SoMAn

Exactly the way I predicted it would go when so many were screaming ‘eff Directv’ and their cable providers, certain they’d save big by cutting the cord. It’s the same folks running the show. They’ve been waiting for everyone to have smart TVs and app subscriptions so they can have you under their collective thumbs. They’ll offer sweet deals to get you on board, it wasn’t long before we found ourselves subscribing to multiple services that are gradually jacking up the monthly fees. How many of you have both Netflix and Amazon Prime? Remember when they were under $10/month? They’re nickel and diming us right back to where we were when we proudly ‘cut the cord’. I’ve stuck with Directv.after negotiating a super deal. We have Amazon and a few others, mostly educational, NFL+, and news apps that were a reasonable yearly fee. The pisser is that the Sunday ticket doesn’t cover the prime time games in which good teams are featured, and now those games are being diverted away from mainstream stations to apps like Peacock. The NFL creates a desirable product that allows them to generate beaucoup bucks. At least we’re not in the dark ages of blackouts.

it's the first time I recall the O-line not having to play musical chairs due to injuries. In the past they were often reaching deep into the depth chart just to have 5 linemen. Amazingly, they've fielded the same 5 starters all season. Knock on morning wood.

Thanks to an alert from a TSW post ( thank-you) I got a Black Friday subscription from Peacock for $19.99 for 12 months. I knew it was the only way to view the upcoming game live and there were other shows my wife and I would possibly watch. So, $19.99 won’t break us. It’s less than a couple movie tickets. It’s not worth it to me going through all the stupid sign-up, username, email address, password trial subscription rigamarole B.S. and then canceling, just to save a few bucks. Get it for a month at $5.99. BFD. What would you spend at the sports bar?

I’m sure the NFL network will be replaying it a couple times during the week.

Was the announcer duo their A team? That was promoted as the game of the week and was being broadcast in every market. I guessing that with Amazon, NFL network, Peacock, CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN all doing games now, the talent in the booth has been thinned out, leaving Fox with undynamic (boring) announcers. I didn’t pay any attention to the music, but have never figured out that silly dancing robot/Iron man graphic or why during the broadcast, when showing player stats, they convert photos of players into cartoons. ???

Seeing this makes the Patriots loss and the 2 OT losses sting that much more. If everything else had gone the same way and only one of those 3 winnable games went in the Bills’ favor, they’d be in the 4th seed position with very good chance to move into the 2 seed and an outside chance to get the first.

Absolutely. If I could wave a magic wand and trade the win for a Josh Allen 300 yard passing game, no brainer. Take the passing stats every time. 😏

If he can take his pass protection to the next level, he will be the Bills’ best all-around back since Thurman.

Fire McDermott!

Like you, I’m not getting WXIA, the local Atlanta NBC affiliate. Other than my 7:30 Jeopardy evening wind-down routine, there’s almost nothing I watch on NBC or most of the other broadcast networks. Somebody posts Jeopardy every night on YouTube, so I don’t really miss anything. I’d call and complain to Directv and demand credits, but after prior negotiations I’m already getting a top tier package on 3 TVs for $60/month. Eventually Directv and Mission will work out the contract. I suspect they’re not getting the volume of complaints they used to get in these situations. There’s too many options that allow viewers to get local channels. Stand your ground Directv.

So, KC is eliminated then. Excellent!

The real question is whether his reduced production is temporary and solely attributed to working his way back from the ACL, or is Father Time the real fly in the ointment? Looking at a hypothetical scenario in which the injury never occurred, would his current production be similar to what we’re now witnessing? In a nutshell, how much is it the injury or inevitable age and hitting that wall?

Your optimism is commendable, but you're talking out two sides of your mouth. You regard Dallas as a formidable opponent for the 'fins, but seem confident the Bills will have their way with them. Nothing will convince you? How about the previous losses to the Patriots, Jets, Broncos, and near misses against the Bucs and Giants. Even if we clobber Dallas, I wouldn't count on a cake walk through the remaining 3 games. The Bills have found too many ways to ***** defeat from the jaws of victory this year. Not sure how you arrived at 1.5 games back. We're 2 games back. The most the Bills can win is 11. If that happens then we have to hope the Dolphins lose one of the other 3 games. In other words, they'd have to lose3 of their last 5. Don't see that happening. I'm hopeful the Bills can win out, just not overly optimistic. They're still banged up on defense, even more now that Hyde and Epenesa are 'week to week', which could mean an even leaner defense. Right now, I'm saying 50-50 to make the playoffs. We'll see soon enough. edit: quite the filter we have here. A perfectly acceptable word that rhymes with latch is censored.

summation

All season long we optimists have been assaulted with disappointment. I have no reason to remain blindly optimistic. Victories over KC and Dallas could revive my hope, but for now I’m resigned to believing the injuries and other factors will relegate the Bills to missing out on the playoff tournament this year. Which poses an interesting hypothetical- given the choice would you prefer a one and done playoff appearance or a draft pick that jumps up the board (e.g.) 6 to 8 spots? Tough one, but I guess if I KNEW they wouldn’t advance, give me a shot in the top 18 (or higher) at a blue chip WR, C, or DL.

Opposing defenses don’t seem to have any trouble with them

Usually between 11-15 for most gals.

Free lamb butter in da private sweets when dey play da rams

Da broadway market dere

The Bills don’t seem to have an issue with ‘learning on the job’ provided they’re capable of getting the job done. Ironically, the 2 you cited, Jackson and Benford, are perfect examples of prepared to play, getting to start, and learning on the job.

The Elam pick was the Bills between a rock and a hard place. They went against the usual ‘best player available’ practice and reached for a need. White was out with ACL, Wallace gone in FA…they were desperate for an affordable CB to start the 2022 season. Why he’s not on the field and is getting beat out by 7th rounders and journeymen is unknown. I don’t have anything but my overall impression of him, but I suspect he’s not that sharp and doesn’t grasp the defensive concepts necessary to not be a liability. He’s got physical tools. What else could it be?

True. Back in my teen years working at a local pizza/sub joint, we’d get the whole ribeye frozen from the vendor and put it in the carriage of the Hobart commercial slicer, slice it thin, stack it up proportionately between deli paper, and have it ready to cook and chop on the flat top grill. Sprinkled with a bit of garlic salt, pepper, onions&bell pepper, chopped, topped with cheese to melt over, and tucked into those great rolls. I’d put those local Buffalo steak subs on toasted Costanzo sub rolls against anything Philly could offer. Great-just made myself hungry!

I could be wrong, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a generational divide. Us seniors who’ve endured the ups and downs of the Bills through the years are still enjoying our team, realizing that there’s more to life than winning a Super Bowl, even as much as we want to experience the joy. With today’s technology and immediate access to nearly everything, I wonder if the pre-Medicare era fans are so spoiled with instant gratification that they’re impatient and quickly hostile when they don’t get what they believe is their birth right. 31 NFL teams finish the season short of their preseason goal. Every year, the odds are low of winning it all. I look forward to every season, and I’m optimistic that the Bills have the QB to make it happen before his time is done. If not, I’ve enjoyed the ride.

That genius response is exactly what I was referring to when I say ‘mentality’. Firing a coach is an action. A solution is hiring a replacement who is successful-though it may take a a season or two to measure that success. Comprende?

which is why I effectively said in the poll thread that 82% of active posters who responded to the poll are clueless. They're all butt hurt because in their minds McDermott dashed their high hopes and ruined their year (even though the final outcome has yet to be determined).