corta765

This is a very optimistic take. Thing is I'm tired of people saying patience and "its year blank of the rebuild". It's been 20 years with this franchise spinning its tires I don't blame people for being restless when the offense has stalled since the bye and the QB looks like the advanced version of Tyrod Taylor. Sure I'm willing to say Allen is a 3 year project at QB, but by the same token when you see other QBs who need far less time to develop and offenses far more cohesive in less time then Buffalo it offers so hard questions.

This times a million. If they properly manage the end of the game and Singletary is getting 20-22 carries my concerns with coaching are gone and I'm looking a player execution. But I felt despite the mistakes of the players the coaches hamstrung their ability to win. They have fixed this before so I will give them benefit of the doubt while keeping in mind this.

didn’t say it was over and can them tomorrow. McD rebounded from the Peterman mess quite well in 2017 so he has shown the capacity to do so. By the same token that was a blunder to the level of every former HC we got rid of. Can’t be ignored and it brings up valid questions on their coaching abilities. Where they go from here is up to McD and it could be a blip or it could be part of a trend. I’m not going to ignore or give a pass to that bad of a coaching moment. like I said further down we have twenty years plus of failure or pessimism so it takes a toll. For the record I still think McD can get them to the playoffs and I wouldn’t be stunned if they upset a good team on the way to doing that.

1. Yesterday was a foundation shaking moment with the coaching staff that questions a bit the long term viability of this staff. You play to win you don’t play to tie. On the final drive the offense is moving and the moment they hit FG range the coaching staff panicked. The NFL is an offense driven attack league and you are rewarded for doing so. To not go for the win was as bad as Rex punting agaisnt Miami. Long term the defense will not be great with free agency, salary cap, age etc that set in. Your going to have to win with your QB and scoring. My faith is still with this coaching staff but it is a bit shaken at this point. 2. Cole Beasley had his best game to this point and he and Josh seem to finally have some chemistry. It’s take a bit compared to Allen and J Brown but it’s good to see that improvement has come. If the Bills have any hope of the playoffs moving forward they need Beasley their to help. 3. Against the 30th ranked rushing defense that was your plan? It’s maddening that a player like Singletary gets just 8 rushes against that defense. If they loss but ran Singletary 25 times I honestly would be less mad then 8 carries. This feels like Chan and CJ Spiller all over again. 4. The offense in general cannot get out of its own way. They should be scoring 20+ pts a game yet they take a penalty, Miss a FG, drop a ball, Miss a throw etc it’s tiresome. Their not bad their inconsistent which is almost worse. It was easier last year just to say they suck and best of luck Josh. This year they do have some talent and I’m losing hair with the mistakes they make. 5. Allen was ok. He had his misses, he had his plays, idk what to say anymore. The coaching staff seems to want him as just a game manager and by removing the hero ball quality the offense is less dynamic. They drafted him to make plays and instead have neutered him down to never taking shots. Why bother cutting Tyrod if this is what to ur comfortable with. 6. This is less game more Bills in general. It has been a long twenty years now of the team not taking that next step not making the statement and instead ripping your heart in pieces in front of you. The shadow that haunts all of us that exists because of these years grew larger yesterday and feels more unavoidable. You know when your franchise has it’s turning point moment and that you can buy into really believing the bigger days are coming. I think to the Seahawks and Wilson knocking off NE at home in 2012 as their big break through. Fans for weeks have battled over the value of a win because we haven’t had this moment. For a organization in year 3 I think you hope it happens soon. By the same point it’s so tough being a fan and I don’t blame anyone with unrest/fear/disappointment with the team. Lucy has pulled that football from us soo many times, how can you not feel the shadow of past failures in 2011 or 08 creep closer especially after yesterday’s disaster. Assuming the Bills do what they should against MIA/DEN they have four games in a row with that chance that maybe things are finally different and you can turn that corner a bit. By the same token they’ve created a situation where many doubt if the Dallas game even matters to the extend it does now. It’s just become so hard in ways to have fun and believe when the amount of evidence for years makes you want to say no. 7. Tre White passed hit top WR test. In his first two years when he faced the likes of AJ Green or Keenan Allen they beat him for one or two big plays. Not yesterday. The all pro press is real and deserved and I’m happy for Tre. 8. Robert Foster is looking more and more like just another guy who had a few nice moments. It’s disappointing because I loved his play last year and he felt like such a possible focal point to the offense. Overall I think this regime has done a great job drafting, but Foster was that offensive possible gem you hoped turned into the guy especially with how many other skill position offensive guys haven’t worked out. 9. If you went to the game what was it like attending and the stadium?

