Shaw66

This is just a simple, good thing we all can do to support the team and the players, and to help people in need.

Thanks, RN, I appreciate the compliment. And DrP, too. I picked up the Hartford Courant this morning and looked at the article about the Patriots. The theme of the article is that one of Belichick's principal sayings is "the football season doesn't start until after Thanksgiving." Everything else is prelude. Six weeks to prove who you are. Let's go, Bills! Oh, and give $27 to the NWLA foodbank to support Tre's work!

I'm in.

I don't disagree. I wasn't anointing Stevenson. Mostly I was pointing at that things are changing on this team, and Stevenson for McKenzie may be a permanent change. I agree about the fumbling concern. I'm not convinced Stevenson is an upgrade. I don't like McKenzie on offense. He runs the jet sweep well, but he doesn't catch the ball well. I think Stevenson will be no worse, and probably a better, deep threat in the passing game, and probably as good in the gadget running game. So I see potential for an improvement with Stevenson, but I'm not sold yet, not at all.

There I was: settled into the sofa in the customary post-Thanksgiving dinner stupor, having eaten altogether too much just because, well, I was supposed to, surrounded by my family, flipping channels between the final plays of the Cowboys’ overtime loss to the Raiders (it’s always fun to watch the Cowboys lose, even if it meant the Raiders would get the win!) and the beginning of the Bills game. I awaited the game with trepidation, because the Bills are one of the NFL’s 2021 mystery teams: they’re winning plenty of games, dominating weak teams but with glaring weaknesses exposed from week to week. The Bills should be able to handle the Saints, I thought, but they should have been able to handle the the Steelers and the Jags, too. Not to worry. The Bills stomped on the New Orleans Saints Thanksgiving night, rolling to a 31-6 win. They bounced back from their humiliation against the Colts and put together a solid performance with little time to prepare. Of course, if you’re going to have a short week, it helps if your opponent is playing without Drew Brees or his replacement (Jameis Winston) or his replacement (Taysom Hill), and without their best skill position players on offense and without several other starters. It was a favorable matchup, and the Bills took full advantage. Once again, the Bills showed that they have a great defense against weak offensive teams. Once again, the Bills absolutely stifled the opponent, rolling into and through the third quarter having given up only a few dozen yards and no points. The Saints could do nothing with the ball. Once again, it was impressive, complementary team defense with everyone contributing. The Bills defense puts on a show almost like the cast of a Broadway musical, with first one person taking center-stage, then another, then another. Ed Oliver stood out against the Saints, but Mario Addison brought it too, Matt Milano made some gorgeous tackles, Tremaine Edmunds made plays, then Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White. Whosever turn it was stepped up and stopped the Saints. Once again, the Bills struggled to run the ball, and once again Josh Allen looked great except when he didn’t. Dion Dawkins made a few frighteningly bad plays. Still, it all added up to a lot of points against a few points, another lopsided win against another team that’s going nowhere in the league this season. That’s not a bad thing, of course, but teams that are going nowhere are, in particular, not going to the playoffs, and winning in the playoffs is what ultimately matters. In the Saints game, there were plenty of signs that the Bills were improving in areas where they’ve struggled; whether that improvement will carry over against good teams remains to be seen. The offensive line recovered somewhat from its recent dismal performances. The Bills did their best to keep Cody Ford off the field, replacing him with Ryan Bates after a series or two, only to have Bates get dinged, giving Ford still another shot. Still, things went fairly well across the line. Allen’s protection improved – he still had to make more plays to stay upright and keep the play alive than you’d like in a quality offense, but at least he had time to get set, look downfield and make his first read before finding himself at risk. And cracks, seams, and even occasional holes opened in the line for the running backs. Was the line better because the opponent was worse, or was this actual improvement? Ask me after the Patriots game. All right, yes I said the run game failed, but in some ways it succeeded admirably. It failed because the Bills couldn’t control the game by rushing the ball. There were a few nice runs here and there, some excitement from Breida, solid if not spectacular power from