E:E=6D[ 2? 244@>A=:D9>6?E 6I466565 @?=J EH:46 W`heb\ee 2?5 `hgg\h`X :? E62> 9:DE@CJ] %96 >:5\`he_D E62>D =65 3J BF2CE6C324< y24< z6>A H@? EH@ pu{ 492>A:@?D9:AD] %96 =2E6\`hg_D^62C=J\`hh_D E62>D C624965 7@FC 4@?D64FE:G6 $FA6C q@H=D W2== =@DD6DX]k^Am

kAm%9:D 7@F?52E:@? @7 q:==D[ E96@C6E:42==J[ 92D 8@?6 324<H2C5 E96 =2DE EH@ A@DED62D@?D[ C2:D:?8 4@?46C?D – A6C46:G65 2?5 724EF2= – 23@FE E96:C H:?5@H 7@C 4@?E6?5:?8 367@C6 92G:?8 E@ C6D6E E96 C@DE6C] x? a_a_[ E96J C624965 E96 pur E:E=6 82>6 2?5 =@DE 2E z2?D2D r:EJ] v@@5 DEF77] p 3C62<E9C@F89] ~? E96 C:89E EC24<] %96 s:88D EC256 H@C<65 @FE 2?5 E96? D@>6] p==6? 3642>6 2 DE2C]k^Am

kAmx? a_a`[ E96J =@DE 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 C@25 82>6 E@ E96 r9:67Dj “`b D64@?5D” H:== 9@=5 2 5C62CJ A=246 :? 7C2?49:D6 2??2=D]k^Am

kAmp?5 =2DE J62C[ E96J =@DE 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 9@>6 82>6 E@ r:?4:??2E:] &9\@9] xE H2D C:89E E96C6 :? E96 q:==D’ 92?5D – 362E E96 q6?82=D 2?5 A=2J E96 r9:67D :? 2 ?6FEC2= D:E6] }@ pCC@H9625] }@ H62E96C] p 72DE EC24<] p >:DD65 @AA@CEF?:EJ 2E A@E6?E:2= 8=@CJ]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E96 @77D62D@?[ E96:C pur t2DE C:G2=D 2== C6E@@=65 E96:C C@DE6CD W#@586CDX 2?5^@C 4@249:?8 DE277D W@776?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C q:== ~’qC:6? E@ }6H t?8=2?5 2?5 5676?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C ':4 u2?8:@ E@ |:2>:X] p== :? E96 ?2>6 @7 DE@AA:?8 p==6? 2?5 42E49:?8 E96 q:==D]k^Am

kAm~?6 =628F6 6I64FE:G6 5@6D?’E E9:?< :E H:== >2EE6C[ E9@F89 – 96 A:4<65 `] q:==Dj a] y6EDj b] s@=A9:?D 2?5 c] !2EC:@ED]k^Am

kAm%96 pur 2DD:DE2?E 4@249 3C@<6 5@H? E96 5:G:D:@? C646?E=J 7@C %96 }6HD]k^Am

kAm“%96 s@=A9:?D D9@H65 2? 23:=:EJ =2DE J62C E@ 25;FDE E96:C @776?D6 E@ E96 BF2CE6C324< W%28@G2:=@2X 2?5 H6C6 E96? C62==J 9FCE 3J :?;FC:6D] %96J 8@E E96:C @776?D:G6 =:?6 A=2J:?8 H6== 3J E96 6?5 2?5 E96J’G6 8@E 8@@5 D<:== A=2J6CD WC646:G6CD %JC66< w:== 2?5 y2J=6? (255=6X H9@ 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 3C62< 2 3:8 A=2J 2E 2?J A@:?E @7 E96 82>6] s676?D:G6=J[ W?6H 4@C?6C324<X y2=6? #2>D6J 86EE:?8 9FCE W<?66X H2D 2 3:8 562= 7@C 2 4@@C5:?2E@C Wu2?8:@X H9@ C6=:6D D@ >F49 @? >2E49\>2? 4@G6C286]k^Am

