Logic

If anybody commits a fake slide, I'm turning it off and writing Roger Goodell a letter.

That was really the crossroads moment for ol' Filthy Beast. He could've packed it in then and there, said "ok, ya got me", and moved on to some other passtime. But he didn't! He doubled down! And here he still is, after a season in which he was once again transparently trolling this forum, once again posing as a Bills fan, and once again making epically bad predictions, trying to insist on his credibility and predict another Bills loss. An absolute sight to behold.

I think that the NFL has decided that they're going to protect quarterbacks at all costs, and it results in all sorts of ticky-tack, namby pamby, horsecrap calls that are offensive to the viewer. I think that star quarterbacks ESPECIALLY benefit from this treatment. I agree with what you say, but as long as you always keep in mind what I just said, you'll have an easier time understanding/accepting the ridiculous calls that get made on a weekly basis.

I'll give you this: your commitment to the bit is unmatched. Most troll accounts who secretly like another team but are posing as a Bills fan would've folded up shop long ago. Certainly once everyone here saw through the ploy. And yet, here you are, sallying forth, predicting Bills' losses week after week and insisting on your own credibility. No matter what, you refuse to break kayfabe. Kudos, Dolphins fan. Kudos.

But tell me the truth, Beast... Does it make you sad that your favorite team has to give up the "Fins up" slogan because Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville group trademarked it?

It's been said in various parts already in this thread, but to put it succinctly. Each team can only call up two players per week. With Dodsen and Davis out, the Bills needed the bodies at those positions more than another running back. As for why Murray over Fournette in a general sense: Murray is, by far, the best pass blocking back on the Bills roster. By far. Cook and Johnson are the ball carriers, Murray is the pass blocking guy on obvious passing downs where they want extra protection for Josh. That's how it'll likely remain throughout the playoffs.

I agree with this assertion. Elam DOES need to earn his time on the field, just as all other players do and should. However, I stand by the notion that the improvement he needs in order to take his game to the next level will only come with live bullets, not in practice. It's like the difference between sitting a rookie quarterback for a full season vs letting him play and get real experience. The looks and intensity and opportunities he sees in practice simply cannot rival what he will see in a real game where everyone's playing for keeps. It's not that I'm saying Elam should skip past the "earning it in practice" phase, of course he shouldn't. I'm just saying that what he really needs (in my opinion), can only be gained by playing in real NFL games. In his rookie season, for instance, I felt like he got better and better the more he played, until -- by the end of the season -- he was starting to show flashes of being a difference maker. Either way, unless the Bills cornerback room gets healthy fast, the Bills may have no choice in the matter. Elam may HAVE to play.

This is where I would repeat the assertion that one game is not a big enough sample size to state what you just did declaratively. Those personnel groupings may well have been matchup specific. I don't particularly care to go back and forth on the matter, though. You've stated your opinion. I disagree with it, or at the very least, feel that it's too early to reach a conclusion on the matter. Onward.

I agree with this 100%. What's weird about Elam is this: He has all the physical talent needed to be a good NFL starting cornerback. Based on what his coaches and teammates say, he also has the burning desire to be great and is a very hard worker. His sole liability thus far would seem to be his slowness in picking up the nuances of the zone scheme that the Bills run. How much he's able to learn and assimilate into this scheme vs how much he'll just forever lack the instinct necessary to excel in it, I can't really say.. But one thing's for sure: If he's to have any hope of succeeding here, he needs to be on the field. Practice reps alone won't do it. As Warrior9 said, the playoffs aren't really the place you want a guy to be learning on the job, but the Bills may not have a choice. Year three will really be make or break for Kaiir Elam. As for yesterday's performance: up and down, but in my opinion, there was more good than bad. After that first series where the Steelers picked on him, he acquitted himself pretty well. The interception, the second near interception, and a handful of good coverage snaps. Yes, he got beat a time or two, but nothing awful. Yes, he got bowled over by a big receiver. But all in all? Encouraging day for Elam, I thought.

I don't disagree with the overall thesis "Gabe may not be right for this particular offense". I also agree that I'd rather see Khalil Shakir on the field than Gabe Davis. But to suggest that the reason that the offense performed well the one game Gabe missed this season was BECAUSE he didn't play...I'm not so sure. Correlation does not necessarily equal causation. Also, Shakir primarily plays in the slot. Gabe's ACTUAL replacement is, more often than not, Trent Sherfield. He didn't have any particularly meaningful contribution to the game yesterday. Did he even have a catch? I do like Deonte Harty and would kind of like to see him get more action in this offense. Anyway...I'm sticking with one game not being a big enough sample size to make a statement as definitive as "the offense is better without Gabe Davis", but we can agree to disagree.

