BRH

Something nasty has been going around WNY for the last couple of weeks for sure. I'm glad it's happening now and not in mid-January.

I absolutely agree. McD remembers last year when they had to pull a retired guy off the couch to start at LB against the Chiefs. It's the single biggest reason we lost that game. TB43 runs the D so he's not coming out, but if Milano can't be counted on to stay healthy - and he really can't - then Dorian Williams absolutely HAS to be healthy for the playoffs. I think McD was hoping he could keep Williams off the field and give Spector some more experience in case another LB gets hurt... but he had to reevaluate that approach pretty quickly.

It's also worth noting that the Bills have lost two games in the AFCE in each of the last two seasons, with some real clunkers: two inexplicable losses to Zach Wilson, a stupid loss to Mac Jones, and the heatstroke game in Miami. All four of them were lost by one score, all to garbage-ass teams. Okay maybe they weren't all "garbage-ass," but they were clearly inferior to the Bills, as the other games proved. This year they've played one-score games against all three teams even though none of them will make the playoffs. But they've managed to win them all. Imagine if they hadn't won any of them ... they'd be 9-6 and the division wouldn't even be clinched yet (they'd be just one game up on Miami with two divisional games yet to play). Point is, they used to lose these games, but they found ways to win them this year. Their one-score losses this year instead have been on the road to Houston (AFC South champs) and the Rams (likely NFC West champs) when those teams were playing at their peaks. I can live with that.

Sorry! But those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. We did use to lose these games on a regular basis, and not that long ago, either. Nobody, least of all Josh, is “trying to get stats for Josh.”

To be fair, the whole game probably would have gone differently if (1) the ST hadn’t given up a long return on the opening kickoff and (2) the D got off the field on 3rd and 10 rather than giving up an easy 1D to Henry.

I rewatched the condensed game afterward and realized that each of the Pats’ three TD drives was aided by one or more critical penalties, with the third drive being the most egregious example. And each featured at least one play where the flag came in way late, after the play’s result was known. This had all the feel of a Little League game where the ump shrinks the strike zone on the best pitchers and expands it for the best hitters.

Your point is correct. But NFL history is also littered with high-potential quarterbacks who ruined themselves in spite of their teams' best efforts. Too many of these guys have been fawned over since they were 12 and told they were the best quarterback their school/area/state had ever seen. Too many of them had elite talent around them and rarely had to face their equals, in high school or in college. In the NFL, everybody is their equal or better. These are the best players in the world. To get to the next level as a starting NFL QB, much less a Pro Bowler, requires discipline and work beyond anything they've committed to before. Not everyone rises to meet that challenge, even if they have good coaching.

Including just last year, twice, to the Pats and the Jets.

When Josh was a rookie (and for awhile afterward) he did a bunch of dumb things. But let's not forget that he came from juco and the University of Wyoming, whereas Maye played in the ACC. You'd have to assume Maye is more of a finished product, nearer his ceiling, than Josh was. Maye looked great on the first [scripted] drive. He stood tall in the pocket under pressure and got rid of it when things weren't there. I think he was deemed probably the most pro-ready of the QBs who came out this year and he's shown it. But Levis looked like that last year. I think we'll have to wait and see whether (a) the Pats coach him up properly; (b) they can get him the personnel help he needs -- and he needs a lot of it; and (c) he has the drive and discipline to reach his ceiling. I agree with the people who say he's a lot more Justin Herbert than he is Josh Allen.

I love all the replies saying "it wasn't that cold, just snowy." It was snowing... it was in the low 30s. I know that's shorts and a ballcap weather for us, but to much of the country, yeah, that's cold. But when you're talking about nine degrees... yeah, I agree, different animal. I mean, I put on pants to take the dog out in that. I don't think it's very conducive to domination no matter who's playing.

San Francisco would like a word.

Not quite, we didn’t get any calls and nobody missed a chip shot FG or banked one in off the post.

…you may need to find something else to do with your time.

Ballgame. The league got the close game it wanted. We got the W. 12-3, *****.

Fitz is there?

Jesus, they caused three turnovers and scored a TD without giving up a single point after 14-0 until a ridiculous ref-aided drive just now. Calm down.

It only took them, what, ten plays from inside the five to punch it in?

Ball hit the ground but they’ll just give it to ‘em.

Now it’s ***** obvious. This is the game going out all over the country and by god the league is going to get what it wants.

***** the refs and the Shield

Two

Now let’s go get a TD and keep the 30-burger streak intact.

A stop, three turnovers, and a TD this half for the defense.

Oh look, they’re giving up

That delay of game penalty actually helped them.