Success

I was thinking all of these things, then you wrote them down. 100% agreed. I really hate preseason overreactions. But there was a lot to digest tonight, and it all can't be filed under "it's just preseason." I think the biggest concern I have is that McD has too much on his plate now. Penalties and general undisciplined play are not a good look at any time. I really hope we don't end up thinking that the combined HC/DC thing was an experiment that just didnt work. Gotta give it time, though. See if they can work out the kinks.

Zappe just made a great 40+ throw for a TD in the Pats game, after a meh showing by Jones. Take some solace in the fact that New England is about to continue their Losman/Edwards debate phase of mediocrity.

All of the comparisons to the Cincy game. I mean - that was actually a GAME.

For sure. That's actually my biggest concern. Even in preseason - that shouldn't be happening.

The issue w/ preseason is that as fans, we have been starved for football. It's a long wait. When we finally get to see the starters, we want fireworks. We want to look like we're gonna look. But that just ain't the way in the preseason. Not that there aren't concerning things going on. But it's easy to overreact.

It's either: 1) Glad we had this in the preseason - get all of the mistakes out now, look terrible, show up in week 1 w/ lessons learned & ready to go 2) Everyone outside Buffalo is right, the Bills window has closed, and NIck Wright is smiling I'll take door # 1 all day, every day.

That's conventional wisdom. BUT, if Allen just missed a few weeks or something, you need a guy who can hold it steady. It's not all or nothing.

We're gonna find out that this ref crew spent a night in Buffalo, ordered ranch w/ their wings and got mercilessly ridiculed.

There have been some rumors of trading for a better backup. Might be a thing.

Kincaid is going to be really fun to watch. If Davis really has "returned," the O is going to be kind of ridiculous.

I remember my first preseason...

There are a lot of overreactions on this thread - preseason is literally nothing. But I can't discount all of them. They play vanilla & all that, so we're not seeing what we will be seeing. But some of the penalties and sloppy play are concerning. I'm definitely worried that McD bit off more than he can chew taking on 2 roles.

Has McD taken on too much being DC & HC?

We're on to 2024.

Martin, baby. It's like the old days - we've got a punting game!

One of my biggest pet peeves is preseason overreaction. But, I have one. I really don't know if we have a good DC or OC right now. We might - but McD trying to be HC and DC has been a concern, and still is. And the jury is still way out on Dorsey.

Dude....

Well, Davis looks great at least....

That's on them. People forget what preseason is about. No DC or OC shows their hand in preseason.

Reminder: it's mid-August.

As long as Martin keeps punting like that. we'll coast this season.

He's 41. That's pretty old.

The more egregious calls were in the AFCCG, imo. If I was a Cincy fan, those would have stuck w/ me. Just terrible, game-changing calls. But, I'm also of the school of thought that there are a few of those in almost every game. KC did benefit, in that case. If the Bills ever win an AFCCG or SB because of a bad call or 2, I certainly won't complain. And every fanbase probably feels like they are owed that.

It's no criticism of McD - but I always flinch a bit when people say Mahomes is better than Allen because of the success KC has had. Reid is the difference-maker there. He's just a better coach - really, the best in the league at this point, at least imo. We won't know until the end of their careers how Allen & Mahomes will stack up against each other in future QB rankings. But I'd bet it's a lot closer than it appears right now, and that Allen has a chance to be viewed as the best of his generation in time.

I've gotta disagree. We've spent years now watching JA run for his life & dazzle w/ his moves to elude the rush - but that's not a good thing. Imagine if he had a second or 2 more back there, where he could be more calm & survey the field before having to make a move? Time in the pocket is everything. And we hear it all of the time from ex players & coaches - you build the trenches. The trenches are where championships are won.