May Day 10

IMO, this team is a lot better than those Drew Willy teams. They get through Army, Toledo, and Ohio, we may see an epic run to Top 25 and a "real" Bowl game. For the record, I do not like this game.

Thanks, I guess. It has just seemed like a different league/sport since then to me. Surge in popularity, fantasy football, broadcasting, social media, online wagering, rule changes, stability of markets/alignment/format, etc. It went from ultra popular to a complete weave into pop culture and everyone's conscious. It was different in the mid-late 80s and 90s. I think the 70s and early 80s are delineated from about 85-on as well, but I only really remember watching from about '85 on. It seems like Superbowl 20 and the "superbowl shuffle" created a new Renaissance. Just my opinion/view on 'eras' though in my mind. Back to the topic... that game seems bittersweet now. Great memory, definitely the best game I have attended.... but ultimately the Pats got the last laugh that year, and several laughs since. The Bills couldn't do anything with that fast start.... but we all kind of knew the pinball method they were winning couldn't keep going.

I actually consider "modern era" to be about 2002, when Houston came in and the current alignment was instituted.

To me, it is probably #1, but waiting to see how the Minnesota season shakes out, and if they are going to be that good. If there is one thing that held true throughout the post Music City Miracle years... it was that the Bills have not pulled many upsets, especially on the road. Last year, that is how the atlanta game felt... maybe the biggest road win since the Bills' drought started. That game required a bit of good fortune and 'puck luck', but they still won, and deserved to win. After that, I would say the Packers game, and the Patriots win.... but those were also pinball games where some zany plays, returns, etc created a perfect storm. This Vikings game was a beat down.

That was my take from the game. Speed of players wasnt even close on both sides of the ball, but Lions O vs Pats D was a mismatch.

If a team can run like that and keep that fat, slow defense on the field and tired... it can be a formula to beat them. Not sure if this is the year that is the end. However, I could see the team imploding if things go south a bit more. They absolutely NEED Gronk AND Edelman on offense.

Yes, they are very good at repairing the ACL. I had it done and I am 100%. Waiting and rehab does suck bad though. It doesn't necessarily mean durability. For me, I took down a tree in my yard, lots of leg work, especially my quads. Played baseball the following day. Planted after tagging a runner to throw to 2nd base, my tired quad which would normally take the job of stabilizing the planting leg bailed out, and as a result my knee had to do the job, buckled and in the snap of a finger, my ACL was blown. It could be just as simple as he needs to strengthen his quadriceps better.

The Pats' day of reckoning is coming. And it will look the 'same', and people will talk them up about how this "always happens" and they will roll off 10 wins in a row (as if its easy). Every year they look weaker and weaker. That defense looks extremely slow. Watching the Jets' defense handle the Lions like a pop warner team just a few weeks ago... they were FAST. The Pats look sluggish, especially on D. On offense, it was never like this, but I dont think they can survive without BOTH Edelman and Gronk. The team has been allowed to degrade too much IMO. Its all Brady and Gronk and they cant always bail them out of trouble. If they were in a division that didnt include 3 teams perpetually rebuilding, they would be finished. That 4-6 wins and an easier road to a bye and home playoff games has fueled the machine.

The patriots defense looks SLOOOOOOOOOOOW

Too bad. Its crazy how quick it can happen

Slaughter. Stop the fight

Was Sal yelling into the microphone like he does 100% of the time? I like sal as a person. He does seem genuinely excited for sports, specifically buffalo and syracuse. Sometimes i get the vibe from schopp, bulldog, and howard that theyve checked out from sports a bit. I do think sal's bills takes are somewhat lazy and mostly in favor of the team. Unsure why, maybe just a persona he has constructed, or a condition of his position as sideline reporter, or maybe it just makes it comfortable being around the team personnel all the time.

Mccoy seems to not even be near the "reasonable doubt" territory. There has been pretty much nothing, and i doubt mccoy and his friends are master criminals who are capable of the perfect crime. The constant pr battle and posturing for money make the victim here look bad (as well as the morphed story) Im not even a "protect the bills at all costs" guy. When this first broke, i felt like it didnt look good for mccoy.

Poor tyrod

so very sorry to hear this. Will be thinking of the family and Sally. If I can find anything, I will wear yellow/gold tomorrow Being blessed with two children around this age, I will be sure to hug them a little tighter tonight.

I agree, they were on my radar too (because I follow them and respect/like the MAC). Mainstream consciousness of WNY is starting to be penetrated by this team. Maybe people will check it out this time? Probably wishful thinking, but whatever.

UB is never 5-0 either. (coinciding with the Bills being out of it by September 16th).

I believe in this entire dynamic that has been reported between Brady/Belichick/Garopollo/Kraft/Gronk, etc. It makes complete sense, and all the details point to much of this being true. If everything was rosey, they would have been able to put it to bed pretty swiftly. IMO, they are holding it together being professionals, knowing that is the only way to continue the success. I don't believe either BB or Brady want to blink or leave because continued success on the pats without them would tarnish their legacy. The "is it BB or is it Brady?" question has been a constant backdrop through this run. they can and will keep it going, as long as things go well. If they do experience real adversity (not their annual September hiccup). Like losing a few games in a row, having the Division or playoff standing brought into serious question, or even a bad 1st round playoff loss... I would expect the poop to start flying across the room and we will see it fall apart very quick. There are little flashpoints like Guerero, Belichick benching a very good DB for the Superbowl, Brady (allegedly) using his influence with Kraft to force a Garopollo trade, the Gronkowski wild card, etc.

This would be a great win, once again against a power conference team (although a weak one). The Army game is looking like a tough one. It would be nice if we have a 4-0 team, national TV and we can get some nice weather and a good showing. The EMU game was good. Grandstand was about 90% full (but those unsightly bleachers were about 4%. I also wonder if they get out against Army 5-0, if they will get top 25 votes. Then, there are only 2 real tough games remaining: @ Toledo and @ Ohio

First sign of real adversity and that thing is going to blow sky high.

I said bills, mainly because the next two games are pretty close to locks. Arizona looks equal to the task though

What would the trajectory be, if Pegula gave Marrone what he wanted? Retain him as coach, with an extension, while running some of the "lifers" including Whaley and Brandon out of the organization and allowing Bill Polian and he to come up with a GM and/or a VP of football ops. Would the Bills be where Jacksonville is? would we have seen it sooner? who knows? Instead, they chose Whaley/Brandon, along with Rex Ryan and brought this organization into kind of a dead end. McDermott and Beane were brought on and created this "deep dig". The jury is out on whether they dug too deep and if it will work out, we shall see. Regardless, it looks like Marrone is pretty legit. He took over a 2-12 team and went 1-1, and turned them around to a 10-6 record and an AFC Championship game. Great start in 2018 as well. I hope McDermott proves to be legit too.

He didnt quit though. The bills put an opt out in his contract and he took it. They essentially chose whaley and russ brandon over marrone

Imo, almost no chance. 2 more offseasons minimum

No, Im really not. I am resigned that they have until probably the beginning of the 2020 season and the data by then will be clear. They will sink or swim. If they were fired this minute, Im not sure I would be happy or supportive of that. I wont ignore data though and attack those who may not have complimentary things to say. Vantae Davis is trash for what he did. But it is very unusual and happened on the Bills. They also willingly signed Davis for more than EJ Gaines got, and about the same as Preston Brown. It is another small warning signal to join a growing number of warning signals. Preston Brown, who played a season under these guys and Im sure has some close friends on the Bills, says "there are weird things going on up there".... it shouldnt just be dismissed as "Preston Brown sucked anyways" (he didnt).