SoMAn

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).

The responses in the poll are a great indicator of the mentality of active posters in this forum. Firing a coach isn't a solution. Finding a better one is. Got that name handy? So rather than the knee-jerk 'fire McDermott' cries, who would you gamble on to be the coach to start all over with? Do we hope McDermott gets canned and the next great coach is there, just waiting to come to Buffalo? Let's start over and hope that before Josh turns 35 we can get to the promised land. Sure, let's, go back to the revolving door of mediocrity when the optimism of the annual draft was our favorite time of the year. McDermott has the best winning percentage in team history. 5 out of 6 seasons with a winning record - 4 consecutive double digit win seasons. He's had to adjust to devastating injuries to key players, the departure of a top OC, dubious draft choices (Elam). The team is .500. It's not at 2-8! They're within striking distance of the division lead with 7 games remaining. We didn't make it to the super bowl. Waaahhhhh! Neither did 25 other teams since McDermott came on board. Should all those coaches be fired? Sure, fire McDermott. Maybe they won't have to if he gets tired of the chronic complainers and decides of his own volition that he's had enough of the whiney mafia fan base. Be careful what you wish for.

Agree. Also thought that was the most interesting statement, confirming what many of us have been saying. The threat of Josh running is one of his greatest assets. Obviously, some genius in the coaching ranks has practically eliminated that facet of Josh’s game, making it easier for defenses to cover the WRs in the Bills’ unimaginative offensive schemes.

There will still be plenty of customers with $18000 for PSLs. Isn’t it a one time fee that can be financed? People are paying $50k for new trucks. $18k will be affordable to a lot of fans. For some, that will be their entertainment or vacation money. Their one big luxury. In a household with an annual income of at least $100k, spending maybe $7500/year for their beloved Bills will be part of their annual entertainment and won’t cripple them financially. The blue collar worker making $45000 probably will be priced out of the season ticket market and have to settle for the occasional single game tickets. That’s the world of pro sports today.

If you’re a healthy, fit athlete in your early 20s, plenty of $$, nice wheels, …lots of very attractive women will be available for your pleasure. You’re either a horn dog or just not into chicks. Not too many other choices.

Yes. Show of hands-who actually thought Damian Harris would stay healthy for more than a few games.

I recently stumbled upon some comments from Bills fans dating back to 2017. I forget what site it was (a Facebook fan page?) I don't know how I got there, but it was amusing to read the comments. The comments were posted immediately after acquiring Kelvin Benjamin. There was great excitement and anticipation, believing he would bolster the receiving corps and the Bills would have one of the best group of receivers with him and Charles Clay on the field together. In hindsight, it pretty laughable. But, it's typical of the fan reaction when we pick up some 'has-been' who another team has determined won't contribute much. Sherfield and Harty are not 'has-beens', more like 'never-weres'. They're typical JAGs. Not bad, not great. Just guys who'll never hear the words pro bowl or hall of fame mentioned in the same sentence as their names. I can't honestly say those two are an upgrade from Brown and Beasely 2019. Maybe not even as potent as Brown/Beasely 2022. We're going backwards. The Bills desperately need a legitimate threat to go along with Digg, Shakir, and Kinkaid.

My parents went to Bennett in the 50s. My father got kicked out. I never thought to ask him why.