corta765

Yea Jets I can understand that. It's why non bias wise if the Jets could actually trade for just a decent game manager like Brissett or something I think they can jump back in the race to some degree. Titans I just think are a team in transition but I always underrate them I think. NFC haha yea if you said the playoffs were DAL SF ATL DET division winners and wild card PHI TB LA I wouldn't even bat an eye.

We are two weeks in so some things have settled, some haven't, and the future is still very open. I am going to try and do this semi regularly because it is fun, as always agree, disagree, call me an idiot etc... AFC See You In January Kansas City- The offense looks a bit more mortal finally, BUT the defense looks really good and apparently no one in that division has any interest in competing with them Baltimore- Despite injuries they look very impressive and Lamar finally has some competent weapons which is a nice change. Buffalo- Ships righted, stack some wins before the backhalf and when Von returns the D-line will be terrifying. Miami is a problem for the division though. Miami- Playoff team who when Tua has time is the most fun offense in football. 2nd half showed the limitations a bit* to Tua once pressure develops and the precision passing is paused Jacksonville- KC always brings the worst out of teams especially upstart contenders. Regardless their schedule is cakewalk and 12-5 could be the 1 seed 0-2, But Talent Right...Right!? LA Chargers- Same thing new season and I am sure week 18 they will be 8-8 or 9-7 with a chance to get in via Tiebreaker or win and in... and who the heck knows from there Cincy- Same as last year? Not so fast. Last year Burrow had an off opener but the offense the first two weeks was more dynamic. This calf isn't slowing and while he will play better the division isn't messing around this time. Some Talent, Flawed One Way or Another, But One of Them Is Taking A Playoff Spot Cleveland- Up until Chubb went down I had the Browns marked for a playoff spot just simply because even if Watson is a game manager that running game was amazing. Now? who knows Pittsburgh- Great defense, skill players ok, offense is circa 2009 Dick Jauron level bad. But Tomlins teams always finish near .500 Denver Broncos- They have already looked markedly better, but they just lost two winnable and needed chances at home. Better then their record but still feels like they finish 8-9 and say if only Coaching Is There, Talent Isn't To Go The Distance New England- Honestly their defense is pretty decent and then you watch the offense which at least has competent strategies and see they have no one who has any major blue chip talent. 0-2 already and lacking the guns for future matchups against KC/DAL/BUF/PHI/MIA Tennessee- Vrabel gets a lot out of this bunch, but even in a lightweight division their not stacking up enough wins to make the dance even if it gets close for a bit. NY Jets- Unless they get Jacoby Brissett or competent starter their going to where out regardless of how good the defense is and the good RBs they have that will get some points for them. Rodgers out is just such a killer for them. Draft 24' Indy- Richardson certainly his some skills and could be a real nice starter for them. Las Vegas- This team is wet noodle that will win 5 games and miss out on a top QB in the draft. Houston- Stroud looks pretty decent, but they need to hope the rest of the lineup grows to and gets some Ws because they have no 1st round pick. NFC See You In January Philadelphia- Offense will find its way a little more once Hurts is healed. Secondary might be a little suspect though. San Fran- Most complete lineup outside of QB and Purdy is doing really well at that. Dallas- Maybe its finally the boys year? Should Make It...But Detroit- Defense week 1 85 Bears, defense week 2? 85 Bills defense. This division is wide open they gotta prove they can do this before full faith is given. Seattle- Offense is back in the groove and looks very dynamic. The defense may have some real issues if they can't tighten up plus the Rams might be a WC problem Washington- Offense looks really nice as Howell is not acting like a 1st year esq starter, D line eats people, but the bar of competition has been low. BUF/PHI will be a real test that doesn't necessarily need Ws as much as showing you belong as the rest of the schedule has some very winnable matchups including 6 more at home. Is The NFC South Sending Two Playoff Teams...60% Chance? ATL- Might be the division favorites with their defense playing fine and the offense running through the stadium Tampa Bay- Baker looks decent in a offense that is QB friendly and the defense is stout. Long season but 7-8 wins might do the trick, can they just stay .500 the rest of the way NOLA- Offense should improve once Kamara is back as it looks weaker then the other two, but that defense is not weak One of You Is Making It Despite Attempting Not To Or Being Very Young Minnesota- The luck in one score games really shifted. For realz Kirk looks dare I say really good right now and the offense is going. Hang onto the ball with slightly better D and maybe they make up the deficit. LA Rams- Probably a year too early as the youth is finding its way, but the offense looks better with Stafford healthy and some good young players like Puka could make them really pluky. Green Bay- Love is not awful and has had some really nice moments. Like the Rams maybe a year early but perhaps they can string enough wins to go 9-8 and sneak in. Expectations Preseason Never Matched Reality, They Are Just Not Very Good Chicago Bears- They remind me of the Bills in 2016 where two weeks in everything is burning down and there is not one quick fix. Difference is that Bills team at least had some talent/coaching at points whereas this Bears team still is a work in progress talent wise and the coaching is awful. Fields does not look good, but this is a team effort at atrocious play from top down. New York Giants- Like the Vikings who had all the breaks in 22' the Giants are finding life without luck is tough. They are 1-1, but Barkley is hurt, Jones is still a lukewarm coffee at QB, and the defense has not started well. Daboll is legit as coach, but 6-11 7-10 step back looks very plausible. The one perk is maybe they can get a new rookie QB. Draft 24 Arizona- Gannon looked shaky in preseason but at least two weeks in they are putting up a fight for 60 mins. Lets see what happens late in season when it doesn't matter and Williams could be the prize. Carolina- Young is having growing pains and no one on that offense really moves the needle. The defense will help get them to 4-6 wins, but its a work in progress type year.

