eball

@GunnerBill and I are still waiting for Tannehill to revert back to the mean...

How many coaches are 2/3 in playoff appearances during that time?

Sure seems that way...when you look at the fact they had a 6-2 record on the road and "defense travels" I don't think any team "likes" matching up with Buffalo. Their worst effort of the season was a blustery day against Philly more than two months ago. Josh has taken care of the ball, they have veteran receivers, a dynamic TE, and an OROY candidate in Singletary. They've also gotten great experience playing against top defenses over the past 4-5 games. I think it all boils down to Josh finding a way to avoid early game "jitters" and settling in more quickly.

Pot, meet kettle...

This is the only thing that matters. If Snyder continues to insist on being involved in football decisions no coach will succeed there. I hope for Ron's sake he got some sort of assurances in that regard (but I doubt it).

This was actually a factor (albeit a small one) in my decision to bite the bullet and book the trip to Houston!

I think this is pretty accurate. I mean, Bill Walsh could rise from the grave and be the OC for this team and the complaints would keep rolling in. Every OC is hated by his team's fan base. Kyle Shanahan is probably coach of the year in SF and remember his gaffe in the Super Bowl as OC for the Falcons, running the ball five measly times in the 2nd half? Daboll should be given credit for much of Josh's progression this season. I agree whole-heartedly that some of the play-calling can easily be second guessed, but Daboll isn't the idiot many on this forum paint him to be.

My only "hot" take here is that the Jets' starters couldn't put up more than 13 pts against Buffalo backups and were actually outgained for the game.

I think I pretty much nailed this. Oliver seemed to play a bit more and I wasn't watching the OL rotation (or anything else about this game) closely but the only starting OL who played significant minutes were Ford and Spain. So in other words -- it could be done.

No they don’t. Lowest remaining seed plays at Baltimore in 2nd round.

Well, of the 14 guys I pegged as “key” 6 of them are inactive (and Shaq because he’s hurt). McD ain’t so dumb.

One way to look at it is that it’s the last opportunity for the fans to “thank” the team for a playoff season since we know there won’t be another home game. That could draw fans out.

He’s a bad human being, and I have no problem with bad things happening to his toy. Don’t sweat it, BADOL is always lurking, waiting for an opportunity to criticize that Beane and McD didn’t do it the way HE wanted them to.

Congratulations Bengal fans! All 2300 of you have a lot to be excited about! Truth be told I’m so glad Cincinnati may be set up to compete with Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and keep Cleveland buried.

Sure you can. Some of the guys playing on O and D also play teams.

Couldn’t happen to a nicer SOB. Good luck getting that 3rd chance, your holiness. <middle finger emoji>

Sure you can. That leaves 32 guys to fill 22 positions (plus ST).

Ok, so I’m on the record that I would prefer we not play our “key” starters at all but I’m not particularly “worried” about the game either. My guess is that the “key” starters will play a series or two and then the backups/lesser starters will finish it up. To me, “key” starters are: Allen Brown Beasley Singletary Knox Morse Dawkins Edmunds Milano Tre White Hyde Poyer Hughes Oliver That’s 14 guys, 7 each on O and D.

I remember the Bills using Don Smith in a "direct snap" role several times during the '90 season; he also caught a decent number of passes. Sad story. I guess if he served his 15 years he's been out for 10.

There are two sides to every coin. I don’t personally like it but I can understand wanting to keep the starters in rhythm also. Just need to keep our fingers crossed.

Nobody's coming out flat in the playoffs. If anything they'll be too hyped.

The OP is an interesting premise and while I'm not buying in 100% I think there are parts of it that make sense. I DO think the Bills wanted badly to win the game, for the psychological lift it would give them if nothing else. I agree with what others have said about not showing every wrinkle because there is at least a chance these teams will meet again in a few weeks. Daboll is a bit confounding. I do think he's smart and has designed some very good game plans, but the overly conservative 1st down play calling the other night was maddening. There's a part of me that hopes the Bills were purposely not getting exotic on offense or defense in order to save something for the playoffs. Of course, that doesn't excuse the shoddy tackling all night long. If McD plays any starter more than cursory minutes against the Jets he should be publicly flogged. We've stayed remarkably healthy all year and this is no time to put that to the test. The game literally means nothing.

Almost certainly Bills @ Houston at this point. Would be a surprise if KC loses and Houston wins in W17, since KC is playing a "run for the bus" opponent in the Chargers while Houston faces a Titans squad who need a win to get in (or a Pittsburgh loss, but I would presume the Ravens will be resting everyone).

Help me out here. Does anyone know who will play in the Super Bowl? Has the site been determined yet? What about game time? Do the Bills have a chance? What happens if KC wins but San Francisco loses and Green Bay ties? Are there still four quarters in a game? Thanks in advance, I'm too lazy to look any of this up.

Signing off, fellas...enjoy the game and GO BILLS!