Alphadawg7

Okay so we don't count games now. Should we not count the Pats game in 2022 because the Pats suck? I mean what are we even doing now. Picking and choosing what we count to pretend everything is 100% perfect all the time? All good, you want to pretend the offense was amazing weeks 1 and 2 with nothing to work on - thats your perogative. I on the other hand see room for improvement, especially in how we call plays so far the first 2 weeks if we want to win a SB this year. And I am confident we will, but that doesn't change the fact it had issues the first 2 weeks.

You seem to be disconnected from reality - the playoff losses the last 3 years say otherwise where our offense averaged 21 ppg. And in the last 2, it was the offense who came up short at the end to lose those games. Granted, the defense IMO has been way worse, but to pretend the offense hasn't had its own things both these 2 weeks and in the playoffs in losses is just not accurate at all.

I will be honest, there isn't a game we should lose on this schedule. Every year elite teams lose a game or two they shouldn't, so not saying we are going undefeated, but its hard to pick one we would lose. The only truly tough game will be Phi, and they are not the same team there were last year and odds are we have the 1 seed locked up by then and may not even play starters. So I am looking at the first 15 games, and there isn't a game where we are not a heavy favorite except KC where we will be a favorite, just may not be a "heavy" favorite like most every other game. No joke, we might be undefeated or sitting on just one loss heading into that Eagles game if the Bills can keep their focus and take care of the teams we should beat. If I had to guess, I am thinking NE sneaks a win in with a scrappy upstart team and divisonal rival. But still not sure we lose a game before week 15.

Except no one cares about regular season - the concern is when we lose in the playoffs, we see a lot of the issues we just saw in the first 2 weeks of the season end our season every year. So again, ignore the warts all you want, but history has shown these warts have sent us home several times in the post season. I very much believe this is going to be different this year, so dont take my comments as if I am down on the team, I am not. But there are valid concerns of where the offense had struggles during the first 2 weeks where week 1 really should have been a loss (thank you Balt) and week 2 performance is the kind of performance that might have been a loss against a better team or in the playoffs - at the very least a much closer game. So, no need to get upset over people discussing some of the issues that were affecting this offense that would be be problematic if they persist or show up in a key playoff game. Again - I am not concerned, the offense I expect to find its groove more, just naive to pretend we didn't have things we need to work on for this team to win a SB.

So you just keep glossing over everything still I see. So you have no concern that most of that in the 4th quarter had like less than a 1% chance of happening but did. So no concern about how we were in a 99% chance to lose until we got not one, not two, not three, not four, but 5 improbable lucky breaks to create all those yards and points? A 4th down where a lucky bounce got a TD...a missed XP by Balt...a improbable fumble by Henry...Lamars cramps forcing them to punt...Kyle Hamilton pulling up a millisecond early preventing him from blocking the game winning FG - and a bonus for Balt mismanaging the timeouts and clock giving us more time for our 41 year old kicker off the couch to make the kick. You want to depend on all that every single week to mask 3 quarters of losing football? Or week 2 - you want to gloss over our first TD and half our yards on that opening drive should have never happened if not for multiple Jets penalties baliling us out? Or how the Jets defense ill timed penalties extended many drives that should have ended on our own poor execution, or how the Jets offense kept giving us the ball back through poor play or turnovers. So again, you can cite stats all you want, but that doesn't translate to the offense was humming. And 251 yards of offense came in just 1 quarter and was made possible thanks to several lucky and improbable breaks we cant count on. Again, NOT worried about the offense, but this notion that everything was great because of the final scores is just ignoring context to support a bias. And look, I think we are the best team in football, but the unbiased truth is the offense has had its own struggles in the first 2 weeks to work through still. And I do believe we will and will look our best of the season this week against Miami.

