KikO M G

With 12. If they are going to have any chance to win tomorrow, they will have to add at least 2 or 3 more to their league lead.

You absolutely KNEW they were going to run the ball? That's like saying you absolutely knew a coin flip would land on tails, or you knew your wife was going to have a girl. It's 50/50. Based on the situation, the odds are much better than that of being able to know whether it's a run play or pass play. That is a very simplistic analysis of an NFL offense. The question is whether when everything is put together, does the coaching staff put the team in a position to win. So far the Bills are 3-4 and they've been competitive in every game against a much more difficult first half schedule than their second half. The defense has been better than the offense, yes, and both units have room to grow. But to say Hackett is terrible because you guessed right on a coin flip is not persuasive, in my opinion.

Probably the most objective and rational predictions. I hope you're wrong, but it's hard to argue that you will be.

Agree with Widerightradio. Not because a Bills' writer should be biased, but because he should know this team better and in a deeper manner that goes beyond the national media's talking points. He picked the Bills to lose by 15 points at home to CIN even after they had been tied or ahead in the 4th quarter of the first 5 games and had scored over 20 points in all of them. Those two streaks are still alive through 7 games BTW.

Drew Brees and Sean Payton were in diapers.

Like I said, I still expect Saints to win. Just wanted to question the mythology a bit.

Those would be the counter-arguments, yes. Lol. Here is my rebuttal: Ravens and Panthers are both better than any team the Saints have beaten.

Yes I am doing that thing that many people hate. I am denigrating our opponent in the runup to Sunday. But hear me out. Here are who the Saints have beaten so far this season: Falcons at home Bucs on the road Cardinals at home Dolphins at home Bears on the road They have beaten three 3-win teams (all at home), one 2-win team and one winless team. Combined wins of opponent - 11. The Bills, meanwhile, have beaten two 3-win teams (one home and one road) and one 4-win team at home. Combined wins of opponent - 10. One team is 5-1 and the other is 3-4, but I think strength of schedule early has a lot to do with that. I still am not expecting the Bills to win, but I have no reason to believe it won't be another closely fought game and would not be as shocked as most of the world if the Bills win.

I was with you up until the last sentence. I believe in this team and feel they are quite a bit better than most give them credit for. However, facing the Saints in NO is one of the hardest matchups in the NFL. The Bills' second half schedule is much easier and I hope they will be able to take advantage of it after building up some toughness over the first half of the season. That being said, the only other game I picked the Bills to lose this season was the Ravens game and we know how that turned out....go Bills!

As expected, the Bills pull off the upset last Sunday and all the national write ups are about how disappointing Miami was and how poorly they played. Little mention of the Bills who now have three wins over teams that are hardly pushovers. If the Bills win this Sunday, will the narrative change? Or will it all be about how the Saints are coming back down to earth after a hot start and perhaps they are closer to last year's 7-9 team than people thought?

Every "expert" will pick the Saints to win. Just like every expert picked the Ravens to beat the Bills, and the Dolphins to beat the Bills. We are the permanent underdog, but this year the experts have been wrong more often than not with this team.

If Thad out-guns Drew Brees in New Orleans next week, then let's all revisit this question. If not, I agree he's playing for the chance to be the permanent backup when EJ comes back.

I can counter it. The Bills won. They've been tied or ahead in the 4th quarter of ALL seven games. Yet now you are finding fault with the WAY they are scoring. Amazing.

Can't believe how many naysayers fill the game thread with negative comments about how the Bills have no chance, the coaching is terrible, time to start looking at next year, etc. Really? The Bills never trailed by more than 4 points the entire game, and you guys were that negative? Have a little faith! I know the history of this team gives us plenty of reasons to be pessimistic, but you might find you enjoy the games a bit more if you actually believe in your team! It's not like it took a miraculous comeback to win this one. They were in it the whole game. Yet reading the game thread it looks like they were down by 20 or something. Very sad.

Conpletely disagree about Marrone. There is a reason why this team has been tied or ahead in the 4th quarter of every game this season. The coaching staff has this team ready to play competitively every week.

Boom.

I would take the Bills plus 8.5 points all day. Can't believe that spread. Go Bills!

Sounds like their analysis told them the matchups favor the Bills but they ultimately gave the advantage to the Fins in the ever-scientific "intangibles" because they are a Miami paper.

The Bills are a better, more competitive, more well-rounded team. When the season over I anticipate that the teams will be 1-1 head to head and the Bills will have a better overall record. It's too early in the season to determine how good you are by looking only at the record. Unless you also think the Chiefs are better than the Seahawks.

I have made it clear in the past that I would be happy with an 8-8 season, which the Bills can attain even if they lose on Sunday. So from a rebuilding standpoint, it is not a must win (is there any such thing as a must win from a rebuilding standpoint?). As fans, we can all have our expectations, but I sure hope the players are going out there expecting to make the playoffs, and to preserve any shot of that, they really have to win Sunday. I've been pleasantly surprised by the competitiveness of this team. I expected to see more inconsistency, with several losses where the team appeared far overmatched. Those losses may still happen at some point, but so far this season, the Bills have been in every game up until the last drive. They have actually been relatively consistent. They've scored somewhere in the 20's every game. The run has been effective. The QB play has been unpolished but has managed the offense relatively well, with many signs of potential for greater success in the future (Manuel is 22, Lewis is 25). Unfortunately the defense has also been fairly consistent. They've done well with turnovers and sacks, but they continue to get burned by big plays and the inability to shut the door on 3rd down. So while they've scored in the 20s every game, they've also given up 26 points per game. Hence a 2-4 record with 6 very closely played games. Basically what I am saying is that this team might not be "a few years away" from being a playoff team. They might. But they might not. They might be where they need to be this year. The pieces, to me, appear to be in place now, and it's just a matter of tightening up a few aspects of their game to get over the hump. I wasn't expecting to feel this way after 6 games this season, but here we are. But if they are going to get over that hump this season - which they very well might not - it has to start Sunday. A playoff team does not start 2-5 with 3 straight road losses and 3 straight losses in their division. Especially with two very tough games coming up after Sunday (Saints and Chiefs), and then a much easier schedule for the rest of the season to follow, this Sunday is a key game for the Bills to define their season. The talent is there. The will is there. The coaching staff has had this team prepared to play every week and I expect nothing different on Sunday. The question is whether they will make that leap and close out what is most likely going to be another close game. I don't know. But if they lose Sunday the team is going to definitively take on the feel of a rebuilding team. The intensity level could diminish, as could the quality of play. I hope that doesn't happen, but I can see how it could. Hopefully they pull this one out in Miami and continue to play tough and competitively for the rest of the season. Regardless of how it turns out, I am looking forward to the next few years with this group.

Not quite a must win But starting out two and five Would be very sad

I have a way for the Bills to ensure that no more game winning field goals are kicked against them. Lead by at least 4 points when time is about to expire. Foolproof!

It's up to the team not to underestimate opponents. As a fan, believing my team is going to win on a Sunday keeps me coming back for more despite years of many more losses than wins. Part of that optimism is probably over selling the Bills and part of it is also probably under selling their opponent. I think the Bills and the Dolphins are both solid 7-9 win teams and expect the Bills to come out on top this week because I believe they have a playoff push in them and will not lose 3 in a row. Dolphins are also trying to avoid a 3 game losing streak. I could very well be wrong. But this is what I do each week to keep myself engaged in this awful franchise. Keep hoping the upswing is right around the bend....

Dolphins have given up 23 points a game. Bills have given up 26 a game.