Richard Noggin

Probably, but I genuinely felt good about that game going in. We'd already bottomed out, and had shown signs of steadying the ship. And we caught Minnesota dealing with the sudden Everson Griffen situation. It just seemed like an upset in the making. Not sure the Bengals are similarly poised to catch the Bills off guard this week. But then again, Dalton kind of owns us.

Since the first trade this offseason, I've been thinking (and saying to friends) that AB no longer has the will to play professional football. He's been publicly BEGGING to be released or suspended or otherwise shelved. Felt at first like a diva NFL vet circumventing training camp. Feels now more like a misogynistic thirty-something millionaire head case finally coming unglued.

This is the narrative that upsets my already tenuous equilibrium: a privileged, cheating, protected athlete receiving additional, informal, untraceable protections beyond the scope of league-wide rules. The Tuck Rule was retroactively created to justify Brady's horribly botched AFC Championship fumble ruling. The silly below-the-knee restriction for QB protection was enacted following Brady's only major injury. He is allowed to turf the ball--and therefore avoid negative outcomes/real-world consequences--without penalty any time the called play is effectively disrupted by the defense. No other professional, proficient, otherwise precise NFL QB enjoys such freedoms, to suddenly be bad enough at throwing a football that it bounces roughly five yards from the feet of a nearby receiver when the pass rushers are closing in. One needs not venture beyond the football field to find the ammunition necessary for a proper, justified Brady-bashing. He is Dan Marino x10.

So wait...I skipped a bunch of pages. Where/how/what/wait a minute/I mean I just don't get it! I think I genuinely want to learn from you, like intern for you in a very serious way. Except that you're coming off as a completely humorless shell of an internet conceit. Either way, I have much to learn from you. Don't hold back. (How have I never seen you around before? Baffling.)

Convenient. When your owner, coach, QB, and various players over the years are proven cheats or criminals: claim indifference.

The operative question becomes: does this unusual feeling meet with doubts and cynicism at its outer reaches? For me? No. I'm fine enjoying the ride and analyzing what I see each week WITHOUT taking that toxic ride to self-preservation town. I was in 7th-10th grades for the Bills Superbowl debacles, and we were a devout family. But I've experienced enough in my 41 years (I know fans like you, Shaw, have seen much more) to know that none of this matters if it ain't fun. And I'm having fun this year. Who's with me?

To piggyback off Logic and Shaw, in particular, when watching and discussing preseason this year, I kept boiling it down to: the Bills were better than their competition. In all four (meaningless) games, the Bills were better enough to win. Same with the first two weeks of this regular season: barely better enough + much better = 2-0. They look like a solid team this season. Nay, a solid FRANCHISE. They look competently assembled, schemed, and executed. It's refreshing.

This just helps to magnify their contrived Us-Against-The World schtick. Except that these days, rather than simply pretending the world is against them, the world is, in fact, against the Patriots and their institutional unethical behavior.

Now I know more. Thank you.

The More You Know...(insert flying star PSA gif here)

The TNF college game between Tulane and Houston has been bonkers in the 4th quarter. In a good way. (Pivotal fake kneel down with teams tied and game clock under half a minute, for starters).

Someone explain to me why some Bills fans are expressing anger or derision AT Kroft himself for getting injured again? He probably didn't do it on purpose.

I don't know. Just thought I'd isolate this quote. No reason.

Patriots. And it's not very close. I say again, as a Bills fan and appreciator of McD's defense: the Patriots have a much better defense.

Isn't the key to this game (and most others) scoring points quickly enough on offense to alter the opposing offense's play-calling (as they fall behind)? Nudge the opponent to become more one-dimensional on their own... I know last week played out opposite of this narrative, but let's face it: we won't get away with clusters-of-turnovers and first-half bagels in most games. Score early and often to neutralize the bootlegs and play-actions that WCOs (like Shurmur's) thrive on. The Giants looked good on offense early against the Cowboys, but that didn't last in part because the Cowboys put them in a hole early. Can't let them execute a balanced timing offense predicated on the threat of Barkley. Gotta cut their playbook in half.

You poor dear. Pray for us. I don't jump through tables, but I also don't get my undies in a bunch over the whole national perception thing. Just enjoy your team, and enjoy others enjoying the team. It's supposed to be fun.

But hey, that's showbiz, baby.

So wait...they BOTH suck?

So basically: "Show me the baby"?

I lived in Orlando in 2004 when we caught 4 monsters in a matter of weeks. To be completely honest, it was an invigorating experience. The week without power after Charley, in that heat/humidity, was brutal. But overall, it was an indelible time in my life. Of course, I hope everyone stays safe.

I treat my own like I hate it. So, no.

Oh, mykidsdad

I saw this as well. Great in traffic. Not so much in space.

err...Foster made a great play as gunner for a punt. Probably a really important tackle for his immediate future on the Bills, given that they dressed him precisely for STs evaluation. (maybe someone already commented on this point, and if so, apologies. But seriously? Pay attention, my friend.)

A lack of the emboldened is what concerned me about his rookie season. Chicago's rookie did it a couple-two-tree times. Indy's rookie did it, too. Edmunds, not so much. Edmunds looked to me like a smart, freakishly athletic kid who was starting from scratch. More an athlete than a football player. Which is potentially troubling for such a necessarily violent position. Maybe he is maturing and learning fast enough to add impact and collision to his game this season. The plays covered in that vid show some progress on that front. Let's hope it continues...