KikO M G

Flynn and Tuel will address the media. E.J. and Thad won't. Not looking good... Silver lining is Manuel took 2nd team reps along with Dixon. Freddie and Stevie also not practicing...

Tuel and Flynn taking first team reps, per Chris Brown...

4 of 7 CBS "experts" and 2 of 6 sbnation "experts" have picked the Bills to win this week. 3 of 12 bleacher report experts also pick the Bills. So for a team that is 3-5 going up against a team that is 8-0, I think it says something that 36% of online "experts" are picking the Bills. Remember, NO ONE from these sites picked then to beat Baltimore and only 2 had them beating MIA.

The Chiefs haven't given up more than 17 points all year. With how much Thad struggled against NO, it would be a stretch to assume the Bills will be the first team to exceed that total. That being said, they can't keep up this pace all year, nor can they keep up the undefeated season. The question is whether this is the game the Chiefs will come back down to earth a bit. So much is riding on this game for the Bills. If they win, not only are they one of the main national stories on Monday, but they will have also put themselves in a solid position for a playoff push with several "easier" games coming up. If they lose, same old Bills, 3-6, looking like even 8-8 is out of reach. Meanwhile, it's almost an acceptable loss for the Chiefs. They've already played much better than anyone thought and have basically locked up a playoff spot after being the worst team in the league last year. The Bills are at home and the Ralph will be super amped up for this game. That's why I think the intangibles favor the Bills and they will buck the statistical trends which have been so favorable to the Chiefs so far this season. It is the appropriate game for them to come back down to earth. Bills win 20-16.

It was Thad's first road game...since the previous Sunday...

If the Bills go 4-4 the rest of the way, they will have lost 2 very winnable games while also losing both of the difficult games they have left. I guess plausible but also would be a big disappointment.

Bleacher Report (Matt Miller i believe) has Bills dropping from 20 to 22 but says the team is a lot better a lot more quickly than anyone thought.

Surprised to see the line for Sunday at Bills +3.5. And already read that one writer for Bleacher Report is picking the Bills to win straight up.

Troll post of the year.

The more he plays the more mistakes he is going to make? Shouldn't it be the opposite?

Why did we sign Flynn then? To let a practice squad QB give up 2 fumbles and an interception while Flynn sits on the sidelines? I hope Thad bounces back Sunday. Like I said, I really do like him. But I don't understand why you sign Flynn unless you consider him a viable option if the Thad Lewis experiment fizzles.

I like Thad Lewis. He had a very good first game against the Bengals in which he had a rushing TD and two passing TDs to force OT against a very good team. But I feel he has regressed in each of the last two games. Yesterday was his worst game of the 3. He did not protect the football and his passes were much more inaccurate than they had been in his first two games. The Chiefs are a great defense, but I don't think you can allow Lewis to play a third straight poor offensive game without considering giving Flynn a start in week 10. The Bills are a good enough team to stay above water with Manuel out, but the QB play needs to be more like what we saw in the Bengals game and less like what we saw against the Saints for them to have a chance to do that. Chiefs have not given up more than 17 points all year. Bills have not scored less than 17 points all year. Something has to give on Sunday, and if it's the Bills offense, I would be in favor of giving Flynn a look in week 9.

Disagree. After KC the Bills' opponents have a combined record of 17-35. They could lose to KC and still go 6-1 against those teams. Though I agree the math and the momentum is much better with an upset win against the Chiefs. Honestly if the Bills can't get 8-8 with the soft schedule they have the rest of the way, then I am completely wrong about them being better than the past few years and they might as well start another rebuild next season. But I fully expect 8-8 with what I've seen from them so far this year. If you watch the games, there is no way you can't see this team is way better than the past two 6-10 teams.

The Bills have never been outplayed like the Jets have been in a couple games this year.

The Bills have a backup QB too. But a win vs. Chiefs is not impossible.

Six of the Bills' last eight games are easier than ANY game they've had so far. Jags, Bucs, Falcons, Steelers are all worse than any of the teams they've already played. Jets and Fins will be home games which will be probable wins. They beat either the Chiefs or the Pats, neither of which are impossible, and they're 10-6. No prob.

Because you are a true fan. Always believe. Even if logic says no...

If the Bills win with a practice squad QB and with their 1st round RB inactive, on the road against one of the best NFC teams, then there is absolutely no waiting for the new era to dawn. It will have emphatically and enthusiastically arrived.

Graham is active. Spiller is not.

Hopefully effectiveness will be limited...

I don't think we need this game but it sure would be nice! I am just hoping they don't get blown out.

Mort says people aren't "optimistic" that he will even be active, but he is still a game time decision.

Thanks for the info and analysis. I would disagree that the key for the Bills is Thad though. Thad needs to avoid turnovers for sure. But even on his best day he cannot compete with Drew Brees. My key would be Mario Williams and the pass rush. They do have an advantage here, especially with OT Zach Strief questionable with an ankle injury for NO. If they can hit Brees multiple times and force some turnovers, I can see a way the Bills can win. The Bills lead the NFL with 12 interceptions. If the Bills are going to be 4-4 by tonight, I bet they will also pad their number of interceptions to 14 or 15.

Am I the only one who thinks Strief is a bigger key than Graham for the Bills? If Strief doesn't play or his effectiveness is limited by injury, Mario could literally take Brees's head off. If the Bills pull off a stunner tomorrow, it is a good bet that it will involve Brees getting pummeled.

Agree that the one set of downs in OT was bad. There will always be examples of when different or more creative play calling would be preferred. But overall the play calling has been appropriate for a young team and has attempted to favor the offense's strengths. It has also been MUCH more creative than last year, especially in the last 3 or 4 games. But if the play calling was that bad overall there is no way they are in every game late the way they have been. Lots of brilliant calls to convert on 3rd down and get the team back into games they seemed out of. I'm happy with the progress of Hackett so far.