[Hey BillsMafia, I've got one thing to say...]

So, TBD, it’s been a while.

 

No, I don’t expect that most of you have missed me, and yes, I’m glad to see that the board has gone on just fine without my bluster.

 

For those of you that asked and never got an answer: I’ve been around. I’ve lurked a bit, thought a lot, but mostly it’s been business as usual as a Bills fan. I still watch every NFL game every week, and my Bills passion hasn’t changed one single solitary iota. But this post isn’t about me, it’s about you.

 

All of you.

 

See, some of you reached out to ask where I’ve been, and a few even asked me why I left (thanks for the concern from all of you—yes, I’m doing well and the family is happy, healthy, and grateful). It started simply enough: I was tired. Tired of spending more time than I should typing the same thoughts over and over to an audience that didn’t routinely bring out the best in me (a fault that lies with me, not you, dear reader). Then, at some point (I can’t exactly say when), I realized something. Something big. Something life-changing.

 

I don’t need this.

 

Not to say that TBD, the Bills, or Bills Mafia aren’t great. They are. I love the Bills. I love Bills Mafia. More today than I ever have before. And being a part of this community gave me a platform to express thoughts and share ideas that I never would’ve otherwise explored. But…

 

The time away showed me that I don’t need the platform. I don’t need people to validate my thoughts, rants, ramblings, tirades, shtick, or whatever you want to call it. I’m enough without it. And that brings me to the reason for this post: I want to share that one final thought with all of you.

 

You’re enough. Right now. Right where you are.

 

You don’t need outsiders telling you who you are, what you represent, what you deserve. You don’t need a Bills’ victory over the nemesis, you don’t need our QB (the best in the world—yeah, I said it) to win MVP, and no, you don’t need a Super Bowl.

 

You. Are. Enough.

 

Look, I know how it sounds. Like some happy nonsense oh-well-it’s-okay-if-we-lose-sad-sack-crappola. Yeah, I used to think so too. When T-Bass’ kick sailed wide right, I was crushed, just like all of you. But it’s a different kind of crushed now. I’m sad for the team, not because of the team. I want these kids to win for them, not for me. Because I know who I am, I know who made me, and I’m never going to let the result of a sporting event affect how I view myself in the grander scheme of things.

 

And neither should you. You’re not a punch line, and you’re not a victim. You’re Bills Mafia. You chose this, you LOVE this, and no matter what you or anyone else may say, you wouldn’t give it up for anything else in the world.

 

And neither will I.

 

And I have good news: there’s no worst nightmare left. The worst thing that could ever happen to us as fans has already happened many times over. Be not afraid. We’re in this thing together; to the bitter end. Because being a Bills’ fan isn’t about winning games, breaking records, or breaking tables. Heck, it’s not even about football—football is just the setting; the arena. Being a Bills’ fan is about being a community. It’s about having each other’s backs, and letting each other know that I don’t care how hard we get hit, or how many times we get knocked down. I’ll keep picking you up as long as I know you will do the same for the rest of us.

 

And that, my Bills Mafia brethren, is enough for me. And I implore you all: let it be enough for you, too.

 

Bandit, signing off.

[Saints to start Taysom Hill over Jameis Winston]

Well, last year a poster on this board said that Hill was a better QB than Brees (and Josh Allen), so I guess we get to see that now.

[Joshs development has been amazing]

8 minutes ago, Gene1973 said:

Beane and McDermott touting the big arm, big hands throwing in cold weather stuff says otherwise IMO.

1) what does that have to do with Kyle Boller?

2) you think his arm and hand size are the reasons that he was drafted?

 

I really don’t see your point here.

[Joshs development has been amazing]

7 minutes ago, Gene1973 said:

There will always be many more Kyle Bollers than Josh Allens.

No offense: that’s a total and complete non-sequitur

[Joshs development has been amazing]

1 hour ago, Gene1973 said:

The Allen selection was was a throw down between the analytics crowd and the old school football measurables crowd.

 

It seemed like a no brainer the analytics crowd would eventually win this "argument", but they have lost. Allen could definitely change how future QB prospects are evaluated. It could lead to mamy busts though, as a lot of the "tools" prospects are usually fools gold.