Singletary, but strictly in numbers it didn’t add up to a whole lot. The Bills’ offensive game was about passing. However, the run game succeeded in a broader way, and let’s hope it’s a continuing trend. Simply by committing to and sticking with the run, and even though it wasn’t putting up big numbers, the passing game opened up. Allen was throwing the ball more freely, finding the right man open and delivering the ball. Some of that came from the simple fact that the defense knew that it was possible that the Bills would be running. And not running just anywhere; the Bills attacked outside with speed, and at times they faked outside. Simply the threat of a ground game changed the passing game. . Allen and the receivers took full advantage, exploiting openings all around the field. By and large, Allen knew where the play should go and got the ball there. He did it calmly and efficiently. The receivers executed; all of them. Nice catches from Sanders, Beasley, Davis, Singletary, Knox. It really was an excellent passing game. The communication and precision of Allen and Diggs is a treat. We saw it last season, but they’ve taken it to another level. There have been plenty of great passer-receiver combinations, and these two haven’t been together long enough to approach the records, but Allen and Diggs already are doing some special things. People used to talk about Manning and Harrison and how they knew each other; what we’re seeing already is in that league. Diggs runs absolutely exquisite routes, precise, lightning quick and creative, and on cue Allen delivers a gift-wrapped catchable ball right where they both expect it to be. Then Diggs’s eye-hand coordination takes over, and the chains move. We saw it on the touchdown pass, where Diggs drove Lattimore so hard to the inside that when he broke out, Diggs was alone. And here comes the gift, and Diggs has it. They do it on tight-window in-cuts and out-cuts, Diggs cracks an opening for Allen to throw into, and Allen puts it there. It’s special stuff we’re watching. And although they’re not on the same level, Allen to Beasley, and to Sanders, and to Knox, and to Singletary all are important connections. They’re all making each other better. Knox is now more of an integral part of the receiving unit, and separate and meaningful threat, and that makes all the others better. He doesn’t have to play like Kelce to be a meaningful threat. He just has to be a threat, and this season he’s shown that’s what he is. We’re also watching the story of Josh Allen unfold before us. Whether he continues to improve and become a true all-time great, or whether he’ll plateau and be just really good in a QB-friendly era, is the story that will be told in the next few years. On Thursday night, Drew Brees demonstrated the story of Allen’s development very simply. He dissected Allen’s decision-making on the second interception, when a score would have made the Bills more comfortable at the half. To Brees, it was a very straight-forward proposition: Just get five yards on this play, call time out, take a couple of shots, and get the TD or field goal. Allen looked downfield, his first option wasn’t there. Sanders was the relief valve there, and Allen should have taken the simple choice. Instead he waited, hoping for more, then was left with a low-probability throw. Then he compounded the mistake, because although Allen can complete passes like that, the risk is simply too great. Throw it away and try something on third down. A great QB, particularly Brees, has the patience to take what he can on this play and move on the next. Allen has to see both mistakes and develop the patience and discipline to make the easy play, the smart play. The Bills are evolving into the team they will be. The season is progressing. Edmunds is back. Feliciano and Brown will be back, which means the offensive line will be getting reconfigured in one or more ways. Breida may be growing into a bigger role. Stevenson’s tryout for McKenzie’s job gets mixed reviews – he looks more explosive than McKenzie, perhaps has elite quickness, but he put the ball on the ground once, and you have to wonder if he can survive the pounding. Nobody can replace White, of course, but McDermott and Frazier will reshape the secondary to respond to the loss. Every team has injuries – White is the Bills’ Derrick Henry. The defense will be weaker; can the Bills’ offense occupy the ball longer and control games for stretches? Well, maybe some combination of Feliciano and Brown and Breida will change the character of this team’s game, maybe Knox will become a household name in December. Maybe Stevenson becomes a gadget sensation. Maybe Allen will go on a run, the kind of run that fans remember for decades, the kind of run that become part of the myth of the truly great. Or maybe not. It’s a story to be told. Beginning next week. GO BILLS!!!

