Success

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?

Seems like the wheels are falling off. All of a sudden, we are in a situation where it seems like a rebuild is in order, and not a typical retool. I'm usually pretty hopeful, but that took a big hit yesterday. I realized that we're just another team - we can't reel off a couple of TD's in a quarter easily if we need it anymore. We're not explosive on offense, and have one of the most vanilla/soft defenses I think I've ever seen in Buffalo. There is no quick fix. Other teams are starting to move past us as they ascend, and while we're regressing. The reality is starting to hit: we might not get a title w/ Allen.

I keep wondering if the team feels like we do. They probably do. For us, nothing really matters but a SB now. We're not excited about the regular season, or regular season games - we have a spirited thread going right now about whether this team is even fun to watch now. And I have to believe the team feels that way. I don't think this is fun for them anymore. They're pros and should be able to rise above that, but human psychology is human psychology.

We aren't able to pressure opposing QB's. That really stands out. I'd love to add, "but at least we're stout against the run."

I'll zag a little. I think it really helps to have a mini-bye right now. Most of the injuries don't seem too serious, and getting Kincaid back will have a big impact. @Pittsburgh- Win vs Cincinnati- Win @ NE- Win @ Cle- Win vs Phil- Loss vs NYJ- Win 12-5 & win the WC game. Likely lose the divisional.

We tend to have very good Decembers. I'll give McDermott that - we close strong. This is a different team, though. We really can't impose our will on other teams like we used to, or score as prolifically. But it's also a different year for the AFC. Every team out there is pretty flawed. There is always hope.

And the Colts & Pats are in the AFCCG again. Like, really universe? We get that life isn't fair, but it doesn't have to be unbearably cruel, either. Are we getting a little "Platoon" there?

I'll tell ya - being a Bills fan is definitely not for the weak.

This post cheered me up. It's excellent perspective. Heck, if the Bengals can pull of an upset this weekend, we're right back in the mix for the division.

Just to zag a bit - we definitely DO have points in every season that feel like this. And we literally always finish strong. We're an amazing December team. And we wouldn't feel nearly as low if the Pats weren't having their resurgence - which I agree w/ Newton is kind of fool's gold right now, but they will win the division barring something unusual. I'll still get stoked if we make the playoffs, though - and keep on hoping.

Yeah - good point in the 1st part there. We just find new ways to beat ourselves. Turnovers, penalties, poor execution, poor play calls. And I don't want to take anything away from the Texans. That D had an inspired effort tonight, and they deserved to win. But as we've seen a few times this season, we also made it much easier for them. I don't know who this team is right now. I'm definitely not used to our offense struggling like this. It's hard to watch Josh take so many sacks, and many because there was simply no one open - and that was easy to see on some of the wide angles.

I'd have some faith we could make a run this year if we had a high seed - but winning 3 on the road seems like way too tall of a mountain to climb for this team.

I get that, and I spend most of my time trying to appreciate what we have now. But it's also brutal watching one lost season after another w/ such a generational talent. We lucked out w/ Allen, and we're just blowing it.

The comforting part of that is that it now looks like we'll have to win 3 games on the road to get to a SB, if we even make the playoffs. Anyone else a wide right alumnus? What a fan experience this has been for my entire life. Almost beyond comprehension. And Pats fans are always like, "opposing fans are just jealous." Hell yeah - hell yeah.

We're not well coached. I mean, the flags all season alone. No discipline. Can we return a kick without getting a flag?

Definitely not. Tough to get to this point of the Allen era. We sort of have that "SB or bust" mentality that Pats fans had for years - but without the titles to rest our laurels on. The Ravens comeback was fun, and the KC game. The Bucs game was okay. Otherwise, this is a slog, and depressing.