2003Contenders

I agreee theNose76. That actress is perfect -- and I love her husky voice. I have to say that I laughed out loud when Jack put on that ski mask prior to entering the convenience store.

Let me respond to each item one by one. - Against Jacksonville and the Jets, the defense allowed a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter This is true... But for 3+ quarters the offense had done NOTHING. The defense was understandably out of gas for that final drive. Yes, the 1985 Bears defense would have found a way to preserve the win, but no one is arguing that the Bills D is THAT elite. - The defense allowed New England to score 24 points in our first meeting, and suffered a complete collapse the second time the two teams played. Recall that Terence McGee was pressed into action for the first time in that game when Troy Vincent went out. That left just one quality starter in the secondary (Nate Clements) as Milloy was out too. Suffice to say that a QB of Tom Brady's cailber was set to have a field day under such conditions -- and giving up 24 isn't THAT bad considering such circumstances. Regarding the second game, you are right. It was a team-wide collapse against the defending Super Bowl Champs on the road in primetime against a team that seems to have our number. - The defense allowed a back-breaking nine minute drive to Pittsburgh. Prior to that drive, the time of possession for both teams was about equal. The defense gets 100% of the blame for that drive. Can't argue here... Again, this was an example of another game when NOTHING went right. Those types of days occur a few times a year, which is why NO TEAM has gone undefeated in the modern era. -- That leaves just two losses--Baltimore and Oakland--in which the defense wasn't part of the problem. Neither of those teams are exactly known for having a great offense. This defense is good enough to get by with. But it's not good enough to carry the team. I disagree about the Raiders. They were a much different team with Rich Gannon in there. In fact, the week before he had led them to 21 points on the road against the Steelers. Holding them to just 13 in Oakland was quality. As for the Ravens game, the defense can be blamed for 10 points. The other 10 game DIRECTLY from turnovers. The old rule is that if the offense can score 17 -- and not turn over the ball, a good defense will ensure a victory. If the offense could have lived up to their end of the bargain each time out, the team would have gone 13-3. 'Nuff said.

The main thing that I noticed from this weekend was that the Colts are an elite team -- while the rest of the teams that played on Saturday or Sunday are not. In fact, we stack up well against any of the other 7 teams that competed. Think about this for a minute... If the Rams beat the Falcons this week, they will be in the NFC Chamionship Game. The same Rams that we pounded just a few weeks ago...

Think Plaxico may want to play for his old OC? I'm dreaming, of course, because we could never afford him... But imagine Plaxico, Moulds, AND Evans...

With no real glaring needs, I think the success of both the Patriots and Steelers have shown us that quality depth is more important than having high dollar stars. Both of these teams got there by having a series of very strong drafts -- and often going for quantity, rather than "quality". I'd like to see TD and TM do the same, and approach this draft with an eye for improving the depth at OL, DL, WR, DB, and LB. Bottom line, we can't afford to pass up the best available player at practically any position.

The NFL has a complicated formula for figuring out compensatory picks based on each team's specific losses and acquisitions of free agents. Guys of JJ's and PW's claiber, assuming they remain starters with whatever team acquires them, could possibly net 3rd round (the maximim) compensation, provided that we don't counter the moves with similar quality starters. From where I stand, I'd rather try to work out fair deals with both of these gusy and keep them rather than hope for compensation picks in 2006.

I'm not sticking up for this sheriff, but the story does go onto to talk about a former sheriff's plot to kill one of his successors. Is it possible that this new sheriff identified these 27 individuals as being in cahoots with the former one? If so, he may have been justified in trying to get rid of certain individuals whom he felt may have been out to get him.

BTW, did you all catch Jennings on the Eric Moulds Show? If so, did you notice the hat he was wearing?

The problem is that his arm will be less a liability in the Rams' climate controlled confines on Sunday.

The main distinction I see is that Big Ben was placed in a somewhat controlled situation (good OL, run-first philosophy, and pick-me-up defense), and to his credit he hasn't hurt the team's cause. Meanwhile, Evans has played a role in not only jump-starting the Bills' offense, but he has also taken over as the team's top receiver. Not too shabby, considering the team's (over)reliance on Moulds. Thus, he not only found himself in a less favorable situation than Big Ben -- but he also had to contend with building up the respect of teammates (Drew in particular) to FORCE his own production. All in all, it is very difficult to say which one I would rather have. Considering that Evans' emergence has also served to salvage Bledsoe's season -- and ostensibly his career -- we are no longer in the dire straights at QB that I once thought that we were. Thus, I can hardly complain about how things have worked their way out.

Personally, I think that with the emerging chemistry on this team -- and especially on the OL -- Jennings has become a must-sign. Since we are in decent cap shape, TD shouldn't try to low ball him -- and should present him with a fair contract. With that said, we can't afford to overpay for him if some team throws out a ridiculous offer like the Jets and Vikings did with Winfield last year. That's why it's important that TD work out a fair deal before the season is over.