Thanks for all these reports. So great to see. I take one road trip a year. Will nnnbnn have been NO on any day other than Thanksgiving. Went to KC instead. Bring home a big win!

Under the circumstances, that means they lost the 4th quarter. They gave up 10-play field goal drive that took 6 minutes off the clock. Then they threw an interception. Truth is, if McKenzie doesn't fumble and Bass makes two field goals, the game is 34-21 and a better 4th quarter might have won the game.

I agree about this. The look of this team is different from prior years. They seem to expect they will win. Was it the Jags game when McD declined a third down holding penalty and the opponent then kicked a 56 yard field goal on fourth down?

Thurm - Thanks for the thoughtful comments. You're right, more than touchdown returns matter, but there are only about 15-20 guys who have a kickoff return of 40 or more. Are you willing to trade one kickoff return from the goal line to the 50 for one muff at the 15? Not me. And there are practically no punt returns over 20. A few, here and there, but it's miniscule compared to the number of punts. I'm not an analytics guy, and I'd never thought about this before McKenzie's fumble, but I'd gladly give up five yards per return for a guarantee that there will be no fumbles. Fumbled kicks are by far the biggest game changing play in football. You're giving up possession of the ball, and instead you get another possession inside the red zone. On a kickoff, it's like a super-onside kick. On a punt, it's like a 50-yard fake punt. Just seems to me that given how the safety rule changes have made it harder to return punts and kickoffs (because the blockers' hands are tied), the risk-reward is out of whack. It's almost like the smart play is to get the free yards you can, then give yourself up. By all means, do not fumble.

Several people have asked this. No, he isn't done. Apparently McDermott said that he'll be back, if not this week, then next week. I haven't seen that myself - it's just what I think based on comments I've seen from others. I was wrong in the OP.

You know, I'm even okay with Josh throwing into, well, double coverage, if he has a clean pocket and is just standing there finding the right target. He can get the ball into tight places. But when he's about to get hammered by one guy or another and throwing into coverage, that's not a good formula.

Three hours in the car after the game, and a stop for dinner. Check into the hotel and attend to some personal matters Sunday night. Up and driving four hours Monday, then a visit to the doctor and a little grocery shopping. Dinner, turn on the game and write the review. Well, the way Daboll calls the plays, only a couple of times a game!

I like these comments, and generally agree, except with the overall conclusion that the Bills can run the ball. I'm not so sure about that. The reason is there never seem to be holes or decent seams to run through. The backs always find a mass of bodies in front of them, and no good spots to cut back to. The Bills run those outside zone plays sometimes, and nothing opens up. I do think, however, that there is some truth to the notion that regardless, you have to keep on running it. You have to give the ball to your backs 20 times a game and pound them in there, even if they're getting 3 yards a carry, because just the fact that the backs are getting the ball every third snap will help keep the defense honest. Then, if you're right and I'm wrong, they'll spring some runs just by virtue of having tried so often. Plus, the defense naturally will react to the run fake. I agree about lack of speed. And I really agree about getting the ball wide. Bucs opened last night running a receiver around the end on two of their first three running plays. They sent the Giants a memo saying "if you don't protect the flank, we're going to run there." Bills should be getting the ball to people with speed - Diggs, Sanders, Beasley, McKenzie, Breida, on plays that go wide. Bills are good at getting blockers out in front of Allen when he takes designed runs; why don't they get blockers on the edge like that for the speed guys? So, bottom line, I think there's more that can be done, and I think it's on Daboll. And the line.

Thanks for this. Actually, I wondered about it, but my faulty memory told me he was done. If he comes back, that will help. He has bigger muscles than most of those guys!

The Colts crushed the Bills, 41-15, on Sunday afternoon. Coming into the game, the persistent question was “just how good are the 2021 Bills?” Now, we have the answer: Not very good. November is when good teams emerge in the NFL. The Bills haven’t emerged, and time is running out. Fast. There’s not much to say, so I’ll state the obvious. The Bills have a one-dimensional offense that can’t score against any decent NFL defense, like the Jacksonville Jaguars. The formula is simple: Give the Bills nothing deep, rush Allen, ignore the play fake. Play the receivers tight. Wait. That’s the formula to stop everyone. It’s easier said than done. Well, yes, except against the Bills, it IS easily done. Why? 1. The Bills can’t run the ball, so the linebackers and defensive backs can ignore the play fake. 2. The Bills can’t pass block, so rushing Allen is easy. 3. Secure in the knowledge that Allen will have to throw quickly, the defensive backs can clamp down on the short routes, making every throw a tough throw. It’s hard not to conclude that the offensive line is a problem. The line creates few easy yards for the running backs, and the line consistently allows quick pressure in Allen’s face. Remarkably, the Bills really miss rookie Spencer Brown. Not that Brown has been an All-Star, but he’s been pretty consistent. Brown’s absence and the season-ending injury to Feliciano have forced the Bills to put Cody Ford on the field, a player who’s had multiple opportunities to produce and simply can’t. Ford isn’t the only problem. Mitch Morse seems to be good for a holding penalty flag almost every week. He holds because he can’t neutralize good power rushers. Someone’s probably playing well on the line, but I don’t know who it is. The defensive line presents exactly the opposite problem. It can’t stop good running teams, and it can’t pressure the quarterback consistently. Lotulelei out of the lineup made a difference. On both sides, the primary problem is that these players are finesse players, not power players. The offensive line can’t move the defense off the line of scrimmage, and the defensive line can’t hold the line of scrimmage. Under those circumstances, the opposing defense can ignore the Bills run game and the play fake, and the opposing offense can run at will forcing the linebackers to play the run and the run fake. Until the line play changes, it’s hard to imagine that the results will change. Of course, the game got away from the Bills on one play: After the Colts went up 17-7 late in the first half, the script was clear: Allen takes the Bills on a scoring drive to close the half 17-10 or 17-14, and then the Bills take the second half kickoff and take over the game. Instead, Isaiah McKenzie gave the ball away on the kickoff, the Colts make it 24-7, the Bills go three and out to open the second half, and the game was over. Several Bills made critical mistakes, and the lack of discipline and execution was surprising for a McDermott team, but McKenzie’s play – one play – should earn him a ticket out of town before next September. Harsh? Not at all. McKenzie has 5 receptions for 26 yards and 5 rushes for 27 yards. His primary job, practically his only job, is to return kicks, and ball security is rule number one for kick returners. In fact, ball security may be the ONLY rule for a kick returner. Some might say the fumble is worth the risk, because once in a while there’ll be a big return. Well, no. There have been over 600 kickoffs returned this season, four for touchdowns. That’s less than 1% out of kicks returned, and that doesn’t include all kickoffs for touchbacks. How about punts? Over 500 punts returned, ZERO TDs, and that doesn’t include the fair catches, punts downed, or punts out of bounds. These days, kick returning is pretty much all risk and no reward. Given that reality, McKenzie’s play was unforgiveable. The Bills now face a big-time gut check: Go to New Orleans and win on four days’ rest, then come home beat a Patriots team that unlike the Bills, is getting great line play on both sides of the ball. GO BILLS!

