Chris Russo expressed strong frustration during ESPN’s First Take about HBO’s latest Hard Knocks season focused on the Buffalo Bills’ 2025 training camp. Russo criticized the show’s decision to omit any coverage of the 2024 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/afc/”>AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, where the Bills were defeated once again by Patrick Mahomes and his team.
Russo noted the repeated playoff losses to the Chiefs, emphasizing how the nation has not revisited the critical moment from the January 25th game at Arrowhead Stadium. He argued that this omission left fans without closure on a significant defeat.
“The nation has not seen the Buffalo Bills since that play, January 25th at Arrowhead, when they lost to the Chiefs,” Russo said. “Not the first, second, third, for the fourth time in the playoffs. This is the AFC Championship game.” —Chris Russo
Russo Highlights Key Mistakes and Missed Opportunities on Hard Knocks
Beyond missing the game recap, Russo criticized the show for ignoring key moments involving players like tight end Dalton Kincaid, whose costly errors went unaddressed. He found it baffling that the series failed to confront these pivotal episodes early on, choosing instead to reveal them months later as the new season approached.
“So, you got HBO, this is the first show of the episode,” Russo remarked. “I don’t want to see it late-August, I want to see it now. This is a first time I get a look at the Bills this year. I got to see somebody, McDermott, Josh Allen, what happened at the fourth and one sneak? Did you not sleep for two weeks? Dalton Kincaid, you dropped the pass. That’s lousy TV.” —Chris Russo
“I’m a sports fan. You want me to watch the Bills on August 5th? You got to at least close what happened last year. A horrific job. I’m not the only person who thinks this. Ask the tough question on fourth and one.” —Chris Russo
Stephen A. Smith Questions the Change in Hard Knocks Approach
The criticism resonated with fellow commentator Stephen A. Smith, who wondered if the show had softened its usual candid nature. Smith’s quip reflected skepticism about the program’s direction compared to previous seasons.
“Is it ‘Soft Knocks’ ‘Hard Knocks’?” —Stephen A. Smith
Russo Reiterates Prior Disapproval of New York Giants’ Hard Knocks Season
This is not the first time Chris Russo has voiced concerns about production decisions on Hard Knocks. Over a year ago, he publicly condemned the New York Giants for having editorial control over their season‘s footage, arguing this undermines the show’s authenticity. Giants general manager Joe Schoen admitted to the team’s involvement in editing, a revelation that drew Russo’s ire.
“You cannot allow the Giants to have editorial control,” Russo said on July 3, 2024. “They want to see it, they want to raise grief, they want to talk to Roger Goodell about it. If you allow cameras in your locker room or in your front offices to show and chronicle the offseason, you gotta let it go.” —Chris Russo
Impact and Expectations for Future Hard Knocks Seasons
Russo’s pointed remarks emphasize a growing demand among fans and analysts for greater transparency and accountability in NFL-related programming. The backlash against the selective storytelling on the Bills’ season highlights viewers’ desire to confront difficult moments head-on. This tension is likely to influence upcoming Hard Knocks productions and NFL Films’ approach, as audiences press for a more complete portrayal of critical football events and player performances.