sven233

Yup.....In today's league, that's what you have to do and there's nothing you can do about it. Honestly, we should be throwing jump balls like that to Coleman once in a while if for nothing else, just to try and draw the flag. Has to be so frustrating to be a defensive player in the league these days.

For his sake, if he's that confident, that he has a few thousand dollars on the Bills moneyline tonight.

It's said because it's true. We have no game wrecker on defense. Our DTs have been inconsistent at best all season and we struggle to get pressure on the QB consistently as a whole on defense. Our WRs, outside of Shakir, are uncertain. Yes, Cooper has been a great player in the league for a long time, but he is on the wrong side of 30 and isn't long for the team most likely. Coleman is a very inconstant rookie who I am not high on the chances of him ever becoming better than a low end WR2 at best. I mean, all you have to do is look at the separation statistics out there and you will see that our WRs are among the worst in the league at creating separation consistently. Our safeties are average. While Benford and Johnson are good, Douglas has regressed a bit and is getting older. We have a terrible kicker and punter. Our special teams always give up a terrible play every week. The only positions on this team that I would consider set and great right now are QB, the offensive line, and RB. Perhaps the LBs are fine if they can stay healthy, but that has been hit or miss. That's it, though. Everywhere else needs an upgrade. There's a reason that only our QB is an all pro and, even though it is a farce in a lot of ways, why we only have 2 pro bowlers. I like the base we have, but let's not pretend that this roster overall is super talented. I fully expect us to be even more talented next year than we are this year because we will have at least some money to spend this offseason. So yeah.....we're a good team. Better than the national media predicted us to be. But we don't have the most talented roster in the league like you're saying. We have the best QB in the league and he makes up for shortcomings in many areas. As for tonight, we're going to find out just how good we are. And I pray that we are good enough to play another week and beyond.

It is a legacy game for sure. The thing is, I am not sure that's a fair thing to have put on us considering the expectations that were placed on us going into the year. We lost like 9 starters and most of our captains. We ate 30 million just to get our best WR off the team and to not play for us this season. I mean, everyone was picking us to finish 3rd in the division and miss the Playoffs because this was a rebuilding year. Guess what...... All those things are still true, but because we have an alien playing QB for us, he willed and carried this undermanned team to not only the Playoffs, but to the Divisional round. And, just because we're here, all these people that were saying we are in a rebuilding year are now saying if we lose this game, it will tarnish our legacy as a team, Allen's legacy as a QB, McDermott's resume as a coach, etc. They forget that nothing's changed except the fact our freak of a QB is even better than they imagined and is masking the issues we still all know are there. We don't have a great roster. We have some good talent, but largely, we have 1 guy that carries this team on his back. We're here because of him and because the guys on this team truly believe in and care for each other. They are not the most talented group, but they play for each other. How far can that take them? It could be just to today. It could be all the way to the Super Bowl. We will soon find out. But the fact that we are here and playing today should be all the legacy we need. Getting here, something nobody outside of this fanbase and in that locker room expected, should only enhance this legacy because we've already accomplished way more than most ever expected. Instead, we still have largely the same roster as we did before the season. Still undermanned and not as talented as we can become as early as next year because we will actually have a little money to spend. But we're here and if we do lose today, we won't get any credit for accomplishing what we have this season and will only be ragged on for losing another Playoff game and not making the Super Bowl. Frustrating position for this team to be in, but here's hoping they use it as fuel today and for as long as they can keep this ride going.

Yeah..... I mean, I don't think it was all because of the game. Just one of those nights where you can't get comfortable, you know? I am sure some of it was being ready for today, but whatever happens tonight, win or lose, I am sure there will be all sorts of adrenaline going tonight too.