I get wher you are coming from, but you are also burying your head and ignoring context and facts because of the final scores a bit here too. Bills stalled out multiple times on the opening drive where we still got a TD but Jets mistakes undid our mistakes and gave us free points. You see a scoreboard adding 7, but the reality is without Jets shooting themselves in their own foot, we don't get 7 there. This is just one example. Ravens - we should have turned the ball over on downs, but on a 4th down throw that got deflected by our TE it found its way to Keon, otherwise we turn the ball over on downs to an offense we couldn't stop and we likely end the game with a multi score loss. But that lucky bounce also led to a fortunate fumble and a fortunate cramping to Lamar that led us to two more improbable scores that shouldn't have happened. So you can say "scoreboard" all you want -- and truthfully I am normally in that same camp, but when it comes to the offense playing well though. The reality is the offense was not clicking for 3 quarters week 1 and play calling was a big part of that. I cant tell you how many times I screamed at the screen over play calls those 3 quarters. And in week 2, the offense was not playing well either, but the Jets were playing worse and kept hurting themselves and giving us points off those mistakes. Again, I am NOT worried -- but this rant also does not reflect the reality of what is being discussed and that is the play calling has not been strong and execution has been inconsistent at times the first 2 weeks. Ravens game our offense was not capable of keeping up with the Ravens until we ran the 2 min offense for almost a whole quarter and then had multiple miracle breaks happen to help us score several times. The scoreboard against the Jets had more to do with how bad the Jets played on offense and how bad they were on defensive penalties than it had to do with how well the offense played. We have plenty of time to dial it in, and a game against the Fins is the perfect recipe to get into a groove as we usually cook them. But to also pretend the offense has been dominant or a well oiled machine through 2 weeks just because of final scores is not really doing an unbiased analysis of their play over 8 quarters of football.

Hawes has really impressed me. There are times he looks like a pro bowl OL out there as a TE. And he is catching passes while Knox is dropping passes. I think Knox could start on other teams, and I really like him and how he fits in with the team, locker room, and Josh. BUT - he is certainly expendable at this point with a better pass catcher in Kincaid and now a potentially elite blocker in Hawes who early on at the very least seems to be as capable of a pass catcher (or better) than Knox. I was always of the mindset that Knox is a guy whose contract and role makes him someone that could be moved on from this next offseason, and Hawes early on is upping the potential of that IMHO. Its also still only 2 games and Knox is beloved top to bottom by everyone on the team and in the organziation, so no lock we move on from him either. But Hawes keeps playing like this and improving, Beane will have some tough decisions next year.

I am not saying I disagree with you as I was never sold on Caleb and think Poles needed to go too. But, the roster Ben inherited has more talent on it, I mean the offensive talent on the starting 11 is miles better than the 11 starters McD trotted out in 2017. And even though I never expected the Bears to really be that much better personally, the expectations for Ben was to contend for the playoffs at the minimum and the expectations for McD year 1 was to contend for the #1 overall pick in 2018 draft. They have very very different expectations coming in from the public and masses for their first seasons as HC. Again, Ben inherits one of the best set of offensive weapons in the NFC where they are loaded at WR, TE, and have solid RB room with an ascending OL and a 2nd year QB who was just the #1 overall pick. McD inherited an inept offense with no talent anywhere but an aging RB and a rookie LT in Deion no one knew was going to be as good as he later turned out to be and most people thought the Bills were tanking for a QB in 2018.

Yeah and I don't honestly understand how Poles has kept his job personally. Ben got too much credit for Goff IMHO - he was a #1 overall pick who had been to a SB who regressed behind a train wreck of an OL in LA before being traded and wasn't that great in Detroit until their OL got better too. His rebound wasn't exactly the miracle Ben gets credit for, Goff is very much the same QB he has always been, a guy when protected can play at a high level. Now he has a QB who really does need to not only be developed, but needs to be "reached" because Caleb will not succeed or reach his potential based on the reported issues, work ethics, arrogance, mental lapses, etc that seem to be present based on reports and on field play. He has a QB who hasn't proven he can play at a high level yet in the NFL and still needs to learn how to be a pro and reach that potential. Goff already had all that, his success there was more about having the right talent around him then anything Goff needed to learn about being a pro.

