Flip Johnson

Hard to overstate how absurd that statement is. On review, Gragg did a nice job posting up his defender on the last TD of the game. He may be a useful player going forward, but like Chandler, is not the high end tight end we really need.

I didn't see anything that makes me think he is going to be a big difference-maker. Nor did he look fast - I assume that it was his 4.5 speed that got him drafted. That being said, no one looked fast on that turf. What a joke that place is.

I wanted this game to have playoff implications for the Bills. It doesn't, but this is a very interesting game in terms of where the Bills are headed for a couple reasons. 1) Marrone admitted yesterday that the offensive unit is frustrated with the inconsistency at QB. E.J. is facing a team that rattled him in week 3 and is coming off a week where he let his teammates down. This is a big opportunity for him to generate some belief among his teammates against a very challenging defense. 2) This is a big test for Hackett. He may be missing Woods and SJ. Our WRs had very little separation against Pittsburgh. Yes, E.J. is going to need to throw some people open, but Hackett is going to have to figure out how to get the passing game going without a full offensive complement. Huge test for both guys and an opportunity for them to make the fan base feel a lot better about where this team is headed. Or give reinforcement to the skeptics.

We have to hope that game was an anomaly. Five games in a row that on paper fall into the 'maybe' or 'W' category.

I'm very impressed by the Lawson signing and the Hughes trade. In Lawson they found a player that the rest of the league didn't put a high price tag on and he is playing an essential role in this defense. With Hughes they found an impact pass rusher and gave away a non-contributor. That tells me that Pettine knows the types of players he needs and that Whaley has the ability to execute. Very positive sign.

Quick hips. Unbelievable.

The Bills have played the second hardest schedule to date, and will play the NFL's easiest schedule the rest of the way, per Grantland's Bill Barnwell. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9924624/bill-barnwell-week-9 9-7 is very realistic and with a healthy EJ may not even require the team to raise their level of play.

Marrone will make this a winning team, but it won't be because of the tough talk in the press conference. It will be when he starts getting quality play at the QB position. They had a winning game plan yesterday. It is not Marrone's fault that we're starting a 4th string QB. Forget the misread on the goal line. Tuel's first pick was one of the most grotesque throws you will ever see in an NFL game. They gave him a favorable opportunity and the man was not hit ONCE. You just can't hide a player like that forever.

Exactly what I thought of yesterday. Holmes took a vicious hit trying to dive over the top and the play completely changed the game.

I would be willing to look past the brutal performance at Cleveland if the problem was lack of preparation. The biggest problem that I saw was lack of arm talent. When Tuel went sideline he appeared to be throwing a cannonball.

This. Thad will probably drag himself out there. If he can limit the turnovers like he did against Cinci and Miami, then the Bills can win this game.

I think we all agree that the Bills are on track to be better in 2014. The optimists (& I am one of them) are going to contend that this team can go on a run in the second half and might be in the playoff hunt. But regardless, we are looking forward to 2014. In that light, there are a couple positives about the injury. Not least is the emergence of Thad Lewis as a viable long-term backup. I believe that Doug Whaley would aspire to build a Steeler-like franchise with characteristics that I've listed below. I think Thad fits into that plan. Continuity in the organization A physical defense A strong running game A big, mobile quarterback with vertical passing ability Thad has some Charlie Batch in him. I think he could be a solid, long term #2.

Run D will definitely improve simply because of the quality of opponents coming down the stretch - teams like Atlanta, Tampa, and Jacksonville just don't run the ball well.

Everyone wants to blame coaching. Replacing a coach midseason would suggest that the problems have been schematic. I don't think that this is necessarily true. The final return in the Bengals game happened because of a lack of execution by the players. That was a good punt and the players were in position to make the tackle. Marrone made it clear in his presser after the Dolphins game that Carpenter mishit the kickoff. That ball should have been out the back of the end zone.

The best way to hang with this team would be to put up 150-175 yards of rushing and stay even in the time of possession battle. If you look at the Saints three home games (23-17 over ATL, 31-7 over AZ, 38-17 over MIA) their opponents have been taken out of the running game. Those teams had 24, 24, and 26 minutes of possession respectively. Correspondently, in New England's miracle win at Foxboro, the Pats hung in that game because they ran for 141 on the ground and established Ridley, ending up with a narrow edge in ToP. In my mind that IS the game plan. The problem is going to be managing to be physical on the ground with Spiller and FJ as banged up as they are.

