Logic

@Hapless Bills Fan @nucci @Rc2catch @ColoradoBills Fair enough. You're all correct in the sense that trade deadline deals for offensive guards haven't happened at the rate that I would've thought over the past several years. I stand corrected. On the other hand, the Chiefs just traded away a quality starting level offensive guard. Granted, it's quite possible they wouldn't have traded with us for any amount, but the fact that this trade occurred showed that acquiring a starting level guard was not some totally improbable penis in the sky fantasy. It happened.

Yes. There are always teams looking to shed cap space or collect draft picks for future years. Especially losing teams. We see good players get traded every single year, including starting offensive linemen. Why would this year be any different?

Sure is looking like there won't be any Bills trades this year. I'd love an offensive guard and find it hard to believe that there are none to be had. On the other hand, with the number 1 scoring offense, number 1 scoring defense, and leading the league in point differential and takeaway differential, I'm not gonna freak out at Beane for being willing to stand pat. Note**:If we fail to win a Super Bowl this year, I'd be willing to bet that it's due to offensive line deficiencies. As such, I sure wish they would go out and get a Will Hernandez or Brandon Scherff or Andrew Norwell. Alas, it seems unlikely this late in the day.

I think we have the exact style of defense you need to win consistently in the modern NFL: Seemingly simple but, in reality, quite complex mix of Cover 3 and Cover 4 looks that show you one thing pre-snap and then rotate to something different post snap. Fast, sideline-to-sideline linebacker duo that often erases the middle of the field. The only thing we're missing is a consistent pass rush from our front four. Hopefully that changes as Epenesa and Rousseau and Basham progress. Add that in and you've got exactly the type of defense that the 2021 NFL calls for. Also, with a few years of results now in, I see this pattern: This defense consistently shuts down average QBs and inferior QBs, but more often than not looks somewhat average against high quality QBs. This defense consistently dominates the offenses that it "should" dominate". They rarely ***** the bed against teams they're "supposed to" beat. On the other hand, high quality quarterbacks are smart enough to crack our defense's code enough of the time that they'll usually produce yardage and points against us. This isn't a bad thing. If the Bills win the games they "should" win every season and dominate lesser QBs, that usually means 10 wins. The problem, of course, is that once you get to the playoffs, you're usually facing good quarterbacks. The Bills under McDermott have yet to limit those types of quarterbacks in playoff games. They shut down Jackson last year, sure, but he's not exactly a dominant passer at this point in his career. Watson, Rivers, and Mahomes all ate our defense's lunch.

Mitch Trubisky and Cody Ford to the WFT for Brandon Scherff and Ryan Fitzpatrick, please. (not saying I've heard that this could happen, just saying I wish it would)

When the dreaded R word (regression) was discussed in the offseason, some misunderstood it. Specifically, statistical regression is not necessarily a bad thing. While it can mean a downturn in statistical production for a given player, it can be a GOOD thing for the offense as a whole. Diggs is the perfect example. Statistically, he has not been as productive this season as he was last season. HOWEVER, Emmanuel Sanders presents a giant upgrade so far over what John Brown was last year. A big chunk of Diggs' targets and catches are going to Sanders. This is a good thing for the offense as a whole. Besides, Diggs is on pace for about 90 catches and 1100 yards. A downturn from last year? Sure. Still a very good season for a WR? Absolutely.

Exactly this. If the Dolphins have shown that they're going to keep trying to score -- which they did -- then you do what you need to do to ensure that they can't tie the game. Specifically, if the Bills had run down the clock and kicked a field goal, it would have been a two score game. However unlikely it may have been, the Phins could have won it with a touchdown, recovered onsides kick, and another touchdown. Instead, by doing what the Bills did (scoring a TD and going for two), the goal was to make it a three score game. The two point attempt wasn't just some "rubbing salt in the wound" thing. It was a strategic move aimed at making it so that the Phins couldn't score or win the game with two possessions, but would instead need three possessions to do so. I trust that if the Phins had shown signs of throwing in the towel, the Bills would have done the same. Instead, the Phins -- understandably -- continued to try to win the game. At that point, the most strategically logical decision for the Bills was to try to put the game out of reach in order to snuff out a comeback, however unlikely said comeback may have been.

I don’t see RB — even an elite player like CMC — as a smart place to invest big money…ESPECIALLY for a pass-heavy offense whose QB hates checking down like I hate Brussels sprouts.

As in you wish YOUR legs were like that, or as in you literally want to have those legs? Nevermind. Don’t answer.

Not to be a party pooper, but I think he’s playfully flipping off Josh. Josh had tried to wave that play off, knowing that Knox’s hand was hurt. Knox insisted that they stick with it any way. Given that fact and the fact that he’s facing Josh while flipping the bird, I conclude that #17 is the most likely target.