True, but also lets keep in mind they both came into very different situations, so expectations are naturally higher for Ben Johnson than McD going into their first years as a HC. 25-23 McD's first 3 years was an over achievement and success as it was a team being torn down to the bones and rebuilt slowly through the draft with a new GM. Ben Johnson took over what was seen as an underachieving team last year that was expected to compete for the playoffs and a divisional title this season under Ben. Bears have a loaded offense, 2nd year QB that was the #1 overall pick, and an improving OL and defense. So expectations are going to naturally be higher for Ben where as McD having a winning season with a bottom tier roster that traded away 3 of its then best young players in Watkins, Dareus, and Darby to start the season and mid season was a major success as it significantly exceeded all expectations. So the barometer of what is a successful start to each of their tenures is different, and Ben starting 0-2 is going to face more concerns and scruitiny, especially with all the premature build up he got because a loaded offense he was an OC of elevated his lore before ever being an actual HC.

Its 2 games in - way too early to make any proclamations on him. But here are some things I will say -- More often than not, the "hot coordinator" isn't the savior people think they are in their first HC gig. Fans get obsessed with someone because they had a great offense/defense with great talent and then just think they will work magic when they take over a much lesser roster as a first time HC. Sure it can happen, but it mostly doesn't. Look at what the Lions did this weekend, they didn't need Ben Johnson to do it. But - its also not fair to a first time HC to condemn their new tenure after 2 games either, just like it would be silly to crown them if they over achieve early (look at Daboll in NY). Now - generalizations aside, one thing that is standing out in the new Ben Johnson era is he is not coming off well. That is not usually a good sign of things to come if their are rumblings this early about things like how he is in the locker room and how he comes across in the media. Sometimes these guys had it so easy with top end talent they come in with inflated Egos, arrogance, and stubborness that will hurt and hamper their ability to succeeed, unite the team, get the most out of his coaches and players, etc. Quite honestly, I think that is a major factor in what has become the Giants under Daboll. Their success will hinge on the humbling of them through struggles and how they respond. Then there are guys like McDaniel in Miami who just don't have that leadership quality, command of a franchise personality, etc and honestly are probably never going to succeed as a HC IMHO, same with a guy like McDaniels. Its too early to know where Ben Johnson will fall, but its why guys like McDermott exceeded expectations and found immediate success out the gate and others don't. McD has a Team General like leadership quality to him that commands respect and has the guys united and getting the most of them. He cares about his coaches, plaers, etc and listens to them and is genuine which makes him a players coach while still commanding the same discipline he expects. He has always had that, its natural for him, its why his early success started his first season when we were supposed to be a bottom feeder. He came in humble, but in command. When guys come in arrogant without that aura that leads and commands respect, its often a rough go of it. We will see how it goes for Ben, its early, but it has signs that I would say are in the red flag category.

Big fan overall of Brady, but -- while people are going to push back soley based on our PPG numbers, the facts are the offense was way out of sync week 1 for 3 quarters and we only won that game thanks to Baltimore doing Baltimore things and choking away the game. From the tipped ball on 4th and goal that found its way miraculously into Keons hands, the Balt missed XP, a low percentage chance of a fumble, to not going for on 4th and 3 due to Lamar having a cramp, etc. It took many things to go just perfect, even Kyle slowing up a fraction of a second and just barely missing the block on the game winning FG for us to win that game. GREAT GREAT win and the offense was clicking that stretch, but we were behind the 8 ball the first 3 quarters because of some really questionable play calling and it wasn't until we went into the 2 minute offense for essentially the entire 4th quarter did it work out. No disrespect, I think anytime you look at a stat and remove all context you are making a mistake. The play calling and offense were struggling for 3 quarters against the Ravens and it didn't open up until we ran the 2 min offense, which is completely different than the offense we ran the rest of the game. And we only got to 41 points because we got lucky on 4th and 3 that a tipped ball miraculously fell into Colemans arms and then Henry miraculously fumbled, something he rarely does. Otherwise if that ball doesnt find its way to Coleman, we probably don't break 30 week 1 as that was a domino into all the other things. Against the Jets, the offense was not great, the play calling was not great. Our first opening drive TD only happened because Jets gave us multiple chances with dumb penalties or we would have punted multiple times that drive. In the game, we got a few big plays that helped, but overall, Allen was off before and after his nose. I mean he started the game 3 for 10. Lucky the Jets were worse, so we got a lot of chances with the ball and controlled TOP especially with the insane amount of times the Jets shot themselves in the foot on both sides of the ball. Had that been the Eagles, Lions, Chiefs, Ravens, etc on the other side of that field on Sunday, not only is it a much closer game, we may not have had enough to win with how the offense was playing. I think this team is going to be just fine and we got some cushy games for the offense to get right. But make no mistake about it, this offense was only humming for 1 quarter in 8 quarters of football so far this season and playing up to its potential, and that was mostly done in the 2 min offense. Brady has to be better, has to find a way to get the quick start, to bring that 2 min offense energy and pace to the rest of the game. Dion Dawkins verbatim said the same thing in interviews as well. To be clear, not panicked and big fan of the Brady -- but facts remain, the offense and play calling have not been great these first 2 weeks. Miraculous opportunities masked that week 1, terrible play and self inflicted mistakes by our opponent mased that in week 2 on the scoreboards.

