SoMAn

I think the Bills were a.500 team after suffering a lot of injuries to key players. They were breaking in replacements when they went on their run. They had additional motivation following a hit piece on their coach. Look at it this way: the Bills have 4 remaining home games. They're reasonably healthy, and should be in even better shape with the pending return of Cooper, Benford, and later, possibly Milano by the end of the year. If they win only 2 of their remaining 8 games, the Jets would have to win 7 of their remaining 8, and the Dolphins would need to win 8 of 9 to overtake the Bills. Unless catastrophic injuries hit the Bills, and the Dolphins or Jets suddenly turn into Popeye on spinach, any of the scenarios, though not impossible, are highly unlikely. I'm not a gambler, but given even odds, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to put 1k on the Bills making the tournament.

I believe you’re almost correct. Even if the Jets win 4 and the Bills lose their remaining games (highly unlikely), it would still depend on division record. Bills are now 3-0, Jets 1-2. Meaning that 3 of Jet wins would be the rest of the division including Bills just to have more win within division. After that, there’s all the other tie-breaker scenarios. AFC wins, common opponents, etc etc This is fun to ponder, but ridiculous at the same time. For any combination of 4 (Bills wins, Jet losses) to actually happen with 8 and 9 games remaining is unimaginable. The Bills are shoe-ins to be in the playoffs for the 7th time in 8 years. But yeah, as some here state after every loss, let’s hope McDermott is fired🙄

I skated as a kid through teen years. I could do stops and skate backwards, but was never great. I had siblings who were competitive skaters and hockey players. I had issues with feet cramping up. But I could skate just ok. So, after many years not lacing up, I rented some Ill-fitting skates at NYC Central Park Wollman Rink during a Christmas visit in 2009. Age, weight, and absence of any muscle memory took their toll. I couldn’t have looked more stiff and awkward. Think Adrian in Rocky I. Standing on those blades seemed like the most unnatural thing a human could attempt. It was captured on video tape for all to enjoy when I’m long gone. Life lesson: leave the glory days where they belong-in the past.

I think we lose to the Dolphins, the 'fire McDermott' chants start again, and those same critics spell doom and gloom and a one and out playoff appearance if they don't lose the division to the Jets. Fickle fans here. 🤪

-) ******

Throw in Josh Allen and just do it Beane! Why on earth would a 6-2 team, almost certainly going into the playoffs, trade a sold edge, another young defender who hasn't reached his ceiling, and a couple of draft picks, include a #1, for a 9 game rental (I assume his 'expiring contract' ends after this season). You can't be serious. I'm going to assume you're not yet 12-years-old. Thank God you're not the GM.

When did we get so petty and nit-picky in this country? There are typos for on screen banners and auto-generated closed-caption all the time. It's like there's a large portion of the population always looking for an argument to prove how important or self-righteous they are. Making a mountain out of a molehill. If this is your biggest concern, you've lived a charmed life.

I have nothing to base this on, just a guess; is it that he’s just not that sharp? Is he slow at processing the playbook and concepts? He has the physical tools, right? I can think of few things that would drive the defensive-minded McDermott crazier than a player who is undermining the defensive calls by being out of position. Originally the excuse was he’s a man to man guy and not yet used to playing zone schemes. Well, he’s in year 3. It ain’t rocket science. The silver lining is that they found what they’d hoped Elam could be in round 6. So, even if Elam were to get cut after this year, it’s kind of a wash.

Remind me, what’s the 49ers W-L record again.

I was there to hear the fans go nuts. Unfortunately, I was just outside the stadium as the people I’d gone with decided we should leave and beat the crowd. One of the games I was with that had a storied ending , and I missed those plays. 😢

I don't know that it's a fair comparison. Knox at TE wouldn't necessarily have to use his hands in as much of a physical manner as that of a DT, who pretty much is in a man to man battle on every play with big guys in the middle.

They're supposed to be professionals. What next? A pep rally led by Billy Buffalo on Friday night?