I get so frustrated listening announcers, all of them. They promote the stars nonstop. The simple fact is that Matt Ryan lost the Super Bowl to the Pat by taking a really stupid sack that knocked his team out of field goal range. He took a really stupid sack that cost his team a field goal tonight. Now he throws an amazingly stupid ball when his team is trying to get back into the game. All the announcers can say is that the rush is brutal. Now they say it was Pitts fault. Hogwash - he threw a wild, floater that would have done JP Losman proud. Matt Ryan throws a great ball, but he makes too many mistakes. He has for his entire career.

I've always thought Allen is Elway-2. One advantage Elway had, and Allen has it too, is that his receivers got used to catching high-velocity balls. The ball just comes in quicker, on almost any throw. It's an advantage for a couple of reasons: First, defenders aren't used to the speed, so they misjudge how much time they have to react to the ball as it arrives at the receiving window. We've seen it for a couple of years now - defenders are late to get a hand up as the ball passes through the window to the receiver. Second, defenders don't intercept balls they expect to catch - the ball comes in too hot and goes through their hands before they can grip it. The receivers get to practice with Allen all the time, so they get used to both effects; the defenders don't have any way to practice, because they don't have anyone on their team who can throw like that. It's an advantage Elway had throughout his career, and Allen has it, too. Frankly, I'm amazed at how the receivers catch it. They're all used to his velocity, and the ball just sticks in their hands. You're right about the TD pass. Allen and Diggs communicate so well, and they have the timing down so well, that they complete passes in what look like tiny windows. When the defender has played the route perfectly, it means the defender can react really quickly on Diggs's break, but there always is a little lag time, and that little lag time is a little window. In that little bit of time, the defender can't make the play. Allen can get the ball there so fast that he can get the ball into the little window, and Diggs catches it because he's used to the velocity. Allen misjudges it once in a while. His interception on Sunday was one of those. He tried to put the ball into a small window, relying on his velocity to get it through, and the ball got tipped. But the point is that because he usually CAN get the ball through windows that other QBs can't, he can complete passes that other QBs can't. The first time I saw it was that great throw he made for a TD in preseason his rookie year. There's video of it somewhere. He scrambled left, stopped and threw across the field to the receiver (maybe McKenzie or Ray-Ray, but I don't remember), who made the catch on the right sideline at the goal line. What was so interesting about the throw was that the cornerback was trailing the play and closing the window underneath, and the safety was coming over from the middle, closing the window from the other side. As you watch the ball, it looks like both of them should be able to make a play on the ball before it gets to the receiver, but neither guy could get to it. The ball was through the window too fast. I remember thinking "oh, no" as the ball was on the way, and when it was completed, I realized this is one special thrower. Here it is. He doesn't roll out. He's just in the pocket. It starts about 30 seconds into video. They show several replays in slow motion. It's just amazing how the ball gets between the defenders before they can make the play. Special.