The goal is for the Bills to be no longer "Under The Radar" and a team that is a contender. You are not a contender when your "Under the Radar' and a fixture on the 1:00 pm Sunday spot your an after thought. Peter King actually speculated that SF/LA would be flexed to Sunday night to replace the Bears Chiefs given Chicago's struggles and BUF/NE would be the Saturday night game given the power of NE's name and the Bills most likely be relevant enough to make the game matter.

Buffalo has nothing in common with NYC or Miami which is part of the fun. Back in the Marino Kelly days it was the blue collar vs the beach people and it was awesome. Rivalries in generally are highly overrated and only matter if your winning which goes back to my point of the NFL is more interesting with the divisions in a slightly strange structure the a basic boring regional one which every other sport does.

Honestly I have no desire for this at any point. I get why some do but I like having the division where you can travel to Boston NYC or Miami. Going to PIT CLE DET is like visiting Buffalo which I don't need to do regularly.

Remember as fans we think our better players are notable big guys, but on the league landscape due to our lack of success they go unnoticed. Shady was a name because of what he had done, Kyle Williams became one league wide. Out of the guys you listed only Tre, Hyde, & Gore really generate any name brand attention national media wise. I don't disagree that the media ignores Buffalo, but I made a post heading into this season after Shady was cut saying he was the last of name brand guys that were really well known nationally. This team will have to win a bunch for more players to get the attention they deserve fair or not.

One of the things I like with the NFL is the fact its not an East v West conference setup and the divisions are a little unique across the board. Having gone to Miami twice I would hate to lose that.

not happening any time soon. NFL's one helmet rule has made that a non-existent chance. The Bills prefer having white helmets so they can do the standing buffalo look. Red would severely limit their options. I think if that ever changes you would see red from time to time even though I don't get the big deal to use red and think people are FAR too nostalgic.

I've heard that myself and they would have to make some big changes to make that fly. Agreed. It's why I want the league to downsize divisions to just two and make the playoff field have a greater importance. It is asinine that a team with a better record goes on the road in the playoffs because of a division win by a crappy team.

I just can't see the NFL eliminating divisions I think they like the rivalries they make and for owners they like the guarantee of revenue it brings knowing they get a home game in the playoffs. I actually do agree with your proposal though of no divisions just conference.

The NFL would never approve killing the NFC crossover game down to just 1. You see the ratings when Brady plays Rodgers etc.. that won't ever be stopped.

With the talk of a possible London team and many proposals for divisional changes I wanted to explain an idea I had which in my eyes would completely balance the league and the playoffs. It looks like this: AFC East: BUF, NE, MIA, NYJ, PIT, CIN, CLE, BAL AFC West: KC, OAK, DEN, LAC, IND, HOU, TEN, JAX NFC East: PHI, DAL, NYG, WAS, ATL, TB, CAR, NOLA NFC West: SEA, ARZ, LAR, SF, DET, GB, MIN, CHI Schedule wise it works like this you play everyone in your division once with a single additional game against your former division rival (aka BUF would play NE, MIA, NYJ on a rotating basis). Then you would crossover against the other division playing four of the teams there and the next season playing the four you didn't. And with the NFC we would do it the same way the NFL does with four team a year rotating. For the playoffs division winners are guaranteed homefield, but the top two records get the bye. So potentially the top two teams in each conference could be from the same division. Here are the advantages: -Far more balanced schedule where you play 75% of your conference yearly -Better chance for bigger matchups on a more routine basis -Playoffs would finally allow wildcards to host playoff games again -You would never see an 8-8 7-9 division champion again -Rivalries would be created with Buffalo playing close foes like PIT and CLE yearly and same for other matchups It looks like if a team moves to London it probably is coming from the AFC. If the Jags or Chargers move you would just switch MIA into their place. Probably not the fairest thing for the Phins but that is a casualty of the NFL's obsession to go to London.

From what I have read players and families are pretty open to living there. The greater issue the tax difference between the UK and the US. I believe Peter King of NBC said the NFL would have to consider a bit of tax relief for players in the UK so the franchise was not so far behind the 8 ball.