kAm“%96 y6ED – J@F 92G6 E@ C6DA64E E96>[ 3FE E96J 92G6 E@ D9@H E96J 42? 24EF2==J H:?]k^Am

kAm“}6H t?8=2?5 5@6D?’E D42C6 >6] q:== ~’qC:6? H:== >2<6 DFC6 E96J 5@?’E 92G6 E96 D2>6 <:?5 @7 :?6AE:EF56 E96J 5:5 =2DE J62C] qFE E96 @776?D:G6 =:?6 2?5 AC@E64E:@? >2J DE:== 36 2 3:8 :DDF6]”k^Am

kAmp?5 E96 q:==Dnk^Am

kAm“xE’D 2 3:8 J62C 7@C W@776?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C z6?X s@CD6J 3642FD6 WqC:2?X s23@== H2D 2 9F86 =@DD – 96 56G6=@A65 y@D9 p==6? 7C@> 2 BF6DE:@? >2C< :?E@ 2 DEF5] xE’D 2=D@ 2 3:8 J62C 7@C |4s6C>@EE] x7 96 9:ED H:E9 E96 DE277 EFC?@G6C 2?5 E2<:?8 @G6C E96 5676?D6 W2D A=2J\42==6CX[ E96:C H:?5@H 4@F=5 36 H:56 @A6?] (6’== D66 C62==J 72DE :7 96 5:5?’E]”k^Am

k9bmsC27E:?8 2?5 56G6=@A:?8k^9bm

kAm%96 H:?5@H :D 4=@D:?8i %96 q:==D’ 5C27ED 7C@> a_`h\aa 2C6 D@ 72C F?56CH96=>:?8]k^Am

kAmu@C E62>D H:E9 2 BF2CE6C324< @? E96:C D64@?5 4@?EC24E[ E96J >FDE 9:E @? E96:C A:4<D =2E6 :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5 2?5 7:?5 277@C523=6 86>D :? C@F?5D a\f E@ C6A=246 E96 6G6?EF2= 7C66\286?E 56764E:@?D WJ@F 42?’E A2J 6G6CJ3@5JX]k^Am

kAm~G6C E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 7@FC 5C27ED[ E96 q:==D D6=64E65 b` A=2J6CD 2?5 D6G6? 2C6 AC@;64E65 (66< ` DE2CE6CD W?@E :?4=F5:?8 <:4<6C %J=6C q2DDX[ =65 3J 5676?D:G6 E24<=6 t5 ~=:G6C[ E:89E 6?5 s2HD@? z?@I 2?5 C646:G6C v236 s2G:D] `d @7 E96 5C27E A:4<D H6C6 @? E96 :?:E:2= db\>2? C@DE6C]k^Am

kAmx? 2==[ E96 q:==D 92G6 2 AC@;64E65 `c (66< ` DE2CE6CD H9@> E96J 5C27E65] p>@?8 E96 $FA6C q@H= 4@?E6?56CD[ z2?D2D r:EJ =625D H:E9 `e[ 7@==@H65 3J $2? uC2?4:D4@[ !9:=256=A9:2 2?5 E96 q:==D W`cX[ E96 {@D p?86=6D r92C86CD W`bX 2?5 r:?4:??2E: 2?5 y24<D@?G:==6 W`a 2A:646X] %96 4@>>@? E96>6n p== 92G6 5C27E65 E96:C DE2CE:?8 BF2CE6C324<D]k^Am

kAm%96 q:==D ?665 vC68 #@FDD62F W7:CDE C@F?5[ a_a`X E@ 6>6C86 2D 2 5@F3=6\5:8:E D24< AC@5F46C[ $A6?46C qC@H? WE9:C5 C@F?5[ ’a`X E@ :>AC@G6 2E C:89E E24<=6[ y2>6D r@@< WD64@?5 C@F?5[ ’aaX 6>6C86 2D E96 E@A CF??:?8 324<[ %6CC6= q6C?2C5 WE9:C5 C@F?5[ ’aaX E@ E2<6 @G6C 2E >:55=6 =:?6324<6C H96? 96 C6EFC?D 7C@> 2 92>DEC:?8 :?;FCJ 2?5[ >@DE :>A@CE2?E @7 2==[ z2::C t=2> W7:CDE C@F?5[ ’aaX E@ 7@C86E 23@FE 9:D AC6D62D@?]k^Am

