Success

At least on the internet, most Pats fans have written the Bills off as a threat. Mac Jones is already playing than Brady ever did in his 1st few years, the defense is the best in the league, they still have the GOAT coach, and the league should be cowering in the face of yet another Pats dynasty. It's not ALL Pats fans of course, but that seems to be the growing consensus. The media is right onboard, as well. Every narrative is "here we go again," and "at least the other teams in the division had a year." Which is all stuff I don't mind. The Bills didn't do well when they were hyped. I'm hoping they can get back on track being under the radar.

The AFC is bananas. It's December and there are still teams who are last in their division who have a legit shot. The Bills must keep winning.

The bolded doesn't really fly. If the D gave up, they gave up - that's part of the game. Just like the 1st game: I've lost count of the # of times I have heard Pats fans say about that one, "If Cam hadn't fumbled, we would have won." No, that's not true. If Cam hadn't fumbled, he would have gotten a 1st down. And there were a few plays in the last minutes that went both ways. That's the game. I don't really know what to expect on Monday. I don't think any outcome would surprise me. Close game, blowout, Pats win, Bills win...could be anything.

I see other coaches trying to "be" Belichick when they play him. If BB was coaching this Bills team, he'd go off direction, and emphasize the run, or screen game, or put in another wrinkle to try to be unpredictable. But essentially, we agree. I don't think McD should try to be BB. We just need to play our game. Where I disagree is the "by far" in more talented. We do have more talent - but it's not that much of a gap. That's a good, well-rounded, physical football team. I don't care about the quality of their opponents: they have won 6 games in a row, in the NFL.

He didn't take Josh seriously last year. I remember before the 2nd game, he said something about Allen that was surprising for him - it was subtle, but it wasn't his usual "build the opponent up" stuff. He was critical. Allen burned the Pats that game, repeatedly. BB is honing in on him - and he has the kind of line that can be disruptive. If McD was trying to play chess w/ BB - he might change our attack to run-first for a game, or something like that. But I hate it when coaches try to out-BB BB, and it never works.

During the drought, I started viewing the Pats games like they were a dentist appointment. Something to kind of dread, that you couldn't avoid, and where the outcome was likely negative. That's still sort of lingering. I know it's logical & rational to think, well, we're the best team now! We turned it around, got a legit franchise QB and a solid coach, and have all kinds of talent compared to those days. But I still have some dentist anticipation in me. It's still there. I think it will take a few seasons of sweeps to purge.

I'm starting to get the feeling that we're standing pat....

It's the Patriots, all day. Belichick will likely have the same amount of playoff experience as all of the other playoff coaches combined. That means something. He's been in every situation. He knows the energy, the kinds of things that can go wrong, and what to exploit in less experienced teams. Coaching takes over in the playoffs, generally. It's rare that a bad coach makes it all the way to the SB. The playoffs are where coaching shine.

It's more just obnoxious now than anything. Like it was w/ the Cowboys for a few decades. You guys are the new Cowboys. The media hypes up everything about you. In the media, it's a Patriots world, and we all just live in it. Which will make a win next week that much sweeter. Nothing like ruining a lame Patriots narrative that pundits love to create.

I'm not going to go searching all over the place to prove anything. I turn on any outlet, or go anywhere on the internet, and THE main narrative is "here they come again!" I haven't even heard anything about the Bills, except for Thanksgiving Day. Like I said - I don't care. Let everyone hype up the Pats to be all unbeatable and the best in the AFC.

Maybe "disrespect" is a stretch - but the media is pretty much back on the Patriots bandwagon. The Bills are an afterthought right now. I don't care at all. But don't pretend that the teams are being given any kind of equal treatment or coverage. The Pats hype is through the roof right now.

So, you're saying you haven't watched or listened to anything in the media? Got it.

I still have hope for the O-line, for all of the reasons you mentioned. If Brown can come back & stay healthy, and both Feliciano & Dawkins can get back to their previous form - it will make a huge difference. And I'm not saying we'll be amazing, but it won't be a liability. Those aren't crazy ifs. I hope that it can be a surprise to all of us as we head into the final stretch.

I'm pulling for the Ravens. I don't think the Bills get the #1 seed, and I don't think that's bad for our chances. But if I have a choice between them playing in Baltimore or New England, where they have that PTSD-inducing 3rd down Viking horn, it's a no brainer.

They've been winning more lately. Better team? Nope.

They're like the villain in a bad slasher flick sequel. You always think it's over, but they keep coming.

It's the way we SHOULD want it. Earn it in December, and with head-to-head wins. But it's still a drag. I knew it wouldn't always be an easy road to the division title, but I was hoping it would be us & either the Jets or Phins. BB is just too good. He'll have that team competitive as long as he's there. But we DO have the better team still. And it will feel even better if they do prevail.

Every time I watch a team play the Pats, they play a little scared. There is a distinct mental edge at this point. I even saw it w/ Brady when he went against them. Play them like any other team, and the Bills should win.

I'd be curious what the TN game would have looked like had the defender returned that easy pick 6 Mac served up.

Belichick is head & shoulders above everyone. It's amazing what he does w/ his teams. Another coach on this Pats team & they would have a losing record. I think we have one of the better ones in McD. But BB is ridiculously good.

Not to pull the same thing other fans could pull on us - but it's not like they have played great offenses.

We could. We're a better team. They're better coached (though McD is solid). BB is going to have some curveballs next Monday. We have to play our game, not make too many mistakes, and get out to an early lead. Take that game, and we're back in the driver's seat, and it puts ALL the pressure squarely on the Patriots for the game at their place.

Mac has been very average today (his stats look good, but that's all). If the Pats beat us, it's because BB is just that much better of a coach.

Their D isn't as good as I thought - but they're opportunistic. They're really solid in all phases - but not spectacular in any phase. As usual, they don't beat themselves (as you said).

It does seem like NE is one of the worst teams in the redzone, at least the past few weeks. Just one FG after another.