Rocky Landing

I'm glad that Miami's best defensive play involves NE* looking extremely incompetent on offense.

A friend of mine (a 49ers fan) texted me the question: "What’s up with your boy Josh Allen running the ball and taking shots in garbage time?" My answer was: "That was Josh Allen, and new OC Ken Dorsey putting the league on notice."

Lighten up. It's hilarious.

"... looked like a baby that finally learned to potty..." Hey guys, I was actually at the game, and this is exactly what I was thinking when Josh stiff-armed Nick Scott onto his ass.

I've been to all three of the Bills games in LA, since football returned. After the Bills at Rams in '16, and the Bills at Chargers in '17, Bills players quipped that it felt like a home game, (even after Late Nate Peterman's record-breaking performance...) There's a ton of us transplanted WNYers in SoCal.

I was at the game also, and you are absolutely right. In their defense, they've only had a team since 2016. I will say that they were polite, and welcoming to the throngs of us Bills fans. True story-- as I mentioned in another post, there was that moment between plays that one of the sideline reporters on the Jumbotron announced that Stafford had just hit 50,000 career passing yards. That's a pretty huge accomplishment, IMO, and I started clapping, and cheering because I wanted to be a gracious guest in their house, and I respect Stafford, and I respect the game. Then I realized that I was the only one clapping in my entire section-- maybe the whole stadium. It was embarrassing. I would say that Bills fans made up about 15% of the crowd-- but we were almost as loud as the Rams fans on opposing third downs. It seemed like there were times that DJ What's-his-name was begging for crowd noise. Rams fans had all the intensity of a drive-in movie theater. I can't speak for the rest of the stadium, but we had quite a few Bills fans in our section cheering on the Bills D on the Rams third downs. Most of the Rams fans around us were more interested in their phones.

In my opinion, CB is the weakest position on the team. Elam will grow, and so will Benford. But, I can't wait for White to return.

55 yards through the air, on the run, off one foot. My God... that was something to see. Yes! Welcome back to Buffalo, JP!!!

My random thoughts from being at the game: Hole smokes, Diggs was on fire! I've come to love Singletary. His ball security is spot on. Had he been in the exact same situation as Moss's fumble, Motor would have held onto the ball. Before the game started, I thought the defensive secondary would be a concern, and I still think that. By the end of the first half, Stafford looked pretty uncomfortable. In the second half, he fell apart. Was it his tendonitis? Allen made some amazing throws. He also made some pretty dangerous ones. Crowder was solid. I don't put the int. on him at all. The turnovers sucked, but the defense responded really well. Why the hell did we have a designed QB run directly after losing Saffold to injury??? Did we think we'd catch them napping??? After one of the fair catches around the ten yard line, I said to the Bills fan next to me, "it'd be nice if we had someone to return those..." The Rams fans were very polite, and welcoming for the most part. But, they don't really give a damn about football. At one point, one of the sideline reporters announced that Stafford had just reached 50,000 yards passing, and I started clapping. ('cuz, you know... I'm in their house, I respect Stafford, etc.) And then I realized I was literally the only one in my entire section clapping. Maybe the entire stadium... Allen has some balls running against that D-line. Donald, Floyd, et al, are some violent M-Fers And he did so at times when it wasn't really necessary. It scared me. But, I get it. He put the whole league on notice doing that. This was my 12yo son Bruno's first NFL game, and what a great win! There were so many Bills fans there. There was some fun tailgating in the Pink Lot (different from the paid thing down the street). It was a hoot seeing Bruno high-fiving all these other strangers in the stands. Bills fans rule!

Sitting at SoFi with my son. This game started out about 15% Bills fan who were almost as loud as the Rams fans in opposing third downs. Now, of course, it’s about 90% Bills fans. Gonna be a fun walk back to the car!

Bills fans are about 15% of this crowd, but more than half the noise. Rams fans have the intensity of being at a movie theater.

It’s about 15% Bills fans here at SoFi. Maybe more.

At SoFi now. It’s 47 minutes to kickoff, and it’s as hot and muggy as Dion Dawkins’ balls.

