BigDingus

So what you're telling me is that our ugliest combo (red on red) is our most successful? Screw it, go to red on red full time! Anyone remember that thing in the 90's where the 49ers had some insane record when they wore their red unis with the shadowed numbers? I have no idea why, but I just remembered some episode on ESPN having an entire segment about how they were undefeated one season with it. Edit: Found the uni I was thinking about

Can we stop the thing we do every year where we ignore very distressing patterns in favor of overall record/stats, just to help cover up the issues? Bills first 4 games - 139 points for / 55 points against (+84 differential / 3-1 record) Bills last 4 games - 78 points for / 81 points against (-3 differential / 2-2 record) Bengals first 4 games - 49 points for / 94 points against (-45 differential / 1-3 record) Bengals last 3 games - 82 points for / 50 points against (+32 differential / 3-0 record) So unless games from 1 month ago matter, I think we should start paying attention to RECENT play, and not overall record/stats. Also worth noting, the Bills last 4 games were against the 6-2 Jags, 2-6 Patriots, 2-6 Giants, and 3-4 Bucs... those are the opponents we faced during our RECENT bad stretch. Bengals have scored more points in 3 games than we have in 4. They also beat 2 teams with winning records, we beat 0. Sure, it looks nice to say we have a +81 point differential vs the Bengals -13, or that our defense has 8 INTs vs the Bengals 10 INTs, but when you've had 0 INTs & a negative point differential in the last month, how does that help predict the upcoming game? I'm not saying we're going to lose, and I get everyone wants to be optimistic hoping to manifest a win into existence, but nobody is "overhyping" the Bengals, they're just keeping a modest mindset.

I know this is about what we should do with Elam, but I dislike the narrative that McDermott "doesn't like to play rookies," or that he makes the young guys sit just because he doesn't trust them. Yes, I know Elam isn't a rookie anymore, but many people still seem to think Elam sits inactive because the HC has a thing for vets > young guys. 2017: Tre White - Started 16 games (he was the #27th overall pick vs Elam being the #23 overall pick) Zay Jones - Started 10 games, played in 15 (79% of offensive snaps) Dion Dawkins - Started 11 games Matt Milano - Started 5 games, played in 16 Nate "The Goat" Peterman - Started 2 games (unfortuantely), played in 4 2018: Josh Allen - Started 11 games, played in 12 (missed games due to injury) Tremaine Edmunds - Started 15 games Taron Johnson - Started 2 games, played in 11 (another CB, 4th round pick, 57% of defensive snaps) Wyatt Teller - Started 7 games, played in 8 (5th round G, now consistent starter in Cleveland) 2019: Ed Oliver - Started 7 games, played in 16 (54% of defensive snaps) Cody Ford - Started 15 games Devin Singletary - Started 8 games, played in 12 (67% of offensive snaps) Dawson Knox - Started 11 games, played in 15 2020: AJ Epenesa - Only started 1 game, played in 14 (only 31% of defensive snaps) Zack Moss - Started 0 games, played in 13 (45% of offensive snaps) Gabe Davis - Started 11 games, played in 16 Tyler Bass - Started 16 games, kinda 😆 Dane Jackson - Started 2 games, played in 5 (another CB, 7th round pick, worked his way into a lot more play time) 2021: Greg Rousseau - Started 16 games Spencer Brown - Started 10 games, played in 13 2022: Kaiir Elam - Started 6 games, played in 13 (57% of defensive snaps) Khalil Shakir - Started 2 games, played in 14 Christian Benford - Started 5 games, played in 9 (6th round CB, injured/inactive for 7 games, 62% of defensive snaps when available) 2023: Dalton Kincaid - Started/listed as a starter in 5 of 7 available games (63% of offensive snaps) O'Cyrus Torrence - Started all 8 games Dorian Williams - Started 2 games So after looking through this objectively, it seems pretty clear our first round picks play EXTENSIVELY. In 2020, there was no 1st rounder, and the best value came later in the draft. But it's clear Elam is the odd man out here. It's not a "McDermott doesn't like to play rookies" thing, it's a "he doesn't like what he sees from Elam" thing. However, you can also see the early years of building through the draft, as opposed to more recent years & less need for immediate help via draft picks. So while it's more difficult for a rookie to see as much play time now compared to the past, you also see late round picks (including other CBs) seeing their play time increase. Either way, the one constant is that the 1st round picks are drafted with the intent to see the field immediately & be the starters. Elam failed that. Unfortunately, I think the best time to trade him would've been before the deadline. Teams in the hunt may be more eager to find help midseason rather than when they have all the time in the world in the offseason.

