" We have to get off to a fast start..or else ! " ...yup, or else the wailing/sulking here would be unbearable...
When looking at the schedule, I could see this team fighting through some growing pains early ( new coach, offense slowly getting better ). I could see a scenerio where the Bills enter the Arizona game (10/31) with a record of 3-3. I'm hoping for better but it wouldn't surprise me. I still wouldn't panic.
I look at the schedule from that point on. Arizona and the Jets at home (Win,Win), at Pats ( L ) Rams at home ( Win ), at Seattle ( L ) at Miami ( Win ) Cleveland at home ( Win ) at Cinci ( L ) At San Fran ( Win ) Pitts at Home (Win) ....
Bills may lose a game I have down as a Win. Will probably win a game I thought they would lose.
That's still 10-6 and a wild card. Plus they'd be playing their best ball later in the year, not just limping into the post season.
Everyone looks at things differently. I see us beating ourselves a couple times early then getting some momentum later. We have our weak spots.... This just in...so do the other teams, some even more than us.
Like Nick Bakay said in his classic article the other day, being a Bills fan is all about hope and faith. Giving up early makes little sense. Injuries are always the wildcard with any team.
But I'm seeing some little things that add up..
.. an OL which isn't bad at run blocking...a QB that is getting rid of the ball quicker...solid depth at RB,WR...How could we NOT improve from last year ?
Defense is still good overall . I'll be interested to see how much pressure we can generate on the opposing QB. They won't spend 70 % of the game on the field again, like last season ( due to our bad 3 and out Offense ) .
ST's will be better. Don't put too much stock in all the pre-season shuffling.
Coaching/Playcalling - Will be MUCH improved, better prepared. Players are buying into this staff.
Thus my outlook for 2004. May stumble early and then slowly get better.
Keep the Faith.