Worst night of sleep I have had in a very long time. Last week, I didn't start really feeling the Denver game until a couple of days before the game. This week, I have felt it ever since the Denver game ended. This is one of those games....... And I am not even sure it is animosity towards the Ravens themselves. It's more their fanbase that has really made this a less than enjoyable week for me. I have stayed away from social media and the national broadcasts as much as possible, but man, even trying to separate from all of that, you still hear about how much glazing there is going on of the Ravens from the media and their obnoxious fan base. Of course we want to win every single week, but the way things are set up right now, we can shut a lot of people up over the next few weeks. This week, it's the Ravens cult. If we win, next week all we will hear about is how Allen can't beat Mahomes in the Playoffs and it will be about how we can go about beating both the Chiefs and the refs. Then, even if we are blessed to take all of these top teams down and punch our ticket to the Super Bowl, all we will hear about is how we've never won one and never will..... It is narrative after narrative right now and each one is garbage in it's own way. So yeah.....all this together has me wanting to win the Super Bowl more this season than ever before because we can right so many wrongs along the way. And I know I, and probably a lot of Bills fans, are feeling that right now. GO BILS!

If that guy didn't have the defense he does to carry him and the refs to have his back in every critical situation, he wouldn't have a quarter of the accolades he does. He's good, but not nearly as good as he is made out to be.

Stroud has all the talent he needs to be a top 5-10 QB in this league, but unfortunately for him, I am not sure he has what it takes between the ears mentally. No pocket awareness. No situational awareness. Just doesn't have that "IT" factor when you are talking about the best QBs.

I mean, I guess you could say the positive coming out of this game is that even though they are going to win, at least they didn't win by 20+ points and didn't get to rest their starters for a quarter and a half.

A passionate fan base that wants their team to win more than anything, but is more realistic than most. They know football and for the most part understand that each game is it's own entity. They are willing to acknowledge the team's shortcomings and discuss ways to overcome them. Then, if they don't, they move on, they help each other and remain the most charitable and loyal fanbase around. If you can't see that, haven't experienced it, or don't know the difference, I don't know why you are here. GO BILLS!

In theory, this sounds great. But you don't get to play just the Chiefs.....you have to play the refs and the league as well. They want nothing more than the Chiefs to be the first team to 3-peat. On the surface, all things being equal, sure.....bring on the Chiefs. But it is not equal and we will be going in there not only having to beat them, but pushing a boulder up a steep hill at the same time.

I don't know.....if the Ravens win tomorrow, next week's game will be borderline unwatchable. I can't stomach either team or the cult fanbases.

What a crap call. Mahomes invited that hit by cutting back into the middle of the field instead of sliding. Just end the game now. We all know how it ends anyway. Insane.

Game over..... The Texans will have a tough time getting to 13 points by the end of the game. The officials have this one on lock for the Chiefs.

Having nobody within 10 yards of Kelce is certainly a choice......

While tackling technique is certainly very important, I have always been of the opinion that the best way to stop him is to never let him take off with a full head of steam. You have to muck things up in front of him and force him to shuffle and change direction. He's a big, strong dude that can move, but stopping, starting, and changing directions are more difficult the bigger you are. Just natural physics. So, how do you do that? Well, it isn't easy, but I have always believed the best way to do it is with sheer numbers. There will most likely always be holes available against our defense because we are severely undersized in the front 7, but if you force him to take that extra 2-3 steps sideways to get to the crease, you are giving your guys that extra second or 2 to close the gaps quicker. The perfect example was the first play from scrimmage when we played them earlier in the season. We played a light box, the hole was open immediately and he was at top speed before he hit the 2nd level. That's exactly what you can't do. But, if you have more bodies up there mucking up the gaps, heck.....even if they are laying on the ground sideways, it is still going to be tougher to navigate and get through the holes than if you play a light box the entire game. I look back on that week 4 game and it is so tough to watch because of how we did play a light box the entire game. However, I am not sure we had a choice to do anything different. With Bernard and Milano out, we were already scraping the bottom of the barrel for LBs as it was. We almost couldn't have put 3 LBs on the field even if we wanted to. And with Johnson out as well that day, even he couldn't stay down in the box to help because of all the inexperience in the secondary that was playing that day. Obviously, Jefferson and Phillips weren't on the team at that time either, so our DT depth wasn't as good as it is now either. I mean, I hate giving the coaching staff a pass for that game because it is their job to figure it out, but man, their personele choices were really limited that day. It's almost like I would throw that game out completely because these teams, especially us, are completely different going into Sunday. I fully expect the game plan to look MUCH different on Sunday. If it doesn't and we are still playing a light box the entire game, then I am going to have some serious issues with this staff. Look, I've said it before in other threads here. I don't want to see one light box when Henry is on the field on Sunday. Not one. Force the so-called "MVP" to beat you in your building, in 0 degree temperatures, with 1 legit WR threat (1.5 if Flowers plays because there is no way he will be 100% in the cold with the injury he had), and a couple of TEs. They are great TEs and are a mismatch, but I will take my chances with Jackson having to throw the ball 35-40+ times in our building, in those temps, with whatever swirling wind will be present. If he can do that, and truly beat us without Henry being a factor, then I will tip my cap and head to the offseason looking at ways to upgrade the size and talent level of our D-Line. But I will have to see it to believe it. I'm not saying we will shut them completely down because they are a good team, but I have a hard time believing they will put 35+ points on us if Henry has under 50 yards which should be the target. Load the box and use delayed blitzes to challenge the LOS. Almost make it so you are triggering in 2 separate waves. Quite honestly, anyone rushing should never get so up field that they lose sight of Jackson. Keep him in front of you and work your tail off to disengage from blocks. If you run by him when rushing, you will be out of the play because he is too fast to catch up to when you have to loop all the way around. Heck, we have enough problems generating sacks as it is, so instead, rush to contain. I would rush 3, keep 2 spies in to shadow Jackson and to trigger on Henry, fire on Jackson if he keeps it when you see your opening and hope you can contain the WRs just long enough. Double Bateman. Get physical with the TEs and force Jackson to have to make perfect throws in tough conditions on the road and let's see what happens. I mean, because I am loading the LOS, that will almost force them to keep a TE to block, so you may be able to take care of 2 birds with one stone. On offense, be who you are. If we score 30, we should win. Won't be easy to do any of these things, but this is my play to accomplish them. I know it's wild to say to say force the "MVP" QB of the NFL to beat you with his arm, but we all know that even though he is vastly improved as a passer, he isn't one of the top throwers of the ball in the NFL no matter what the media wants you to believe. Make him prove that he is and, if he does, so be it.