IMO it was more of a throw down between people that studied him intently and people that box score scouted.

[TBN Jim Kubiak on Allen in Cardinals game]

16 hours ago, Gene1973 said:

Bills traded the Mahomes pick, so kind of? The way Tre White has been playing, I'd say that was a huge organizational mistake. 

And how has Tre White been playing? Actual facts and numbers please.

[Possible Flex Week 17?]

Just now, YoloinOhio said:

Please do. It’ll be about -12 degrees at kickoff and swirling lake effect January wind. Tua have never seen let alone played in what he will experience that night. 

Yeah, but Miami has Tua “180 yards” Tagovailoa—the greatest football player in history; the wind cowers at his mere presence.

[Morse not starting was a "football decision" per McD]

10 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I'm going off of Joe Buscaglia's wording:

 

 

"Rest him another week" is the same thing as what I said. I think this is a case of McDermott just playing things a little close to the vest. He isn't the type to come out and say "Morse has a history of concussions so we played it safe." The point about the previous group having momentum is just McDermott's typical praising the players in front of the media, he wasn't trying to signal that Morse has been replaced.

Wait, this is the quote that inspired this thread?

 

Yeah, absolutely crystal clear that they are being cautious.

[Murrey's 2nd TD - Block in the back?]

Just now, GoBills808 said:

The holding call against Winters was when I knew we were up against it...far away from the play, arms barely extended, and they haven't been calling offensive holding like that all year. Negated a big first down throw iirc

 

 

Yep...that was the one where I said “oh come on, you’ve called every little ticky tack thing against us and absolutely nothing against them; just let one go for goodness sake”

[Murrey's 2nd TD - Block in the back?]

That one didn’t bother me, but DPI on Worley followed by a brutal no-call on Smoke had my fuming.

 

Didn’t matter since Allen and Diggs delivered in the clutch, but yeah, I was 😡

[Four Guys vs Hopkins]

1 minute ago, dave mcbride said:

Read some of the other threads. Measured height is only one piece of the puzzle. Wingspan, verticle, and hand size — all features that Hopkins excels at — are just as important. It’s why Hakeem Olajuwon was functionally taller than 7-footers despite being 6’10.” Hopkins has a 36” verticle to Tre’s 32” inch one. His arms are longer. His hands are enormous and the strongest in the league.  It basically makes him 7-8 inches taller than White.

That’s all fine and good, but the still shot says it all. 3 guys there, all had a chance, and all got beat. “Put a taller guy back there” wasn’t going to make a difference.

[Four Guys vs Hopkins]

29 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

 

That's just not true.  You didn't have good personnel when the WR was the tallest player.  Really, you could have put 11 guys on Hopkins, it's not going to matter if they are all shorter than him.  You can't do anything before he touches the ball, so the amount of players on him means nothing if he can get to the ball before any of the other players guarding him.  It's like it basketball when the forward gets a guard on him and immediately the PG will throw it to him.  It's bad coaching to allows the guard to switch on forward, same situation with this.  It's another example of bad coaching.

 

It's a jump ball where the tallest man wins, what the heck does the amount of players have anything to do with guarding him?  Those DBs can't touch Hopkins until he goes up and catches the ball.  He was in the endzone already, good thing those DBs tackled him from running.

“Tallest man wins” isn’t a thing. It’s not like we had a bunch of 5’9” guys competing against someone that’s 6’5”. I’ll take 3 guys that get paid to stop a WR from catching a ball to do their job any given day. 

[Four Guys vs Hopkins]

16 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

You have a 6'5 LB that runs a 4.5.  You don't need a WR, you need a good coach.

Oh for crying out loud; they had their 3 best DBs in position to compete for the ball against a single, 6’1” WR. They didn’t get it done. If that’s bad coaching I don’t know what to say.

[Ok This Dolphins talk is getting out of hand.]

1 hour ago, High Football IQ said:

As I've been saying, the Dolphins are not just legit....they are an elite NFL team right now with the metrics, DVOA, etc behind it.

 

I keep comparing them to the 1998 Jets team that started 0-2 and 2-3 before winning 10 of their final 11 and making it to the AFC Championship game losing to the Broncos who went on to win the SB.