That’s my tough part. On days like the Dolphins a week ago the stadium is amazing to be in. BUT having attended the snow bowl vs IND and countless crappy rain games it gets old fast. Retractable or Glass like MIN is my pick. The people who say footballs a game in the elements I asked how many games you actually have went to when it’s bad. As much fun as that’s Colts game was in 17 I never want to be in that again. I feel like many people pro outdoor don’t go to nearly as many games as they act like but maybe that’s just me

If you honestly think he’s a disappointment your standards are impossible for QB. If I draft a QB #1 overall and this is his accomplishments I’m pretty happy: SB appearance 4x Pro Bowl Passing yards leader in 1994 2x Division Titles 4x Playoff appearances in 8 years as starter (I don’t count the year Brady took over) 5 of 8 season .500 or better 2x 4000 yd seasons something a Bills QB hasn’t done in forever Virtually no team would pass up that type of guarantee at QB for a decade compared to the alternative. Drew Bledsoe is IMO the standard for what you can reasonably hope for from a #1 overall pick at QB. Productive, wins, SB, and a decade of stability. With today’s rules and inflated numbers people unfairly look at the past and criticize. Bledsoe was a top 10 guy for his time and when the Bills got him the hype was legitimate given his track record up to that point. As others have pointed out also he was a Pro Bowler when it was a true honor not half the leagues QB get the invite due to everyone declining it.

I mean 10-11 games are against teams we are even or better then sooo yea not bad

2018 Minnesota. Vikings would’ve made the playoffs with that win and no one gave the Bills a chance to win. This coaching staff seems to get 1-2 wins yearly you don’t expect so I wouldn’t freak out yet.

Seemed like it. And wasn’t a shot at Bills fans if you went to that rain fest props to you Hyde said he took a wrong angle which allowed it. That said they were not good but it is one game

