Logic

The Bills defense seems uniquely suited to limiting rushing QBs. It probably has something to do with the very fast sideline-to-sideline linebackers and the two defensive minds (McDermott and Frazier) who spent years in the NFC, either coaching with or against players like Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb. That said, given the Bills recent tackling struggles, the trouble they had stopping Miami's run game, and the brutally cold weather, there is a distinct possibility that the Bears will be able to run it down the Bills' throats. Overall, if the Bills can counter with a run game of their own and take care of the football, I think they win handily.

I was hoping the Bills would try to acquire Antonio Gibson before the trade deadline this year. I think he's a pretty good back who has been misused in Washington. Seeing how little the Bills use Nyheim Hines on offense, though, I guess there really wouldn't have been any point to it.

A reasonable suggestion. I'm not sure I prefer it to PKs, but maybe I would if I saw it in action.

I believe it is, in fact, true.

Someone who wrote an article for The Ringer about this game said it best: Two things are true - One, penalty kicks don't feel like an entirely satisfying way to end a game that two teams have just spent over 90 minutes pouring out their blood, sweat and tears to win. Two, penalty kick shootouts are one of the most unbearably tense, dramatic, amazing ways for a big match to end. I feel that this is the truth. PKs DO sort of feel like an unsatisfying way to end things. On the other hand, they're undeniably exciting to watch. At the end of the day, there's just no other fair and reasonable way to decide a match. The sport is too tiring, too grueling. You can't just keep having extra periods. The players would drop dead from exhaustion. At some point -- and roughly 120 minutes of action feels about appropriate -- you've just gotta figure out a way to settle the match that won't end in guys passing out on the field. PKs feel like the best solution. If anyone else has any alternate propositions, I'd love to hear them.

A rare look at Sammy Watkins in his real form, without the "human" disguise:

Thanks for the post. It's certainly an interesting discussion. All it really seems to do, though, is illustrate with data what we already know to be true: Certain QBs are vital to their teams' rushing success. The weird part to me is that with Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields (and formerly with Cam Newton), the QB's rushing ability and the contributions of that ability to the offense overall are generally spoken of in reverent tones. It's considered an extra weapon that their offense possesses. A unique, dangerous way to attack opposing defenses that gets hyped up and makes highlight reels. By contrast, when Josh is a big part of the Bills' rushing success, it's considered by many -- both national analysts and Bills fans alike -- to be some kind of shortcoming. Something which needs to be "fixed". You hear a lot of "the Bills can't keep playing this way!" and "they can't depend on Josh to be their best runner!". But...why don't you hear that stuff about those other offenses? I've never heard anyone say the Ravens or Eagles need to rely less on their QBs' legs. I've never heard anyone speak about the fact that Lamar Jackson is the best runner on the Ravens as a BAD thing. With other teams, it's this great virtue and dangerous threat. With the Bills, it's some sort of unsustainable liability. I don't get it.

CMC got traded for the equivalent of 1st round capital, not 2nd. I'm not saying definitively that it would or would not have been a good idea to trade a 1st for him, I'm just saying that a 2nd wasn't gonna get it done.

Justin Fields has come right out and said that achieving the single season QB rushing record is his big objective for the rest of the season. Figure out a way to limit that dude's rushing output (I know, way easier said than done), and this should be a comfortable win. And by limit, I mean keep him to 70 yards instead of 170.

He got beaten a few times, yes, but he also had multiple lockdown reps and made some key stops. Peak form? Maybe not. He's improving week to week, though, and is starting to round into form at just the right time for the Bills. Thinking of a couple of the stops he made yesterday -- including a key third down stop -- I'm not certain that the Bills would have won the game without Tre in the lineup.

Sensational final. The most tense, dramatic, exciting soccer match I've ever seen. Anyone who watched that and still thinks that soccer is boring just can't be helped. Awesome ending for Messi, with the Copa and now the World Cup. Hard to argue that he isn't the GOAT. I'm definitely going to a game in 4 years when the World Cup comes to North America.