Kind of a small sample size, no?

It took me like a solid two weeks to get over my D injury. Lots of ice and thinking about baseball and my grade school lunch lady.

You must be new here 😜

From my perspective, the Steelers didn't start moving the ball with consistency until Taron Johnson left the game, at which point they picked on Cam Lewis relentlessly. It was attacking the middle of the field after Johnson and Bernard and Spector left that got the Steelers offense rolling, imo. Elam gave up some catches, yes, but nothing back breaking. He was not the liability that his play at the beginning of this year would've indicated that he might be.

The three you mentioned are the biggest candidates, but...the Elam pick wins it for me. Not only did it keep 7 off the board for the Steelers, I think it was also a huge confidence builder for Elam. A turning point in his day. He was getting absolutely picked on on that drive, and rather than "throw it to whoever Elam's covering" being the edict of the day for the remainder of the game, Kaiir said "I can do this", and acquitted himself reasonably well the rest of the game. Massive play at a huge moment in the game.

I thought I maybe imagined this post. Like a fever dream. I went and had a beer and ate some rice and came back and it was still here! It's real! A human being who is a fan of neither of the teams that played today actually took the time to come here and post it! Amazing.

So impressive. Klein Elam Spector Williams Next man up, over and over and over with this team. Yes, the injuries the Bills sustained are very concerning for next week against KC, but that's something to worry about tomorrow. 24 hour rule. Tonight? Tonight it's celebration time. Depth was tested and held firm. On to the Divisional round. GO BILLS!!

If we're giving out multiple game balls... AJ Klein Kaiir Elam Kalil Shakir Josh Allen Sean McDermott If we're just giving out one game ball, as it seems like SHOULD be the custom... It's Josh f'n Allen. All day and twice on Mondays. Dude was a rabid pack of great white sharks tonight. Super-human. Best player on the field. Best player in the league. GO BILLS!

As someone who called for McDermott to be replaced after this season, it's only fair for me to come here and say... That man deserves a world of credit right now. From keeping the team together and going from 5% chance at playoffs to the two-seed, to keeping this defense together with duct tape and baling wire, to holding the Steelers to 17 points despite being down to CBs 4, 5, and 6 and two backup linebackers. He made major changes to the way he was calling defense on the bye week, he had the courage to fire Dorsey mid-season. All in all, Coach McDermott just deserves a ton of credit. A ton! Bravo, coach. Way to go! GO BILLS!!!

I can't believe @Zerovoltz actually came here to start a thread about this. Actually...yes I can. Same as it ever was...

They must have really liked what they saw from Mayo to hire him so quickly. I can't imagine a tougher job in football than following Bill Belichick in New England.

Zero All-Pros and just two Pro Bowlers is the best possible motivational tool McDermott could've been given right before the playoffs start. And if you think he doesn't resort to those tactics, or that the players don't care...you're wrong on both counts.

These signings are almost always an indication of the health of one or more of the players at the same position on the active roster. Klein signed to practice squad because Dodsen will likely miss this game, so Klein takes his roster spot and provides veteran guidance and to Spector/Williams and a "break glass in case of emergency" presence if those two struggle. Ankou is the one who loses his practice squad spot because Jones is now back fully healthy at DT, lessening the need for another depth body there.

Yep. Said this earlier in this thread, but... Fournette has fumbled four times in his entire career. One fumble per 286 carries. Cook has fumbled four times THIS SEASON. One fumble per 59 carries. Add to that the physical nature of Fournette's game and the fact that defenders won't wanna tackle a guy like that on a 20 degree day, and Fournette oughta be getting half of the carries at least, IMO.

I think that an extremely windy game still limits the Steelers more than it does the Bills. For one thing, Josh Allen's passes should theoretically cut through the wind much better than Mason Rudolph's, so the opportunity to pass the ball effectively seems greater for Buffalo than Pittsburgh. Additionally, Josh's legs can and should be a very effective weapon on days like Sunday. When it's bitter cold and the wind is whipping, no one wants to tackle a 6'5" 240 lb freight train running at them. If the weather on Sunday and Pittsburgh's predilections want to make this an old school, smash 'em up slopfest, then the Bills need to be ready. Make Josh's legs the primary mode of offense. Run it right at them. Be physical, be proud, and set the tone. All of that said...I'm terrified of this game. I don't know how anyone could've watched the recent Pats and Chargers games and not conclude that this is the exact same type of thing, where the Bills could potentially play down to the level of their opposition. Add in the way that bad weather levels a playing field, and the way that Pittsburgh's D has given Allen fits at times in his career and, well....I'm not exactly predicting a Bills blowout.