Breida and Sanders have the exact same career yards per carry average at 4.9. Sanders is 24, Breida is 26. Based on age and rushing yards per attempt, it doesn't seem like the gap between the two is that big.

I like Sanders well enough, but I don't really see how he gives our offense an element that Matt Breida wouldn't. If they want to add speed to the backfield, they need only to make active on game day the running back that's already on their roster, already knows the playbook, and won't cost any draft compensation to acquire.

I like hearing that they all feel sick to their stomach after that loss. Good. Let it burn them up for two weeks. Let them be chomping at the bit to get back to work. Let them rip off four straight wins leading to Thanksgiving in New Orleans. I don't want to say it, but...oh, okay....let them come back Humble and Hungry!

So it was Dion Dawkins that let the Titans score on infinity straight drives without putting up any resistance at all? Huh.

The REAL reason we lost is that Josh Allen caught a scoring pass. The Bills are 0-3 when he does so. NEVER THROW IT TO JOSH IN THE RED ZONE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reasonable thing to say. On the other hand, the offense still scored 31 points, and the defense couldn't stop a nosebleed. Hard to put the entire loss on the offense's red zone shortcomings.

Paging Quintin Morris or Kahale Warring....

A few thoughts: - There is blame to go around for this loss. It's reasonable to say that the offense should have scored more TDs and less FGs, or that Josh failed to see open checkdown options a time or two. It's also reasonable to say that when your offense scores 31 points, you should win the game. The defense couldn't stop a nosebleed the entire second half, so they certainly deserve a big share of the blame, too. - Even with all that the offense and defense could have done better, the Bills still drove the ball down the field at the end and were six inches away from a 1st and goal with 20 seconds left. - I can't help but wonder if Knox going out with injury ultimately cost the Bills the game. On the 4th quarter drive where Allen failed to throw to the wide open Tommy Sweeney in the flat and the Bills ultimately wound up punting...I just wonder if things would have been different had Knox been in the game. No sense in wasting too much time wondering, though. What happened, happened. - Credit where credit is due: That was a gutsy, impressive win by an undermanned Titans squad that had faced a couple devastating on-field injuries to key players. Vrable's cute little punt return lateral troll attempt was lame, and I'm glad that it didn't work. Other than that, I can only tip my cap to the Titans for going blow for blow with the Bills, digging deep, and finding a way to pull out the win. - I'm with McDermott 100 times out of 100 on that decision to go for it on 4th. Analytics and common sense both tell me it was the right call. I also have no problem with the QB sneak being the playcall there. Josh gets those better than 90% of the time. It wasn't the Xs and Os that cost the Bills this game, it was the Willies and Joes. Execution wasn't up to snuff, period. - It's been said by others, I'm sure, but it sure does feel to me like the Bills sort of needed this loss. To lose the way they lost, right before the bye week (just like last year)...it seems like this was the type of adversity, the type of rallying cry, the type of "re-set and re-focus" loss that this Bills roster often thrive on. Instead of spending the next two weeks hearing how they're Super Bowl favorites, they'll spend the next two weeks with a sick feeling in their stomach, knowing that execution cost them a winnable game.

Officially? 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Cool article from The Athletic today about the Bills in primetime: https://theathletic.com/2895011/2021/10/18/bills-suddenly-a-hot-prime-time-attraction-after-years-as-an-afterthought-theyre-going-to-ring-it-up/ "The Bills made 'Monday Night Football' only three times from 2001 through 2013. They had stretches of six years and four years without an appearance. They went 1-7 on Monday nights from 2000 through 2018, their lone win technically not a “Monday Night Football” broadcast. They beat the New York Jets in Detroit because Orchard Park was snowed under. CBS Sports showed that game. The Bills were even less popular with “Sunday Night Football.” After a six-game losing streak in which they were outscored 196-44, NBC Sports declined to air the Bills for 11 seasons, their absence finally ending in 2019. Buffalo has won three straight on Sunday night and two in a row on Monday night."

Regardless of the Sean Taylor field-dancing incident... Jackson Mahomes and Brittany Matthews are absolutely two of the most annoying, unlikable human beings I have ever seen. They have absolutely no chill. Whatever it is that you're supposed to do when you're related to a famous person -- they do the opposite. They're loud, brash, arrogant, and irritating. I actually don't really have a problem with Pat Mahomes. He seems a little arrogant and aloof, but whatever. His girlfriend and brother, however....that's a different story.

Seeing New England go 0-4 at home to start the season is

The Browns would have been better off with Allen or Jackson, and likely would have been better off with Darnold, too. Baker's career is going in the wrong direction. He's certainly not a guy I'd want to hand a big contract to.