Tannehill went 19 for 37 for less than 200 yds. His YPA was barely above 5. Gilmore was beaten ONCE and it was by an elite deep threat. His presence is allowing the Bills to keep J. Rogers inactive. The question now is simply - is Gilmore better than Rogers and is he tough enough to play with a club? If so, we are a better team with him out there. Let's save the real evaluation for when the man can see his fingers.

By this time last year, the Bills had already played two embarrassingly non-competitive games (NE & SF) and the word "quit" had been tossed around a few times. We can all have our opinions about coaches' challenges and whether Tuel should have been the active QB vs. Cleveland. Fine. Here are the obvious signs that we have upgraded the coaching staff: 1. The defense has not only improved significantly, the overall physicality is up. 2. The rookies all look poised and prepared - EJ, Woods, Alonso, Goodwin, Robey. 3. The tenor has changed. It isn't Williams faux-toughness, Mularkey's cluelessness, Jauron's excuses, or Gailey's nice guy act. Marrone looks and talks like a football coach out of central casting. That is refreshing.

The Dolphins may be marginally better than the Bills although I am not willing to concede that. The 8.5 spread and the national groupthink (Dolphins will surely be picked by 95% of the national "experts") is what's more insulting after Thad has already shown a level of competency. I expect a close game like every game so far. Fins do not run the ball or protect Tannehill and Pettine will surely send heat. If Tuel has to play then all bets are off.

The Bengals have a mediocre QB, an average running game, and are 0-2 on the road. If Thad keeps his turnovers below 2, and the Bills outrush the Bengals they will win the game. I do not gamble, but if I did I would be all over the Bills at +7. EJ is the hope for the future, but Lewis is not taking the place of someone who is playing at an even top-15 NFL level.

Serious question with the Bengals 9 days away: Plan A would be Josh Freeman - if his head is screwed on straight. THat said, I'm considering it a given that we will not pass the ball effectively that day. Tuel is a marginal talent with no arm strength to speak of, and 9 days is not enough time for an outsider to effectively assimilate into the offense. Wouldn't the FO consider signing Tebow and giving him a limited package with a plan of running fifty times against Cincinnati and winning a defensive struggle? I am not a Tebow supporter, recognize that he will never pass the ball effectively, and do not consider him a helpful longterm backup. I'm saying that if you are signing a guy off the street to try to make your team competitive for 1-2 weeks, wouldn't you consider it?

It is a long season no matter what happens tonight. This is the type of game an 8 to 10 win team wins. If they have playoff aspirations they will need four road wins. @Browns would be the start, along with @Bucs, @Jags, and @Dolphins or @Steelers.

I believe what we saw on Sunday was the recipe. It is possible that this team has an actual identity. Marrone is an O-Line guy. He wants to pound it. The Bills are going to run the ball with CJ, Fred, EJ, Choice, and even Graham and Woods. They aren't looking for EJ to survey the whole field and hit 65% of his passes. They want EJ to protect the ball and hit homeruns. He doesn't need a high completion rate - he needs a high YPA. On defense they are going to knock the quarterback down and take the ball away. Even with the short week and our banged up RBs, I think the Bills will try to run 40+ times. I do expect Choice to get 10+ carries this week.

Could not agree more. EJ is "managing the game" as a rookie but he possesses the physical tools to dominate the game. No one wants the game manager. The thing is that was Trent's ceiling. If EJ can limit his turnovers now he could gradually progress thru the course of the season while giving his team a chance to win as he develops. Despite his struggles vs. NYJ that has happened so far.

The best point is on E.J. He is avoiding turnovers and while we all want Hackett to give him more freedom, that is huge. This team is close and showed it by tying the game in the 4th quarter. The Ravens game this will be another tight one.

It is too early to panic. Fans look at the schedule and mentally check off the Ws and Ls. Most of us had the Jets as a W, but the truth is that was a road game against a team with a top-five defense. The Jets are not the 4-12 club that espn.com and company suggested. They are better than last year on both sides of the ball and look like a .500 squad to me. That said, if even one of the McKelvin, Byrd, Gilmore trio is healthy we win that game.