I’ve been doing this for the season with the goal of giving 24 hours to calm and have rational thoughts not impulsive. Here’s the eagles version: 1. The game and momentum something I’m not a big believer in swung in 7:38 seconds. Up until the Allen fumble the Bills seemed to be fighting toe to toe with Philly and you felt pretty decent about winning. Then in 7:38 from the end of the first to 9:15 left in the third the Allen fumbles Philly scores and instead of feeling good with a 7-3 halftime lead your down 11-7 thanks to the missed FG by Hasuchka. By this point the Eagles smell blood and you could see the defense we’re back on their heels. Then Sanders TD 17-7 and it’s bad. To the offense credit they did get a TD to get it back to 17-13 and you could see the energy was back in the crowd and team. But the dagger came on the Jeffery 38 yard catch. In a season where a sequence like above they had made the stop or turnover the wilted. If at home I could feel the energy die the stadium looked like a black hole of emptiness after that. It didn’t take that long but that 7 minute stretch saw Buffalo go from a 7-3 halftime lead to trailing 24-13 with an energy killing play at that moment. It felt like this season we’ve played with fire with situations like this and I think they just finally got burned against an Eagles team that desperately needed and wanted this game. 2. For a team that had a bye two weeks ago I am incredibly disappointed in the entire group as a whole. Against Miami they came out very flat and yesterday they wilted in the 2nd half. Perhaps it’s me maybe someone can explain so sports science on byes having negative effects, but I have been very disappointed in how unprepared they’ve seemed after the bye. 3. DaBoll I want to show where I have to graded him in three chunks for the season before analyzing. Games 1-3: A Thought he was very good at creating plays that maximized our players and exposing matchups Games 4-5: B He still did some exposing of matchups but started being slightly predictable with play calls Games 6-7: D- Both games he was farrr too cute with his play calls with very little creativity and goes to the well far too many times on calls that did work. I have been a supporter of DaBoll this season and think in general he has done a nice job moving Allen from a brash talented rookie into at least a somewhat serviceable starter who can make some plays. Let’s not underscore how hard that is and how many teams fail to even make that step. I want more from the offense and Allen which I’ll touch in below but I will give credit for where it’s due. That said Madden gamers have put together more creative less predictable game plans compared to him the last two weeks. Yesterday when the defense is bleeding having a bad day and it’s 24-13 why are you not running the ball? Why are you not doing screens to Singletary is they are hitting you so hard up front? For gosh sakes we scored a TD because of this. In the 12 plays Buffalo had after it was 24-13 before the Eagles got their last TD the Bills passed on 8 of them being sacked once with one Allen scramble and two runs. The pressure Allen has seen the last two weeks I thought DaBoll had done a good job scheming from pre bye. Next week is a big test for him as much as it is for the team. 3. On the fourth down failed pass to John Brown a lot of people got on Allen including myself but post game Brown said he ran the wrong route. It was suppose to be a comeback route which had he done its 1st in goal. Instead he ran the post and the past was just behind. 4. The defense is very good it’s not elite and that’s fine. Elite is used wayyyy to widely in sports. A defense that is elite dominate happens every few years. The last truly elite defense I remember seeing where they never had a bad day was Seattle in 2013. This Patriots defense is close but I do want to see what happens against some better opponents. The Bills defense finally got worn down yesterday and I don’t want to say there not still really good. I think in the second half of the season they will have another game like this and also have a few games where they don’t allow more then 13 pts. They are missing that game breaking pass rusher and the DT spot hurts without Harry. But I think when the season ends they still are top 5 in almost all categories and the rushing issues are a blip not a trend. 5. Was it me or did the crowd not seem into it? It looked like a miserable day to be outside and compared to every other home game the crowd seemed lackluster throughout. Not a slight more a question if you were there. 6. Matt Milano balled out. He and Jordan Phillips were the two defenders throughout who kept making plays . Great finds by Beane. 7. After 8 weeks of games coaches have enough film to start attacking in both sides of the ball how they see fit. I believe one reason the last two weeks Buffalo has faced what feels like an uphill climb is the season has hit the point where teams can really start game planning at certain things because enough film exists to show the flaws. Allen is facing a lot more 3-4 rushes which leaves a lot of men in coverage. Against Miami he figured it out and closed the day well. The Eagles front 7 though is much better and the offense never could win at the point of attack to do much. 8. Allen. The fumble was a killer, but otherwise he was like the rest of the team and overmatched by the end. This is the first game I think his o line let him down, but we are getting to the point we’re I understand fans wanting more. He has taken the step from raw rookie that’s flawed to an Ok starter. His numbers are Tyrod in a nutshell 2 TD 200 yds 20-30 yds rushing weekly with a bit better 4th quarter composure. At some point we want him to take that leap to breaking a defense when everything on your team isn’t going well. Not a ton of guys can do that but he also was drafted top ten. I don’t care about him breaking 300 yds as much as he has not had a game like at Miami last year where he was unstoppable and there best player on either team. The longer the season goes without this the louder the unrest feeling many fans have will increase for him to do more. I think his best play is to come still, but he failed both tests this year so the question remains. 9. In closing I am happy to see the fanbase is not satisfied with 5-2 and just making the playoffs. I am happy expectations are higher like they should be. For far too long I think Buffalo settled for break the drought or just make it. We should want more as fans and it’s refreshing to see mostly well thought out feelings by fans on here.

I agree with everything you said 100% but this part especially. I’ve gotten so fed up with people who think 1:00 games are the best and don’t realize how much a slap in the face it is that the Bills only primetime game is Thanksgiving when even the Dolphins got a MNF. You should want attention you should want primetime because it means you matter and your team is respected for being good. Today was my worst fears come true which is that they are a paper tiger currently and that against a big boy with some national weight they can’t hack it. It’s exhausting to go 20 years now where the show constantly keeps dropping. Just as how last week I kept saying a win wasn’t just a win, how it happened mattered the same can be said about how they lossed. They will probably be around 7-3/8-2 come Dallas but again that will be the measuring stick which now I’m coming to dread.

I’m a big train enthusiast and it’s been that way since the 50s. Gov has prioritized air and auto big time despite the advantage of rail. The sad thing about that train line next to the stadium is it no longer exists past Orchard Park. In the late 90s some local leaders had the idea of keeping the line intact which goes wayyy into the southern tier so the train could stop at the Bills games from both directions and also bring trains out to kissing bridge or just Fall Foliage rides and also provide people in the Southern Tier rides into Buffalo. Sadly that project died due to the RR not needing the line nor carrying about it and the state not prioritizing it high enough to save. Ironically now with the development downtown in Buffalo and the regionalization of the team to Rochester and Ontario they have wasted a great resource to move people to all the things I listed. end of my non bills related comment

Wasn’t talk here are the pictures of the proposed train station. These days that train line is out of service and it would cost a bit to get the line reactivated, but I do believe if they were to keep the stadium where it is a train station may be reconsidered.