Success

That - probably more than anything - is the NFL.

They actually might get a ring, and their window will be open as long as JA is the QB. Opposing fans love to say "the window is closing." It's based on zilch.

I think the new protocols are going to save the season. Some of the recent games have been crazy w/ the # of players out. We have no excuse against the Falcons if there are no big changes this week. I think the Bills turned the corner in the 2nd half against the Bucs - I don't see them letting up or having that unpredictability we saw earlier in the season. The division is right there in front of them, and they have (on paper) the easiest road to lock it up.

It's time for 2nd place New England to retire "you just won your Super Bowl" whenever they lose to a team in the regular season. Sorry, Pats fans...you're not that team anymore. And you're not all jaded about beating Buffalo when it happens - your fanbase went nuts after you won the wind game. I thought you were gonna hang a "Wind game, 2021" banner.

Belichick could coach for another decade and go 0-17 every single year - and the only thing any media outlet in Boston should ever say is "Thank you." They're really the definition of spoiled up there.

Honestly, if we do have a run in us for the SB, I think Star will be key. He's simply our best run stuffer when he plays, and that is our biggest liability on D when he's not in there.

Hoodie did the same after the wind game too. He gave McD a perfunctory handshake, then made a bee-line for Allen and spent a fair amount of time talking to him. It was cool to see him do it again. He's old school, and I think he loves how JA plays the game. I can't help but think that he must also imagine what he could do w/ the team he has & Allen behind center instead of Jones. Great write-up, as always.

He basically reinvented sports broadcasting. His enduring passion for the game was always at the forefront of his commentary. R.I.P. to one of the greats.

Didn't take long. There was a lot of doom there on Sunday and even yesterday - but as of today, Jones "had a couple of bad games" but is back to being the next Brady, the Falcons will beat the Bills, and the Patriots are back on track for the SB. All fanbases have some delusion. But in New England, it's such an art form. They live & breathe it.

He sounds like I would trying (unsuccessfully) to imitate a Boston accent.

I noticed after the 1st drive where Allen just missed him on the TD that a bunch of Pats fans in the front row were yelling stuff at him. I'm not normally down w/ talking too much trash to fans - and particularly w/ cursing like that. But it was great to see that, and in a way, it felt like he was speaking for all of us after putting up w/ 20 years of what we've put up with, and definitively turning the tables. Kind of a "how ya like me now?" moment. He's been so great in the Pats games in general. I loved last year when he was wagging his finger in Jackson's face, and backed it up by taking over that game.

I listen to Simmons a lot. He's a great writer, and his pods are entertaining. He's always kind of fallen back on the idea that BB has always owned the Bills, and the Pats will always beat Buffalo in big games as long as he's their coach. I think it's starting to dawn on both him & many Pats fans that division titles aren't a "just add water" thing anymore. McD is a good coach, Allen is a great QB, and they're going to have to fight (and probably get some breaks) if they want to be on top again anytime soon.

Perusing some of the Pats blogs & boards, I saw a few sentiments of "I can't believe we have to face this guy twice a year for the next decade+." Nice to see the shoe on the other foot....

It's a pretty good feeling today. Sweeping them & winning the division last year felt great, but had they done the same to us this year, last year would have been seen as a fluke by many. It was more than just a game. It's the Bills stating emphatically that the AFCE is their division now.

It was inevitable that the Jones hype would fizzle out. The way people were talking about him over the past 2 months was so over the top. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he wasn't their starter in a couple of years.

This Bills team will not falter, imo. I can't help but think of times like the Pitt game during the drought, when all we had to do was beat their back-ups to secure a WC spot and we couldn't. This just isn't that team or even franchise anymore. For starters, they have the ultimate "refuse to lose" guy in Allen. But beyond that, I think everyone knows the stakes and potential pitfalls. This is where that loss to the Jags might serve the team well. They have a chance to secure the division with 2 home games left. Everyone knows it, and I just can't see this team letting up or allowing themselves to give anything but their best to get it done.

Yesterday was glorious. But if I want to have a cup of coffee in negative-town, there is no way that the Pats should have been that close in the 4th. If Jackson can pull down that INT, there is a chance he takes it in for a score, and we would have been losing that game w/ just a few minutes to go. As amazing as the O was yesterday, we still left quite a few points on the board. I don't want to be one of those spoiled fans saying "we should have won by more" - but we should have won by more.

I see a LOT of drought-era Bills fan in some of the current sentiments from Patriots fans. Just hyping players well beyond their talent or potential, with mostly illogical hope. I mean, I remember talking about Todd Collins the way they talk about Jones. You just want to believe, especially if you're used to winning.

I was a little bummed that McD brought up Belichick in the post-game last time. I was concerned that he was like Rex. I thought BB was too in his head, and that it wouldn't bode well for future match-ups. McD really proved me wrong today. He came in w/ the plan needed to win this game, and both he & Daboll were outstanding. I loved how aggressive they were today - it made the difference. He did the out-coaching this time around.

How does this game affect our WC chances? J/k - that mindset is so 9.5 hours ago.

Great write-up - covered all the bases. I loved the line about winning every play. They kind of did. Obviously, NE had a few drives that were nice - but even on those, it didn't feel like we let up. We weren't going to be denied in that game. One of the top 5 wins the Bills have had, at least for me, including the SB years. I don't think people realize how significant this was - to not let the Pats just take the division back & get a sweep a year after we were on top. Their fans were feeling it, and we were already hearing the chatter about how we blew our 1-year window. This is the Bills division now.

Belichick really respects Allen. In the wind game & today, he went out of his way to seek Allen out after the game, and it was pretty clear he was impressed.

I've been very critical of Jones - but mainly because the hype was so over the top. We won't know on any of the rookie QB's for a few years. I don't really know where Jones will end up. Probably somewhere between the hype & how he looked today.

Teams need some attitude. Guys like Diggs & Poyer really give us that.

They've been pretty magnificent since the 2nd half against the Bucs. Today was amazing. Allen had time in the pocket on almost every throw. They were opening holes for the running game. They were depleted & lost a guy during the game - and played just as well. And that front for NE is no joke. They're the key. If they keep this up, it will be very tough to stop this team.