Success

Re: the bolded - if KC had the injuries on defense that the Bills had last year and the Bills were as healthy as KC, the playoff game would have been a blowout.

Man, you really move the goalposts all over the place.

You said fans.

Alright. I was wrong.

Spin it however you want. I'd amend your comment above - I wouldn't say "unbiased" fans. I'd say "casual."

You're adding qualifiers now. My comment was strictly based on the logic that was being presented - you said Allen had to vanquish Mahomes to be considered the best. Look, I get that this is how most people look at it. It's not how I look at it. I think "rings" is more of an emotional appeal - rings are a team accomplishment. And I've seen the coaching & teams Mahomes has had to work with, and that Allen has had to work with. Allen has outplayed Mahomes I'd say roughly half the time in the playoffs. I think he played better in the 13 seconds game, though it was close. It was close last year too. But in 13 seconds, Allen did everything a QB could do to secure the win - and his D let him down. Last year, Mahomes' defense made the big play to basically seal the game, while our depleted D simply couldn't stop the KC offense, which showed all game & had little to do w/ the disparity between the 2 QB's, if there is any.

I'll take the burden, and I've made my case. I don't care a huge amount if people don't agree w/ me. No way I'd trade Allen for Mahomes.

So, if we're going w/ "any given Sunday" - why is Allen deemed worse than Mahomes because he has lost to those KC teams in the playoffs?

That's probably true for many football fans, but not for me. I don't think Eli is better than Brady because he's 2-0 against him in the playoffs.

Well, that was it w/ those Colts teams. They invested in skill players - not in the trenches as much. I don't think they would have won that much more; maybe Brady would have gotten 1 more ring than Manning did there. The whole argument of "head to head" falls apart w/ many examples. I mean, to look at the other Manning - Eli bested Brady TWICE in the biggest game. Would anyone in their right mind say Eli is a better QB, or take him over Brady in their primes?

I've always thought Manning would have a few more if he played w/ Belichick instead of 5 different coaches (and Brady would have less, certainly if he played for the Colts, who weren't constructed & coached as well in those years).

Quarterbacks don't play each other.

I've thought he was better than Mahomes for a few seasons now - it's just that it's more obvious this season. Kelce has slowed down, and Mahomes can't adjust. Allen works w/ whoever he has.

For starters, McDermott has done a great job this year as a whole. We lost a lot of big names, and the consensus nationally was that we were going to take a step back. We weren't sure what our identity would be. In pretty short order, this team looks like the best in the league. McD has gotten a lot of criticism in the past, but has everyone been watching the other games? There is a LOT of bad coaching in the league right now. Then there is the defense. Losing Milano, Bernard & Johnson right out of the gate - and still looking like a top 5 D. They're playing fast, they're hitting hard, I'm not seeing any missed assignments or blown coverages. This is a swarming, smothering defense. The offense also looks as good as we've seen. For starters, we have a run game. In the pass game, 10 different guys caught passes from Allen yesterday. I mean, who do you cover if you're an opposing defense? Brady is mixing it up beautifully, and getting everyone involved. I have a lot of faith in our current staff. It feels like we finally have the coaching we need to get that elusive title.

After that drought - we really earned this. Even though we don't have a Lombardi (yet), every week is fun now. I look forward to watching games just to watch Allen play - but it's also cool to go into each one expecting to win.

I love how Allen has matured, too. He ran tonight exactly how we want to see him run - no risks, no taking on the linebacker for an extra yard or 2, getting the 1st down & sliding. Still very effective in the run game, but doing it smart.

I do get that - but I also think it's a lazy, casual-fan take when it comes to actually comparing who is a better QB. Allen can outplay Mahomes every single weekend - by a lot - and people will still say, yeah, but those trophies. What is that really telling us about comparing the 2 players? If that's always the trump card, what's the point of even comparing how they are TODAY, and how they are this season? Allen could throw 50 TD's this season and Mahomes could throw 20, and it really still comes down to the rings? To me, it's a team game. Mahomes has better coaches, and has had more players step up in the playoffs. I wouldn't trade Allen for Mahomes.

That's for casual fans. Dilfer isn't better than Marino.

It's not tennis.

McDermott deserves a lot of credit. This team lost a lot of key guys, and no one knew what the identity was going to be this year, or if we'd be competitive. He has done a fantastic job. And it's even more notable if you've been watching other games around the league. There is a LOT of terrible coaching out there.

My jaw dropped. I believe he did.

This MAY be my favorite Bills team of the JA era. Feels like everyone contributes.

Man, Allen is SO good.

Right now, we're as good as anybody. And better than most.

In case no one noticed: coaching around the league is BAD. McDermott has his flaws, but when you look around, we've got it pretty good.