I've seen him a lot, but Sunday I was at field level, and I have to agree with you. He'd make what looked like ordinary throws - no big wind up, nothing special at all, but the ball kept arriving earlier than I'd expect. And the ball kept sneaking through windows that seemed to be closing, but never in time. And, dare I say, accurate. Zip! Pop! Right on the hands. It wasn't wow-that's-the-most-amazing-throw-I've-ever-seen special. It was throw-after-throw-about-as-well-thrown-as-you-could-imagine special. In the Rockpile Review I commented about the deep ball to Diggs up the left sideline. The communication and comfort level between Allen and Diggs was obvious on that play - Allen knew exactly where the ball needed to be. What was amazing is that there it was, with just a little air under it, but still with pace, dropping right where Diggs needed it to catch it in stride. It was an exquisite throw. Someone posted last week some comments Sanders made in a press conference. Sanders has said Allen's the best he's seen, and Sanders played with Ben, Peyton and Brees. He's clearly in awe of what Allen does with a football.

I agree about all of this. The Bills have to figure out how to an effective horizontal running game, because when their focus is simply between the tackles, they just aren't good enough. The line creates only the tiniest of seams, and the backs are neither powerful enough to bull through nor quick enough to slither through. If they can get back to threatening wide with the jet sweeps and perhaps Allen taking it outside occasionally, that threat will make life a little easier for the linemen to get angles and open up more room in the middle. And although I haven't studied the individual linemen, it just seems obvious that the line play is much better with Brown at tackle and Williams at guard.

I'm not sure you're correct, but I'd really like to know the answer. As I understand it, Josh has overall responsibility for the blocking assignments. At the line of scrimmage, Josh is supposed to recognize that that guy on the edge is a potential rusher. Yes, it was well disguised, but that doesn't matter. The guy is in position to apply immediate pressure. When Josh sees that, he has to assign responsibility for that guy. Responsibility is going to fall either to Breida or to Josh. That is, either Breida has to block him, or Josh has to check the guy post-snap to see if he's coming. If he's coming, Josh has to get the ball to Breida. What we know is someone made a mistake. The Bills know who made the mistake. My guess would be that Breida made the mistake, because I think Josh is mature enough now not to have missed the blitz possibility altogether. He never even took a peak that way, which suggests to me that Josh was comfortable that he was protected if the blitz was coming. Plus, Breida hasn't seen a lot of playing time, and maybe one of the reasons he hasn't is that he hasn't been good on pass protection assignments - I don't know that, just speculating. But it could just be that the guy just didn't register in Josh's mind as a threat, and he paid the price.

Gunner - Replying to your last two posts. First, both comments make sense, and I wouldn't be so critical of the OP if he'd offered some discussion of how Bills personnel should be used differently. All he did is say "I think some subs should get more playing time" and leave it at that. Whatever. I had a similar thought about Klein and the 4-3. I didn't remember that the Bills did that against the Colts last season. I think it makes a lot of sense against the teams that run well. I keep remembering how the Bills completely respected the play fake in the Titans game this year. In the second half it was crazy how sucked in the linebackers were, leaving that huge open area over the middle that Tannehill exploited. If the Bills get the Titans in the playoffs, and if the Titans are still pounding the ball like that, it seems to me that the 4-3 makes a lot of sense. The two outside linebackers can play the run and bite on the play fake, and Edmunds can play his usual style, dropping to the middle. Yes, you lose Johnson on the slot guy, you're still challenging Tannehill to find his third best receiver with Edmunds, White, and Wallace all poaching the short zones. Edmunds' big presence in the middle will make things a lot tougher over the middle. I like how Klein hits, but the most impressive thing about him is his speed. He covers more ground than I thought. He isn't just a thumper. So, if you have Milano on one side and Klein on the middle, Klein's less of a liability in zone pass coverage than I thought. As for Davis, I've thought often this year that the Bills needed his presence in the red zone. I think when you can come at defenses with Knox and Davis roaming in the end zone, Josh has better options than throwing at the three starting wideouts. I thought it was interesting that the Bills stubbornly went back to Diggs for the touchdown on the same play that almost had clicked the play before. That play was their best option - an extraordinary route runner creating just enough space for a a great thrower to zip the ball into. Well, okay, that's nice, but how about a guy with some size running across the end zone? Bigger target, shorter throw, bigger window. And, of course, the same is true on third down anywhere on the field. So, yeah, I can see a role for Davis. We saw him do it last season, and they seem to have gotten away from it. With regard to all of these things, of course, it's not like Daboll and McDermott and plenty of other people haven't thought of these things. There are reasons why Davis isn't as prominent in the offense this season as last (probably because Davis was a better option than an injured Brown, and isn't a better option than a healthy Sanders). Whatever the reason, I think the reality is that the Bills probably already are getting more or less the best they can out of their talent. There may be improvements to be made on the margins, and it's McDermott's job to push his coaches to find them. It isn't likely that a dramatic increase in snaps for Davis (and decrease for others) makes the offense better. If it were that obvious, the Bills would have done it already.