I am not disagreeing with strategy, I am disagreeing that a perfect plan is possible or predictable heading into every draft. For the record I am not even arguing that Edmunds was worth moving for as they could've just had two picks instead and to me the draft is partially the ultimate lottery so the more picks the better. I am with you on that more than against it. My simple point is Edmunds was not some grand failure and the answer on what he was/is lies in the middle. I would also argue IF you were going to draft a LB you do it for a guy who was as young and freakishly talented physically. On a different note the 2018 draft was loaded across the board that year and it is pretty wild looking at how many quality starters emerged from that draft.

Correct and the league has changed from 5 years ago also. In 2018 4 LBs were drafted rnd 1, last two years just four in the 1st rnd. No one is disagreeing that these days a MLB is replaceable for the most part unless they are beast pass rusher. The amount of arm chair GMs like yourself is hilarious. They have done the data and most GM's hit on a 1/3rd of their picks at best long term meaning that even getting a quality starter forget pro bowl all pro is pretty good and if you hit on a few drafts big time odds are you will have a few average or less down the road. Saying it was a bad pick is just stupid, say you didn't like Edmunds and move on because otherwise he was a solid 5 year starter on a defense that has been in the top 5-10 the entirety of it. I am sure Beane and McD wish Edmunds maxed into the player he did because his tools looked like a do it all LB with sacks/coverage/etc and the economics worked in a way that would've kept him here. If your going to draft a LB 1st rnd he is the type of profile you want to go for because of the physical tools. It is not predictable by any means drafting any player because our QB was the most doubted of the 2018 draft heading into it and he turned into the best of the bunch. TJ Watt was drafted 30th, was he not worth being drafted because he was a LB even at 30? If GMs had the ability to be perfect none would be fired and every team would be loaded. The is room to say Edmunds was a fine starter for 5 years who helped the Bills a lot but you wished he maxed into the full potential he has so paying him max money wasn't a question. That is 100% reasonable and accurate view of the situation.

But that is not the same equation and value in the NFL is determined entirely different per position. Right now after QB the most premium positions in the NFL would be DE/Pass Rushing LB, LT, CB, & WR. A MLB that is not a pass rusher fails in value comparatively to other spots. The Bills literally have paid all of those positions I listed and Edmunds got squeezed out. They clearly gambled last year he would stay at the level he had and instead he had such a good year the market priced him out of what Buffalo could afford. This isn't an apples to apples thing when it comes to money and position of player. Again as I said originally at draft he had the physical tools of an All Pro LB and most GMs would be willing to try that. He certainly was decent to good so it wasn't any failure just economics of a sport with a hard cap and a team that has maxed out its credit card.

