Success

The Giants aren't very well-constructed right now. They have some good skill players, but overall, they aren't very strong in the trenches. I really like what I've seen out of Jones. He's inconsistent, but when he's on, he's very good. They just need to build up the O-line to give him some more time, but he could be the starter there for many years.

This season is great because the Bills are good, fun to watch, and winning. But there are 2 added bonuses: Watching Belichick lose, and watching Brady lose.

I remember being really excited about him on draft day - I thought he was kind of a nice late round find (but I always think that about late rounders). I thought he was just cut or something. Here's hoping he can contribute...

I'm a junkie. Red Zone all day, then the night game, then the highlights. Don't judge me.

I haven't read through the thread, but I would hope that's the majority. People weren't using email the last time we had a true franchise QB. It is very hard to find a franchise QB.

The 3rd place team?

I think it's pretty clear: not only did we get the "right Josh" from that draft, but he is emerging as the clear best QB from that group overall. Last year, that was not really considered because of the year Jackson had. I suppose it's a bit hot-takey to make that determination so soon after last season - but who here would take Jackson over Allen right now? I mean, no way. Allen has all of the skills, and more importantly, all of the intangibles that you could want in a franchise QB. And by all accounts, he's obsessive about correcting his mistakes & his work ethic in general. That's something he shares w/ a lot of the greats.

It's important to remember on this one (and it's probably been mentioned a few times) - there was time enough left for 2 plays. I really didn't think that play would be the 'hail mary.' My expectation was actually that they'd try to pick up a quick 15-20 to make it a manageable pass to end the game on the last play. And the Bills had to play it that way, to an extent. They couldn't just flood the endzone and keep everything in front of them. Our DB's played it as well as they could - it's easy to say that they should have timed a leap better here, or that Poyer shouldn't have knocked into Tre - but it doesn't play out in slo mo like we've seen it a few dozen times at this point.

People keep saying the loss was "Billsy" - but that really connotes how bumbling we used to be (to me), and how we would pull defeat from the jaws of victory and all that. We played that perfectly. I feel totally different about this loss than many others. It was actually cool to be part of an epic game like that, in a way.

I don't know why all of this is even a debate. It's like we're judging it on a slo-mo replay where all of the DB's have hindsight. And even with hindsight & in slo mo, I can't point to anything they could have done better. They were all right there. Anything beyond what they did would have been PI, and that was probably the only way to stop it. It doesn't matter how good a DB is on a play. A perfect throw and perfect catch will generally come out on top.

It's actually not outlandish that we could run the table. I really like how this team plays. They had a couple of hiccups against TN and KC, but this is one of the best offenses I've seen in Buffalo. It's not quite the K-Gun because Kelly was a little more developed, and we don't have that kind of running game - but man, is it close. The # of good receivers we have is a DC's nightmare. And I really feel like the D has found their groove. They're not the dominating D we're used to, and just looking at the scoreboard, they've given up a lot of points over the past couple of weeks - but they're making big plays when they have to, and they're getting pressure on opposing QB's. They're also making tackles and forcing big turnovers.

The OP's take is basically what I had in mind. There are some real variables for the stretch run. I hate that we're going home, west coast, home, Denver in the course of a month. That's a lot of travel back & forth. Also not a huge fan of all of the night games. Kind of funny how I wanted to see that for the Bills for many years, but now it seems like it adds an unknown into the mix. Bad teams get extra hyped for those primetime games. It feels like we at least have to come out of the gate w/ those 2 wins against the Chargers and Niners. Then, it really comes down to the division games.

People tend to say CB's get "burned" anytime they give up a catch, but it's not a proper use of that term. CB's are burned when the WR is clearly open, and they didn't play it well. There are quite a few times in the course of an NFL season when a CB plays it perfectly - but there is no defense against a perfect throw and catch. It's like Daniel's winning kick in Karate Kid. That was the hail mary yesterday. I've watched that more than I ever want to again in my life, and there is nothing Tre could have done. He played it was well as he could have.