 

Earlier this week NFL.com had a piece that I posted comparing them to the 2001 Patriots which is also not far fetched right now.

 

Either way the pressure is on the Bills to keep pace to ensure the season finale could be for the division or even a shot at a wilcard spot for that matter.

 

 

 

Especially if the Dolphins win it on the Bills homefield and/or keep the Bills out of the playoffs.

 

I guarantee fans will turn on this team in a hurry including Allen, Beane, McClap...etc.

The Dolphins are “elite” now?

 

Ok folks, that’s all there is...nothing left to read on the internet today.

[a few thoughts about the cardinals game, in no particular order]

5 minutes ago, LB48 said:

I agree with the Davis comment.  He ran flat instead of coming back.  The look on Allen's face told the story!

Yup. It was a sloppy route plain and simple. Bad route + late throw = INT

[Tre’Davious White 2020 Season]

Coming into this game, White had allowed a total of 15 receptions all year per PFR.

[a few thoughts about the cardinals game, in no particular order]

3 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

The first one was meant to lead Knox over his left shoulder.  Allen through it low and behind him.  That's on Allen.

 

The second one, I agree a good play was made, but Allen's arm usually doesn't let that happen

Yeah that first one was bad, no doubt. 

[a few thoughts about the cardinals game, in no particular order]

I’ll disagree with 2 bad INTs. Some might disagree with me, but Davis ran a brutal route on that 2nd pick. He got loose and sloppy and let Kirkpatrick beat him to the inside.

 

Other than that, great stuff as per usual.

[TJ be angry]

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

Our defense has been hot steamy garbage all year. Today was no different.  75 yards in 34 seconds. Easy

They actually aren’t as bad as people think. They rank 18th in points per game allowed—25.9 coming into today. Knock down a pass at the end and they allow 26; right on pace and good enough for a win. Unfortunately your 3 best DBs couldn’t get it done, which is inexcusable.

6 minutes ago, Simon said:

Thought folks could use a chuckle.

Sorry.

 
Nah fam, you’re good

[Josh Allen 32/49 65.35% 77.3 Rating 284 yards 2 TDs 1 Receiving TD]

11 minutes ago, DCbillsfan said:

It's bad but I blame the offense for this one.  The game never should have come to that last drive.  This team does not have killer instinct.  

They scored 30 points and gave the defense a 4-point lead with 45 seconds left.

[TJ be angry]

Inexcusable. 3-on-1 advantage with your 3 best DBs. You take that every single time. Way to seal the deal after your QB and WR1 just delivered in crunch time.

 

Sick.

[Ok This Dolphins talk is getting out of hand.]

14 minutes ago, unclepete said:

The field goal would tie the game, now win it. And yes, I just responded to request. The dolphins beat them coming off of a bye too. They continue to win convincingly. 

Ok then. 

[Ok This Dolphins talk is getting out of hand.]

8 minutes ago, unclepete said:

I’ve been calling that for weeks. The dolphins schedule is easy and they actually play very well. It’ll come down to week 17 and I think they can beat us if Tua continues to play well 

The dolphins are the best team in the division. And the dolphins beat a team that the bills lost to. After next week we’ll be tied 

Because they beat an NFC opponent on a missed FG? That’s an...interesting take.

[Josh Allen 32/49 65.35% 77.3 Rating 284 yards 2 TDs 1 Receiving TD]

6 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

And it’s partially because Gabe Davis is too passive a player.  Doesn’t fight for the ball and doesn’t work the refs.  He seems kind of easy to defend.

Thank you. He kittied that route and caused an INT in a critical situation. Thankfully his QB bailed him out, but unfortunately his defense couldn’t knock down the ball with a 3-on-1 advantage. Sickening.

[Week 10: Bills at Cardinals]

48 minutes ago, hemma said:

Based off the Cowboys-Cardinals game, Worley was Christian Kirk's BFF.

 

I hope that special moment isn't repeated.

Much different scheme; McDermott’s Cover-3 Sky/Cloud blend with Quarters mixed in is a great fit for Worley’s length and size. Putting him 1-1 against a speed guy like Kirk is a huge gaffe.