SoMAn

And yet, the team was a couple bad first down spots from possibly going to the super bowl last year. They've averaged nearly 12 wins per season since 2019. They started out this year as super bowl favorites, then won their first 4 games. They beat perennial powerhouses from KC and Baltimore. After a 17 year drought, they've made the post season 7 out of the last 8 years. So what happened? Maybe fielding a XFL defense after the starting squad has been completely decimated by injury, starting as early as OTAs and continuing right up until the last game. Their regular season success has prevented them from drafting high enough to get an impact WR as the blue-chippers are long gone by the time the Bills are up to the podium. I get that many are disappointed with the trajectory of this season, but this is what sometimes happens in the NFL. Last year the Bills exceed expectations. This year they're experiencing a lot of bad breaks. Guess what? They may not make the playoffs this year. It's not the end of the world. They may get eliminated in the first round if they get there. Maybe an 'off season' could be a blessing in disguise if they can get a draft pick within the top 20 for a change. With a little maneuvering, they could even drop down into the top 15 and get that impact WR. Whatever happens Chicken Littles, it's not time to blow it all up and start over. There's still hope.

So, at 6-3 many of you are calling for a complete overhaul. Do you think just maybe the rash of injuries leading to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string reserves taking the field on defense might have made the difference in at least 1 or 2 of the losses? If the record was 7-2 would you still be calling for a regime change? On offense, we're fortunate to have a good O-line and RB that stays healthy, but ironically, the passing game is now the offense's Achilles heal, even with an MVP QB. It's too late now, but in the offseason, the Bills need to do everything and anything to get Josh weapons that can be game-changers. Wideouts that can stretch the field and get separation. The 'everyone eats' nonsense is not the answer. Josh has maybe the worst group of WRs in the league. Shakir is a reliable weapon. Kincaid would be too if he could stay on the field. Is Joe Brady a problem? I suspect he wasn't ready to assume the role of coordinator for a team with super bowl aspirations. Reading the tea leaves, I'd say Babich may be taking a Fraser-style much needed break after this season. Enough with the on-the-job training of these coordinators. Get experienced minds to run the offense and defense. I don't think firing McDermott or Beane is the answer. It's a recipe for the revolving door of coaches that was such a joy during 'the drought'. Get healthy, get a stud WR somehow, and bring in experienced coordinators with winning track records.

It was the typical hype machine of loud music, shirt cannons, kiss cams, and obnoxious talking over the P.A. system at every stoppage of play. Just too much. (go ahead, insert, "ok boomer" here). I'd heard that the food prices were exceptionally low compared to many stadiums. True. But... you get what you pay for. All I wanted was a friggin' hot dog! I had to walk past about 6 concession stands to find one. There was BBQ, nachos, and a bunch of other crap I couldn't care less about. When I finally found a hot dog it was the worst piece of crap imaginable. The dogs at Quik Trip or Race Trac are better. Someone I was with got a burger. It looked equally awful. The annoying loud mouth, fat 12-year old Larry Mondello look-a-like in front of us with his Falcons jersey, kept standing up doing the first down arm thing like players on the field do. I hate admit I would have gotten pleasure from whacking him on the back of his head. Getting out of the stadium to the exits wasn't easy. From the second level it seemed like we had to walk down endless number of concrete ramps just to get to the door leading outside. Seriously, it had to be a minimum of 15 back and forth ramps - similar to the ones from the old Aud in Buffalo. My poor brother with his bad knees was in agony. Where did the escalators go that we used to get to our level? Apparently they're only for incoming. I'd like to go to the new Highmark Stadium, but I'm about done with the modern stadium experience.

It was the only later afternoon game, so naturally the viewer numbers were high. I can't recall another time when there was a single late afternoon game. It was for all intents and purposes a nationally televised game, being shown in every market in America.

Older man take: shirts and skins

I said something along those lines a couple of days ago when some of you were crying for a trade upgrade. With consideration to the Bills' cap restrictions and figuring that a lot of the players being dumped would be what amounts to a 9+ game rental, it would be stupid to trade draft picks or other valued men from our roster. Those are the sort of moves that perennial celler-dwellers make. Give Beane credit for considering the long term future and not just a gamble on this season. That said, it's clear from his presser statements that Beane was desperate to upgrade the roster and tried in vain to make a move. Not sure who he had his eye on (anyone here know or care to speculate?) But, getting a good player that can contribute comes with a price. In his estimation, there wasn't a deal that would pay dividends for the future. It's a good bet he was looking for a DT or WR (duh). I'm more inclined to think it was a DT.

Speaking of the Chiefs and seeing them in the playoffs, it seems that because we've met them so frequently in that position, there's a lot of chatter about 'when' we meet them in January - as if it's assumed and part of the regularly scheduled programming. Not so fast. With consideration to the competition we're both facing in our respective divisions, I'm not so sure we'll be seeing them again this season. Unless the Chiefs get it together and win their matchups with the Broncos and Chargers, they could end up as a 6th or 7th seed or out of the playoffs altogether. With 4 losses after only 9 games, their days of having a week off to rest and then home field advantage may be over. By the same token, the Bills need to put their sloppy play with the Patriots and Falcons behind them, and then take care of business when they go to New England. Following the past 2 wins, this fickle fan is a bit more optimistic than I was after that Monday night debacle. 😊 As things now stand, they have a better chance than the Chiefs of hosting home games or even enjoying the bye. Either way, there will be plenty of obstacles with our other AFC contenders that the odds of seeing the Chiefs again are considerably less than in past seasons.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but in my opinion, the B and C commentators were better than most of the A ones today.

