Buffalo Plus: Buffalo Bills 2025 Season Preview & Predictions

Podcast: Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast
Hosts: Jenna Cottrell, Mike Catalano, Dan Fetes
Date: September 5, 2025
Location: Thirsty Turtle, Victor, NY (Live Event)
Main Theme: An in-depth, candid, and often humorous live preview of the upcoming Buffalo Bills season, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, key players, breakout candidates, matchups, bold predictions, and a look at the opening game versus the Ravens.

Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team gathers live with fans at the Thirsty Turtle to break down the Buffalo Bills' prospects for the 2025 season. They discuss strengths, weaknesses, breakout players, and the high-stakes opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Lively banter, audience interaction, and plenty of friendly ribbing set the tone as the trio delivers their seasoned analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Team Strengths Entering 2025

[03:04 – 06:25]

• Offensive Line Emerges as Core Strength
  • Mike Catalano: “I think the strength of this team’s the offensive line. I really think it is.” [03:47]
    • Praises Connor McGovern, Spencer Brown, Deion Dawkins, and especially Osiris Torrence.
    • Durability is emphasized: “They play every week. That is huge.” [04:22]
  • Dan Fates: “I love Brian Daboll more than certain members of my family… but to have Joe Brady and the offensive line… the protection has been phenomenal.” [04:37]
  • Jenna Cottrell: Osiris Torrence is “one of those players you don’t even think about in the best way possible because of how solid he has been.” [05:53]

2. Biggest Concern: Safety Position

[07:16 – 13:46]

• Second-year Safety Cole Bishop Under Spotlight
  • Jenna: “What are you going to get from a guy that you used the capital on?” [07:25]
  • Mike: “When you draft a guy in the second round like that… you need your safeties to be able to confuse the other QB... Cole Bishop has the physical ability... he’s just got to show it on the field.” [08:12]
  • Dan: “Taylor Rapp has been good. He is tough... But you hope that Cole Bishop can be that physical talent to disguise offenses and confuse them.” [09:47]
  • Jenna: “Sometimes... he just looks hesitant out there. That little bit of hesitation means a lot in the NFL.” [10:07]
  • Mike: On Poyer (now practice squad): “Poyer can teach or push some things about physicality that Cole’s going to have to do.” [10:54]
  • Dan: “If you need Cole Bishop to see Jordan Poyer – because Poyer’s game was toughness – Taylor Rapp's been next to him for a year and a half… Jordan Poyer now has to do that? Like, you're bringing in another babysitter?” [11:11]

3. Breakout Player Predictions

[13:46 – 21:59]

• Dan: Curtis Samuel
  “I've got too much stock. If I'm gonna go bankrupt, it's gonna be on Curtis Samuel.” [14:46]
  • Dan believes Joe Brady will utilize Samuel more effectively now that he’s healthy.
• Mike: Greg Rousseau
  • “I am a Greg Rousseau guy.” [16:22]
  • Emphasizes need for support on the other side (praises Joey Bosa signing as helpful).
• Jenna: Matt Milano
  • “He is obviously a former All-Pro... but what would it do for the defense to have him healthy for a full season?” [18:30]
  • Injury questions linger but optimism is high: “I just think that he’s putting it all together, I think he has a lot to prove to himself honestly.” [20:13]

4. Pass Catcher of the Year (Receiving Yards Leader)

[23:37 – 26:50]

• Jenna: Khalil Shakir
  • “I'm riding with my guy, Khalil Shakir, the Yak King.” [24:10]
  • Emphasizes rapport with Josh Allen and reliability.
• Mike: Josh Palmer
  • “I like the way he runs routes… he’s going to get a decent amount of targets.” [25:07]
• Dan: Khalil Shakir (converts from Palmer at the last moment)
  • “I think he actually gets a thousand yards.” [26:29]

5. Pressure Meter: Who’s Under Fire?

[26:50 – 30:41]

• Mike: Second-year DC Bobby Babich (“I don’t think he’s had the guys on defense.” [27:19])
• Jenna & Dan: Dalton Kincaid
  • “When Beane drafted him, it was this guy is like a wide receiver… traded up to get him.” [28:36]
  • “If he’s still ‘hoping’ next year… it’s poop or get off the pot.” [30:14]
• Keon Coleman and Cole Bishop also mentioned as needing to step up quickly.

6. Biggest Offseason Addition

[31:08 – 36:44]

• Joey Bosa cited by both Jenna and Mike as the most impactful.
  • Mike: “Joey Bosa has been, when healthy, an elite pass rusher in the league… He’s going to play.” [31:50]
• Dan: Corner Maxwell Harrison (elite speed helps fill a longstanding need in the secondary) [32:39]
• Dion Walker also called out for his unique size and “dancing bear” athleticism [36:40].