I honestly haven't been following it, but is it still a shoulder thing? We've seen him go into the blue tent a couple of games already, so is this the same nagging injury that's just bothering him each week or something different?

"Should" isn't the same as "will" though. You'd think after losing to the Jags, then barely escaping with a win against one of the worst teams in the league, the Bills SHOULD have been ready against an awful divisional opponent. Nope. Three straight games they came out flat yet again, and this time the defense let Mac Jones have his best game of the season. Now the same, injury-depleted unit with no top tier CBs, struggling on the DL, and missing their best defensive player overall, is going to have a good game vs Chase/Boyd/Higgins? They looked bad against this game team at home last year, and that's even with the Bengals OL all beat up.

Here's a great play from Douglas - Game sealing INT against the 7-0 Cardinals with 15 seconds left, handing them their first loss of the season! Edit: Go to 27:13 in the video. You'll have to click the link since the NFL is stingy about their clips 😅 Which is going to be great, especially with some of our other leaders out with injury & Von still working his way back into the swing of things. Obviously we still have Hyde & Poyer, but it'll be good to have another highly motivated, highly competitive guy in that locker room.

I think they just know they're going to suck for a while & need to rebuild. And Douglas made it pretty clear he's not down with playing for a losing team that's preparing to lose even more. Glad he spoke up, as that probably made it easier for us to get him!

In terms of how good they turned out to be, probably Gilmore or Winfield. Unfortunately, they went on to have their best years on other teams, but were still great players while they were here. If it weren't for injuries, Tre would already be up there. He was an All Pro after year 3, made a Pro Bowl the next year, and was probably on pace for another in 2022 before the injury.

He did. Quote from him after Sunday's game (taken from ESPN article): "We're saying s--- but until we actually do the s---, it don't really matter," Douglas said after Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. "I'm thinking about it like, bro, I've never been a loser in my life. These last two years have been f---ing loser. That s--- ain't me. I don't think that s---'s us. We've got to do something, you know what I mean?"

Whoops, my bad. For some reason I thought he missed 2 games.

Nah, we're not big on improving mid-season 😅 But they have to find a way to trade Elam before the deadline... Just my opinion, but he'll have more trade value now than he will in the offseason, especially since it looks like we have zero intention of using him either way.

Just bumping this thread, as I was about to post some stuff about Ed. Ed is #2 among DT's in total sacks with 5.0 on the season (tied for #21 overall with AJ Epenesa), just 0.5 short of Chris Jones at 5.5 sacks. He's also tied for #2 OVERALL in TFL with 10 so far (tied with Aaron Donald & Montez Sweat), just 2 short of Danielle Hunter's 12 TFL. And that's with missing Patriots game too. Also, shoutout to Leonard Floyd who has been the best offseason signing so far. He's got 6.5 sacks in 7 games (missed the Pats game as well).

Hopefully he's used to running out of shotgun for every short yardage scenario.

Let's be fair though, Josh doesn't just get flack for INT's, it's the fumbles too. And when you've LEAD THE LEAGUE in turnovers for 3 straight years, it's not a fluke. Allen is earning that reputation, whether we want to admit it or not.

On the flipside, this board was in complete denial going into the Cincy playoff game last year, so we're just at a low point on team opinion right now. We've seen the Bengals suddenly come alive in recent weeks, won 3 straight, Burrow has 8 TDs/2 INT's in that stretch, and Jamar Chase is averaging 10 receptions/124 yards/1 TD a game over that span. As for the Bills, we've gone 2-1 in that stretch but haven't impressed at all. So I can understand why fans aren't super confident going into Cincy & beating the Bengals on the road. Do I think it's an indictment on McDermott's entire tenure? No. But I do think if this team comes out flat again, commits a lot of penalties and loses due to unforced errors/turnovers (especially after 10 days to prepare), he will be getting the most heat he's got at any point in his career.