Not sure if somebody already mentioned, but I think having the experienced veteran Poyer playing alongside him is now paying dividends.

Why? Do you believe that one WR will be the difference in getting this team the Lombardi? Anything can happen, but if I had to make a bet on the Bills winning, let along getting to the super bowl, I'd bet against them. To get a contributing player, the Bills would have to give up something perceived by the trade partner as being equal in value. Do we really want to give up valuable draft and/or personnel assets for what would probably amount to a rent-a-player for 10 games? There might be someone out there who can help like an Amari Cooper, but I don't want the Bills to keep chasing the super bowl by trading away the future. You can dismiss those mid-round draft picks if that's your argument, but they've hit on some good players in those rounds, and they're the ones that can help stay on budget.

Boomer here. No idea who he is. But, I don't often watch 'stories', so I'm out of touch with current actors. Nice to know there are some nationally recognized figures on board with our Bills. Tim Russert was a big loss. Go Bills!

This game could go either way, but the Bills have to bring their A game on offense and defense. With a better roster the Chiefs can probably get a win without a stellar effort on both sides of the ball. A little Mahomes magic and some help from the zebras could be the difference. For the Bills, they may need a couple of takeaways to flip the script. Will the James Cook show continue or did they blow their wad with the performance against Carolina? We shall see. I think this contest could be an accurate gauge of what to expect the rest of the way.

Did I read it wrong or did Fox show a graphic stating Cook was the 12th Bill to have a 200 yd game? Either I read it wrong or somebody with the broadcast team messed up. I knew immediately that it wasn't correct.

I'm basically with you. I don't have high expectations for this season. An aging team that signs re-treads to fill out their receiving corps and has a rash of numerous injuries on defense isn't a team I believe can make a serious bid for a championship. I believe they'll probably get in the playoffs by default - maybe as a wildcard rather than a division winner. One and out seems very possible. Being 'in the hunt' in weeks 17 & 18 may be a more realistic expectation than clinching a playoff berth by week 12. How many more injuries to key players can they sustain? We've been spoiled, and going into the season, many of you thought being in the playoffs for Buffalo was 'a given'. Not so fast. It's not unusual for super bowl teams to completely miss the playoffs the following year. This may be a down year to 'make up' for last season's over achieving team that many thought would be a rebuilding year. Time will tell.

At this point, realizing there probably aren’t any stud receivers available through trade or off the street, the best scenario may be to have good blocking receivers who can help spring Cook. Gabe can block. The Bills future for this season is in the run game.

Yeah sure - because it only took like 5 weeks to get back on the field after somebody stepped on his foot and his little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home. Due to age and attrition the Bills appear to be fielding one of their weaker defensive rosters in the past few years, and now we'll be missing one of the anchors of the D line. Can't catch a break.

I have no idea Brady is to blame, but it’s apparent that the Bills don’t have wideouts that can separate. Watching today, there was an endzone shot on a play that Josh was running for his life. I had two thoughts watching it: the receivers were completely covered. But, the other side to that coin is that the plays are taking wayyy too long to develop. That may fall on Brady. Maybe he has to stop calling plays that don’t work for these receivers. A quick rhythmic 3-step drop with precise dink and dunk timing might work better with this group. Similar to what was so effective with Tom Brady. The great irony is that we have a QB with a rocket arm that can launch the ball 70 yards, but don’t have receivers who can go that far and shed defenders. Joe Brady needs to work with the players he has and find mismatches. 13 personnel is a good start.

If it wasn't already mentioned...get healthier, stay healthy.

What about this outdated rule...no running with scissors. Sometimes you're in a hurry to cut something and it's in another room.

If anyone thinks this team is going to turn it around in the same manner they have in the past, I believe this year it's not as likely. We have a bunch of old retreads on defense trying to hold the secondary together with duct tape. A defensive line that can't pressure QBs, but especially mobile ones. LBs who are undersized and injured. That's just defense. On offense their receiving threats are limited to Shakir and Kincaid (who's frequently injured). Anticipating a 3-headed rushing attack at the start of the season, Davis has fallen off a cliff and Johnson has not shown anything to write home about. Add to that, it looks like the coaching staff is trying to keep Josh under wraps. There have been opportunities for him to take off running when it looks like he hesitates - hearing a little voice in his head from coaches telling him be cautious. Even in the wins against mediocre teams, the Bills have struggled. I hope the Bills prove me wrong, but I think this is going to be an off year and won't be surprised if they're listed as 'in the hunt' for the playoffs in the final weeks, rather than clinching an early division title.

My preseason prediction was 10-7 with possibility of 9-8. The Bills have Josh Allen. A star. On course to be a HOF’er. The rest of the roster is comprised of 3 or 4 pretty good players. After that, just mediocrity. Players who are frequently injured, defenders who can’t tackle, and receivers who can’t separate.

What I said was # 3 AT BEST. #5 is a good bet. I'd put Gabe ahead of him at this point.

As much as the team and some fans have tried to pump up Coleman, characterizing him as a WR who could be a difference-maker, I haven't seen it from day one. Still don't. He's a #3 at best in my view. For me, he's this version of the Bills Tremaine Edmunds - the guy they desperately want to believe is more than he really is. I'm not buying the 'Everyone Eats' mantra. Josh is an elite QB. PLEASE, find a way to get him big boy weapons, if not this year, next year.

J.D. Hill

It's entirely possible. Hopefully, the Bills are motivated after the Sunday night Cold Front debacle and pull out a win. After what looked like a runaway division title for the Bills after 4 games, it's not beyond the realm of possibilities that the Pats (with a win over the Saints) could be on top of the division after 6 weeks. 😗