dpberr

The reality is the Bills have a past his prime Von Miller that has moments of greatness left. His mind wants to play, but that body really doesn't want to. He looked very old last night.

The Ugly: Regardless of on the the field performance, it'll be business as usual at OBD, with misplaced faith in a "process" that no longer generates positive results.

There are many fans who think McDermott and Co. being fired at the end of the season would never happen due to his contract extension. I submit that the sleepwalking and disarray you see in year 7 of his coaching tenure is evidence that firing him at the end of the season is a real possibility. The 2023 Bills may be the 2001 Buccaneers. The Bucs fired Tony Dungy despite having a 54-42 record, and the team going to the playoffs 4 out of the 6 seasons he was coach. Why? The Bucs were loaded with talent and slept walk through that 2001 season, losing all NFC games of consequence, and then getting blown out in the playoffs.

Absolutely needed this game. Four conference losses is a mortal wound.

Pat Shurmur isn't going to do a damn thing. He never has. Colorado could lose all the games that's left in the season with him calling the offense.

It's been a part of my life for at least 15 years. I've enjoyed the camaraderie, humor and breaking news.

Bengals 31 Bills 24 Bengals were on roller skates with the 49ers unpredictable play action, throwing all over the place. They could not stop it. That's the key. However, I'm afraid ol Process will just process the Bills to a loss against a smart defensive coordinator. Get ready for a lot of blank staring into the camera for this one.

The Commanders need a coach and FO that has a sharp drafting acumen and work well together. That isn't curmudgeon BB. I think this season has demonstrated that it's time for him to retire. Josh Harris did the same thing with the 76ers - went out and got another celebrity coach who's past his prime in Doc Rivers, and it led to four consecutive playoff exits with *very* talented 76ers teams.

I've always felt bad for both Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston. Regardless of fame and fortune and in Aniston's case, beauty, both always seemed to be lonely people, without a lot of happiness in their lives or anyone to really share it with. When I heard Matthew Perry died alone at his home, that just made me feel sad.

I think the Douglas trade is a great move, and it's not unusual for the player to take a week off - Byard just did the same thing in Philadelphia. I'm disappointed, however, at the lack of urgency/investment in the interior defensive line. Most of these guys are heading to retirement whether they like it or not. Suh is likely the best of the bunch - he did give the Eagles 10 tackles and a sack in 8 games, but that's what Jordan Phillips provides. (2023 - 8 games, 7 tkl, 1 sack)

I think that out of the areas that can use help, CB is the most difficult to address. Those players really need to understand the playbook. I don't think a player coming in from another team, even if they have a high football IQ, are going to hit the field and know what they are doing. Linebacker is also difficult - I choose Edwards and Hicks because they are linebackers who are known to pick up playbooks fast, and have a high football IQ. TJ Edwards seems to be productive regardless of defensive strategy. Is he the very best linebacker in the NFC, no, but his value is in concert with what I'd be willing to pay. I see DT and RB more plug and play, provided you get vets who know what they are doing and are motivated.

My choices: DT (priority) Andrew Billings, DT, Chicago Harrison Phillips, DT, Minnesota Calais Campbell, DT, Atlanta Grover Stewart, DT, Indianapolis (returns from suspension December 4) Homerun hitting: Kenny Clark, DT, Green Bay Homerun hitting: Leonard Williams, DT, New York OTHERS TJ Edwards, LB, Chicago Jordan Hicks, LB, Green Bay AJ Dillion, RB, Green Bay Sterling Shepard, WR, New York I don't trade for CBs - the Bills have four! rotating around the practice squad. I'd rather try those guys first.

I think Jacksonville and KC are legit because they have proven they can win ugly. The Ravens are always the champions of the "fall" season of the NFL. They live and die with Lamar Jackson's health, and he's never healthy come December. They will hobble into the playoffs as usual. The Bengals and Bills have the same problem - the offense is Burrow/Chase and Allen/Diggs, with lots of QB hero ball, and neither team has shown it can consistently move the ball if their dynamic duo is shut down. Miami is the most overrated - they cannot score on an above average defense, and in a game with bad weather, that offense is grounded like a fleet of WWII aircraft.

Have to get the 3 AFC games. I'd rest injured starters and the old vets in PHI.

The Bengals cannot stop play action.

I know, but why do it? Why the same guys week after week?

I don't understand the *persistently* inactive players that are part of the 40-man roster like Alec Anderson and Germain Ifedi. I understand that they make a salary and are part of the team, but you'd think they'd like a chance to actually play in football games, if not for the Bills, someone else.

Last night's game showed McDermott is a good NFL coach, but not a great one. Good coaches can often get the job done. Great coaches don't allow that game to end like it did. He was only saved last night by playing one of the few NFL coaches who strategizes more conservatively than he does.

Watch Ken Dorsey turn the Bills into a 1987-era offense with Henry, running the ball 30 times every game. "There's just so much running..."

Agreed, he hasn't been terrible and I would have preferred the Bills play him to see what he can do. They asked for the impossible from him in London, off the shelf into starting reps. Set up to fail IMO. I'm not a big fan of the McDermott "process" because rookies have such short leashes with this coaching staff that they play not to make mistakes, and that's a thinking, hesitant, slow player. I think overall though, Elam will excel consistently for a team that plays man. Less thinking, less hesitancy. He reminds me of Ronald Darby, another man corner that moved from McDermott's zone to Philly in 2017 to play in Schwartz's man-heavy defense, and excelled.

Elam is this FO's worst pick to date because Elam excelled at man coverage in college. The risk that he would not develop into a zone corner was high from the moment he was selected. I always felt the mistake was on the Bills for having the hubris that their coaching could transform him.

Rangers season is a success. They spent a ton of money to get to the WS this year. Diamondbacks playing with house money (21st in spending).

I think Andy Reid is an outlier. I support tenure to a point. I think after a while, you know where the ceiling is. Would you be ok with Sean McDermott under any of the following scenarios? You get the impression that the "great" has come and gone. Bill Belichick has yet to win a playoff game in the three seasons since Tom Brady left the Patriots. Mike Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game in six years. John Harbaugh has just one playoff win over the last eight seasons. Pete Carroll has one playoff win over the past six.

Eagles really prioritize getting that 1st rounder right. The rest of the picks are trade capital to them. Eagles sense the window is now.

What disappoints me is that the Bills now need a lot of help with two divisional losses, and the path to home field is narrow. Bills also likely need to win all of the AFC games left in the schedule. I'd even consider resting starters at Philly to give the team two weeks of rest before the away game with the Chiefs, and I'd rest them again versus the Cowboys before the end season run that begins with a cross-country trip to LA, NE and Miami. The Bills don't usually show up in those cross country trips and they likely *need* that Chargers win.