kAm“%96J ?665 E@ D9@H E96J’C6 5C27E:?8 2?5 56G6=@A:?8 A=2J6CD E@ C6A=246 E96 3:8\>@?6J 8FJD[” E96 pur 2DD:DE2?E 4@249 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 q:==D’ D2=2CJ 42A D:EF2E:@? C6BF:C6D E96 5C27E A:4<D E@ H@C< @FE] %96J 9:E H:E9 z?@I WE9:C5 C@F?5[ a_`hX[ q2DD WD:IE9 C@F?5[ ’a_X[ s2G:D W7@FCE9 C@F?5[ ’a_X 2?5 4@C?6C324<D s2?6 y24<D@? WD6G6?E9 C@F?5[ ’a_X 2?5 r9C:DE:2? q6?7@C5 WD:IE9 C@F?5[ ’aaX]k^Am

kAm%96 q:==D 82G6 FA @? a_a` D64@?5\C@F?5 5676?D:G6 6?5 q@@8:6 q2D92> =2DE H66<[ 7=:AA:?8 9:> E@ E96 }6H *@C< v:2?ED] q2DD[ z?@I 2?5 ~=:G6C 92G6 D:8?65 D64@?5 4@?EC24ED] s2G:D 2?5 y24<D@? 2C6 7C66 286?ED :? |2C49]k^Am

kAmx7 s2G:D 92D 2 3C62<@FE D62D@?[ 96 H:== 4@>>2?5 3:8 >@?6J 6=D6H96C6 2?5 :E H:== 36 FA E@ z92=:= $92<:C W7:7E9 C@F?5[ ’aaX 2?5 yFDE:? $9@CE6C W7:7E9 C@F?5[ ’abX E@ E2<6 9:D A=246]k^Am

k9bm{62C?:?8 7C@> A2DEk^9bm

kAm%96 H:?5@H :D @A6?i %96 q:==D 2C6 56E6C>:?65 E@ >2<6 FA 7@C A2DE D6E324<D]k^Am

kAmp E@H6C:?8 A:4EFC6 @7 E96 {@>32C5: %C@A9J 92?8D @? E96 H2== @7 @?6 6?5 K@?6 2E E96 q:==D’ :?5@@C AC24E:46 724:=:EJ[ 2 564:D:@? 3J |4s6C>@EE E@ D6?5 2? F?D2:5 >6DD286 @7 E9:D J62C’D 8@2=] tG6CJ 52J E96 A=2J6CD H2=< 7C@> E96 AC24E:46 7:6=5 E@ E96 =@4<6C C@@>[ E96J D66 :E] tG6CJ E:>6 E96J DEC6E49 @? E96 :?5@@C 2CE:7:4:2= DFC7246[ E96J D66 :E] xE :D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ >:DD]k^Am

kAm%96 A=2J6CD =:<6 :E]k^Am

kAm“':DF2=:K2E:@? :D 567:?:E6=J 2 8@@5 E9:?8[” p==6? E@=5 %96 }6HD] “%92E’D 567:?:E6=J H92E H6 H2?E E@ 3C:?8 E@ (6DE6C? }6H *@C<] tG6CJ 52J[ E92E’D @FC 8@2= 2?5 @FC DE2?52C5 – 3C:?8 E92E EC@A9J 324<]”k^Am

kAm$2:5 #@FDD62Fi “xE >@E:G2E6D FD] (6 <?@H E92E’D H92E H6 H2?E] %92E’D H9J H6 4@>6 :? 96C6 6G6CJ 52J E@ >66E[ E@ =:7E H6:89ED[ E@ AC24E:46 – :E’D 2== 7@C E92E] }@H H6 92G6 E@ 86E E96 C62= @?6]”k^Am

