Dan

To be fair... after the Jets game we were 1 and 0. ?

And unless I'm mistaken, they threw a flag on Allen for intentional grounding! That was declined for the personal foul penalty against Ford. That play they couldn't have gotten more wrong! But, I guess they made up for it with the FG call. It's today's NFL... The refs are abysmal and unless you're a highly favored and big market team, you HAVE to be able to overcome the bias and bad calls against you.

I saw the replay... It was ticky tack to say the least. We definitely got lucky! Giant dude supposedly slapped the center's head, who in FG situations is considered a defenseless palyer. He did touch him, but it wasn't that bad at all. But, they called a few bad ones against us as well, so ya know... refs suck.

Agreed... The way the last couple series had gone, I have zero problems with taking a knee and going into the half with a 2 score lead and the ball to start the 3rd quarter. If you've got better field position, a one score lead, more time on the clock, i.e. if the entire scenario is different; then go for points. But, yesterday, I think getting out of the half without a major F-up was a good call. Now, the play calling and approach to the 3rd quarter definitely is a different story. They let the Giants get back in the game. That is when they should have gone for the throat. McD is a good coach, but too often he gets conservative and relies on his defense to shut a team down. Problem is, few teams and especially the good teams, are rarely shut down. Hopefully he learns that lesson before week 4.

Has anyone else here talked about that drive? It was absolutely killer! The G-men made an amazingly good play to pin us deep, with thoughts of last week's safety in all our heads, and the Bills just took the game over. It was impressive and as you said shut the door on the Giants hopes.

Thank you. And unless I'm mistaken Peyton is the only QB to win as a starter for 2 different teams.

You can't put a guy that has had 1 stellar season, as someone that has dominated ...in this century. It's ridiculously short sighted and the very definition of putting the cart before the horse.

A point to consider when comparing the Bills' offense efficiency with that of the cheaters ...heck for any team vs the cheaters ... BB and TB have been there running that same offense for more than a decade! They have a familiarity and level of consistency that is rarely ever seen in professional sports (along with the cheating). The Bills are in Year 2 of installing this offense. And in many ways, due to all the new players, you could call it Year 1 of installing the offense. It will take years to even approach the cheaters level of consistency.

I agree.. It looked like Josh audibled into a lot of those passes. And it was working... Until the fumble. My issue with the first half game plan, was they needed to push the ball down field more. It was a lot of short field play that the Jets were catching on to.

Its been said by others... And by you here. But it appears we found a franchise QB. Despite the fluke turnovers, he persevered. Never looked lost. Amd just kept making the plays that needed to be made. He made every throw.. Long and short, hit receivers in stride, led the team when they needed it most. Damn fine way to start the season!!

This is the problem with week 1 ...limited training camp contact practices combined with limited playing time for starters in the the preseason. And the result is very average week 1 football with teams looking out of sync.

There is no such thing as a ..must win.. game in week 1. There's just too many more games still to be played and you don't have to go undefeated in your division to make the playoffs. However, it would be a really nice ay to start the season, beat a divisional opponent, get an AFC win, and start some confidence brewing ..all in one shot. So, it will be a great way to start the season but in no way does it define the season.. Or even guarantee a 3-1 or 4-0 start with a playoff spot practically locked up before the bye.

Perhaps.

Only surprise is ...he was cut. Not traded. I find it hard to believe they couldn't get anyrtfor him? Only thing that makes sense.. is they figured the benefit of cutting him and allowing him to choose his next team was worth more in player goodwill than a late around pick. I hope the move works out. For our Bills and McCoy. He was a a lot of fun to watch!

Confused the heck out of me... but then figured it out. As a few others suggested, seemed a little too many. Maybe a few less more general would be better?

