Just in Atlanta

8-4 without all the injuries. And 12-0 if we hadn't traded Maybin.

Why does it have to be one or the other? I'd settle for an average run and pass D with an above-average pass rush and explosive offense. We already have an average pass D (especially when you consider that lack of pass rush dictates everything) and an explosive offense when healthy. Focus on pass rush, then, and only when a premiere OLB or DE isn't available, focus on O line, IMO. Unless someone really special is available at a "skill" position or secondary, I wouldn't spend any time in April on those positions. Pass rush affects everything, even more than O line.

Didn't vote. We need to get it out of our heads that only an "elite" QB is what we need. There are 32 starting QBs. Only two, maybe three, elite QBs. He's a good QB who is doing his best with what he has and WILL get better with a better supporting cast. He's our guy for the time-being, and I'm happy with him.

Thanks for not starting a I Told You So thread. The POW analysis seems accurate. I would add that the prisoners who also became completely pessimistic about their chances of release were also probably one of the quickest to break down. Speaking of POWs, us Bills fans seem to be collective victims of Chinese water torture. I'd rather get it all over with in one violent water-boarding swoop--an 0-16 season followed by a playoff--than endure 12 years of maddening 7-9 drips.

Judging by what? Sacks? Then, no, he doesn't have it. But I don't think we have the film to truly see how the guy is playing. He seems to be getting penetration on the occasions the camera is focused on the line, but I also don't see him involved with a lot of tackles. He also seems to be getting double-teamed a lot. The point is, I think we fans sometimes rush to judgment based on spotty evidence or sometimes-superficial stats. I also think that if this team actually drafts/signs an impact player or two for the Front 7 to ease his load, we won't be asking this question. Us 20 and 30 somethings should listen to the old dogs on this board who remember Bruce Smith's rookie year. Seems his situation was similar.

Agree. Dude, get over it. So you don't like that he celebrates. You don't like that he hands the ball to the ref. Just be happy he scored a TD. Dr. Dareustein, will you be watching our now pointless games at Hudson Grill? Sadly, I can't stop. We'll have to say hi. Man, the mood in that bar Sunday was morose.

Props to EdwardsArm for having accurate insight that our team did in fact suck, like it has for 12 years, despite the rampant optimism of fans such as myself who believed we had actually turned a corner. I enjoyed mocking this thread a month or so ago. So, I'm manning up. I'll stop short of giving him the Nobel Prize for Martyrdom, though, because...it feels good every once in a while to celebrate good things instead of bashing the bad. At 3-0, and 5-2, there certainly seemed there was a lot of good. Now that we suck once again, we can all get back on the We Suck Bus: We have a completely sucky pass rush that, yes, cannot be sustained by however opportunistic our secondary is. We suck at drafting, especially since our best players for the most part are 7th rounders and below. Our line sucks at sustained pass protection, even though it's good at opening holes. Our QB throws sucky deep balls, even though he has one of the quickest releases around. Our coach sucks when it comes to not being committed to the run, even though at one point we had mega rush stats. No sarcasm here, but it's true--why on Earth did we stop running after the half yesterday? We suck at consistency...we don't even lose in consistent ways...poor gameplan (Cinci), poor 4th quarter plan (Giants), complete domination (Jets 1), complete meltdown (Dallas and Miami), penalties (Jets 2), mistakes (Titans). We have a sucky DC, even though...well, we just have a sucky DC. We have sucky depth. Heart, which this team no longer seems to have, can't win the day. Our receivers suck at clutch plays. So many dropped balls. WTF? Our QB's beard looks sucky. Trim that thing, Fitzy. This bus isn't fun at all.

Well, the OP was correct. Let's hope our method of losing is also unsustainable. 12 straight years with no playoffs is quite an improbability.

There needs to be a sacrificial goat to appease a fanbase that was so excited four months ago only to be crushed, once again, by a mediocre product. Edwards, with this defense, seems like the most logical goat. I'd be surprised if he wasn't let go.

Don't see how his article isn't anything 50 percent of the posters here haven't said 50,000 times.

This whole team seems to be diluted now. Flat, soulless, watered-down. Questionable calls, ridiculous execution, no winners' edge. Is Brad Smith good, not, OK, whatever. Is he a Wildcat QB, a punt returner, a third WR, no idea. After such a momentous five-game letdown, following such an electric first half, and 12 years of just enough meatless goulash to keep us serfs wanting more next season, I have no faith in my analysis. I actually believed we were a playoff-quality team, like I believed several times prior during this past decade-plus drought.

