Success

Even last night - I got about a minute of feeling like I had in previous seasons, when Cook broke that run. Then we missed the XP, and it was like 'that's gonna come back to haunt us.' Every game is like a trip to the dentist now.

For sure. But human psychology is what it is. Money doesn't change that.

People talk about "windows" in sports for a few reasons. The main one is retaining talent & maintaining a quality team. But psychology is also a major factor, imo. We certainly feel it as a fanbase. There was even talk preseason about how some of us weren't as "up" for the regular season this year, because no matter what happened & how good we looked, literally nothing mattered if we were going to have an early playoff exit again. It was all about making the Super Bowl - and really, only about that. And we've felt that all season. It's not fun. WE are not having fun. It's a slog. Biding our time for an AFCCG which now looks unlikely. The players have different outlooks. It's their job, and they get paid to show up every week. But it's very obvious that they're not having fun either. There is frustration, impatience, weariness and a general malaise over this team. Even if they "show up" for work - it's the mental edge and joy for the game that can make the difference in the NFL, where there isn't a lot that separates most teams anyway. I hate how tired we look. The only real break in that was the KC game - that reminded me of how we used to be. But KC is such a nemesis, I think the team gets up for that one regardless.

I gave this a thumbs up - great points. The only thing I don't agree with is that I'd still rather make the playoffs, just because I'm shortsighted and it's more fun to be in the playoffs. But there are significant silver linings to missing the playoffs entirely. I can't shake this weird feeling that the brain trust for the Bills isn't on the same page as the fanbase. I feel like they're stubborn, and they've shown that. Missing the playoffs might be a needed wake-up call.

It seemed pretty flukey we were even IN the game. We literally had one offensive touchdown - one! And that was a long Cook run where the Texans D inexplicably broke down. I have a feeling that had the drive pushed into the redzone, we would have had to settle for a FG. And our other TD was a crazy sort of return where it's very likely not a TD if Davis didn't run into a player on his own team. The Texans dominated that game on D - and did enough on offense. Had we managed to pull it out in the end, it would have just given us a false sense of things.

We'll really have to see where we stand injury wise next week. The 10 days is coming at a very good time. It really doesn't seem like most of the injuries are long-term. Some of the predictions on here are pretty gloomy and seem more based on day-after pessimism than on reality. We could collapse, for sure - but we haven't yet in the Allen era, and I don't think we will this year. We're consistently a good December team. I just expect that to continue. I think we're beating Pitt, NE, Cleveland and NY, and probably the Bengals. If I'm wrong and we drop another 3 or 4, this is a genuinely bad team and we are in major trouble.

I was extremely hopeful at 4-0 - but the signs were really there, even at that point. I realize now that I let my inner homer take over & was sure that even though we didn't look great, we were still winning and "figuring it out." All we've figured out is that we're not very talented. I'm not sure if we'll get another team like the one we got used to for about 5 years - where we were always top-tier and scary, even in bad stretches. Like, this is a bad stretch - but we're not top tier, and we're not scary. We're just another team now.

At least we're not part of the "in the hunt" graphic yet. That would really give me some PTSD right now.

Burrow looks like he might play Sunday. We'll definitely face him.

There is probably a "glass half full" plan in here somewhere. Oliver & Hoecht would be impactful, and will be back next year. Bishop has become a revelation. We have good CB's. I think we need an overhaul at LB, but Shaq Thompson is a start. Groot isn't a star but he's a keeper. On offense, the line is good, obviously Allen, Cook & Kincaid, and we have decent enough receivers if we get a true #1. It might not be as tall an order as we think - or a full rebuild as some are starting to talk about. Tough times right now, though.

I do think the Pats game is extra important, just symbolically. If they sweep us, it really will feel like a passing of the torch. It would be better psychologically to at least keep the division race close until the end, even if they are likely to win it this year.

One of the things that I've always given Beane credit for is building a magnificent O-line. I haven't seen that line lately. Last night in particular was brutal. I get that it was an elite defense - but Allen was under duress the entire evening. He had so little time, and still managed to get us in a position to win. Missing a guy on one play that wouldn't have counted anyway is hardly something to even talk about.

Not that I'm completely giving up on the season - but I kind of am. We're not passing the eye test in any way right now. Get in the playoffs, and any team can go on a run. But we'd need so much luck, and we're not a good road team regardless. This seems to be more the Pats year. I don't think they're winning a SB, but it's their year to win the division and probably have a deeper run. I'm not okay w/ that, but I'm okay w/ it in the sense that they'll get the tougher schedule next year. IF we have a good offseason, can dump some cumbersome contracts, get a real #1 WR and make needed changes, we'll be in better position next year to grab a top seed. Big ifs, I know.

He's alright. He's one of our better defenders against the run. But no doubt, very disappointing overall.

It's both Beane & McDermott. One thing that I will never understand is why we do not hire REAL COORDINATORS. We have a puppet on the defensive side, and a promote-from-within with no OC experience on the other. How is that even possible when you have a talent like Allen at QB? Why aren't we taking coaching seriously?