kAm%96 A2DE 42? 36 FD65 2D 2 E@@=] {62C?:?8 7C@> E96 A=2J@77 D42C E:DDF6 :D 6?E:C6=J A@DD:3=6] yFDE =@@< 2E @E96C }u{ E62>D 2?5 4=F3D :? @E96C DA@CED] w62CE3C62< :D 7@==@H65 3J 6FA9@C:2] u2:=FC6 :D 7@==@H65 3J 2 A2C256]k^Am

kF=mk=:muC@> a__a\_d[ E96 x?5:2?2A@=:D r@=ED =@DE 2 A=2J@77 82>6 c`\_[ =@DE 2? pur E:E=6 82>6 3J `_ A@:?ED[ 72:=65 E@ D4@C6 2 E@F495@H? :? 2?@E96C =@DD E@ }6H t?8=2?5 2?5 H6C6 FAD6E 2E 9@>6 3J !:EED3FC89 2D 2? g `^a\A@:?E 72G@C:E6] qFE :? ’_e[ E96 r@=ED H@? 2 D64@?5\C@F?5 C@25 82>6 2E q2=E:>@C6[ C2==:65 E@ 362E E96 !2EC:@ED 2?5 @FE4=2DD65 r9:428@ E@ H:? E96 $FA6C q@H=]k^=:mk^F=m

kAm“x? J62CD A2DE[ H96? @FC E62> 92D 4@>6 FA D9@CE[ :E’D 366? 5:D2AA@:?E:?8[” BF2CE6C324< !6JE@? |2??:?8 D2:5 :? %96 x?5:2?2A@=:D $E2C] “qFE D@>69@H[ D@>6H2J[ H6 92G6 7@F?5 2 H2J E@ =62C? 7C@> D@>6 @7 E9@D6 =@DD6D] (6’C6 2 36EE6C E62> 3642FD6 @7 :E]”k^Am

kF=mk=:m}@3@5J 6IA6C:6?465 >@C6 AF?496D E92? E96 (2D9:?8E@? }2E:@?2=D] %96 }2E:@?2=D =@DE E96 564:5:?8 v2>6 d @7 E96 }2E:@?2= {628F6 s:G:D:@? $6C:6D :? a_`a W3=6H e\_ =625 E@ $E] {@F:DX[ ’`e WDBF2?56C65 a\` D6C:6D =625 E@ {@D p?86=6DX 2?5 ’`f W3=6H c\` =625 E@ E96 rF3DX] qFE :? ’`h[ E96J 42AEFC65 H:??6C\E2<6\2== 82>6D :? E96 }{s$ W2E E96 s@586CDX 2?5 (@C=5 $6C:6D W2E w@FDE@?X]k^=:mk^F=m

kAm“$@>6E:>6D[ J@F’G6 8@E E@ H2:E 7@C 8@@5 E9:?8D[” E9:C5 32D6>2? #J2? +:>>6C>2? E@=5 |p$} $A@CED]k^Am

kF=mk=:m%96 r@=@C25@ pG2=2?496 6?5FC65 =62? J62CD[ H9:49 2==@H65 :E E@ 3F:=5 E9C@F89 E96 5C27E] ~G6C 7@FC 4@?D64FE:G6 A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46D[ E96J =@DE :? D:I 82>6D 2D E96 6:89E9 D665 E@ }2D9G:==6[ =@DE 2 v2>6 f E@ $2? y@D6[ =@DE 2? @G6CE:>6 v2>6 f E@ s2==2D 2?5 =@DE :? D:I 82>6D E@ '682D 27E6C =625:?8 a\_] qFE E96 pG2=2?496 C2:D65 E96 $E2?=6J rFA :? yF?6 a_aa[ 4@>A=6E:?8 2 `e\c 3=:EK E9C@F89 E96 A@DED62D@? 3J 56E9C@?:?8 EH@\E:>6 5676?5:?8 492>A:@? %2>A2 q2J]k^=:mk^F=m