What's sometimes forgotten is that the discontent didn't just spring up mid-season last year when he wasn't getting the targets; he was a no-show at OTAs in the spring, and there was obviously a problem that had to be worked out to get him to participate. Whatever the issue was, it started (at the least) sometime following the 2022 season. Was there ongoing friction between Josh and Diggs? We all saw the in-your-face sideline moment in which Diggs was giving it to Josh. Josh is the face of the franchise. Big mistake on Diggs' part to put that on public display. If Diggs was so displeased with Josh's performance, maybe he should take a good look in the mirror because he sure had his share of untimely drops as the season went on last year. It's a shame things went as they did. Steph was great with the fans, especially the kids. His competitive spirit is commendable, but the 'me first' mentality is a cancer on a team sport. I wish him well when not facing the Bills.

Clever. Care to explain to the Gen Z readers?

Maybe they know that in the age of Youtube, team websites loaded with video content, NFL app, etc., most fans have instant access to any and all team highlights. Nobody relies anymore on ESPN, GMFB, or Saturday afternoon Bills' Highlights with Rick Azar. There's no real reason for any of them to show a lot of highlights unless it helps to illustrate one of their talking points or supports the daily narrative.

It's a little weird seeing # 32 out there now, and will look even stranger if that number is out there at some point with the red standing buffalo throwback helmet logo. When you saw 'Metcalf' did you conjure up the St Louis Cardinals? 🙂 Yes, we become out parents. I can't tell you long my father continued referring to the Patriots as 'the Boston Patriots', long after 1970.

I had similar expectations. After a complete overhaul of the defense and losing their top 2 WRs, I thought the Bills would be an 8 or possible 9 win team with a little luck and miss the playoffs with the fins or maybe the Jets taking the division. I'm happy to say that with 5 wins in the bank and 10 games left to play, it would take a complete meltdown not to exceed 9 wins and the division title. Just have to keep Josh healthy and it should be a very doable achievement.

I’ll have that ‘once every 8 years’ opportunity next year when the Bills come to Atlanta- if they don’t make it one of the international games (which would really piss me off). In 2017 the Bills were here for Mercedes Benz Stadium’s inaugural season. It was McDermott’s first year, Tyrod was the QB, and the Falcons were coming off a Super Bowl appearance. I didn’t spring for the pricey tickets, assuming the Bills would get stomped. Best laid plans or Murphy’s law, but the Bills took care of business and kicked their arses and I regretted not going. I’ll be there next year, god willing.

You may be right, but I'm always suspicious of those people with accusations that only come out after there's some incentive, usually involving the prospect of getting paid. In this case, the guy signs an NFL contract with a bonus (I presume) and lo and behold, here comes the alleged assault. Was there a police report filed immediately following the alleged incident? If so, how were the Bills not aware of the accusation, or did they already have enough information to dismiss the validity? If the accusation has any merit, why on earth is Araiza playing at all when meanwhile, future HOF'er Von Miller is serving a 4 week suspension for a domestic incident for which both he and his girlfriend deny he hit her? In spite of the couple's denial, I believe it's likely there was some physicality that Von should answer for. If the accusation was completely frivolous, Araiza should have filed a civil suit against the accuser after losing out on more than a million dollars from playing football. If he hasn't done that, he may well have been involved in an assault, in which case he shouldn't be in the NFL. /

Meanwhile, the punter with the highest net average in the NFL is former Bills’ draft choice Matt Araiza of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Who, by the way is a halfway decent backup kicker if pressed into emergency action. Thanks a lot lying sexual assault accuser from college.

That ship has sailed. I sensed there was some animosity between him and McDermott.

Bass

Yeah, this boomer liked the vintage look too, but always hated the multi-use circular stadiums when the NFL teams had to play over baseball diamond infields in Sept and October.

I think the comments regarding broadcasts are hitting the target. The production has gotten better in some ways, but maybe a bit over the top with some of the graphics and animation. May be too much sparkle for football. Also, the commentating crews are weak compared to the broadcasters of yesteryear, many of whom were groomed on radio and had the kind of commanding voices that could make mundane trivia interesting to the listener. Where are the Curt Gowdys, Merlin Olsens, Howard Cosells, Charlie Jones, Dick Enberg, Don Criquis, John Maddens, etc. of days gone by? They were storytellers rather than monotone narrators. For me, the game itself is as good as ever, as long as the zebras haven't hijacked the action as they did this past Monday. The TV viewing is not as compelling. Is it because I'm older and don't get as amped up for things like watching a game? Maybe. But, I still think in spite of superior TV picture, angles, replays, the TV experience doesn't seem as exciting as it used to be, largely because of the boring broadcast teams.

Smarties