Rocky Landing

I don’t know. Lines like (for the Patriots*): “Your 2018 record: 11-5. A Super Bowl victory that was about as entertaining as watching a feather-haired old man get a handjob,” I thought really rang true for pretty much all the fans of 31 other teams, and probably about 85% of Pats* fans (if they’re being honest with themselves— an unlikely scenario, I know…). But, what I always appreciated about that annual series, and DeadSpin in general, was that whatever they were writing, whether you agreed with them, or not, you could see that they were indeed paying attention. Lines like: “Peterman is no longer with this team and no longer free to nestle down and get all cuddly in the dog bed Sean McDermott provided for him,” really show me that Drew Magary, the author of that series, gets it. I can not even imagine trying to keep track of the number of national sports pundits— people who get paid a lot of money to cover NFL football for large market news outlets— whose articles I read about the Bills that rely on tired, old assumptions that those who have been paying attention know are no longer relevant. “Listen man, all you need to know about the Bills in 2018 is that they signed Vontae Davis to a free agent deal before the season and then the man realized, right in the middle of a Week 2 game, that he didn’t feel like playing football ever again. That’s what happens to people when they arrive in Buffalo. They land at the airport, survey the frozen and windswept barrens, hear “Name” playing on a loop at the local wing joint, and instinctively want to flee.” No, I don’t agree with it. But, I can’t read that and not laugh.

I will miss its annual "Why Your Team Sucks."

We've had worse!

Nsekhe was FP, and listed for rest. Not sure why he's down as "questionable."

More or less a forgone conclusion.

Sorry, Bub. That stat provides context.

In what universe? The Pats* currently have 189 net points for the season, the most in the NFL by a wide margin.

How very Billsy to look for a "streak" after one loss.

We were 6 point underdogs vs. the Jets in week one, and we beat them in their stadium. This was before they lost their best players to injury, and illness, and they were being discussed as playoff contenders. We followed that with a victory vs the Giants, also in their own stadium. Both of those victories felt like statements at the time.

Teams have been running all over Washington this season. If Frank Gore can manage an even 100 yards, he will pass Barry Sanders as third all-time rushing leader. That would be pretty cool.

If my math is correct (I think it is?), Gore now needs an even 100 yards to pass Barry Sanders as third all-time rushing leader.

People are really chomping at the bit to see Foster.

They could get him an Edible Arrangement?

Not Los Angeles. Maybe the wind will blow Beasley into the end zone?

It’s a better forecast than where I live in SoCal, where we are currently experiencing fire storms.

Never bring a thumb tack to a hatchet fight.

How, exactly, would "Bills organization" "put an end" to "Bills Mafia?"

Conventional wisdom holds that rain decreases passing efficiency in numerous ways, including limiting the WR's ability to cut, making it harder for a QB to maintain a tight spiral, and harder for receivers to grip the ball. Faster thrown balls are harder to catch when they're wet. Grass fields, especially will cause route runners to lose traction making it harder to adjust to the ball. There are stats that back up these concepts.

I suspect we will get a heavy dose of McKenzie, especially if Duke is limited.

Stop clutching your pearls, everyone! I'm sure this flaming-hatchet-throwing thing is being done in a perfectly responsible, and sober way, with appropriate safety precautions, and expert supervision.

I think the rain could play to our favor in this game, shortening the field a bit, and bringing our corners closer to the LOS, and also causing both teams to run more. This could be a big game for Motor. But also, we now have three WRs with exceptionally reliable hands in Smoke, Cole, and Duke (assuming Duke plays). This may not be the game where Allen dials in the long bombs, but some of Daboll's gadget plays could hit big.

"... for a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick." ...ouch. I guess the bag of footballs they were offering were too inflated?

Personally, I love the guy. But, I would look ridiculous in skinny jeans, so... no, not an extension of my personality. I just enjoy being a fan. (Regarding the bolded), I don't think you need to look too far...

Right?!

I think once he went down with the injury, that probably ended his targets for the day. Pretty amazing, though, that he still came back in to block, considering how much pain he was clearly in when it happened. The guy is tough.