Success

I'm indifferent about it - it is unique and has taken hold nationally, so there's that. The thing I'm getting just a little tired of is every commentator doing their riff on the "wacky Bills Mafia" thing with a forced chuckle. Nothing against the mustard guy, but he gets a bit too much focus.

It's weird - I find myself freaking out more about the NEXT game, IF we win this one. I'm very calm about the KC game right now. There is no debate: former New England quarterback Tom Brady has done a number on me.

We actually have a bandwagon. It'll take some getting used to.

He reminded me so much of Manning's last season yesterday. Every time he went back to pass, you'd hold your breath - he has absolutely no zip left on the ball. But man, what a career. One of the greatest QB's to play the game, for sure - when he was on, he was unstoppable. And from what I understand, he has been a star off the field, as well, and done a lot of good for the community in New Orleans. He can retire happy, and hopefully feeling fulfilled. He added a lot to this game we all love, and was tremendous fun to watch for a long time.

Honestly, it reminds me a LOT of when we used to play Brady. It was so dangerous to blitz him back in the day - Allen is starting to establish the same rep.

I can't stand watching that guy. He's still a Pats homer. You have to ditch those loyalties if you ever want to be taken seriously as an announcer. Look at Aikman - he can call a Cowboys game, and you'd have no idea he ever played for them, unless he mentions it. Bruschi has actually made great strides - he was terrible when he started (the Trent Edwards MNF game against the Pats was one of his 1st big moments, and it was hard to listen to). But at least he's trying.

I absolutely love it. I'm not an "everyone should get a trophy" guy, but it's hard losing a playoff game. Lamar's a good dude and it's a way he still "wins" even though the Bills advance. And it's a good charity. This tradition Bills fans have started is so awesome, and will make a positive difference in the world. I love us.

I'm so excited for this match-up. It was weird - part of me was hoping it would end up this way, even though logic dictated that of course we'd prefer to face the Browns. It's just the best against the best. I see the Chiefs as being so similar to us: high-flying pass attack, all kinds of weapons, elite QB's, great coaching, defenses that are solid and opportunistic, but more in the "bend don't break" mode. It's almost like looking in a mirror. If pressed, I might admit that their offense is just a little bit better, as is there defense - but the differences are fairly negligible. We can keep up in a track meet w/ them, which is what I expect. Outcome could be a "whoever gets the ball last" thing....

He's spot on. ALL of the coverage I've seen is "well, about Lamar...." No credit for the Bills.

Truthfully, I wouldn't give it a 2nd thought. It's more the football fan in me that wants to see the highest-level match up, and see 2 great QB's battle for the right to go to the big game. It wouldn't shock me if Mahomes/Allen becomes the Brady/Manning of this era. Which would be great for football, and also make this game the start of a great & memorable rivalry.

I've seen a lot of comments (here and elsewhere) that Davis should have caught that ball. In real time, I just didn't see it that way. It's a very tough catch - the kind you want a good WR to make, but also the kind that we've seen even the best not be able to handle. It was a pretty high velocity throw, and pulling something like that out of the air, at that angle, is very high-level playmaking. He can't make 'em all. The previous week, he basically won the game with some of the best sideline toe drags I've seen.

If I'm a Chiefs fan, I'm more worried about the toe. I'm glad he's playing. This is kind of the match-up we've all been waiting for; I know some don't care, but I don't want to back into a game as big as the SB. I want the Bills to earn it.

I was hoping yesterday would go differently. The Browns had such a real chance of pulling that off - but way too many mistakes. If I'm a Browns fan, that game is full of plays that would leave me w/ a "what if...." for years. And then the specter of Sir Thomas Brady, once again looming in wait for the Bills if we do advance. I'm in an odd position of rooting for a better team to win that game just so we don't have to hear all of the narratives and watch giddy Pats fans who think they "win" if Brady beats us.

I was grappling w/ this yesterday. I was kind of freaking out about it. But I think I may be viewing it the wrong way. The Bucs are likely the "easiest" team left that we could face. I should want that as a fan - the PTSD I have about Brady is strong, but logic should dictate that we'd have a better shot against his team than anyone else.

Disagree w/ some on the throw to Davis in the endzone. Of course he could have caught it - but that's a tough catch. Not a "should" kind of catch, by any means.

Wow - they ARE cocky! "If you get Allen flustered, he makes mistakes." I mean, is there a QB who does NOT make mistakes when they get flustered? Isn't that an integral part of being flustered?

The Bills coaches came up w/ a GREAT gameplan to stop Jackson. And had he not thrown that pick 6, the game is touch & go until the end. Yeah, he threw the pick 6 - but it's way too hot takey to write him off. He is one of the league's most exciting players, and we'll have to grapple w/ him for years to come.

This is a great match-up. I actually debated before today if it might be better for the Bills to get the Chiefs - we can run a track meet w/ anyone. That's probably irrational, but you really never know in the playoffs. I think that team is beatable and if I was a Chiefs fan, the Bills are the last team I'd want to face.

Those guys laid the foundation, and most of them are still very invested in the overall success of the Bills. The success of the current team is everyone's success. If we get the SB win, I think they'll celebrate as much as us, and as much as the current players. I'll certainly raise a toast to all of them if we pull it off. Bills for life.

I'm surprised at the persistent, lasting power of my dislike for Brady.

Can't wait.

He's been really good. I haven't watched him play too much, but I'm impressed w/ some of his throws today.

Feel the same about it. It's more intuitive to root for the Browns - but the NFL is all about match-ups, and part of me thinks that we actually might match up better w/ the Chiefs. I just want good games today. I'm usually wrong when I start to overthink who would be better to play.

I haven't seen much discussion of it - but what did everyone think about Allen's "flop"? I would have been truly upset about that if I was a Raven's fan - not so much at Allen, but that it actually got a flag. As a Bills fan, it just makes up for a million of 'em that went against us. But man was that ticky tacky for a playoff game.

Great write-up. I look forward to these posts. Yes on the dome. YES. With Allen and this offense, it will always be on my mind as we're going through seasons and trying to secure homefield advantage. It is strange to think that homefield could work against us in certain circumstances - and when we do get it, I'll always start thinking about the weather first, and just hoping that it will be a relatively calm day. Had we lost that game, it's probably all we would be talking about today. That wind grounded our offense.