SCBills

This feels like an ongoing dramatic escalation of coaching changes this week…

Hive-mind Sports Journalists poppin bottles today

Very much so. In a controlled environment (dome), we would boat race this Steelers team. The main concern is extreme weather leveling the playing field. We have the best QB to play in this weather, but as we saw in the NE wind game - which was far more insane than Sunday will be - Josh Allen can throw down the field in high winds, but the receivers have to be able to catch it. In that game, the slight movement of passes down the field resulted in drops that Allen put on them due to the wind. I'm not worried about Allen being able to provide us a legit passing attack in 20-30 mph cold wind. I'm worried about the passing game being able to function to a level we need in order to avoid this being a slop fest where a missed gap/big run, Warren screen pass for big yardage or Pickens quick slant to the house makes it dicey.

I like McDaniel, but he does comes across as a guy who doesn’t have the respect of his locker room. In fairness, that the first episode I’ve watched and he’s trying to motivate a team that looks like they realize they don’t have it at the moment. The pro-bowl scene where he’s just hanging out and guys are acting like he’s not even there .. I can’t imagine a moment where McDermott comes across that way.

I think all of us know that this team is absolutely capable of winning the Super Bowl.. and given the fact the Lamar-led Ravens haven't proved anything in the Playoffs during his career, maybe we should be the favorite... to rep the AFC, at least. The worry comes into play given two things: -The HC has to prove it. Taking over the Defense, and the style we now play with, is a good start.. but we've got to see it in the Playoffs. -The high variance of Josh Allen. Can be the best player, by far, in the entire league.. but can also keep lesser teams in the game with his recklessness.

Definitely an entertaining watch. Felt bad with the whole Baker angle, knowing he gets hurt again. I personally like McDaniel, but it seems like he's having to dig deep into the motivation bag for a team that doesn't really seem to be buying into it.

Where do y'all see snow? Everywhere I check shows 26 mph wind and 10% chance of precip from 1-4 pm on Sunday

With the wind, I fully expect the Steelers Offense to consist of runs, screen passes and slants. That's their Offense in good weather, and will surely be what they turn to with windy conditions. Stuff the run and do not let them get a cheap TD on a Pickens slant.

I don't know much about their OL. I know our DL is relatively healthy and we can activate Linval Joseph and put Rousseau, Floyd and Lawson out there on the edge as top tier run defenders. It's not Najee/Warren vs Cook/Fournette(?).. It's Najee/Warren vs Allen/Cook/Fournette(?)

Yup - The issue wasn't even with Allen throwing in the wind, it was with the receivers struggling to adjust to a ball that moves around a bit in the air as they go to catch it. Allen was putting it on them.

On the bright side, if Rasul Douglas can't go, the 30 mph wind should severely limit the downfield passing for a the team with a weaker armed QB. Dane Jackson is a dawg coming up and tackling and we can try and focus more on the short game/screen game/run game of Pittsburgh. We know Josh Allen can push it down the field and we know Josh Allen can be a focal point of the run game. Of course we'd all rather more ideal conditions, but we've got to find the advantages where they exist... and we will have some clear advantages, even with the cold & wind.

This. Last night was only close because the Bills were beating the Bills. It’s a common theme in our losses. Factor in a typically gritty Pittsburgh team and I get the worry in a one game scenario. However, if the Bills button up and stop with the landslide of mind-numbing mistakes, they should beat them pretty easily … regardless of the weather. But that’s nowhere close to a given with our QB and team.

Bills have Josh Allen, who can throw through the wind/elements and Knox (been here for years) / Kincaid (played in Utah) vs poor coverage linebackers for Pittsburgh. Mason Rudolph has a weak arm. I'd rather play them in the weather we had last night, but our team isn't a finesse squad any longer and unlike Pittsburgh, our Defensive Front is relatively healthy. If the weather is as bad as predicted, McDermott will likely look to shut down their running game and force Rudolph to make throws to the outside against the wind.

Really interested to see how his Defense performs in the postseason. He's running a Defense that can win a Super Bowl. The philosophy is much more aggressive than the one we've had that's faltered in big postseason moments. On Offense, his aggressiveness against Miami shows he's willing to trust Josh Allen to win games. He's beginning to look/coach like a Super Bowl winning Head Coach. All that's left is to actually do it.

The OL could certainly have been better, but some of it has seemed on Allen lately.. He's not hitting the deep shot and teams aren't respecting it as much. And when they heat him up with the blitz, he's not getting the ball out and/or getting routes that open quick enough. As far as our DL goes, setting the edge was hyper critical against the Miami run game after they gashed us early and when Tua dropped back to pass, he had the ball out quick enough to where a free rusher doesn't even have time to get to him.

If anyone needs to bring themselves down after the uplifting win last night, just swing on by this thread.. There will be some Steelers fans, but 30% would be an absolute embarrassment and I'd be shocked if that happened. As far as the weather goes, this team very much remembers getting knocked out last year - in part - due to the opposing team handling the conditions better than us. At the very least, I think the staff and players will hammer home being prepared for the elements as to not let that happen again.

Commanders out here doing the most unimpressive trick plays all quarter.

Listening to WGR and it’s bizarre how confident they were that Tennessee wouldn’t blow this game. Was honestly infuriating to listen to, knowing this will come down to the wire with us all expecting the Jags to pull it out.

It’s to the point where you’d rather a team who could benefit you losing plays a bad to mediocre team last week of the season over a playoff caliber team due to situations like this occurring every year. It is what it is, and I’m not sure the Titans will beat the Jags, but I know we’re all much happier the Jags have to face them than the Chiefs or Browns .. who are also resting everyone.

Done rooting for Ravens. (flip switch) I hope Lamar and the Ravens get ROCKED in the Divisional Round.

Ravens are legitimately resting anyone they can. Backups everywhere. They punted on this game to the most extreme level possible.

If he’s truly dealing with an injury enough to the point where he’s barely out-snapping rotational WR’s, why is he practicing in full? If we’re limiting snaps, it seems it would be wise for him to take it easy at practice. Maybe it’s not something that can heal with rest like that, but if it is an injury, it’s clearly affecting his ability to play a normal snap percentage.

I hate that I’m getting involved in this argument, but this doesn’t make any sense. If our only path was Bills/Dolphins, Bills win and make the playoffs .. given the setting, injuries, meaning etc.. we, at least, have a 50/50 shot at winning that game and making the playoffs, correct? So, our game alone equates to a 50% chance. How do we lose probability by having two other chances, in addition to our own game, at getting in?

Make sure y’all say Go Bills!! to the 10 foot tall shadow aliens 👽

Definitely hope Morse is 100% by Sunday.. The pressure we’ve been seeing the last few weeks has largely come up the middle and looks to be making Allen skiddish in the pocket at times.