Rocky Landing

I think this game is going to be much closer than people expect, unless the Raiders are playing for first overall draft pick. And I don't think they are going to. I think they're going to stick with Carr at QB, and not go for Mariota. One win will not make even close enough of a difference in their draft options to make easing off a home game worth it. Especially considering the drama surrounding their stadium, and the tenuous nature of staying in Oakland. The Raiders are going to show up on Sunday to win one at home. Unfortunately, that's a big "if."

I would to add O-line to this. In fact, I think Orton (who's biggest downside is his lack of mobility, IMO) would be a much more effective QB with a stable pocket.

This one comes off as just whiney. There are so many varying opinions on these boards that I don't believe the word "dissent" can really apply. And, at what point are "ignorant fans keeping others from posting?" You've started an entire thread based on what I presume to be what you consider "dissent." And you're still here.

God, I hate it when we're favored...

Jeez, cut it out! Schwarz is excelling at DC, so lets promote him to HC, where in the past, he hasn't excelled. Cut Orton, and EJ, and replace them with... er... somebody else ? Who exactly??? Our team has progressed to 8-6, and next week we play the miserable Raiders. We are likely looking at a 9-7 season, which would be our best since '04- a record that has not been better since '99. But, CUT MARRONE. TIME TO REBUILD!!! What are you smoking??? (I wish there were a bong-smoking emoticon)

I'm going to completely disagree with this. We have an average QB, and the O-line looked utterly horrible. I just don't know how better QB play is going to elevate these guys. Maybe if we had a QB who was the slightest bit mobile, and could run away when the pocket falls apart after 2.2 seconds, we wouldn't notice just how bad they played today, but probably not. Our O-line is a mess!

He was terrible this game, that's for sure.

Really exciting game to watch. Our D is amazing. Schwarz, IMO, is a definite upgrade over Pettine. But, wow, our O-line is terrible! Glenn had a terrible game! TERRIBLE!

I would think this would be a harder match up than Denver- even on home turf. We severely limited Manning's passing game. I don't imagine that sort of success agains Rogers. Also, I think the playoff implications for GB are more profound than for the Bills. GB is still playing for their division, and also home field advantage. GB has one of the best home field advantages in the league, IMO, and I think in their eyes home field advantage puts them in the Super Bowl.

How wild would it be to have Jim Harbough as our OC, and Jim Schwarz as our DC?

Morrone's ability- or lack thereof- notwithstanding, passing off "Marrone = Jauron," as some sort of coherent analysis is silly. Using that as the reason that Manuel has underperformed is even sillier.

Watching Orton try to scramble is like watching Chandler trying to run after a catch.

This makes as much sense as anything I've read on this thread thus far. Although, in the words of Clint Eastwood, "'deserve's' got nothin' to do with it." I highly doubt that. But, perhaps a better question would be: who do you think the wide receiver corp would prefer? If you still think it would be a slight margin for EJ, then I'm going to suggest you have a memory deficiency.

I'm not surprised that you didn't answer the question.

If we asked the players, themselves, who do people think they would want starting against the Packers?

I am most certainly not "rooting for Manuel to fail." I'm not declaring him a bust. Nor do I have any illusions of Orton being any sort of long term answer. I just have a memory. If there was some reason I should believe that Manuel is, right now, a better option at QB, I would change my mind. So far, at least on this thread, what I have read is a lot of selective criticism of Orton, paired with selective excuses for Manuel. That you have "convinced" yourself that people trying to look at the situation objectively, and with perspective (but just happen to disagree with you) must resemble your petty insult will do little to sway me. In fact, your petty insult is preposterous. I have not read one comment, in any thread-- not one-- in which someone could be described as idolizing Kyle Orton. I haven't even read anyone making excuses for him. Conversely, to read the people who, like yourself, bash him incessantly, one might think that Watkins had not fumbled the ball (or dropped numerous passes in the last few games, for that matter), that a sixty yard interception return had not been erased by a dumb penalty, that our O-line had been the slightest bit of help to our running backs, or that we had not been suffering from poor play calling.

Has it really been so long since EJ was on the field that so many people have forgotten how bad he was? When Orton took the field in week 5, having not played a single snap, and having only been with the team for five weeks, it was an instant, and obvious improvement. And, he won't really that good. Where were the EJ fans then? Rather quiet, as I recall. The Orton we have now is the same Orton we had then, and no one was particularly excited by it, but it was clear that he gave us a better chance for the season, and he has. And now the EJ fanatics, with some serious memory issues, are trying to sell EJ with a clean jersey. I almost hope they do play EJ against the Packers-- a game we have little chance of winning-- just so we won't have to hear from the EJ fanatics for the rest of the season.

Perhaps watching EJ get destroyed by the Packers would refresh your memory, but I highly doubt Morrone is going to go there.

Did I miss something? Improving at what? Holding a clipboard? What have you seen that would lead you to believe that EJ has improved as a quarterback? Lots of people saw it.

Regarding your point #1, I was wondering if it wasn't related to the altitude. Playing at over 5,000 when you live at around 600 feet above sea level will really take it out of you. I have always said that Denver has the best home field advantage in the league for this reason. No one who doesn't reside in Denver can breath in the second half. Regarding point #2, I think you are reading too much into it. Whether or not you consider him a competent coach, I think it is unfair, and inaccurate to question his dedication. I had some random thoughts, as well: Dareus chased down a running back (I forget which one) early in the third quarter after he had broken through the LOS. I had to rewind it to verify what I had actually seen. How does somebody that big run that fast??? I wasn't sure if Orton was capable of throwing on the run, as he almost never does. When he is running outside the pocket, he will usually stop, set his feet, and then throw. After today's game, it is confirmed that Orton can not throw on the run. This was a team loss. Or, rather, an offensive team loss. It should not, as many posters have remarked on other threads, be blamed merely on Orton. Orton had his share of mistakes, but several other players made some bad mistakes as well. Watkins' fumble, and some very unfortunate penalties, including the one that erased a 60 yard interception return, were deadly.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not an EJ hater, and I know there are plenty on this board. But, I don't think we are going to find a viable FA QB to replace Orton, I don't believe anyone at OBD has enough faith in EJ to start him, and I don't believe that OBD is going to sit on our QB situation as is. They have to be seen as moving forward on the position. The only way I see them holding onto EJ, is if they find another vet in FA that will replace Orton, and Manuel remains as backup. Otherwise, we draft a different prospect (and I have no idea who that would be), or we upgrade the back up position in FA, and wait until 2016 to draft a rookie. And, again, this is just my prediction.

My prediction for next season: Marrone, and Orton will stay. Hackett, and Manuel will be gone.

I beg to differ. If, the Bills want to continue to at least try to win their last three games, start Orton. If, they are looking to develop the likely starter for next season, that would likely be Orton. If, they still have some hope that EJ will develop into something, setting him up for failure in at least two out of the three last games isn't going to do much for him. Start EJ, why? I need some explanation. It's a very real possibility. But, if I had to bet on who will be gone next season, I would bet they will cut EJ. They went "all in" (remember that phrase?) on EJ, and lost. But, then what happens? Who do we get in the draft? Who do we get in FA?

Fred's value to this team is profound. Yeah, he's getting old. I wonder if this is his last season. But, the plays he makes, the safety valve he provides for every QB he has played for, his leadership, his heart-- these things are going to be hard to replace.

I'm having a hard time figuring out where someone's head would be at to "hate all Mannings."