jkeerie

They blocked a punt.

I am so sorry for all your troubles this year...but it really does change your perspective. Our expectations for the Bills this year were indeed raised after making it to the AFC championship game last year and beating KC this year. So...the way we've played since then is shattering those expectations and leaving us all at a loss to explain it. Then you couple that with the rise of the evil empire again and it adds further negative emotions. In truth...I expected this from the Pats this year. They weren't that bad last year, finishing 7 and 9. They had a lot of players sit out due to covid and had horrid QB play from Newton. So...they didn't have to "rebuild." They had most of the pieces and added a few more with a boatload of cash in the offseason and a competent QB. That's why it only took them one year. The Bills on the other hand were building from scratch. The cupboards were bare when McD and Beane took over. So...the Bills have built a competitive team over the course of the last 4 years. They've also been incredibly unlucky this year. We've had to face the top teams with all their weaponry and we've lost key players heading into big contests. There was only one team where we were clearly overmatched and that was the Colts. The other games, the Bills mostly beat themselves either with players not playing up to par, or coaching not being up to par. So...this year my rooting interests are three-fold. 1. The Bills get to the playoffs. 2. I do not want to see NE in the SB because I just can't stand the media falling all over themselves over Belichick. (He is a great coach. I don't disagree with that. But he's not the only great coach. As someone said earlier, the narrative is totally different if one or two plays go our way yesterday. I actually do agree with McD. The Bills caused their own demise yesterday.) 3. I don't want KC to make it to three SBs in a row. If they do and they get there next year as well...what we as Bills fans have clung to as our only real claim to greatness is negated. So...that is my Christmas list. I'll watch games, I'll cheer and I'll keep the faith. At the end of the day, though, the chips will fall where they may and hopefully the Bills braintrust will learn and keep building. Congrats on your second child, Corta! So happy that your wife recovered from Covid. Prayers for your MIL in her battle with cancer.

I think that McD knows...as a defensive minded coach...that an offense needs to have balance in order to win in the NFL. A team needs to be able to run as well as pass. I think Daboll does want to just air it out and neglects the run game. I think he runs the ball begrudgingly and there is no thought to HOW to run the ball. It's one play, maybe two over and over. The defense knows how to stop it because it's the same play over and over. Look at the variety of runs and blocking schemes a good running team uses. It's not the same play over and over.

I agree. The weather impacted the Bills more than the Patriots yesterday. The Pats are a run first team with big backs and a solid o line. The Bills have to pass the ball to win. We have no run game...especially with Josh constantly in the shot gun. The defense gave up one long run which was the difference in the game. That's why I hate stacking the box. If every player on D doesnt hit their gap...once the line is breached, there's no one to stop a long run. When the Pats had the wind at their back and the Bills played off...we had more success stopping them. The Pats were very beatable last night. The Bills had to many mistakes by players at key times...case in point Dawson Knox. He's strutting prior to the game in short sleeves. Stop with the pregame antics and catch the freaking ball! The coaching didn't help much either. The play calling was bland and unimaginative. All our running plays are the same. No jet sweeps. Crossing patterns abandoned quickly. No play action. So...the Bills have no one to blame but themselves. Losses by other teams this weekend helped the Bills...Bengals, Ravens and Raiders. Even at 10-7 the Bills can get in at the 7th seed, as long as there are no other surprises. I hate that there is now a good shot at the Pats getting the number one seed...but it is what it is. Ii agree with flushing last night's game. I'm staying away from all football talk shows for the forseeable future. The season will play out and the chips will fall where they may. The Bills need to get more physical and less finesse in the off season and I do believe some assistant coaching changes need to be made. Now...for those who want to say we fans that still believe in the Bills are dilusional and are drinking the Kool-aid...you are wrong. We know the Bills are playing bad football and that they are a flawed team. We are simply realistic. They aren't dead...but these self-inflicted wounds need to stop. There are no teams in the AFC that are not flawed in some way. There are no power houses. Not this year. However, there are good teams that are playing more consistently than the Bills, especially right now. One week at a time. One game at a time. And hopefully...McD keeps learning.

I'm rooting for the Dolphins. They play the Pats at home the last game of the season. They usually play them tough. I want this game to mean something for the Dolphins. (I know last year versus the Bills the game meant something, and that didn't work out so well for them, but the Bills had their number last year...and this year for that matter.)

Plus...he went down in NOLA. He was so excited to play in that stadium in front of friends and family. The Bills mafia typically respond to such circumstances.

It'll just fuel the Bills. They are lousy at being front runners. Being the hunter versus the hunted, suits them better.

Just made my donation. Our local food bank is on my list of charities I regularly give to. They are able to stretch a dollar for maximum impact. I also know food banks are struggling right now as donations are down and food sources more scarce.

That means they'll throw 11 flags against the Bills and one against the Pats as a faux make up call.

Yes! Thank you for saying this! Plus...the "winning" teams that they have played and beaten were all missing key starters. The back up QB's that Buffalo played aren't much worse than the starters of those teams so there is no comparison on that level. We had our winning streak in the beginning of the season, so the Pats win streak is fresh in everyone's eye.

The fact that they released an O lineman may indicate we are about to get healthier in that area.

In light of Steven Sondheim's passing...this is quite appropriate.

I'm having deja vu.

Actually...I think if all the teams in the AFC north split...that would be the best scenario.

Correct. It's because 3 teams in the division have the same record at 6-5. That negates head to head and so you go to division record.

They have a better conference and division record.

Especially when you think of the supporting cast he's had since day 1.

I think the D line rotation we use limits our player's development.

It was the result of an ad campaign in 1975...being the city of hidden charm.

It's a tribute to a 14 year old fan that died in 2020...Mo Gaba.

I played with the Playoff Machine. We could win it at 12-5...if other games fall our way. But by the same token, if we don't win one of our next two, we could be the 8th seed if other games don't fall our way. There would need to be upsets. I mentioned this in another thread and a couple posters laughed. It's not funny...it is that precarious. Actually Virgil said it best...we need to split with NE. If we do it doesn't matter what we do in TB...presuming we beat the teams we should beat.

I think we'd have to win out. We absolutely need to win one of the next two games. We could be on the outside looking in if we don't due to other AFC teams getting tie breakers.

I know. And wishing doesn't make it so. At the start of the season, you thought the Big 10 would be a really great conference, but that did not prove long lasting. They are mediocre. The only teams in college football that have consistently looked good are Georgia and Cincinnati.

They should replay Michigan and OSU on a neutral field. Those are the 2 best teams in the conference.

I agree with you on that call and heard his comments. I actually saw a hold on the left side of the line and was surprised when they called the player they called. Having said that, the announcer in no way implied that the calls in the game were one-sided. If anything both announcers thought it was a well-earned win by Michigan. I agree. I don't see any QBs that should be in the mix this year.