My wife has made me watch enough hallmark Christmas movies to know it is 100% possible she is a princess of some very random minute country in Europe soo... IT COULD HAPPEN! lol

Hold on he was worth a 2nd contact, the issue was his cost was so high we couldn't afford him/wouldn't pay given the rest of the roster. That is far more market driven then anything else.

I would disagree he wasn't worth a day one draft pick. The biggest plus of Edmunds is he has size few players do that allow for the potential of incredibly great plays to occur. The Miami playoff game deflected pass is an example of this. The flipside is his instincts have always been average and he could get caught out of position easily at times as the following week vs CIN showed. If your a GM I can 100% buying though on a guy like this who was super young with freakishly great physical tools. He became a good to at times very good pro bowl caliber LB, BUT he never reached the heights either I think you would have wanted if your paying that money and last year was the only season I would say he truly made some impact plays I can remember. By comparison Milano has been doing that since day 1 and I can literally go back from that time on those moments. For the money he is being paid it is that of an All Pro and I doubt he ever reaches that level or honestly last years level again especially now on a Bears defense that is less talented and far less put together then what he got in Buffalo. The pressure is now squarely on him to be the pillar or one of the top 2-3 pillars of that defense. But overall the Bills got a very solid 5 year player for not much financially and if you can consistently get that out of your draft picks that is pretty good. You can't sign everyone and the Bills made the right choice in the guy they paid at LB.

Listen the football bible says now that Jeff Tuel, Duke Williams, Christian Wade, Nathan Peterman, Tyrod Taylor, and Chris Hogan have departed and time has moved forward someone else needs to take the mantle of the most annoying constant Bill/Ex Bill Threads that never seem to go away.

Tend to agree with this for the most part. Probably won't take either son until they are 10 (my dad took me when I was 10-11). I will say on the flipside I have found the Sabres/Amerks experience to be slightly too nice in terms of fan atmosphere/production. I find they are almost afraid to do anything remotely edgy compared to when I went to games 90s through mid 2000s.

This is my annual reminder that the schedule is never what it seems before the season, once the season begins, mid way through the year, and even at the end of the year. Football is weird, bad matchups are real, players get hurt, and a team that looks down at this time can be roaring a month later. Yes Rodgers being out probably removes the Jets as a major threat, the Chargers just wasted two winnable games and now need to go at least 10-5 to be in the dance while having an 0-2 AFC record, and the Bengals probably are a little more mortal this year with Burrow having a calf injury that will linger for a while. But for example TB who everyone has as a win looks at least formidable across the board now so the game COULD be a real test. Football is weird and just hope you play at a consistently solid level.

What time did you finally park? We left at 8:30 with the goal of parking in the fieldhouse lot and it was relatively fine as we parked by 9:30 which isn't super unusual time wise. Also the news hyped it up parking being bad that it seemed like so many people go there early it back logged everything

Great write up as always, I have one comment on this. Josh hadn't had a day were it was HIS FAULT since that 2019 Pats game week 4 until Monday. He has had 2-3 uh oh what is Josh doing games the last 2 years where he toed the line between pure stupidity with some awful decisions like the ATL 2021 game or last years Vikes game (although hurt), but the MNF game was really a different level that harkened back to week 4 in 2019 where he just did too much. Difference was he was a 2nd year QB then, year 6 QBs can't do that. It feels like he is/was at a movie crossroads after that MNF game where "just because you have the power does not mean you always should or need to use" type of thing is being said. Yesterday was what I hope and we all hope is moving forward where Josh finally understands this whole heartedly. There will be 13 seconds type days where we will need Josh like that and it will be on him to do super things which he will because he can. But days like yesterday are just as valuable if not more. Peytons first SB win in a rainstorm he was quite good because of staying within himself that day. Rex Grossman was not going to light it up and as long as Peyton just did his thing they were good. One great day down hopefully more to come.