Interesting analysis on Taron.

Things I Am Confident In, Things I Am Concerned With, Things I am Hopeful/Looking Forward To Offense: Things I am confident in: Josh Allen to Diggs, Davis, Lil Dirty, Knox, Motor-- I am confident in ALL these guys. It's going to be a show! Things I am concerned with: I feel like the only concern on offense if Ken Dorsey. I have a lot of faith in him, but this will be his first real game as a play caller. If he starts to spin out, and we see Allen with his hands over his ears, with a confused look on his face, wondering what Dorsey is trying to do-- chaos could ensue. Allen certainly has a handle o this offense, but if Dorsey isn't doing his job well, it will have an impact. (It's not a huge concern to me-- but it is a concern.) Things I am hopeful/looking forward to: An improved run game, especially with regards to the O-line. I felt all last season that the problems we had running the ball had little to do with Singletary, and far more to do with the O-line. And from that perspective, it really looked like the Bills were committed to improving the run during the offseason. I would love to see this come to fruition. Defense: Things I am confident in: The defensive line. No explanation necessary. Things I am concerned with: The secondary, and it isn't close. And not just the CB situation. We really don't know for sure how healed Poyer's elbow is. He does still have a brace on it. And, ya know... his elbows are a pretty big part of his game... But, the CB sitch is especially concerning to me. I hate to say it, but I really wish Levi Wallace had been wearing blue boxer shorts during that phone call with his agent. If he were still on the team, there is a fair chance that Dane Jackson wouldn't even be starting. And a rookie opposite him? With Stafford throwing to Cooper Krupp, and Robinson, and Higbee? Yes, I am concerned. Things I am hopeful/looking forward to: Really looking forward to seeing this defensive line perform. Many have said it (including Von Miller), but I'm looking forward to Groot having a breakout season. I hope it starts tonight! (I'll be at SoFi to see it happen!) GO BILLS!

You mean, "Allen's accuracy is spotty" is something you agree with? I thought this narrative had been put to rest.

I have an odd take on this... I think there is a perception among some that Allen doesn't throw deep very often, and I think this is a result of the NFL's camera coverage. They tend to get the closest shots they can accurately get, and that will sometimes obscure distance. And, Allen has so much velocity on his throws-- especially the deep throws-- that there is far less arc compared to many other QBs. There's a perfect example of this in the WC game vs. the Pats*. Allen, and Jones each had a throw to the exact same corner of the EZ, from the exact same hashmark on the field. Jones' throw has so much more arc on it, that it looks like a longer throw (and, indeed, hangs in the air almost an entire second longer). Allen's throw was a 40-yard rope. If you put the camera angle closer to the play, and track the ball through the air, the throw with the higher arc will seem like a longer throw. And that is my tinfoil hat analysis of the day...

I think part of that is that he will sometimes throw the ball away, but keep it low enough that maybe a receiver will be able to get a high-point on it. I believe that's what happened in the first TD in the WC game to Knox. The play had broken down, Allen was throwing it away, but knew Knox was right at the back of the EZ, and gave him the opportunity to make a play on it.

Jesus, what an arrogant post.

The annoying thing about "13 seconds" is that it has become a rallying point for Patriots* fans who don't want to admit their loss of dominance in the division. They think those two words win arguments.

As I mentioned upthread, Inglewood is not so far from the coast. It should be around 80˚ max by kickoff, and it is a dry heat. I haven't been to SoFi yet, but I assume there will be some temperature mitigation on the field, as well. I don't think the temperature is going to be a factor at all.

My boy will be wearing 17. I'll be wearing my old Kyle Williams #95, 'cuz my Fred Jackson #22 doesn't fit anymore.

Well, I'll be there with my son. So, at least two.

I've been to both of the Bills games played in Los Angeles since the return of football to LA, and the Bills players themselves have said it felt like a home game. There's a ton of Bills fans here, many of them transplanted WNYers like myself. I'll say also, LA fans are some of the most ambivalent in the league, IMO. Von will be cheered, and so will the rest of the Bills.

I'll be there with my 12yo son, and he's actually pretty psyched about it.