Even if we somehow got Patrick Mahomes sitting behind him, he's not going to suddenly play better because of it. If there's one thing I believe about Josh Allen, it's that sometimes he gets stuck in his own head. Having a potential starter as his backup & competing for a starting spot would likely only make things worse. Maybe in practice it'd help, but do you really want him mid-game having it in the back of his head "if I make too many mistakes, they'll bench me for the other guy!?" Hell no. So yeah, we all think the callers idea was stupid, but even if we played that out with some fantasy trade, it wouldn't get the desired results anyway.

Even with a Chiefs loss, it's doubtful we make a run at the #1 seed. However, there's still a decent shot at Josh being an MVP candidate, so Mahomes adding 3 turnovers & 0 TD's to his stat line helps the cause 😅

I've been busy all day, finally got around to checking box scores. The funniest thing I've seen all day is the Giants passing stats. 6/14 for -9 yards?! 🤣 I know Tyrod Taylor got injured, but that's definitely remincisent of a Tyrod-lead offense... At least people are now seeing the Jets & Giants, as bad as they can be, are tough defensively.

I'd be for it, especially if they can find a way to make it relatively quick. But I was also in favor of being able to challenge PI penalties, and the league botched that. In general, I'm all for eliminating as much of the "human element" from officiating games. Using sensors/computer monitoring for ball placement instead of eyeballing it & using chains, go for it! But it seems the NFL likes the "entertainment" value & supposed drama of the visuals it provides, so I doubt we'll ever get to that point.

We're struggling against some of the worst teams in the league, so not optimistic. We have a tough schedule, and this was supposed to be the soft part. The Dolphins cruised through their easy stretch, but we are 1-2 in the division & needed luck to get by the Giants. At least my expectations are significantly lowered now, so anything above that will be a welcome surprise.

I think honest Bills fans know that most of Allen's issues are mental. For his first 2 seasons, I was convinced he read every word about him online, watched the media conversations, and got stuck n his own head. Every week leading to a big game seemed to conclude with a colossal disappointment of a performance. Then the 2020 season happened, and I felt redeemed. No fans in the stands, so much less pressure, and suddenly he plays fantastic? He also admitted to being so hyped before games that he throws up before each one. I heard Kelly did something similar, but that lends to the psychological aspect even more. Final point, those games where one thing goes wrong, then suddenly the wheels come off all together (see week 1). It probably didn't help things this off-season when the media & fans are all saying your #1 WR is upset with YOUR performance. That has to be in the back of your mind each game & impact your choices. So I empathize with Josh. The expectations are sky high, and you're going to get all the credit & blame for the team's performance. When things aren't going well early, it's impossible to not start thinking about all the ways in which you need to fix it. I hope he can find the right balance & get in a comfortable head space soon. He has all the tools & the work ethic, he just needs to get out of his own head sometimes.

That's kind of what happens when you don't extend drives though. You can expect less passing attempts, less yards, less TDs, etc. if you're doing nothing until the 4th quarter and constantly punting the ball. And INTs aren't the only issue. Fumbles are a big problem as well. So the turnover numbers look even worse than the 7 INTs indicate.

Yeah, I could complain about the defense, but the offense is still my biggest issue. The offense isn't the unit suffering major injuries at all levels. There's no excuse to be pitiful through 3 quarters, for 3 straight games! Someone mentioned a stat that Allen hasn't had 2 consecutive games without a turnover? If that's true, that's insane. Won't win many games if you only come alive in the 4th quarter & turn the ball over a ton. So sure, defense blew it, especially on that last drive. But the offense blew it 3 weeks in a row by floundering all game until the 4th quarter.

This is reminding me of last year again... Multiple key defensive players out every game 😓 Just can't catch a break.

Well for a long time salary cap/free agency era wasnt a thing, so players mainly stuck with the teams that drafted them. But after the players & owners negotiated a cap and true free agency, great players began bouncing around new teams like crazy. As for examples, Matt Stafford is the first that comes to mind. He was #1 overall in Detroit (I think), never won anything, then ends up winning the SB his first year in LA. And even though Manning wasn't very good the year he won a SB with the Broncos, he still had some amazing years there and won an MVP. Kurt Warner is another who, although not a high draft pick, had great success late in his career with the Cardinals after most people thought he was destined for backup/journeyman roles. I think McD deserves a lot of credit early, but the past several years the credit has shifted more towards Allen.