I went to the game yesterday and it was everything you would hope for the home opener. I have thoughts on the experience and then the Bills itself. I have been going regularly to 3-4 games a year for 15 years so parking wise I have some suggestions for anyone attending later in the season. Fan Experience So my wife broke her foot 5 days ago and went to the game Sunday. We had a plan to get her around but we honestly were not sure of what the services were or were not for her by the Bills. Got to give major props because it was sensational. They had a golf cart that takes you to the gate, fans were very gracious even if drunk to her, once we got through they got a wheel chair so she could take the elevator to the 100s right to our section. On the way out soon same thing which really was just fantastic. Please stay patient as other people have aliments and they will take care of everyone it just may take a minute or two. PARKING- We came from Tonawanda and it is about 20-25 minutes to the stadium so leaving at 8:30 we got to 20A at 9:00 and were parked in Lot1 Bills Fieldhouse lot by 9:30. The big thing is private lots especially Kettles were full by 8:30 am as the RV's and Trailers are now taking those with the camper lot gone. This has caused a domino effect where people can't go to lots they normally do and scramble elsewhere slowing things down big time. My best suggestion is to leave earlier then normal and have patience. Bills lots are a little pricier but you will have a better shot getting in there. I imagine things will improve a bit as this was the first rodeo for everyone from fans, to bills workers, to cops etc... but you will need to adjust accordingly. IF you are willing to walk parking at house lots on big tree or abbott or the surrounding area which are 10 mins or less might be a good option. That is my backup plan if I attend another game I thought the tailgate environment was normal but energy wise a bit subdued compared to the last few years. Not sure if that was because of the parking delaying people, the stinker on Monday night tempering peoples emotions, the fact the hype has in general gone down a little compared to 21/22. Still a great time was had, but comparatively just felt more of a 7-8 compared to the 9-10 energy feel of the last two years. In stadium I thought once the Bills got going the crowd finally for maybe the first time a 9-10 months relaxed. After the first drive for the Raiders and the subsequent 3 and out by the Bills the tension was boiling by fans and boos were out. But once the offense got its groove and the game was moving it finally felt like fans across the board relaxed and realized its ok to have fun and the SB was not going to be won or lost in one day. It is just one week and hopefully even play across the board stays consistent so things can just settle out a bit, but after the Monday debacle and what has felt like 10 months of unending crap since Josh's arm got hurt, normal was nice to finally have. The crowd was deafening at points, it was really fun, nothing like it and such a special experience (do not take it for granted if you are able to go as so many wish they could). Bills Football Thoughts Allen had the bounce back game which you would expect and he did a very good job taking what was given. The two things that stuck out to me with him was this: I am a big star wars fan and Yoda when training Luke tells him at one point "you must unlearn what you have learned". We know Josh you can now accurately throw the ball anywhere and torch defenses in incredibly awesome great ways. But Monday showed you it is not always needed and can you keep it to the times when it is needed. He has had his bad outings before so he has to prove long term he can keep doing what yesterday was, BUT the one small difference I found was he seemed to finally enjoy to an extent picking a team apart whereas in the past he just did it because he had to. The day will come he needs to 2021 KC style and I am expecting a few more playoff games where we buckle up and off he goes. Brady, Mahomes now and many other top QBs take pleasure out of not just beating you on the big plays but ripping you with a thousand paper cuts. Yesterday was maybe the first time Josh did it but maybe found a way to channel the intensity and joy he finds in the big play in the small. The Raiders defense is not good, but it seemed as the game went on he started finally trusting his guys not named Diggs with the ball. Knox and Kincaid he I think is now understanding are a wonderful duo that will do wonders on short-medium routes so just get them the ball. The Davis TD was right in front of me and what a play by both. My favorite play actually though was on a rollout scramble with 7:21 left Josh could've ran for a few yards but he saw Davis open 8-10 yards downfield and dropped over the defender. Davis went 40 yards total and it was a classic play of take a nice gain and your guy made it even bigger. O-line looked superb and Spencer Brown had a really nice game and it was against a very good DE in Crosby. He will need to do this over the long term, but in 21' his play was that of a solid starter maybe healthy he returns to form. Cook is going to make opposing defenses lose their mind with his speed and vision. Keep feeding him. Defense was great, the D-line is going to be a nightmare throughout which is good because watching the Dolphins game they will need to disrupt Tua to keep him off. When Tua has time he is lethal, but once NE started messing his reps and getting through he can be slowed. That will be the big test to me in 2 weeks for which side prevails between the Phins O and Bills D. Matt Milano has been the most important Bill on defense since 2017 and nothing has changed other then he is just going to get another All Pro spot this year. I love watching him play so much, so smart, so intense, and just makes plays.