Man, you're making me feel stupid for not paying more attention to the bench! I gotta say, I didn't look all that much. This morning I realized I saw McDermott on the sideline only once or twice during the entire game! I didn't see Allen much, either. Part of the reason is that we were behind the side of the bench where the defense was sitting. We were on about the 40, so the offense was about 20 yards away to the left, and my eyes rarely fell that way. One time I saw him make a point of walking over to the offensive line - they all were standing together on the sideline - I think the Jets were about to punt, and it seemed like he came over just to say something like, "okay, lets go." It was pretty low-key. I didn't see Allen when he came off the field after that particular series. I have to say that whenever I looked at Allen, he seemed calm. So, if he was upset on the sideline after that series, I'd guess it was momentary. When Allen had the run that was called back, it was just to our right - we had a great view as he took off up the sideline. I watched him for some emotion as he was coming back to the team after the hold had been called, and he showed nothing. He looked like a guy going back to the huddle, getting ready for the next play. Didn't shake his head, didn't make any gestures. And after the sack, although I didn't see him on the sideline, he seemed pretty matter-of-fact as he got up off the ground. I remember thinking at the time that he may have been thinking, "well, after the penalty, wasn't likely we'd get the first down." All through that series, he seemed like he was just accepting what happened and moved on to the next play. There wasn't a time when I thought Allen needed to get his emotions in check, but I wasn't watching him a lot. I don't recall the punt at all, but I also don't recall ever thinking that McKenzie misplayed a ball. I did, however, have a different reaction to McKenzie. I've never thought he has good hands, and in the pregame, the wideouts ran a drill that really surprised me. It was simple, but a little tricky to describe. A coach, the thrower, is standing on the sideline at, say, the 42. The receivers lined up out of bounds on, say, the 45, just a couple yards from the thrower. One by one, they'd run at maybe 80% speed, five yards along the 45, then make a 90 degree cut up-field, take a few steps toward the fifty, and look back at the thrower. The thrower delivers a medium speed ball, just a 7-yard pass. Diggs, Sanders, Beasley caught every one with their hands. McKenzie caught two in a row against his body. It was intentional. I was amazed that after all this time in the NFL he hasn't drilled himself into making hands catches.

Sorry, I don't buy this. People here want to talk about serious issues, not made up stuff just to talk. You suggest that AJ Klein is roster mistake, but you admit that he isn't better than the guys who are starting ahead of him. Obada too. And Davis too. So, what are people supposed to say other than, in so many words, what you said makes no sense. How much difference is it going to make in the team's performance if Davis is on the field for five more plays, or Klein is, or Obada is? Because if you admit that they aren't truly difference makers compared to the starters, how are these "poor roster decisions"? Go ahead, explain why the Bills will be better if they put Davis on the field and sit Sanders or Beasley. How many more passes will he catch compared to the guy going to the bench? How many more yards will he get? I get that it isn't fair to ask you to prove that, but at least you can explain why you think he'd be a real improvement, other than saying he looks like a good receiver.

If those are the worst roster decisions, then I'd say the Bills are doing okay. Breida fumbled, and prior to Sunday had done nothing. Klein is exactly the problem you describe - not great in coverage, which is a problem in a passing league. You don't want him to replace Edmunds, so what do you want to do with him? Davis seems to be solid, but there are three good guys ahead of him. Obada is doing fine as he is. It's better to have the punter be the worst player on your team than when Moorman was the best player on the team. Not saying he's the worst, by the way. And before you're too tough on him, you should think about these facts. Bojo was the holder on place kicks last year, and both Bass's FG% and XP% have improved this seasons with Haack holding. Mason Crosby made 100% of his FGs last season; this season, with Bojo holding, he's under 70%.

Well, I'm not predicting a loss here. I agree, the Colts will be tough, but the job of championship is to be tough, too, and McDermott and the players are focused on building a championship team. We will learn a lot about who the Bills are when we see Sunday's game.