kAm“$@>6E:>6D[ J@F ?665 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E@F89 E:>6D E@ 6G6?EF2==J 92G6 E9:D[” 86?6C2= >2?286C y@6 $2<:4 E@=5 %96 s6?G6C !@DE]k^Am

kAmY %96 s2==2D |2G6C:4<D DE2CE65 2 DEC62< @7 `a 4@?D64FE:G6 A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46D :? a___\_` 2?5 C624965 E96 }qp u:?2=D W=@D:?8 E@ |:2>:X :? a__d\_e] qFE E96? 2 =@E @7 H:?D[ 3FE A@DED62D@? 5:D2AA@:?E:?8] %9C66 7:CDE\C@F?5 6I:ED :? 2 DA2? @7 7@FC J62CD] %96 |2G6C:4<D 42AEFC65 E96:C 7:CDE }qp E:E=6[ C2==J:?8 7C@> 2 a\` 567:4:E E@ 362E |:2>: :? D:I 82>6D] s2==2D H6?E `e\c :? E96 A@DED62D@?[ 6=:>:?2E:?8 z@36 qCJ2?E W{2<6CDX :? E96 D64@?5 C@F?5[ z6G:? sFC2?E^#FDD6== (6DE3C@@< W~<=29@>2 r:EJX :? E96 (6DE6C? r@?76C6?46 7:?2=D 2?5 {6qC@? y2>6D^sH2J?6 (256 :? E96 7:?2= C@F?5]k^Am

kAm“x 42? 2=H2JD =@@< 324< E@ E96 ’`_\`` D62D@? 2?5 D2J[ ‘(6’C6 E96 H@C=5 492>A:@?D[’” 7@CH2C5 s:C< }@H:EK<: D2:5 :? E96 u@CE (@CE9 $E2C\%6=68C2>] “}@3@5J 42? 6G6C E2<6 E92E 2H2J 7C@> >6 D@ E92E’D C62==J E96 36DE E9:?8 23@FE E9:D]”k^Am

kAm%C2?D=2E:@?i xE 42? 36 5@?6] xE 92D 366? 5@?6] xE H:== 36 5@?6]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 E62>D 925 DE2C A@H6C – r@=ED BF2CE6C324< !6JE@? |2??:?8[ }2E:@?2=D A:E496C $E6A96? $EC2D3FC8 2?5 pG2=2?496 5676?D6>2? r2=6 |2<2C] %96 q:==D 92G6 p==6? 2?5 s:88D[ 5676?D:G6 6?5 '@? |:==6C 2?5 E96 D276EJ 5F@ @7 |:429 wJ56 2?5 y@C52? !@J6C] %96 q:==D H2?E E@ 36 D2J:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8D 2D |2??:?8[ +:>>6C>2? 2?5 $2<:4 – :E E@@< 2 =@?8 E:>6[ 3FE :E H2D H@CE9 :E]k^Am

kAm%96 7:?2= G6C5:4E 23@FE E96 q:==D’ $FA6C q@H= H:?5@Hi xE :D @A6? :? 86?6C2= 2?5 @A6? 3642FD6 @7 p==6? :? A2CE:4F=2C]k^Am

kAm“}@ BF6DE:@?[” z?@I D2:5] “(6 <?@H H6 92G6 2== @7 E96 C:89E E@@=D[ 2== @7 E96 C:89E 4@2496D[ 2== @7 E96 C:89E A=2J6CD] (6 <?@H H6 92G6 D@>6E9:?8 DA64:2= 96C6] !6@A=6 =@G6 >2<:?8 AC65:4E:@?D 2?5 E2=<:?8[ 3FE E96C6 4@>6D 2 E:>6 H96? J@F AFE E96 7@@E32== 5@H? 2?5 D66 H92E J@F’C6 2== 23@FE]”k^Am

kAmxE DE2CED |@?52J ?:89E]k^Am