OldTimer1960

But I started the thread talking about the entire defense and you pooh poohed it.

Is the secondary not part of the defense? The whole defense must play great to win today.

This team is constructed to win with defense, a strong running game and big plays from the fast WRs. Their top 2 RBs and top WR are injured, so they really have to have a dominant defensive effort against a rookie QB on a team that was 2-14 last year. if the defense gives up 17 points or more, it will be a disappointment and likely lead to a loss.

Well, what are your insights on this game? What do you see as the keys to the game?

This is a game that the Bills must have to avoid dropping too far out of contention early in the season. The defense has been disappointing in most games and must turn that around and play a great game today. The Bills' offense is again playing without their two biggest offensive threats (McCoy and Watkins) and is down to their 3rd string RB and a street FA behind him. The defense is going to have to play a very good game for the Bills if they hope to come away with a win.

So, it wasn't the 17 penalties or the poor tackling on a short pass to a RB that led to a 50 yard Giants' TD right after the Bills cut the lead to 16-10 that had anything to do with the loss?

This was an awful effort. They were never in the game. Expect more sputtering offense as teams figure out how to keep Taylor in the pocket.

They certainly don't look like a playoff team in any phase of the game. Was this the beginning of the league figuring out Tyrod Taylor?

I think this is going to be a very tough game. The Bills are without 4 starters, including arguably their two best players on offense (McCoy and Watkins). 3 of 12 offensive starters are out.

Taylor was confused by THE MASTER defensive genius and it was only his second NFL start. He did some good things and some bad things. I wouldn't give up on him this early based on that performance, but I think that he is being given too much credit for bringing them back when the were down 24 points in the second half. He got "hot" when NE started playing softer defense to preserve a comfortable lead. Kudos that he was able to take advantage of the soft defense, but an NFL QB should be able to do that.

This defense is waaaay overrated. They have been flat out embarrassing today. The bully got beat up and bad.

Completely undisciplined. This is not a good looking team

Total meltdown. Will be 34-13 within minutes

We've learned that this defense is really not dominant and the shine is wearing off Tyrod Taylor already. I think it is quite possible that all 3 QBs will start games this year.

Easy to criticize, but what is the right answer? What great QB did they have a chance to draft or otherwise acquire? If you were sure that Russell Wilson would be great, then grab a NFL GM job, Otherwise, the only still-looking-good QB prospect they had a shot at was Teddy Bridgewater after only Manuel's rookie year (where Manuel played generally OK)

They should mercifully release EJ Manuel now. He played well in this "competition" and will get nothing out of being 3rd string. Just let him go so that he can try to catch on with another team - it is clear that the Bills' don't want him.

I am looking at 8-8, possibly (likely?) starting 0-3. No getting around it, this team is very deficient at QB.

I don't know this guy, but the Raven's Newsome might be the best personnel guy in the NFL, so maybe Johnson is ok

I think it is unrealistic to think that every 4th and 5th round picks are going to pan out. I don't think cutting those two is any indictment on the Bills' drafts

How about we wait a few regular season games to see if he is any good before worrying that his nickname might not be optimal? Remember, Taylor was not a particularly accurate passer in college and hasn't played many (any?) meaningful regular season snaps in his NFL career.

I agree that Taylor has passed well and done everything asked of him, but I still can't help being concerned that a guy who completed 57% of his passes in college won't revert to inaccuracies once the regular season starts.

All three have played about as well as possible in the preseason, but preseason success is not a good indicator of regular season success. The Bills still have: 1. A young QB that showed some potential as a rookie then was benched year 2 2. A young QB with great athleticism, below average height, a poor college career completion % and almost no NFL playing experience 3. A journeyman who had 2 very good seasons out of 10, but otherwise has thrown more career INTS than TDs I am cautiously optimistic that what we are seeing is that Taylor has improved since college and is making good on a golden opportunity and that EJ Manuel is showing genuine improvement, but I wouldn't bet the mortgage money on that based on preseason results.

I was arguing that defenses will prepare for the Bills' run game primarily and also that none of the Bills' 3 QBs scares any defense. The only one that might requires little prep is Taylor and that would be to say "do not rush hard, keep him in the pocket.

I don't think Indy or any other team is worried in the least about which of these 3 starts at QB for Buffalo. Indy will have a very decided advantage at QB no matter which guy Buffalo plays.

Most over-rated: Tyrod Taylor - he is the new unknown quantity at this level, therefor he is "the next great undiscovered QB"