Rocky Landing

NFL+ costs $100 bucks a year, and you can watch full replays, or condensed replays of all the games starting directly after they're finished-- commercial free.

You literally can't find a fan forum for any team in the NFL that doesn't have posters complaining that the refs are working against them. Even Patriots* fans have these complaints. My conclusion: Officiating an NFL game is very messy, and difficult.

I’m actually pretty happy about this. I’m a lifelong Bills fan, born and raised in Rochester, but I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 32 years. I follow the Rams and Chiefs, and I’ve appreciated how they’ve been developing. But I’ve also always sorta like Baker Mayfield— and I really can’t even say why… maybe it’s because of some of the situations that he had to endure in Cleveland, that I felt he handled with aplomb. Be that as it may, IMO, Mayfield landed in the perfect situation in LA, with a soon-to-be retired Stafford, and an HC that I feel has the ability to set him up to succeed. If Mayfield is smart (and I think he is), even if Stafford commits to another season, and Baker is asked to take a pay cut, he’ll stay in LA, and wait his turn.

That was my assumption. What a weird situation. The Chiefs have been given such an advantage over the rest of the AFC. I also disagree with the entire premise of this thread. I think the number one priority coming out of this game (other than a win, of course) is to finish as healthy as possible. Chances are we will be facing an angry Bengals team next week, while the fully-rested Chiefs will play either the Jags, or the Chargers after what should be a hard-fought game.

Question for those who know: Since the Bills have the tie-breaker over the Chiefs, assuming the Bills stomp the Fish, would that then make the Bills the #1 seed?

It's really too early to be fretting over offseason resources. We have needs, sure. But we don't have that many needs. And the best asset we have in this regard is Brandon Beane, who has shown an incredible aptitude for moving around players, contracts, and numbers. Let's see where we stand after the playoffs are over. I have every bit of confidence in this regime to continue to build this team.

Hines has been the best P/KR we've had since Andre Roberts. That was evident in his first game. Though I will say, I'm not too concerned with whether he gets more touches on offense, as some on this thread are. Devon Hester was one of the best P/KRs (certainly the best punt returner) of all time. As a WR, he was... pretty good. I once avoided being hit by a dump truck by hiding on the sidewalk.

Part of it too is that now that the Pats* season is over, so are their practices, while the Bills will be practicing for as long as they're in the playoffs. I read an article several years back about how during the Patriots* two decades of dominance, just how many more practices they got over the other teams in the division. I wish I could remember how many that came out to, but it was a very large number. They add up, and that extended practice schedule really fosters continuity. And of course, there's Josh Allen. No more QB controversies, or QB "competitions" wasting time in TC. I read the Pats* forums as well, and some of the arguments for, and against Mac & Cheese Jones are so reminiscent of Bills' QBs past-- "... we need to see what we have in him..." "... the jury is still out..." "... we can win with him..." "...we need to give him more weapons..." "...the OC isn't play calling to his strengths..." "... he can excel in the proper system..." I'd feel sorry for them if it wasn't the Patriots*.

That opening kickoff TD skewed the time of possession in the Pats* favor, and put additional pressure on our defense. In addition, it delayed the offense from getting into rhythm. And then Hines had the audacity to do it again! Almost cost us the game. Bench Hines! (S/) GO BILLS!

Some random thoughts on the game: Singletary is an exceptional blocker. He owned Uche one on one. That’s pretty impressive. Cook’s best plays are when he just starts running. Patience is great, but when he hesitates so long, as he did several times, he loses opportunities. Was it me, or did they show a picture of Isaiah Hodgins with John Brown’s name on his spectacular diving TD catch? And what a catch! Kalil Shakir slowly ascending… After three seasons, I’m still amazed at the chemistry between Allen and Diggs. Knox is really a complete TE, and he was on point today. He’s not a Kelce, or Kittle, of course— but he isn’t asked to be. I wonder how he would respond if he were given the ball more? Is he good enough to be in the conversation with those guys? Some shade thrown at Saffold today. But, I feel like he’s exactly what we were told he was— pretty good in the ground game, not so good at pass pro. I’m all for “letting them play,” but man, did the refs miss some egregious holds, not to mention a facemask and a horse collar on a Josh Allen sack. Mac & Cheese avoided a sack because a Pats* defender got busy undressing Taron Johnson. No call. Second half, they started calling some of them. Defense looked like they were sleepwalking at times. Not a great day for the D-line. Holy crap Edmunds had a good game. So did Milano. At times they were almost carrying the defense. I think Tre White had his best game since his return. Still not the old Tre White, though. I think Elam is better than people are giving him credit for. Parker got the best of him on that TD, but it was good coverage by Elam, IMO. Mac & Cheese had an uncharacteristically strong showing. I hate saying that. There isn’t another player in the league I dislike more. If that prick ends up sticking with the Pats* (I hope he does) he’ll end up earning his own asterisk*. Hines rules! There was some speculation by some posters that we wouldn’t have won this game without Hines’ two spectacular return TDs. (simple math, right?) But this really isn’t true. Those returns also take away time of possession, delayed the offense from getting into rhythm, and put more pressure on the defense. We still would have won this game, because we were the better team. But man, those returns were great to watch! GO BILLS!!! EDIT: Regarding the Hodgins <> Brown picture swap-- I just saw that tweet posted above... LOL!

So, I guess they're calling holds now...

Bills D has to wake up.

Trying to undress Taron, there.

Busted play on the sack, but Singletary with some nice blocks on #55 Uche.

BBFS

Or the Dolphins...

This game is so over...

Why do I feel like this game is going to make me nauseous?

I agree. Really, there just isn't a resolution that doesn't hurt some team. It suck that both the Bills and the Bengals suffered-- but it was our game that began the issue. I hate that KC gets handed the #1 seed. It would have been nice to be able to either replay, or resume the game next week, but I don't see how that could happen without either compressing the schedule for the Bills, and Bengals (which would likely be a worse outcome for both teams), or postponing the playoffs, which would be unfair to at least the NFC #1 seed, who wouldn't get to play a game for three weeks.

As well as the Ravens.

I’m very interested in seeing a consensus on how Bills fans feel about the way this situation is playing out, and how the league has handled it. Personally, I’m absolutely fine with the way the NFL, coaches, players, officials, and Goodell has handled this situation, and I am fine with the decision. It probably sucks the most for the Bengals, and it sucks that it basically hands the Chiefs the #1 seed (unless the Raiders pull off a miracle), but rescheduling the Bills v. Bengals game just seemed to untenable. I think the only way to safely reschedule the game would have been to reschedule the playoffs for both conferences. IMO, that would negate the advantage of the first round bye, and even hinder a #1 seed that would go three weeks without playing a game. I think the solution they have come out with is about as fair as it could be. Thoughts?

Just when you thought the season couldn't get any crazier...

Siran Neal is probably our best option at NCB after Taron. I believe that's who went in after Taron went out.

Go Raiders...

Well, it's about time...