Rocky Landing

If a secret poll were conducted among the players on the roster, who do people think the team wold want starting next week? I have to believe that every player on the team wants to win games. And, personally, I'm tired of this idea that because we aren't going to the playoffs (again), that the rest of the season doesn't matter. You don't build a winning culture by only bothering to win the games that "matter." Regardless of how "done" our season is, I still want us to play every game to win. I believe that is what's best for the team in the long run. That, IMHO, is how you build a winning culture. If Kyle Orton is our best QB (he is), then he should start until he isn't.

Sober and realistic. I'm a little down on the common attitude on this site that unless we make the playoffs, the season is meaningless, and the notion that once we are eliminated from the playoffs, wins no longer matter. I watch the Bills play every week, and when I watch them play game 16, I still want to watch them win.

If a secret poll were conducted among the players on the roster, who do you think the team wold want starting next week? Assuming that all of our players actually want to win games for the rest of the season (and, perhaps even create a "winning culture" in Buffalo), how many do you suppose would say things like, "we should start building for next year," or "let's give ___(fill in the blank)___ a shot- we have nothing to lose?" Regardless of how "done" our season is, I still want us to play every game to win. I believe that is what's best for the team in the long run. That, IMHO, is how you build a winning culture. If Kyle Orton is our best QB (he is), then he should start until he isn't.

Yes, we should bring back EJ because I've totally forgotten how badly he sucked earlier in the season. And, he could really benefit from the experience of losing games. What a great morale boost it would be for the rest of the team. The defense could get some extra time on the field. The receivers could improve their proprioception by not knowing where the ball was going to land. From here on in, we should play to lose. (edit: this is, of course, sarcasm.)

I don't even remember which quarter it was, but there was a play where Smith slipped out of the pocket, and Darius sprinted after him, and Smith threw it away. I just couldn't believe how fast Darius moved, considering his size. This is one of the things I truly love about football: Every type of athlete is represented on the field. And, Darius is an exceptional example of his type of athlete.

I was just looking through some of the posts on this thread, and I just want to comment: Anyone who thinks that Orton lost us this game is either: a) trying to further some "agenda," b) didn't really watch the game, c) thinks that "passer rating" has some statistical relevance, d) doesn't understand football, or e) all, or some combination of the above.

A Buffalo Bill player named Williams, and Williams, and Williams, and Williams, all said to each other, "don't sweat it, my brother, mediocrity will still make us millions."

I have a hard time with this notion that sticking EJ into the end of a losing season, and losing more games than we would have otherwise is going to help him. I also have a hard time with the idea that such a strategy won't hurt the rest of the team.

Personally, I do believe that our playoff chances are as good as dead. But, even if they were completely dead, I still want us to play to win every week. That's how you create a winning culture. We don't do anyone on the team any favors by throwing EJ in so he can gain experience by losing games. Orton is the best QB we have. He should start until he isn't.

I'm just going to R-E-L-A-X now, because our playoff chances are O-V-E-R. They were S-L-I-M to begin with. This was not a coaching loss, IMO. Two very bad mistakes, and WAY too many dropped balls.

OK sorry. Mods should delete this thread.

So, in 2015, the Dolphins, Jets, and Bills all have to drag their asses across the Atlantic, and get hammered by jet lag, but the Patriots get to stay home. WTF?

It was a groin injury, not a concussion.

For my 50th birthday this year, the Universe gave me a staph infection on my scrotum. (That's right, my SCROTUM!!!) It was awful. It ended up taking about five weeks to get rid of, and the potent antibiotics I was on was like eating poison twice daily. It took about three months before I felt like myself again. Of course, what JK has is quite a bit more serious-- certainly life threatening, and the antibiotics are going to kick his ass. My thoughts are with him.

That was a great read.

That's how I remember it. But I'm irrationally biased, and often wrong about many, many things.

Here is my problem with the Quarterback Rating Differential (and this is going to sound picky, and semantic because it is): The Quarterback Rating Differential should not be called the Quarterback Rating Differential. Hear me out. The Quarterback Rating (QBR) is a formula used to rate a quarterback’s performance based on completion percentage, yards per pass attempt, touchdowns, and interceptions. It is statistically meaningless because it doesn’t take into consideration the playing level of anyone else on the field other than the quarterback, and the null hypothesis is easy to prove. The Quarterback Rating Differential (QBRD), on the other hand, is a measure of team performance based on those four metrics. In other words, everyone’s performance on the field, including the offense and defense of the team being measured, and the opponents of that team factor into the equation. That is why the above list doesn’t state Aaron Rodgers’ QBRD, but the Packers’ QBRD. In fact, there could be several quarterbacks playing during any game that would be included into QBRD. Really, this stat should be called Team Rating Differential. And, with that being said, if someone (or some group) with a firm understanding of statistics, and a lot of time on their hands would calculate, and include corresponding values for running plays, rushing touchdowns, and field goals, the statistic would be even more useful.

By playing him?

I agree.

Or it will be all about the "resiliency of the Jets," and "the genius of Rex Ryan," and "rising from the ashes," and other such nonsense. I wish there were a vomiting emoticon, but there isn't, so I'll go with this one: (close enough). But, either way, they still won't favor us. The media is almost as conditioned as we are to not have faith in the Bills.

Maybe this has been said already, but do we really need three kickers on the roster? Could we lose Colton Schmidt? Maybe the Lions?

The Chiefs are currently favored by 9.5 points over the Jets this week. I wonder what the spread would have been if this game were two days ago? Less, I'm sure, but they would still probably have been favored. I'm guessing that, baring any significant injuries, they will be slightly favored over us-- maybe one or two points-- which is fine by me. I've been conditioned to be uncomfortable whenever we are favored.

For a brief moment, I saw this and thought, "What? Trade Mario???"

"Search me... I don't have Hacket's balls..."

Here's what I've taken away from this game: Offense: I never thought I would find myself being an Orton fan, but I am now. He holds onto the ball too long, and he's woefully immobile. I'm not sure how well he can throw on the run, because I've barely seen him do it. But, he has raised the level of offense, spreads the ball around, and has turned some of our less heralded players into studs-- Hogan, Smith, Gragg. But, the O-line needs to be better, obviously. Definitely the weak link in the offense, imo. That being said, I think (and hope) that Orton's going to be here for a while. I think we really missed Fred. At least two less sacks if he were on the field. Brown, and Dixon were great, and I don't think too many of us miss Spiller. But, FJ plays a huge role on this team (as a check-down safety valve, among other things), that Dixon doesn't have yet. Defense: Schwarz is the real deal, and deserves a lot of credit for this win, imo. Geno, and the Jets' poor secondary essentially gave us a 14 point head start. When Vick came in, and marched down the field for a touchdown on his first drive, he looked competent, mobile, and accurate. When we went into halftime with a seven point lead, I honestly thought we were going to come back out and lose the game. But, our defense made adjustments, and soundly shut Vick down. Vick's mobility was a non-fctor in the second half. One play in the first half really bothered me, though. Orton got sacked by two defenders who hit him from either side without being touched. How the hell goes that happen???