...7 and 9. So tired of not watching the Bills in the playoffs.

Was it Boo? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvLAh8LLl7o&feature=related And, to answer your question, MadTownToBuffalo, Pat Moran is on the story.

And the theory of gravity has never been proven. Spiller did get better with more touches. Merriman did have an impact, at least for anyone who watches the game closely. And Smith so far has been a good receiver.

And he plays tough but screams like a girl. I don't think there is a QB right now other than Aaron Rodgers who hasn't had a bad game. The entire team sucked against the Jets the first time, and the two following. He's No. 7 in TD passes, 13 in P/R, and has been sacked less than most QBs.

On one play, he did about four stutter steps/jukes right off the line for a catch. It seemed as if SJ was running all routes hard, regardless of what the play was. You don't see that kind of nonstop intensity ever with receivers; they all take breathers. I'm glad my perception was verified in that story. In addition to being mentally draining to be 100 percent even when you aren't directly apart of the action, it's physically demanding to run hard routes on every single snap, too. I'd hate to hear about the players you don't like.

He got the worst penalty he could. 15 yards and public scorn. ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker's http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/34954/steve-johnsons-10k-fine-is-too-light take on this is absurd. I've liked this guy, but he needs to take a Valium on this one. Good lord, the celebration was stupid and over the top...like a gazillion dances before this one. And, btw, I find his name "a tasteless display" to people who can't walk. Lighten up, Mr. Walker.

Hate Music City miracle Wide right What exactly is a Bill, anyway? Cinderella team Are the Bills for real? Sliding/slumping/struggling Like Scrappy Surging Upstart Love Explosive offense/opportunistic defense The 90s Wagons The biggest comeback in NFL history K-gun no-huddle I got a feelin, Buffalo's going to the Superbowl

Some of you should have been writers or producers on X Files. I have a cheap watch and an expensive one. Both are dependable. If only he wasn't so busy preparing for TD celebrations, he could have checked his tires BEFORE he headed to Rochester.

Considering that four weeks ago I thought winning the division was possible, and that sweeping the Fins and splitting wins with the Jets and Pats were probable, anything less than 9-7 will be a huge disappointment. Can't predict games anymore. I honestly have no idea whether this team has it within them to win any or all of the remaining games. Thought we were going to blow the crappy Jets O out of the water at home and that we were going to be blown out by them on Sunday. So, the good news: The season isn't over, this team seems capable of both amazing feats and ridiculous disasters, the Jets aren't that good, the odds are against three teams from the AFC North making it, and that anything--a Wildcard berth OR a 5-11 season--is possible.

Then give em gear. And the rest of us out of staters tickets. The details are up to them. Just throwing an idea out there that I believe I'd do if I were an owner of a team that's been as bad this long with such good fans.

I'm with ya. Here's an honest suggestion for the Bills front office: If we have another losing season, give out game tickets or Bills gear to the 1,000 most active posters on TBD. Any team, in fact, that doesn't make the playoffs in a decade and then caps the 11th year with a losing season should be rewarding their most loyal fans, IMO.

Poohah is disingenuous, completely lacking in basic logic, or both. 1. 9/11 happened to all of us, not just New Yorkers. 2. The Jets do the same freaking thing. Next, DHS will be investigating Stevie for ties to al Qeida. Poohahhah, stick to football dude and leave the cultural and political opining to yourself. You should check out the Wall Street Journal's story on SJ's "interpretive dance." Very well done and quite funny. Now I am officially done with this dead horse.

Yes. But I'll add two changes: The season is disappointing. More accurately, the past four games have been disappointing...I was personally thrilled at our first seven. Last time I checked, there were a bunch of games to go.

...And head to another decade of futility. We have a solid core, and to blow it up, well, it's not worth discussing. The time for rebuilding is over. The time for filling the holes of our core is here. We are one stud lineman, a pass rush (needs serious help), a DC and a star WR away IMO. McKelvin is a stud on ST and the coaching staff seem to think he can be a starter. He's worth keeping one more year. At least, we need depth and he can be used as a fourth CB. Merriman had a tremendous impact, sans stats, on our pass rush the few games he was healthy. I think most fans are in agreement he is worth one more gamble if the price is right. Don't really know about Bell one way or another. Are you really saying MD and KW are expendable? Yikes.