transplantbillsfan

I respectfully disagree.

Ummm... what? Are you arguing just to argue? Or were you one of the ones who thought we wouldn't win more than 4 games and bitter that you were wrong?

It's the NFL and I just think you're relying on too many permutations that you assumed were most likely scenarios. The Chargers could very easily lose in New Jersey next week or at home against the Raiders to close out the season. OR The Chiefs could potentially lose both of their remaining games.

Tons of things can happen. The Chiefs aren't exactly models of consistency. They could lose their last 2 games and the Chargers could take the AFC West, eliminating them from WC contention. There's just a lot. Root for 2 straight wins and 10-6 and we're pretty much locked into a playoff spot. I know a W in NE is unlikely, but I'm praying for a Christmas Miracle... would make my holiday that much better. As far as 9-7 goes, I'd rather root for this and that (Chargers losing one of their last 2 OR Chiefs losing their last 2 AND Titans losing week 17 to the Jags OR Ravens losing one more) rather than this and that and that (Chargers winning 2 AND Titans losing to the Jags but not the Rams AND Ravens losing one more). Lots of permutations involved here. I hope the Bills just simplify things and win their next 2

No, no one knows. We can't say for sure that Taylor wouldn't have thrown 5 interceptions in one half and we wouldn't have gone down 30 at the half because of those 5 interceptions because Taylor didn't start and I'm unable to see into parallel universes. But I think anyone with any level of sanity would acknowledge nothing like that would have happened in the 1st half if Taylor started. Maybe we don't win. Maybe we do. What I disagree with is that it isn't completely obvious that game would have been a much more competitive game if Taylor were starting. Cincinnati and the Colts are both common opponents. We lost to the Bengals and beat the Colts. The Ravens played the 'Phins, who we play twice, and the Bengals, who they play twice. If the Ravens lose either of these next 2 games and the Bills beat the 'Phins but we beat the Patriots, we both have 1 loss against common opponents and it goes to the Strength of Victory tiebreaker. That's a really weird way to root for this. playing out. To me, it's most logical to root for losses for these teams. The Chargers play the Jets in NY... which is no gimme... and then a divisional game against the Raiders. The Titans losing yesterday was best for us knowing the likelihood of the Bills, Ravens, Titans and Chargers somehow ALL ending up 9-7 is pretty far-fetched.

Ummm... what? How on God's green Earth was Tennessee losing to SF a bad thing???

Correct, but it's not like that's not that far-fetched. Then you have the Titans who close with 2 incredibly tough teams in the Rams and Jags. I can't believe I'm saying it, but root for the Jets this weekend because I could see the Chargers being the one team getting in over us at 9-7... and if that happens, McDermott better prepare himself for an offseason of public media criticism for benching Taylor in that LA game.

Yes, but both of the Ravens final opponents are common opponents, so if Buffalo beats Miami but loses to NE, which I think everyone agrees is fairly likely, we're tied in common opponents and it's back to SOV.

Every loss will have cost us, including the Peterman debacle. Root for teams we've beaten to win because there's a really good chance the SOV tiebreaker could come into play.

As for the pass to Jones, I just watched it a couple more times. It won't be labeled a drop, but the ball landed squarely in his hands and he was just never able to cleanly catch it and there was really minimal interference by the defender. It should have been a catch, that's why I think it's a drop.

The "any other QB would throw 4 interceptions" was tongue in cheek and just playing to the Peterman crowd C'mon now... can we please stop accusing anyone of thinking Taylor is the best QB of all time It's not like we aren't still and still shouldn't be drafting a QB in round 1.

It's not Bills fans, it's people in general, especially when they get grouped in packs with a sort of mob mentality.

Well... we're doing our part and so are the Colts. Damn, I really thought the Giants were going to beat the Eagles as I was watching that game in the bar

Whoops

You missed a game where the offense looked like it found its rhythm and Taylor played some of the best football of his career for the 1st half. Then McDermott/Dennison's offensive approach went typically conservative when they get a 2 score lead. I just want a foot to the throat 60 minute pounding for once just to prove we can hold a lead. Next week if we miraculously get a lead this offensive approach just won't work.

If the Ravens lose either of their next 2 games and the Bills beat the 'Phins week 17, we would have the same common opponent record and it would then go to Strength of Victory. Can't say for sure, but I think Buffalo would have SOV tiebreaker.

It just really irritates me because the offense was just on fire in the first half. Taylor had perhaps his best half and a Bills uniform. We looked like we were going to blow them out by 30+ points. This worked because it was Jay Cutler and the Dolphins. Next week is going to be a very different story.

Gotta bump for another week... alive all the way to week 17... just look back through the pages of this very thread to the beginning of the year to discover how impossible this seemed for many right here on this message board

Man, Taylor is still really underappreciated for how successful he is as a QB behind one of the worst OLs in the NFL when any other QB would be getting sacked or hit while they throw four interceptions.See 1st half of Chargers game for reference.Taylor escapes sacks so routinely and easily because of his athleticism that it's very easy to overlook these as plays he made almost or entirely on his own. And I thought it was interesting how dynamic Dennison's play calling was in the 1st half. He had a game plan asking Taylor to throw a lot, and he did, and did it well. Hell, Taylor was on pace to throw it 35+ times for over 300 yards after the 1st half. Then typically over-conservative in the 2nd half. As for the deep throws... well stone-hands Jones doesn't help, but aside from that nicely placed dropped ball, were any of those guys really running open on those deep passes? I love that he's still throwing deep but would much rather see him overthrow than underthrow. Fantastic win!!! 2 more, please

Yeah, people say idiotic things when they’re all emotional

Titans look like they might. Chargers just need to lose one more.

One can never assume what the heck Shady meant. He's very difficult to understand... even he'll admit that

Why the past tense? Isn't he still our starter and aren't we rooting for the playoffs? Don't we all want to see Taylor succeed?

Wow... good job guys! You've fed the troll... he'll sleep well tonight

If that's true, why the hell are they letting him be a full participant in practice? He's already in stage 4 of the protocol.