The Wei 44

Well stated - If I were him, I would be very embarrassed (sp?) b/c when you showboat early in a game, and then help blow the game at the end, you look like a complete idiot. Stevie, save that crap for when you make the game winning score and there is no (or almost no) time left on the clock!!

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out - Think about it a bit and get back to us.

The key for us will be to start the game well - I expect a blowout, but if by some miracle, we start strong and get the O moving a bit, this could be a close game. If I were betting, I would take Jets -8.5 in a second, unfortunately . . . And I am so disgusted with the recent games, that I don't plan to even TiVo Jets game (will be driving big chunk of Sun afternoon).

Brad Smith has to go - He is pretty awful. One of the slowest kickoff retuners I have seen and just not very good on offense in most situations.

+1!! No question. Doesn't matter how you get in. Obviously I'd rather be 16-0 than 9-7 going in, but getting in is the key thing. And if you get in at 9-7 riding a 9 game winning streak, you might run the tables post season.

Well done!! And much appreciated!! Now just git er done, boys

24-13 Bills

The last line of your post drives me crazy - Not logical at all - If we go 9 and 7 and miss the playoffs b/c 10 and 6 gets us in, you CANNOT blame that on one specific loss - Why not blame it on the Cinci loss? Or one of the other 5 (some of which were likely close)? Am I missing something here? Also, say we won that game, everything changes from that point forward, so you can't assume the next 10 games go the same way as the next 10 with a loss (eg, we could be 10 and 5 before last game of the season vs. 9 and 6, which would likely change the approach to that last game).

One angle that people aren't focusing on is that it was also a marketing/PR move too (management's view: give the fans some hope and show we're not cheap and willing to take a chance, and if it works out, we were geniuses, and if it doesn't, can you really fault the team for giving it a shot (and spending some $$)?

31-13 Buffalo wins fairly easily.

+2

If I am thinking of the same play, I remember scratching my head and thinking, why FAKE the end around? Defenses generally don't bite on something like that because it's fairly unexpected, so why ever fake it? Either do the reverse/end around or don't run the play, but why fake it? I'll admit, I may be missing something here - If so, please fill me in!

In thinking about it more, I now think it wasn't a bad call, and running wouldn't have been an awful idea either. I didn't fully appreciate how open SJ was and how poorly, and dandgerously, the ball was thrown. You make some good points that I generally agree with.

So how many assumptions are you making re running the ball at that point? a) that 2.7 yd avg would have continued (and that they would have given it to FJ to run); b) That we'd be attempting a 40+ yarder (even if we ran three times and FJ got the 2.7 average, ball is at the 19, so kick is not 40+ yards); c) That we would not have gotten a first down; d) That the Giants would have had a drive from at least let's say their 20 to our 30 (or so) - I am not saying that running is definitely the right move, and I would probably consider short pass/screen plays too, but it is certainly debatable and I disagree that it is a no brainer that the series of events would have unfolded as you suggested necessarily.

Well put, as always. It is hard to pin a loss on any one play or decision. My view is the there were two key "nails in the coffin": 1) CG's decision to pass rather than run w/ 4 minutes left and already being in FG range (I know this has been hotly debated in other threads, but I think it is wrong to just assume Giants march down field and score a TD and win, which is heroically assuming we get stopped quickly and get a FG) and 2) Florence's atrocious play on the ensuing Giants drive - I don't recall ever seeing a player make so many glaring mistakes at such a critical juncture - It was painful to watch - It seems like he was giving them the game on a silver platter!! That said, I am thrilled we are 4 and 2, and especially given that I live in the DC area, I really hope we win in 2 weeks!

Great insight re "in a sense, he is one of them"

+1

Who cares? It's so theoretical at this point to be pretty much a waste of time to think about, and even if they get Luck, bring on the competition! I could care less who other teams in our division have as players - We play teams, and if we have a good team (which is something we can control), bring it on!

Spiller's lack of playing time is probably not as much an indictment on him as much as a glowing, and deserving, endorsement of Freddy - Why wouldn't you give FJ as many touches as possible? I do think CJ is coming along.

OP is somewhat insightful but misses a very important point. Turnovers should not necessarily be viewed as isolated "wow we got lucky" events. They can sometimes be viewed as symptoms of something more - In our case, on many of the turnovers, they are the result of pressure on the QB, blocking QB's throwing lanes, being super aggressive after the ball is "caught" by the opponent, etc. Those sorts of things are more enduring and give some reason for optimism. I would rather get an interception than a sack, but assuming the intereception was influenced by pressure on the QB, I would be very pleased with either because it suggests we are winning the battle of the trenches (at least on that play). I think what concerns some folks is that our wins have been uncomfortable to watch at times, and I certainly had the feeling that if not for the 5-yard penalty and first down at the end, Eagles were going to get ball back, march down the field, and we were headed to Overtime.

I agree w/ some others re Brad Smith. I am not saying he is awful, but I am unimpressed. He is not particularly fast or elusive, so I don't really see why he's such a threat on kickoff returns (and he made a huge mistake running it back from the EZ). And while he has made a clutch play here or there, he has also gotten zilch on many plays. I may be mistaken, and I hope I am, but maybe the Jets knew what they were doing in deciding to get rid of him?

Re CJ, keep in mind he had a couple carries for clutch 3rd down conversions against Cinci. Those may not jump off the stat sheet. I am not sold on him yet, but there are glimmers of hope. Actually, it may have been one run and one catch on 3rd down . . .

That was a key play - It doesn't jump off the stats sheet, but he really is one of the main reasons we got over the hump and beat those guys. He is a playmaker and his impact will likely only increase with time and experience.

All true but why dwell on this stuff (and take so much time to write it up)?!

That makes me even more pumped b/c I didn't realize the only game I will be attending (at least for now) is the most important game of the season!! I have family in Cinci and will be at the game (near 50 yard line, 20 rows up on the Bills side of the field).