According to the Oxford Dictionary, superstar is defined astronomically as "a very large or bright celestial object — a very large star." Outside of quarterback Josh Allen, very few Buffalo Bills fit that description. In the team's continued postseason failures, it's become increasingly clear that Buffalo has a superstar problem.
Allen was named most valuable player for the 2024 seasonbecause he carried his team to success, despite the losses and trading of numerous team captains and impact players last offseason. The Bills were still within inches of booking their ticket to the Super Bowl; but there's the kicker, they came up short again and it wasn't for a lack of effort from their quarterback.
To be considered a superstar in any league, you're likely ranked amongst the five to ten best players at your respective position. Using players from the Bills opponents, here's a few who fit that description: Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
Are there any Bills who fit that description?
While the team is loaded with good players, there aren't many who are considered all-time great talents. Cornerback Christian Benford and left tackle Dion Dawkins are the two who come to mind as part of the premier players at their respective positions, but outside of a few snaps, Benford has missed the Bills most recent postseason exits.
On top of having good-to-great quarterbacks, the most recent Super Bowl teams have been littered with all-time great talents who are in the primes of their careers. Think about how instrumental running back Saquon Barkley was to the Philadelphia Eagles most recent Super Bowl Championship, running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers success, or wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald to the Los Angeles Rams, and the continued dominance of tight end Travis Kelce for the Chiefs.
In the game's biggest moments, those players have made game-changing plays, while the Bills supporting cast has continued to make mistakes.
The Bills have taken swings at finding a superstar teammate for Allen before; wide receiver Stefon Diggs was that for multiple seasons, but he went quiet in each of the Bills postseason meetings against the Chiefs, and Von Miller looked to be an answer until he suffered a torn ACL midway through his first season in Buffalo.
As a result, it's no surprise that the term "game wrecker" has been used quite frequently during the offseason. When pass rushers Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson seemed to become available for trade, the Bills were linked to both.
The Bills 'everybody eats' mantra is great, especially in the current wide receiver market which has seen the upper echelon of pass catchers demand north of $35-40 million. But when the game is on the line, who will they go to for a bucket? And when the opposing offense is facing third and six on their final drive, who from their pass-rush is getting home?
For their rival Chiefs, it's been Kelce on offense and Jones on defense — time and time, again.
Facing a strict salary cap situation, the Bills added two former Los Angeles Chargers in free agency who they hope can push them over the hump in 2025. Wide receiver Josh Palmer is a good separator who can beat man coverage, while pass rusher Joey Bosa was formerly a superstar, and the Bills are hoping that he can re-find his elite footing. But neither are guarantees after experiencing middling production over the past couple of seasons.
The Bills have one the best rosters in the NFL, and with Allen at quarterback, they have been very successful. But outside of him, which players on the team are trustworthy enough to be a difference maker on the biggest stage?
It's big-time players who make big-time plays and perhaps the Bills haven't had enough of those kinds of players to win against the Chiefs, or other teams of their stature in the postseason. It doesn't help that Buffalo consistently picks in the back-half of round one at each NFL draft, but after loading up their defense in April, perhaps they can turn one of those picks into a superstar.
Because if they want to finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Allen might need a constellation.