For me.... It's not so much that they look potent; but more so, they look competent. I've said for several years now... far too many it seems... that all I want is to see the Bills field an actual professional football team each week. I haven't even cared about winning so much, just don't show complete ineptitude. It seems, watching the end of last season, and even more so this preseason, that the Bills are finally turning into a competitive, professional, prepared football team. My biggest concern, quite honestly, is what did McD and company do in those blow out losses last year? Can they scheme better as a coaching staff? But, there is no doubt this team is transforming right before our eyes into a true contending NFL team. Will it all come together this year or not... We'll all see. But it seems it is definitely happening. And what is most encouraging... Beane and McD appear to be building a perrenial contender, not a flashy team with high priced free agents and me first players. Its a good time to be a Bills fan!

I agree... Thats the dilemma. Sit the starters and no injuries... But on young teams, especially, you need to build cohesion and timing. I think you need to be smart with the playing time and expectations. But I'm also glad to see that most of our key starters are getting a lot of playing time together in camp and the preseason games. Sure it's an injury risk. But, its the best way to ensure the team is ready to go for week 1. And when you start week 1 on the road with a divisional opponent, I think you need to ready for that game and not still figuring out your starting line or how your WR breaks a route off, etc.

Count me in that lot. Being born and raised outside of Buffalo, by transplanted parents, I've never made it to a Bills game in Buffalo. One day.. I will. I've seen them play once each in Miami, Nashville, and HOF game in Canton. I have tickets to see them again this fall in Nashville (with my folks). So... It will be 4 games this year.

Agreed. Without TBD... I'd spend my life largely devoid of any indepth Bills discussion. Even though I don't post much ..I read it all. Thanks and a toast go out to Scott and all the moderators and contributors that make this plabe thrive.

Definitely too young.... It seems like only a year or two ago she was posting here. May she rest in peace.

We have all been waiting 20 years for a guy like this in Buffalo. It genuinely feels like we have a franchise QB in every way. He may still burn out or whatever, but at this point he is showing every skill and intangible we've been hoping for. The sky is the limit (assuming they can put some talent around him).

Ok... No you did no post perfect. But you certainly said it needed to be better, implying that the pass was the issue for the incompletion. I am not making excuses. I'm merely pointing out that every QB makes throws that require the receiver to locate and adjust to the ball. And for ..any.. QB to complete the play (when its a pass play), they need a receiver to do their part and actually catch it. It was a good effort by Allen. I think we all agree on that. But my contention is that pass was not a wonded duck. It traveled nearly 60 yards and was very much catchable by only one player on the entire field. He often bails a bit early on the pocket. I completely agree. It's one of the big things he needs to work on. I would hope that with experience and a better O line we'll see him improve as a pocket passer. The final thought is the primary point. #85 needed to ..had to.. make a play for him. Due to Allen's running around, perhaps exhaustion from running nearly a half mile throughout the game, the pass was not perfect. It could have been better. But.. If 85 doesn't trip over his own feet, with no one around him, concentrate as the ball hits his hands; its a catch a professional 1st string NFL player should make. That pass was entirely catchable. To place any of the blame on Allen is to be disingenuous to that simple fact.

The point you, and quit a few posters, seem to miss is that no QB makes perfect throws every time. It just doesn't happen. The key on that play was he had protection break down, ran for his life, and eventually saw #85 wide open. The pass was there, the guy just has to catch it. It was't perfect; it wasn't his best throw; but the pass was there, at the goal line, for the #1 TE to catch uncontested. And as we've seen countless times this season... There are several players that just can't catch out there. It's ridiculously bad the effort that was bad to catch that pass.

Agreed. Allen did everything you wanna see a QB do. And I don't really fault Zay on that catch. It was a tough one and he did his best there. No QB throws every pass with perfect placement and timing. But good teams have receivers that make an effort and catch some of those passes. Its the lackadaisical effort by #13 and 85, week in and week out that's loosing games for this team.

He got the ball back with 2:33 left in the game. No time outs, down by 4. Needed to got 90 yards for the win. He got us within 1 dropped pass of the win. That... Is impressive. Its been quite some time since we seen a QB carry the team in the final 2 minutes like that. Color me impressed and looking forward to seeing him grow and lead our team for decades to come.