OldTimer1960

I think the point of cutting him was more to not let what they perceived as a poor work ethic/attitude infect the rest of the team. I suspect that they also believed he was plenty talented, but could not risk undermining the culture of effort, dedication, professionalism and team work that they are trying to build.

I disagree with the Geno Smith point. Smith has 8 TDs and 13 INTs while EJ has 5TDs and 4 INTs. I understand that Geno has had a good game or two, but overall, EJ has outplayed him this year - for whatever that is worth...

OK, Christian Ponder was a 1st round pick and EJ has generally out-played him. I think I could probably find more... Oh yeah, Brandon Wheedon was also a 1st round pick... Why do you say this? The guy averaged 6+ ypc last year and has clearly been injured this year with a high-ankle sprain. Yes, he takes a lot of runs wide and gains little, however if there were remotely a passing game, these runs may work... Offense (and defense) are systems that are undermined by their weakest links....

Was it not windy for the QBs too? Especially with the young (inexperienced and not-so-good) WRs? I am as concerned with EJ's performance as anyone, but he is young, hasn't played in a month and has no great receivers...

Well, this is the balanced sane view, I would like to think I am there with you. But man, that was a BRUTAL game from EJ. He was terrible. I am willing to attribute this one game to rust, but if he looks half of this bad next week, I will be thinking that they might've missed on him. It wasn't just that they lost, but he was slow and mechanical, didn't seem to be processing the defense quickly at all and his passes were, for the most part, well off the mark. I know that he isn't helped by an inexperienced receiver group that isn't extremely talented on top of it, but gosh that was bad. Pittsburgh clearly didn't believe that he could hurt them through the air and they sold out to ground the run game. Manuel could not make them pay. I will cling to the hope that this was a rookie QB who hasn't played much, has missed the last 4 games due to injury and was rusty, was missing his favorite WR (Woods) and was outmatched by a great veteran DC in Lebeau, but I really wasn't enthused by what I saw from EJ.

I really think that they can lose the rest of their games and be in position for another QB. Of course, by then the defense will be completely demoralized and will need reinforcements, too.

And the search for an NFL QB continues...

Pit is better than their record??? They gave up 55 points last week to Tom Brady and his band of no-name receivers. This team still lacks talent at several positions. You can't run the ball if there is no threat of a pass and Manuel hasn't shown anything to be excited about and the receiving corp is very weak other than SJ (with Woods out).

Game over. This team is awful

HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? AWFUL!

I have been holding out hope that it wasn't true, but this really IS the same old Bills.

All the good feelings from the team hanging in with so many injuries through the first half of the season are fading away. Really starting to look like a team that isn't very good.

Gonna be a long second half of the season. Not that the first half was a joy ride...

I expected a lot of rust from EJ Manuel and that is exactly what we saw. Pittsburgh is selling out against the run and daring the Bills to pass. In order to get any run game going, they are going to have to hit some passes on first down. I just hope that it is more rust rather than that EJ is as inaccurate as he was in the first half. It doesn't help to have no decent receivers besides SJ

So much angst over that 7th round pick that they used to trade up. He was a raw 3rd round pick. He has been better this year, but I can't say I see him yet as a long term starter. He may develop or not - that isn't uncommon for 3rd rounders.

I have to ask who exactly they should have picked up once Kolb was injured? It is too easy to say "They should have had a veteran backup". Yes, great. They signed Kevin Kolb to be that guy. Kolb was injured and who was available?

Ugh, now Goodwin limping off the field... HOW MANY INJURIES CAN ONE TEAM HAVE???

Just too big of a handicap at QB to seriously challenge to beat anyone. I am amazed that they have been this competitive with their 4th string rookie QB in.

This game is over.

Man, they are really handicapped at QB. Tuel is not an NFL QB at this point. On top of that, the team around Tuel has mad some big mistakes. The defense has really played outstanding football to this point, however they are due for a let down with how ineffective the offense is.

Now we know why Easley hasn't played much.

How long before the defense just says "F - it" and throws in the towel. KC's defense has outscored the Bills offense. I know that they are severely undermanned with their 4th QB, now Woods injured and Spiller playing very hurt, but this game is really over at this point.

I think that Hughes is getting too much blame for coverage problems. There was a schematic problem or a missed assignment in the case where he ended up chasing Stills deep. It isn't reasonable to expect a de/pass rush LB to cover a WR - just about no LB could have covered that guy well. I thought Robey was fine - had great coverage and on one TD he just couldn't make the play on the ball - perfect pass. On the deep TD, I think he wag outsized in spite of good coverage - that is why he was not drafted. Think he is a nice depth guy, but his size is a limiter

Yes, this is exactly what I was worried about when Manuel first went down. The defense has fought hard every week and were making great progress, but when the offense is so anemic, it has to be hard for the defense to stay motivated knowing that there is no way they are going to win unless the D pitches a shutout AND scores some points on their own. Things could go downhill fast unless they find a way to generate SOME offense some how.

This is the problem when the offense is so undermanned. Thad Lewis has acquitted himself better than I expected, but he just isn't that good and without Spiller and with SJ hobbling half the time, there aren't enough weapons to threaten a decent defense.