Utah John

I've been posting for a couple of weeks that I thought Garrett might be available and would be a great fit for the Bills needs. Getting Cooper when the Browns are cleaning house was one thing, and I was thinking an even greater need would be addressed by Garrett. But I was chastised, correctly, that the cost in draft picks would be exorbitant, and not something Beane would countenance. We'd have to throw in Rousseau -- the only DE on the team who regularly does anything -- and probably two firsts, to get Garrett. That's just not gonna happen.

Part of the explanation is the other part of the team: the offense. The Bills offense generally gets better performance in the second half (the Jags game excepted, which was over by halftime and the Bills coasted). So the offense is on the field more in the second half, which by my math means the defense is out there less. Also when the offense gets in gear and takes the lead, the other teams generally stop running so much. Why are they both better in the second half (again, the Jags excepted)? Maybe the Bills are so good they can play vanilla the first half, then the OC and his guys, and the DC and his guys, get together, and start calling more aggressively in the second half. Knowing that only a few teams can match them when they get going. There ARE some teams that can match them, and that should win more than five times out of 10 games with the Bills. That's the nature of a re-set year. As we've been expecting all year, the Bills should stroll to the AFCE again, this time probably getting the 4 seed and a home playoff game, maybe win that, then lose in the next round. A pretty good year all things considered. Next year is when all the pieces should be back in place.

I'm thinking you're right, that it was Douglas and not Rapp.

A few years ago the league made it illegal for little defenders to cut the legs out from under massive O linemen coming downfield. The defender is supposed to take on the lineman, giving up 100 pounds or so. This was done to protect the linemen from injury. Rapp made a brilliant play in a similar situation. He slipped past the Jets lineman and made a tackle. The play was so good because it's so hard for DBs not to get blocked out of the play. I don't think Johnson deserves the fine, but the league is definitely trying to send a message -- DBs, don't even think about it. We NEVER hear about punishment levied against officials. The league handles those matters behind closed doors. There was widespread disgust from sports writers at the way the officials lost control of that game.

Bass missed two kicks. The atrocious miss was actually blocked. Not that that's not at least partially on Bass, who needs to get enough elevation to prevent a block, but it's also on the O line.

Bass has indeed missed some kicks on his own, but some of his misses are actually blocks. That terrible kick against the Jets? It was caused by a Jets player getting a hand on the kick. In some cases, when a kick is blocked, it's the kicker's fault for not getting enough elevation. In other cases the kick would be just fine by the defender makes a good play or the kicker's protection breaks down. It's hard for us fans to know which is which. My criticism of Bass isn't based only on the misses. He also doesn't have the same range as other kickers. Other teams routinely get FGs from 55 yards, which used to be considered heroic, and which seems to be beyond Bass's range. Or maybe McDermott won't take the risk on long FGs because if they're missed the opponent gets great field position. Combine the lack of range with the number of misses that aren't blocks, and yeah I'm thinking the Bills need a new guy.

When was the last time the Bills played with the standing buffalo on the helmets? I think it's been at least a couple of years but I'm not sure.

I'm happy with the Cooper acquisition, but the Browns player I really want is Myles Garrett. The Bills continue to struggle in rushing the QB except against weak O lines when the other team has to pass, and none of the Bills on the roster seem to be able to threaten consistently. Cleveland is going nowhere as long as Watson is their QB, so they might as well not waste more years of Garrett's career and get draft capital for him. The Jets have demonstrated the ability to lose to anyone. The Bills lost road games to two powerful teams, and actually had a decent chance to win the second game. Unless injuries really set in, the Bills should win the AFCE by two or three games.

If we're going after Bubba, why not get Forrest too? He was a great kickoff returner in college -- made All-American if I remember correctly. And stamina for long-distance running...no problem.

Do you remember last year's playoffs when we had NO depth LBs and had to bring back Klein to face Mahoes and Kelce?

Considering Cooper is moving from degenerate Watson to Superman Allen, he might be willing to play for free, more or less.

WHAT will only come down to Super Bowls? Whether we think Allen is any good? Don't be silly.

What's with these delicate little Jets? Two personal fouls on simply ordinary tough football plays. The roughing the passer call was egregious.

Why not just not rush anyone? Two guys are never going to get home. Wasted personnel. OK so the Bills played it stupidly but I am still willilng to give Rodgers credit for a good play.

Yeah I thought so too, but that never gets called on Hail Marys.