Plenty has been said and will continue to be said about this game, good and bad. I'll just add one bit of positivity: The Bills have been showing a lot of mettle in recent weeks in terms of winning close games. When things aren't going perfectly, or when they go down by a score late in a game, they're finding ways to hang in, come back, and get the job done. In recent years, I've felt like this team was a bit of a front runner. That is, when things were going well and they were having their way, they were blowing teams out. But when adversity hit and games got close or they got on the wrong side of the scoreboard in the 4th quarter, they were a different team, and not in a good way. Lately, though, they've been overcoming that and finding all sorts of ways to win. Now sure, you could look at it more pessimistically and say that it's a bad thing that they're not still blowing more teams out, that they require late game heroics to win ball games. And that's fair. I would counter, though, that in the types of big games we hope to see the Bills playing in -- AFC Title games and Super Bowls -- blowouts are not likely to happen. Those types of games are likely to be close, and to require late game competency, mettle, and an ability to overcome adversity against talented opponents. Thinking about games like the Lions and last night's Dolphins game, I can't help but feel like there are encouraging signs of a growth for this team. Lastly, let us not forget that it was a huge divisional win in prime time against a talented and very motivated opponent. At the end of the season, no one asks "how?", they just ask "how many?", and to that end, the Bills have won five straight and sit 11-3, the number one seed in the AFC. Considering the adversity they've faced this season -- ridiculous amounts of injuries, the loss of players as good as Micah Hyde and Von Miller, Josh's elbow injury -- that's really impressive stuff. Go Bills!

I think you read the injury report wrong. He practiced in full on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a Vet Rest Day on Thursday. He's good to go.

Lecturing, insulting, condescending, projecting, and wanting to re-litigate Star Lotulelei for the millionth time. Yep, that's BADOL, alright! Love ya buddy.

My internet friend, I would like to suggest a new tactic: Have a conversation on here with someone without insulting them or being condescending. Just try it. Just once. You have added two replies in this thread. Both were either insulting, condescending, or both. As I've said before, you're clearly very bright and have intelligent, worthwhile football opinions. For whatever reason, though, you seem either incapable or unwilling to discuss them without belittling the person to whom you are speaking. Maybe you don't even realize you're doing it. Maybe you've been doing it for so long that you don't know any other way. I'm not really sure. If you want to be the model for "good internetting technique", I might suggest one of the most basic, simple, crucial factors in said technique: Be kind to people. If not kind, at least be decent. Don't be needlessly rude to people you've never met. It doesn't serve you well, it doesn't serve the person to whom you're speaking well, it doesn't serve ANYBODY well. It's just not necessary. With that said, I wish you and your family good health, happiness, and prosperity this holiday season and into the new year. Go Bills!

I respectfully disagree with the contention that this has been a below average world cup, at least in terms of the product on the pitch. Location wise? Yeah. Agreed. The human rights abuses and outright criminality by the Qatari government have been disgusting, and almost put me off watching the whole tournament altogether. Soccer wise? There have been upsets, tense battles, dramatic PK shootouts...And now, a final that should be absolutely riveting between Argentina and France. Messi's last stand vs Mbappe and the talented French team, looking to become just the third nation ever to win back-to-back World Cups. I'll be watching, and I'm excited for the final.

Hope you're having a nice holiday season, BADOL. Happy Christmas to you and yours!

My "bull#### detector" has been going off with McDaniel ever since I saw that filmed cell phone conversation with Tua from when he was hired. I'll believe that his coaching style and demeanor are sustainable when I see it. Until then, I'm leery, and like I said, I suspect his schtick will get old fast if and when the team starts losing football games.

As someone else pointed out on social media... As long as the Dolphins are winning, then McDaniel's whole schtick is cute and everyone loves him. If they start losing, though, he's in danger of going from "cool" to "corny" real quick. Then his act gets old fast. It's a Rex Ryan type situation.

Fair enough. They were also 13th against the rush last year, but are 4th this year. I think that being better against the run necessarily leads to giving up more passing yards, and the injuries and turnover at CB and S have certainly not helped.