7. Hottest Takes

[38:26 – 44:46]

• Mike: Jordan Hancock (rookie safety) will earn the starting job over Cole Bishop during the season.
  • “I think rookie Jordan Hancock is going to start at safety and he's going to earn the job.” [38:59]
  • Compared Hancock’s movement to Bills legend Micah Hyde [39:34].
• Jenna: Michael Hoecht will be a difference-maker on the defensive line (after returning from suspension) [40:09].
• Dan: T.J. Sanders will become the #2 DT by snaps behind Ed Oliver.
  • “I think DaQuan Jones's snaps will decrease and T.J. Sanders snaps will increase.” [41:42]
  • Negative take: Concern that the offense will regress, lacking enough “right players” to maximize Josh Allen’s prime.
    • “I don’t see this as an offense – Josh is incredible – but I still don’t know if they’ve done enough.” [43:13]
    • Fears a Packers/Rodgers scenario.

8. Ravens Matchup: Key Players to Watch

[46:24 – 48:48]

• Mike: Terrell Bernard – “He’s got the ability to [make game-changing plays]… I think they’re going to need that this week.” [46:24]
• Jenna: James Cook – “When you have a guy like James Cook that could be dynamic with the football in his hand… you need to make sure you’re able to tackle him.” [47:28]
• Dan: Cole Bishop – must be “competent” as Ravens will look to attack him [48:48].

9. Season & Game Predictions

[49:30 – 55:44]

• Jenna: Bills win opener 31-24; expects 14-3 season, Bills reach Super Bowl via AFC title win over Ravens [49:43 – 51:07].
• Mike: Predicts 13-4 season; expects loss to Ravens (27-23) in opener, but Bills beat Baltimore in Championship & go to Super Bowl [52:08].
• Dan: Also projects 13 wins, Bills lose opener to Ravens (31-24) but win 8 straight after that, ultimately beating Bengals in AFCCG to reach Super Bowl [53:12].
• All three have the Bills making the Super Bowl.

10. Friendly Bet & Future Podcast Punishments

[56:07 – 59:00]

• The trio picks creative “punishments” for whoever loses their annual season prediction contest:
  • Jenna: Hot wings challenge + reading mean comments about themselves.
  • Mike: Dan and Jenna must perform a duo karaoke at a public venue.
  • Dan: Other two must catch 10 passes off a Jugs machine at NFL speed.

11. Closing Reflections & Thanks

[59:10 – End]

• Personal “Credit to Me” section highlights family milestones, camaraderie among hosts, and gratitude to audience and sponsors.
• Emotional moment as Jenna thanks Mike and Dan for believing in her YouTube/podcast vision: “Mike bought in a thousand percent and Dan came along and did the same. So thank you so much. And so did you.” [63:27]
• Special thanks to Greg Connors (Connors & Ferris) and sponsors (Bud Light, Lake Beverage) for supporting the show and new studio.
• Celebration of the podcast’s rapidly growing fanbase (“approaching 40,000 subscribers” [61:43]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike, on OL durability:
  “They play every week. That is huge. And hopefully they do that again.” [04:22]

• Dan, on Brian Daboll:
  “I love Brian Dable more than certain members of my family.” [04:38]

• Jenna, on Osiris Torrence:
  “…one of those players you don’t even think about in the best way possible because of how solid he has been.” [05:53]

• Dan, on Curtis Samuel:
  “If I'm gonna go bankrupt, it's gonna be on Curtis Samuel.” [14:46]

• Mike, on Khalil Shakir:
  “His catch rate... is insane. If it’s thrown to him, he usually catches the ball.” [24:27]

• Jenna, on Dalton Kincaid:
  “When Bean drafted him, it was, this guy is like a wide receiver… There’s the pressure that comes with being a first-round pick.” [28:27]

• Dan, on team-building for Allen:
  “I just want enough and more playmakers. I don't want this Bills team to end up being this Packers Aaron Rodgers, where they never gave him enough.” [43:13]

• Mike, on Greg Rousseau (and on himself):
  “My tombstone is going to be: here lies Greg Rousseau’s biggest supporter.” [16:28]

• Mike, on the podcast’s growth:
  “I've never had more fun. These two are the best. Even though they're a pain in the ass… We have fun. They're gonna have to drag me out of Buffalo Plus!” [61:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:04] – Season strengths: O-Line
• [07:16] – Safety position concerns
• [13:46] – Breakout player predictions
• [23:37] – Pass catcher of the year picks
• [26:50] – Under-pressure players
• [31:08] – Biggest offseason addition
• [38:26] – Hottest takes
• [46:24] – Ravens matchup, key players to watch
• [49:30] – Game and season predictions
• [56:07] – Friendly season bet & punishments
• [59:10] – "Credit to Me" & thank yous/closes

Final Thoughts

A high-energy, insightful, and humorous live preview sets expectations high for 2025. While the offensive line and established core earn the hosts’ trust, the safety position and playmaker depth are key concerns. The hosts differ on early-season results but share a collective optimism—each confidently puts the Bills in the Super Bowl.

“I've never had more fun. These two are the best… They're gonna have to drag me out of Buffalo Plus!”
— Mike Catalano [61:13]

Buffalo Plus promises lively, honest coverage as the Bills chase their long-awaited title.