There is no way we are going on a 2 game losing streak to Bucs and Houston IMHO. Doubt we lose either one TBH, certainly won't lose Houston. Bucs are good but not great. Can we lose each, sure -- and while I will conceed its hard to win every week and great teams lose winnable games they should win every year, I don't see how we go on a mid season losing streak against a mediocre Texans team at best, and a solid but not great Bucs team. We will be coming off our bye, should be heatlhy and have all our suspended guys back. I think we will be playing some of our best football of the year in this stretch. Honestly this team might be undefeated going into the final 2 weeks where our starters play very little with the 1 seed locked up. But, any team can lose on any given Sunday, so wouldn't surprise me to see a young upstart Pats team pull off an upset in one of our meetings, or drop a game to like the Bucs. But, I can't see us winning less than 13 games, and I personally think we might see a 15+ win season.

Honestly - Not a chance I do it for 2 firsts and a $47M contract. Bosa has had a better first 2 games for 1/4 the cost and no draft pick loss. I wanted to look into Parsons, but $47M is a franchise QB contract. We can’t pay him and Allen and expect the roster around them to stay strong. It’s an insane amount of money for a guy who isn’t even the best at his own position. Myles Garrett is better and makes $7M less despite getting his contract in the same season. And Myles isn’t a liability in half the snaps either. If GB doesn’t win the SB this season they are going to regret this trade in a couple years. If they do win it, then worth the risk, but I don’t think Micah makes them all that much better personally and I don’t see think they are even the best team in the NFC. 2023 Cowboys had the number 1 offense and number 5 defense in the NFL. Dallas led league in passing. Cowboys had not only Micah but the league leader in interceptions too. All teams had to do was run on them to neutralize them and they lost embarrassingly to the Packers in the postseason. I just don’t think Micah will ever make a $47m impact to the wins and loss column like a QB does.

So many great comments to choose from, but I think my fave so far is "Right now the Buffalo Sabres would beat us" bahahahaha

Oh what could have been - it was gross watching that secondary in the 2nd half.

Is there anything credible saying he is likley getting traded or this just the same rumors and speculation people think he might get traded?

You missed the point

Bills are already in the elite class, Packers were already one the contenders for the SB in the NFC too. What happens when the loss of those draft picks and cap killing contract start to erode the elite status of this he Bills and the franchise goes backwards after not winning the Super Bowl? This board would be calling for Beanes head as they always do anytime this team loses a game. I don’t think the majority are going to feel the way you do. Sure at time of trade people will get excited - but the second we give up 250+ yards rushing to a team in the playoffs and lose because teams ran right us, literally almost everyone would be slamming Beane and calling for his head and calling him an idiot for spending all that money on a guy who struggles against the run. That’s just how it works. It’s always a great idea until it’s not — then it’s well he should have known it wouldn’t work and needs to be fired. There would be endless threads on this board about the pro bowler some other team drafted with our draft pick playing on a rookie contract while we twist in cap hell and having an empty trophy case. Look at Diggs - that helped develop Josh but people still here slamming that move because “we could have had Jefferson” with the pick we sent Vikings for Diggs.