The Cam Newton comparisons get tiresome after a while, I understand why they are made but realistically other then size and they both are/were beastly runners they are vastly different passers: Josh since 2019 on has had a completion percentage of 63.65%, for his career he gas a 62.6% percentage, he has passed for over 4000 yards in 16 games the last three seasons while averaging in the air 35 TDs a year also. Cams career completion percentage is 59.9% with a total of four years above 60% but two of those being his NE season and 2nd to last year in Carolina. The only year he passed for more then 4000 yards was his rookie year and only once threw for more then 30 TDs (35 in 2015) with his next best outing being 24 TDs twice. Even if you want to bring the rushing side in Cam's first 5 years he had 43 TDs and averaged 641 a year whereas Josh in his first 5 years had 38 TDs and an average of 514 yards a season. I was a huge Cam fan and he was an incredibly dynamic weapon whose career got derailed by injuries. He was a decent to good passer but he never has had a season comparable in the air to what Allen has done in the last three years which is partly why Allen has elevated into the top 3-5 passing QB discussion. Even if Josh were to regress to a version somewhere between 2019-2020 his passing stats still would be far better then Cam's and he still would be a top 10 passer. Fundamentally they are very different players outside of physical characteristics. If there was a comparison I would say Michael Vick 2010 in a body like Cam/Big Ben where he can beat you with ease with his legs, but that season Vick finally maximized his passing to a level where he was lethal all over the field.

Every year is different and every SB champ has a different path then the next (whether that is BUF or not). Prior history and the current talent on this roster show they at worst should be in the playoff race at best 1 seed. The QB usually is anywhere from good to really great most weeks while averaging 2-3 really bad games a year like Monday so it will be fun with him and should be for another 6-7 years while he is in prime. As bad and frustrating as Monday was, if they are 6-2 heading into CIN you won't care. They also could be 7-6 again after KC and then go on a run like in 2021 and finish 11-6 looking at their best. My point is you really do not know much until season is finished and football is so freaking weird with things year to year and what happens come post season I've given up thinking I know a lot other then the fact teams with good QBs tend to do well consistently and make the playoffs a lot. Buffalo has a good QB and history reflects well that they well at least get another ticket into the dance. What the heck happens from there IDK, I will just enjoy and hope its our turn I guess.

lol we have been past the process for two years now. it is SB or bust which is why every loss is a meltdown, every crappy win is chaotic after, and only wins by two scores satisfies the masses.

That sentiment is what pretty much everyone including national media has said. Just because you have this incredible ability to do wonders does not mean you can or should all the time, there is a level of moderation and live to fight another day. Up 13-3 with the Jets doing nothing on offense Allen at no point needed to go superman. I really hope this is the grand lesson for good for him because if he can eliminate the major brain farts he will have more seasons like 2020 vs the last two which he still was incredibly good but had games like last night.

lol Colts was a colossal implosion across the board that game was not just Josh.

He actually completed nearly 75% of his passes last night. Palmer helped with his throwing motion and becoming a better more fluid passer. That does not alter his bonehead decision making unfortunately lol