Yeah......Edwards was smoked once, but for the most part, they ate that Denver D-Line for lunch. Going to need the same, if not even a better, effort next week. Doesn't get easier.

Yeah..... I would actually be stunned if it doesn't turn pretty quickly. I mean, the books are basically saying it's a pick'em with us getting the standard point and a half for being the home team, but I bet most of the money ends up going on the Ravens by the time it's said and done.

There will be a ton of analysis of this game next week, but the overall game plan should be what it should have been earlier in the season. Stack the box and slow the run game. Make the "MVP" prove he can beat us in our house by having to throw the ball. I don't know what Flowers' status will be, but if he is out, you double Bateman, keep an eye on the TEs and do not let them run against a single light box the entire game. And if Jackson can beat us consistently down the field without the threat of Henry getting a free pass to the 2nd level, so be it. But I am selling out to stop Henry and Jackson at the LOS and forcing Jackson to beat us having to throw the ball 40+ times. Make no mistake about it.....the pressure is all on the Ravens. They will be road favorites and everyone has basically already crowned them. They are already fast-forwarding to Ravens vs Chiefs in the AFC Championship. I mean, they have 9 All Pros, right? They should steam roll us. Man......we have a chance to shut a lot of people up over the next few weeks if we play our best football. And, it will take our best football to win.

Really wish it was was us playing the Texans next week and the Ravens playing the Chiefs. But hey.....we will be underdogs in both games and nobody expects us to win. We have a chance to right a lot of wrongs over the next few weeks, God willing.

Was pretty low key throughout the whole game today. Even after the Broncos scored on the opening drive, I was never really worried. I don't expect to have these same feeling during next week's game.

Good....better field position. Catch it next week.

Hamlin shouldn't have caught that......... Gave up a lot of field position. Should have just swatted it down.

As emphatic as this win was, we probably left double digit points on the field easy. Could have very well been a 40 burger. But it's only about 1 thing....the win. It's going to take even a bigger effort next week to get a win. I fully expect to be a home dog next week and probably rightfully so. I think, overall, the Ravens have the better roster. The fact is, nobody will be picking us this week. It will be all about Jackson and the Ravens and I am absolutely fine with that. The pressure is on them because they should win. But we have a chance to make a statement. Hopefully we can do that.

Dumb call to make in this situation. But in the end, it probably hurts Denver more because the time comes off the clock......