Ok now they’ve lost the SB - it’s next year and lose multiple key players/starters for cap reasons due to Micah’s contract and replace them with mid round rookies and bargain FAs and they win 3 less games, limp in playoffs as a wildcard and lose first round? Still a win? You know it’s not - you won’t admit it though because you refuse to acknowledge this could ever not be a good ending for them. There are plenty of scenarios with this proves to be a mistake, just like there are plenty where it proves to be a great move. Bottom line is this can payoff big time or it can also blow up big time (like Mack to Chicago did). More times than not in history, teams breaking the bank going all in to win right now has not worked and blows up in their face. Sometimes it has worked (like Rams recent SB win), but most often it doesn’t and dominoes to set the team back for years after. All good either way, but it’s going to be interesting to see how this goes both this year and the ensuing years for both Packers and Cowboys. Could be a good or bad move for either of them, time will tell.

I actually don’t disagree with you, but it’s not opinion here, the Packers factually (and said as much) traded a bounty for Micah and paid him a cap killing contract to go all in on winning a SB. That is the why - it’s not my why - it’s the Packers why. So if they did this to win a SB right now in this season or the next couple seasons and then fail to accomplish that, how do you think the decision should be graded or evaluated? I don’t blame GB at all for doing it if they think it puts them over the top, and quite honestly they were never winning the SB this year before the trade. But IMHO it better work because the roster implications of his contract and loss of draft picks will be felt in the coming years if this roster isn’t good enough to win now. This isn’t like a team using a draft pick to try and find a certain player. They know 100% who and what Micah is, spent $7m more a year on him over a guy he is not better than (Myles Garret) and essentially now is paying two franchise QB contracts and the first time in the NFL a team has done that. And they gave up future draft picks that become more valuable when you have cap choking contracts. All of this was done for the purpose of winning a SB. If it fails to deliver a SB, how does one then grade the decision? It’s not that everything has to have a winner or loser, but this move was specifically made for a specific goal - if it doesn’t achieve the goal, hard to not look at it and question or debate if it was a good or bad decision.

He’s never had more that 2.5 sacks in a single game - now he’s gonna get 4 in the NFCCG? But let’s say he did something he’s never done once, or even got close to — and had that game. So what happens if the Packers give up 250 yards rushing in the SB because a team ran right at Parsons and neutralized him and the Packers lost. Still a win for Packers?

All good either way - but GB spent what they spend on Parsons to be a final piece to win a SB. They said this much. That by default without question makes the win or lose barometer a SB or not during Parsons tenure there. This was made to win a SB literally right now. This wasn’t a future roster building move, it was we want to win it now move. If this move doesn’t get them there it will be seen as a swing and a miss.

Disagree. The 2 scenarios of Bruce and Parsons are not at all the same situation or circumstance. One was drafted for a team rebuilding, the other a fortune in acquisition cost and cap spending was used specifically to win a SB right now. These are not remotely comparable. The only reason for GB to make this move is to win a Super Bowl - anything less is a failure. And that is because you are ignoring all factors and context and just reducing it to X player is now on X team and because X player is good that is all that matters. What really matters, is that GB is now paying 2 QB's, not one. He makes QB1 month now and their cap is a real thing that will be impacted significantly moving forward, and that is a fact. GB also lacks valuable draft assets to add more talent to this team if it proves not good enough to win now. So if Green Bay can't win it all as made up now, they are going to be at a disadvantage at improving the roster to be a SB winner moving forward. So in this case, a SB birth is the only way this trade proves valuable. They were already a playoff team not getting over the hump without Parsons, spending 2 first rounders and $47m per year to remain a team that makes the playoffs but loses will be a failure. Most everyone will view this as an L for GB if 3 years from now they are sitting with no hardware. Its possible BOTH teams can get a W on this trade and possible for BOTH teams to get an L. We won't know if it was a good or bad move for GB until we see if they win a SB this year or during his tenure. We won't know if its a good or bad move until we see how much better or worse Dallas does moving forward than they were with Parsons. Will be interesting to monitor.