Success

I think he's a shoe-in for the "most network airtime for an assistant coach during a game" award for the '20 season.

The Ringer is great. They have excellent writers. That 1st article about the Colts game - I mean, everything he wrote are things that I'm sure we all felt. On that last hail mary, it DID feel like the camera was focused on the ball for a few minutes, to the point of forgetting anyone was on the field. And it did conjure up the AZ game. That article encapsulated why I love being a Bills fan so much. It's such a unique shared experience. I travel a lot, and when I see someone wearing Bills gear, it's like they're a brother or sister. Depending on the situation, there is sometimes a hug involved. With a complete stranger. It's not like that with my other sports loyalties. And one thing I think is important to remember: no one on this Bills team has that shared experience with us. Nor does the coaching. And that's a good thing - they're just looking at these as games. They're not carrying all of the crazy, doom-y baggage that we do.

Excellent post. I didn't follow the Ravens too closely this season, but now I feel like I know what to expect. Gotta get that early lead. I had no idea they were last in pass offense.

If we end up winning a Super Bowl...is this the toughest game we could have? I know KC lit us up a bit on the ground in the 1st go round, but that was because of the conditions. I feel like both them and a potential match-up with Green Bay would be our passing game against their passing games, and our pass defense is probably the best out of those teams. The Ravens are a different animal. It's the best D we're likely to face, and they can control the clock w/ that running game.

The Ravens are becoming a popular upset pick. Though it wouldn't be TOO much of an upset. I actually didn't know their running game had been so good - averaging 240+ over the past 6 games. That's a serious ground game. So important to take an early lead in this one.

To be fair, we've had our own luck. The Rams PI comes to mind - that was ticky tacky for that point in the game. We've had a few others.

I've gotta say - after years of playing against Brady, who would burn you EVERY time you tried to blitz, it's cool to be on the other side of it. Allen has quietly become one of the top QB's against the blitz. I love the thought of a team trying to blitz us now. Allen knows how to read it & adjust to it, our line knows how to block it, and with our receivers, it will generally leave someone wide open.

It seems predictable when you watch them play, but he's so elusive and can also turn those into big runs if he spots a hole. I'm really curious to see how we defend him. We're really going to need that INT, or a couple of them. This game feels like one that will be decided by the turnover battle.

It's been fun to watch him emerge this season. This is not an easy line-up for a WR to break into and distinguish himself in - but he has had his share of memorable moments and valuable contributions, and was one of the real difference-makers in our 1st playoff win in 25 years. If I'm being nitpicky, I can only think of one miscue he had all season - the drop in the endzone against the Pats. Otherwise, he's been amazing, especially for a rookie. We have serious depth at WR.

It's somewhat true. In a way, we have exactly the kind of team that usually doesn't end up winning Super Bowls. High-flying pass attacks usually run into a buzzsaw defense along the way, and once that gets taken away they turn back into a pumpkin. I think this year's Bills team has some intangibles that could overcome that. But I'm a homer and I stray more & more from logic as we advance further, so that can't really be trusted.

Bills 28 Ravens 13

Our worry shouldn't be losing 5. It should be becoming as arrogant as Pats fans when we go 5-4.

So did I. It wasn't unlike the Music City Miracle for me. When I saw the replay, I was 100% - we got this.

I hope not. Give the guy a mulligan - he has been spectacular all season. In decades of watching this team, I can't remember being so excited about returns. He can flat out make plays.

Of course it would be heartbreaking. But 0-4 was 3 decades ago. I've seen a lot of "tee hee hee" about this possibility on twitter and around the internet from other fans, and I feel the same way about it that I do about the idea that 0-4 is some kind of black eye: it's just bull. Making 4 straight is an insane accomplishment, just as making the SB would be this year. I just reject it all, that there is a stigma, or that it would be worse because we already lost 4 ages ago. It would be bad to lose because it hurts to lose a Super Bowl, but that's it. All that said, let's just win the damned thing.

I loved how stoked he was after that kick. In general, it's great to have a kicker that is also a football player & competitor, and not just a "specialist." I feel like he's one of those guys. As someone else noted, he made a great tackle at another point in the game. He also looked laser-focused when he was lining up that kick.

Thanks for the good wishes. I've always pulled for the Colts (especially in the Manning/Brady days!). I watched the replay last night, and still can't believe the Bills pulled it out. In many ways, the Colts dominated that game. There are no real weaknesses that I can see on that team, and they have a lot of great young players. Bright future ahead, imo. And I think there has been way too much second-guessing of Reich. Fortune generally favors the bold, and he was bold - if those plays were executed, people would be praising his aggressiveness. That's just how the game is. He coached an excellent game and had that team ready to play.

That clip is clownish. That guy is the heir to Bayless. He's not the only one though. Josh's only really bad play was that sack/fumble - but my goodness. It was ONE PLAY. Which QB played a perfect game this weekend? I missed it if there was one.

It's hard not to agree w/ most of what he says - that game was almost entirely Allen, and we were dominated at both sides on the LOS. The Colts basically controlled that game. It's also a teensy bit of a hot take. I need to see a pattern there - the team we saw Saturday isn't the same team we saw over the past 6-8 weeks. That team's defense was swarming, got pressure and covered receivers well. Like everyone, I'm holding my breath until the Ravens game. There were definitely reasons for concern that came out of the Colts game, but we may look back on it as more of an anomaly when all is said & done.

I'm still amazed that we pulled it out. Our scores were more like short bursts of playing well. It felt like the Colts dictated the tempo, controlled the ball and were able to put together much more sustained drives. The end of the half was obviously a big turning point. I was already thinking 17-7, and a big uphill battle against that D. I'm really curious which Bills defense we'll see Saturday. I think we all felt like they turned a corner over the past 5-6 games, and then the Colts game was how they looked in September. Probably the most alarming aspect was the secondary - Colts players were just open, all day (though no pass rush can contribute to that also).

I wish we had Star. I feel like the line is night & day without him, especially against the run. Oh, well - I feel like our D has something to prove after the Colts game. Hopefully we see a different unit this Saturday.

Harbaugh is also a coach w/ tons of playoff experience. I think he's in the upper-tier of NFL coaches, for sure. As Marv Levy used to say, where else would you rather be? Saturday night divisional round against a challenging opponent - it beats spending January trying to figure out who has the best shot of beating the Pats...

They played the Pats in a total monsoon. It's a good team. They're not great, and the Bills are better - but it certainly won't be a cakewalk.

That's fine. Very light snow, and standard wind speeds. If it holds, it shouldn't slow down our offense at all.

Exciting times. Ravens are a tough opponent, but so are the Bills.