BillsFan4

Watching Baltimore and Dallas play today, I don’t think the Bills are winning either of those games. The ravens game could be particularly brutal. No game left on the schedule is an automatic win. I think they will end up between 8 and 9 wins. But let’s take it a week at a time here. There aren’t many games this season that were decisive wins. A few bounces and many of those games could’ve went the other way. I think every game this seas9n is going to be a dog fight. They’re not yet good enough to blow teams out or even win comfortably (most of the time). But this was a 6 win team last season, and they’re still rebuilding. I’m trying to lower my expectations and just enjoy any bit of growth we see from our young players (easier said than done... I still badly want playoffs but am trying not to set myself up for disappointment).

Today’s game, along with the last few, have made me realize that the Bills 6-2 record could just as easily be the Browns 2-6 record with a little less luck & a few bounces the other way. Both of these teams (Bills and Browns) seem to be in a similar spot to me - teams that have been crappy for a long time that are trying to climb out of that hole and back to respectability. Both teams still have a ways to go before they’re legit contenders. The Bills are still rebuilding. We have tons of cap space this year (contending teams usually don’t leave $25M in unspent cap) and next. A good amount of draft picks. No additions at the deadline also speaks to where management thinks this team is at. There are still numerous holes on both sides of the ball. This year is mostly about developing young players IMO. These last few weeks have continued to adjust my expectations for this season. I’m really trying to temper my expectations a bit and focus on the young players development.

Miss it miss it miss it miss it edit: well, I tried... lol

I liked that little hip check by Jordan Phillips.

?

Giants and Jets fans doing their best #BillsMafia impression.

Ah man, that would’ve been a HUGE turnover.

Yuck. Definitely not the drive I was hoping for from the offense.

Wow!! ???? What a goal line stand! The offense needs to put to put together a drive here. Bills need to take advantage of the momentum the D just provided.

Heck of a play by White!!

Why does it seem like every struggling team is always able to find their game against the Bills and Sabres?

Loss #4 in a row. Falling back down to earth here. Lack of talent/depth already catching up to them? They have to get a win tomorrow and break this losing streak before things start to snowball.

Finally some Sabres hockey today! Hopefully they can get back in the win column.

That was an awful challenge. What was Gruden hoping for there? No one even picked up the ball, right? Plus, it was clear as day his arm was moving forward.

he must be getting desperate to play... ?

For those having trouble with the video’s sound, here’s what I had to do - Start playing the video and click on the bottom left to unmute. Then use the arrows that make the video full screen. Once it’s in full screen, you will see another volume control at the top right of the screen. Turn it all the way up and you should have sound (it worked for me).

Link to full story - I really hope Josh proves to be our franchise QB. I love his personality. He’s the type of QB that you can say you’re proud to root for. He would be such a great face for this Bills franchise for the next decade (+). Edit -> For those having trouble with the video’s sound, here’s what I had to do - Start playing the video. Then use the arrows that make the video full screen. Once it’s in full screen, you will see a volume control at the top right of the screen. Turn it all the way up and you should have sound (it worked for me). I switched the link, so hopefully that will fix the issue.

Not gonna lie, I smiled when Lehner just got lit up by Evander Kane on a short handed breakaway. I see Lehner’s been practicing... lol. Also, speaking of Kane ->

That is who I blame the most for the whole Lehner situation. Tim Murray scouted+drafted Lehner and spent years in Ottawa with hi. He was the GM of their AHL team the whole time Lehner player there. He knew Lehner better than just about anyone (or at least he should have). How did he not not have any idea of Lehner’s problems? Robin even said that this had been going on since his Ottawa days. Murray not only trades for him, but he gives up a 1st round pick in the deepest draft in over a decade to do it. He was the only GM willing to give up a 1st for Lehner, and he had the most inside knowledge on him.

I feel pretty much the same. I applaud him for getting help with his mental illness+addiction and being so open about his recovery. But he was not part of the solution during his time here. If anything, he was part of the problem. He was playing while heavily drinking, and was reportedly quite a handful to deal with at times. I feel like he didn’t start taking his NHL career seriously until he left Buffalo. So why he seems to hold such a grudge against the Sabres, I have no idea. He’s taken quite a few shots at buffalo since he left. I mean, he’s kind of right about some of the stuff he said. But I just don’t get why he seems to have so much hate for the team that gave up prime assets to give him his first ever shot at a starting role in the NHL (after he forced his way out of Ottawa). A role he never took seriously until he left. I fully understand that it often takes people time to come to terms with addiction/mental illness and get the help they need. So I don’t hold a grudge against Lehner. I just don’t get the hate he has for buffalo is all. As far as his save % here, yeah it was good. But IMO the Sabres artificially inflated goalies sv%’s because they allowed such a high volume of shots (bylsma’s system was all about letting the other team take as many low danger shots as they wanted). Look at some of the other goalies that had great sv% numbers during that time. About 1/2 aren’t even in the NHL anymore. And as you said, he was the worst goalie in shootouts and on breakaways I have ever seen. Remember, he refused to even practice the shootout here. Housley (iirc) tried to get him to and he refused.

Happy for him and his wife. I hope he’s able to stick on their 53. Good luck in Indy, Kyle!