The Pegula's went from having a crappy product that was nationally a doormat, didn't make the playoffs, and overall joke to one of the nationally relevant teams that has won a lot with star players like Diggs and Vonn willing to come here. Winning the SB is incredibly incredibly difficult and is a mixture of luck, timing, and a good team. The best franchises have owners who hire smart people and proceed to stay the F out of it and do not get involved. The same remarks you made about Beane and McD have been said countless times by people in other markets right up until they won a SB. This is a clock on both but they haven't even lost the division crown yet let alone missed a playoff appearance so I would expect the Pegulas to still give a lot of leash. Truthfully if I was an owner I would also. Now in two years if it is still pure regression then yea I would expect new faces heading into 2025. But the Eagles for two decades plus now have been a model franchise owner Jeffrey Loria and have a total of one SB win and three appearances. They have won a lot and the greatest criticism they have gotten was firing Andy Reid as he "couldn't win the big one"... OR maybe now that he has a better QB you see what quality coaching can do. Again winning the crown is tough, the Bills blew it four times when they had it in the 90s. That will hang forever over the franchise until they do win a title and it no longer matters. The Bills also will most likely not be getting four shots at it either so when it comes embrace it and hope we finally get our time.

The d-line is going to be a force and by seasons end top 3 in the league. I think fans are in for a ride with the line like the 2014 group fingers crossed injury wise. Let Groot and Floyd eat and mix Von and the rest carefully in as they go. 2. I am not as upset with Dorsey as some. This game was on Josh forcing plays and not taking what was given. I liked the attempt at yac, the screens, and Knox/Kincaid together in the middle should eat yards as the season progress. Brown sucked, but the rest were fine and Torrence looks great to have. I am willing to give Dorsey some time, I just need him to get Josh to chill more. A RT trade would be lovely though at the deadline.

Agree and it is why I said he has regressed or peaked in a sense like you said. At his best 2020, 21 playoffs, 1st half of last year he is patient and just waits before striking. Right now he feels more like a super improved 2019 version that is reckless but more boom then bust. Fine for regular season but it is fire come post season. Maybe it is his final learning to complete his growth OR maybe it is who he is. I have said forever that he will get them to a SB, but after that and how many more chances really depends. Play like yesterday makes me think he gives us one incredibly hot ride through a post season and we have a bunch others that go sideways.

Nope actually he was very average. The following week against WSH he went vintage Josh and tore them to shreds.

Agree to a degree here. For the first time since 2019 I looked and said "well I know when he is good we can win a lot with him BUT he has to play in himself more". Right now I feel he has regressed back to being a top 10-12ish guy who when its good its good, but you can frustrate him into mistakes. 2020 Josh was special because he played the entire year within himself and didn't force the ball or mistakes that we have seen creep back for the last two years. The last three years the roster basically was able to be invested in without removing pieces, this is the first year where while draft additions were made some actual attrition has occurred and the core has aged so it is on Josh to a degree hold a high standard. Additionally the division even with Rodgers out is a real challenge as Miami looks ready to go, NE has a competent OC, and the Jets just took one of two PLUS the AFC itself even if the Jets fall away is really good. The Jets game in 2020 I loved because it was a six FG game, but Josh just took what he had and did not force it. You will not win every week bombing 30+ pts as much as Josh and we all want to. The most maddening thing last night was the 2nd INT for me. 2nd and 13 at the Jets 41 up 7 and the Jets on offense were not doing anything threatening. He could've done a dump off, could've thrown it away, could've done a lot of things to give a 3rd down so at least your in FG range and if nothing else can make it again a 10 pt lead. He did the single worst thing possible and threw into double coverage. That was a killer and the same on the 3rd INT where again a forced pass when we needed 2 yards to just go and keep moving the ball where a FG wins it basically. Josh will have more good games then not, but he basically averages 2-4 games a year like this where he gets way out of whack and it costs them dearly outside of 2020 where he was perfect in that regard. This year the rope for mistakes is far shorter for the division and the playoffs even with the AFC more competitive then it has been. He has to regain that patience and willingness to take the shorter easier plays then constantly going for the homerun or big play. Most teams don't have the Jets defense either, but it doesn't matter if you keep forcing it as they will bait him. Right now and going back into last year a bit I think the talent and ability is there for him top be a top 3 guy, but the performance is not at that level right now. Kincaid and Knox looked really good last night and I feel if he can attack more with them in middle like he use to with Beasley you will see more of his patience return a bit. Overall I absolutely believe he can and hopefully will lead the Bills to a title, but some mental adjustments and scheme to lock what made him what he did best are needed if you want his best version, otherwise prepare yearly for a bunch of games like this and a top10 guy not elite top3.