I think we may actually TV him in a VERY limited role on Sunday. It sounds like he is chomping at the bit to get back on the field against his old team.

Note also that a victory on Sunday would mark the first time since the Wade Phillips era that we managed to go at least .500 within our own division. Note also that I seem to recall us heading down to Miami last year riding high off two very impressive wins. I'm not sure that we ever recovered from the physical beating they put on us...

I think much depends on whom leaves via free agency next year. If Jonas is gone, we could be in need of an OT in a desperate way. Also, if Big Pat is a goner, we may need yet more help at DT. Personally, I think Travis stays. We are unlikely to get a Day 1 pick for him. That being the case, we'd have to invest a Day 2 pick on a backup RB anyway -- and one that is not likely to be as good as Travis. I know that some will argue that Traves DESERVES to go to a team where he can be the starter. IF so, then that team needs to offer us decent compensation, which isn't likely to happen. Recall that at one point last year the Browns were offered a 3rd rounder for James Jackson. They got greedy, turned it down, and wound up cutting Jackson anyway. Now he's a Packer.

This one is also pretty fair. I got a kick out of their comment about the Titans.

Maybe he still has a soft spot for the Dolphins and believes that he is still playing for them(by way of Philly). After all, isn't he also the same guy that broke JP's leg?

You HAVE to make that trade. Last week Blaylock showed that he's an decent substitute when Priest goes down. Also, since Holmes is such a warrior, the fact that he is sitting at all lets you know how severe his injury REALLY could be. Frankly, I do not see much of a dropoff between Plummer and Delhomme. In fact, with the RB situation in Carolina, Jake D could be even better down the stretch. Besides, as long as he's healthy, McNabb will be your starter every week anyway.

How about this more sinister -- and overly cynical -- possibility: MM knows that based on DB's performance that he is going to hear all week long questions about why JP isn't starting. Thus, he muddies the kid's water by throwing him out on the field in such a confusing fashion -- without giving him time to warm up or work on his confidence. The hope and expectation is that the kid fails miserably (which he does), so that MM can respond, "Well, you saw what happened when JP went out there. He's clearly not ready. Our best chance to win is with Drew." The flaw in MM's reasoning was that he underestimated how fed up Bills fans are with Drew's ineptitude. If we are going to see such lousy play, may as well see it our of our rookie, so he experiences these growing pains before next year. Cynical I know. But if you review the plays that were called, it's not as if the coaches made ANY attempt to try to ease JP into the game.

One thing you have to say about Bledsoe is that he IS durable. Considering the rate at which he's been sacked, you have to wonder how many other QB's could withstand the punishment. With the state of our current OL, I don't think MM and TD will risk the threat of serious injury to JP at this juncture.

Actually, col_forbin, our recent Sunday nights have been something to forget about. Maybe that's why you don't recall Week 3 at Miami and Week 8 at KC last season. Hopefully, we can force the worm to turn this time around. I have a feeling that we may be catching the banged up Pats at the right time. Hollywodd Donahoe is right. Our MO this year is to struggle when we are behind and to take over when we lead (aside from the last-minute implodes against the Jags and Jets). If we can get ahead early, that means putting the ball in WM's hands, and forcing the Pats into more obvious situations.

It's hard to guess what Travis would fetch in a trade. Bear in mind that it was a foregone conclusion that the Bengals HAD to trade Dillon. That may not be the case with Travis. In fact, if TD doesn't at least get a Day 1 draft pick for him, my guess is that he will still be here next year. With that said, there is still plenty of this season to be played -- and Travis could do something between now and then to appreciably hurt -- or help -- his cause.

Stranger things have happened. Itall starts this week with the Jets. We may catch a break next week in facing a banged up Pats team without Ty Law. After that... the schedule looks much easier with games against the likes of the 49ers, Dolphins, Browns, and Bengals. We also get the Rams at home, which is winnable. So, if we can win the next two games, then I could see us potentially favored in five of the remaining games. That gets us to 9 wins right there. Also, we get the Steelers at home in week 17, when they may not have much to play for. Bottom line, if the team gets on a roll and wins it one game at a time (starting this Sunday), then they do have a chance with an easier (on paper) road ahead.

I also think that yesterday's game was the best all-around coached game we've see, since... well, since Marv retired. I also think that MM put just enough wrinkles out there to keep the Jets and Pats on their toes. (Sam as eligible tackle, Bannon in on "obvious" running plays, the fake reverse on kickoffs...)

Uh, from the injury reports I've seen, Boldin is still listed as OUT this week.

I wouldn't be quite so hard on them. We did beat these very same Dolphins last week, did we not? I have a hard time ranking the Bills -- as bad as they've been -- behind such teams as Miami, Cinci (pending outcome of tonight's game), Chicago, Carolina, and San Francisco. I'd put them at about 27 or 28.