Success

We're better in pretty much every aspect of the game. DVOA was through the roof until yesterday. Our defense is MUCH better - the line is one of the best in the league. With McD calling plays, we've been more aggressive, and have a pass rush that is on par w/ basically any other team. We'll still be a top 5 defense for this season. We have a much better running game this year - and 3 backs who all bring something to the table. Kincaid will continue to get better. Sherfield and Harty are both better than the guys they replaced. Davis has been much improved this season. And the O-line is significantly better in both pass protection & run blocking. I think that about covers it. EDIT: and JA is healthy now, too.

Ugh - didn't realize that about the fracture part of it. I thought if the MRI came out okay, we might stand a chance of getting him back for the playoffs. Well, if he's gone for the season - it's better now than in December. Williams will have plenty of time to get up to speed.

We're still a better team than last year, even w/ the injuries. We have a nice stretch coming up where we can hopefully build a bit of a cushion to absorb some losses when the schedule gets tough. I think 12-5 is pretty realistic for a final record. 11-6 wouldn't shock me, and 13-4 is probably the ceiling. I think it's very possible that the last game w/ the Phins will decide the division. And that's so far away, who knows what both teams will look like at that point. But if we can stay relatively healthy from here on out (and by that, I mean just stay within the league average in terms of players missing time), I like our chances for the division. Outside chance for a 1 seed, and a good chance to be one of the top 3 seeds.

Ya know, it may just be that McD knows how to get the best out of defensive players. Milano is obviously a great player. But he's just one of quite a few mid-to-late round players that have excelled here. Benford may be our best starting CB right now. Bernard is playing great. Wasn't Dane Jackson a 7th rounder? William's won't be at Milano's level - but he doesn't need to. He needs to play solid, disciplined football.

This is football, no tennis.

I would guess later today. I'm holding my breath on the MRI. Obviously, if it's an ACL, we don't see him again until next fall. But if it's just the fracture - there is a great chance he's back by the end of season/playoffs. That would be huge.

We won that game by 28. The Bills are a better team, and we have the better QB. I still like our chances for the division title.

Where is the glaring weakness, though? Beane has done a good job building depth. Dodson & Williams are both capable LB's. Benford, Johnson & Jackson are all good starting CB's. With how good the D-line is, we'll still have a top 5-7 defense. Which is all we need with this offense. My expectations before the season were that this team is a SB contender. That's the same expectation I have today.

Man, the Niners definitely look like the team to beat right now. They are stacked on both sides of the ball. If we make the SB, it's a good bet that's the team we'll be playing.

Great post. There was quite a bit of doom yesterday, which I get, given the circumstances of the day. But with the emotion taken out of it & taking an objective view, YES, we are still SB contenders. Agree 100% w/ the write-up on the defense. Milano - who I still hope can be back by the playoffs - was one of many good players we have on the D. Yes, he was among the best, if not the best. But we have a fantastic D-line, an excellent secondary, and the LB crew can hold their own. Williams will have plenty of time to gain experience & acclimate, and he showed some flashes yesterday that he can do just fine in that role. My expectations for this season didn't change yesterday. Especially when I look around the AFC. We are still the best team, imo.

TOP was brutal today. Seeing Epenesa on the bench getting oxygen said it all. That defense was a group of warriors today. They gave the offense plenty of chances to take control of the game, and by the time the O woke up, the D was completely gassed.

Maybe. It depends on the following: - Are Milano & Jones definitely gone for this season? If either can make it back for the playoffs, stand pat at their position. - How do the replacements do? Williams might be alright. I was excited when we signed Poona Ford. Both will be a dropoff, but in a D like this, maybe not significant enough to warrant any other moves.

Cripes - the halftime show had the "4 big injuries today." They listed Kelce, who is fine - but not Milano.

That's all pretty fair. I feel very good about this team making the playoffs and being a high seed - but it's a long season, and a lot of stuff can happen. Obviously, if injuries to key players continue, it reaches a sort of critical mass. Just hoping we got the bad injury luck out of the way early. But yeah - on to the Giants. One at a time and we'll see where things stand in a few months.

We embarrassed that team last week. I'm not sure if Milano being out is a 28 point difference.

We still have a solid shot at the 1 seed. KC's schedule is a bit easier, but they could also lose to anyone. They're just not dominating opponents like they have in the past.

I feel like making the Bills play in London against a team that was already there for a week ahead of time was kind of like making the players wear hiking boots to play the game. Or something like that. Could we have won? Sure. But today wasn't a measure of who the '23 Bills are. It was a weird, stupid game that is part of a series of weird, stupid games that will happen until the NFL either establishes a team in London, or they reign in their greed and don't. We lost some important players to injury. They might be back, they might not. But it's early in the season - either their back-ups will look good, or Beane will make some moves. It's not a termination notice on the season. So many "we're just cursed" comments today. Bad energy, imo. No opposing fan has the Bills penciled in as a "W" right now, and likely won't for a long time. I don't see ANY team in the AFC as being better. I think the Chiefs and Dolphins are both on our level, but neither team scares me. A few of the other teams COULD beat us (one did today), but we would be favored against any other team. We'll be there at the end. Teams usually need a break or 2 to make it all the way, and there is no predicting that, or planning for it. All we can do is hope it happens to us this year. But this team is still a legit SB contender, and we have as good a shot as anyone.

Just look around the AFC. Even w/ the injuries - which team is measurably better than the Bills? Miami is one of 2 teams that have just 1 loss - and we took them to school last week. The Chiefs could end up w/ the 1 seed, but only because they play in the AFCW, and their schedule is a bit easier. Objectively - is anyone afraid of that team? Not that they'll be "easy," but it's the weakest team of the Mahomes era. And we're simply better than all the rest. I mean, maybe the Ravens are close? But they'd need a good day to beat us, imo. Very likely, it's us & the Chiefs in the end. And we could be playing there, again. But I like the odds if we can maintain some semblance of health from here on out.

Only when we play in Miami.

I was hoping the Bills would become the next NFL darlings that got the calls. Chiefs beat us to it.

More refball for the Chiefs. I don't get that one at all. The ball wasn't tipped, and the CB held the WR the entire way. Pathetic. Truly.

Gotta say - I'm not very fond of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Glad that Bernard is panning out, at least. It would be much worse if he wasn't good this year.

So, Kelce isn't that hurt. But we have determined that he's a big baby.

Let's see how it goes. We were also missing Groot & Benford today. When Benford gets back, we don't need to utilize Elam as much, and we're still a solid CB unit. Milano is a huge loss, if it's the worst. We still don't know. I'd bet Beane would be looking at a trade if that's the case.