Allen was really out of sync yesterday. I actually thought it was his worst day of the season - I thought he played better in our other losses. But when has he ever had a letdown in the 4th quarter? He just seems to have that thing that rises to the moment late in games, no matter what has happened the previous 3+ quarters. Gotta love that.

Good summary. I would have LOVED to win yesterday and coast to a division title without too much worry. But in a way, this is more fun, and it will feel much more 'earned.' It's really been since the '90's where we were in the driver's seat at this point, and in a tough fight for the division title. That's basically all I've ever wanted for this team at this point in the season. And if it does come down to that 2nd Miami game, what a blast. I'll be lucky if I'm even close to sober by kickoff.

I was thinking the same. I was a big Hopkins fan, but didn't need to see that after the game. He made a great play, no doubt. But we don't like our heroes to say, "yeah, I'm a hero...."

It's kind of funny - I didn't like him at all when he was a Cowboy. But that's really because he was so good - always open. He has become one of my favorite Bills. Not just current, either. He's clutch, consistent & has a great winning attitude. And he loves being a Bill.

Tell ya what - it's exciting to see a kicker be able to boom it like that. Before, I felt like we had to get to the 25 yard line to have a shot. Now, I'm looking at the 40.

I couldn't be more excited about Allen. We waited FOREVER for a franchise QB. Who remembers the Losman/Edwards debate? He has it all. Every physical skill you could want in a QB, and every intangible. And the man is clutch. There is a double standard w/ him because of all of the preconceived notions of "inaccuracy" and "mistakes." Russell can sail a pass or throw a few picks, and he's just off on that play or in that game. Allen does the same, and it's all "There it is! That's why people still doubt him...." Not only did we get the "right Josh" in that draft. We got the best QB, period. There was some debate that Jackson was that guy, but that seems to be trailing off a bit now...

I want Knox to emerge so badly - he clearly has some unique skills. I love how he is when he gets the ball. It takes some effort for opponents to get him down. That mistake yesterday really can't happen. That was THE turning point, imo - that's when the Cards started to come back. A 1st down there, and we're rolling and very likely add to our lead. That said, the refs in general were abysmal. I know every fanbase complains, but man does it seem like they don't want the Bills to win at times. Ticky tack city.

Great thread, and an excellent perspective on this. As a football fan, I can marvel at that play. It was the best play of the year, and really, one for the ages. And I don't call it lucky, just as I never called the Giants helmet catch lucky - both were just superior efforts from the WR's. It felt like the end of the world when it happened. But then it's like, oh yeah - we're in 1st place, and undefeated in our division, and it's mid-November. And this is a great team. And we have a clutch QB. It's all about taking care of business now. We have to beat the teams we should beat. As long as we get to that Miami game with no major hiccups, we should be able to secure the division with a win over them (which is how it probably should be), and may not even need that. It's a good time to be a Bills fan. Not necessarily yesterday or today, though.

I don't know where anyone is getting that Miami's only potential loss before us is KC. They've been playing well. But this is the NFL - and they're not the '07 Pats. They're starting a rookie QB and will have some unexpected setbacks.

It's a perfect time for a bye. Our post-bye schedule isn't easy - but there are a lot of games we should win. And we have to win those. The way the Phins are playing, I'd expect our rematch w/ them to decide the division.

To play the hail mary better, he would have needed wings.

Great write-up, and the thread title sums it up. It's a bummer, but it's not any kind of huge setback. We're in 1st place in the AFCE and still have an undefeated record in the division. The upcoming schedule is tough, but we have a bye to get healthy & gear up for a good stretch run. I thought Allen was out of sync all day - he never found his groove until the very end, and that might have just been more "4th quarter Josh" than any kind of groove. He really is clutch. We're in the thick of a tight division race in mid-November, and have the advantage. I'll take that any ol' day.