technobot

Let Josh cook!

The remaining schedule, Jets excluded, is compelling. There will be no qualifiers if the Bills rack up 11+ wins this year; they will have gone through the crucible of the NFC West and most of the AFC powers except Baltimore. They *should* beat the Raiders (handily) but this is the kind of game the Bills would lose in their previous hot starts. But these aren't those Bills, right?

Allen has benefited from a program that believed in him and pushed in all the chips for him. From maneuvering in the draft so they could select him, putting mentors and coaches in place, and finally, surrounding him with a bevy of weapons. But then, doesn't everyone do this for their QB? The program itself had time. He wasn't supposed to start year one, and what we saw confirmed this: a raw rookie who needed much refinement, thrown into the fire. I don't want to make excuses for him but it feels like 2019 was his effective rookie year, with 2018 being extended training camp. Darnold will be on his 3rd head coach, 3rd OC shortly. Mayfield is in a similar situation but at least he's surrounded by a ton of talent. Rosen gotten the worst of it. McDermott and Beane had the benefit of being able to bring Allen along over several years in a "win now, results now" league. It's a luxury that many/most head coaches and GMs don't have. It helps that Allen made the 2018 - 2019 jump as proof that this gamble was going somewhere. While he's still not "there" yet, he's trending in the right direction (early as it is). Making the playoffs last year couldn't have hurt. I doubt they would have given up on him (or the Pegulas would have given up on the regime) unless Allen turned into Nate Peterman. My guess is Pegula had enough faith in McBeane (especially after the Andy Dalton playoff berth) to see this thing through at least 5 years. It's doubtful this was a zero sum game, where Allen either became a top 5 QB, or the whole thing was graded an abject failure. Perhaps there were degrees of acceptability, ranging from MVP candidate to Joe Flacco. Agree with the comments about Allen's heart and character. I believe it is unlikely someone his age can completely ignore the criticism or hate, because of social media. I don't think he lets it affect him; I hope he uses it as ammunition Brady-style to prove the doubters wrong.

Hate to use the Madden analogy, but this is like having a player with a low floor (65ish sounds right for Allen: Year One) but a max ceiling. Year 1-2 was a 10 point jump, what we're seeing this year (if sustained) is like a 20 point jump that makes him elite, no more complaints about his Madden ratings. Hyberpole aside, assuming his progress continues what is truly salivating is that he will continue to improve, e.g. reading the field and getting the ball out quicker when he needs to. And he's more aware than the critics are of what needs improvement. This. The facemask (legit) penalty he took yesterday? At the end of the sequence the colour commentary guy gasps "This... is a strong man..." How many QBs can do that? Getting dragged down, and still strong enough to defend themselves by tearing at another strong man's helmet, while securing the football in his other hand? I'm drunk off the Koolaid (and completely hungover) right now, but we're scratching the surface of the freak things Allen can do. If he keeps this up, his lifetime highlights reel will include such videogame nonsense as: - slowly brought down by several defenders at midfield, taken off his feet, while uncorking an all-arm bomb into the middle of the endzone - 40 yard rushing TD, dragging a safety and a CB on his back - Dallas redux: did the QB just out-physical the entire D-line? - the Josh Allen: easily throwing 60 yard all air dimes from the Bills 35 These are the ravings from a fan who is a little too high over a Week 3 win, but right now Josh Allen's comparable is Superman.

The best defense is... more offense! (Cobra Kai?) Thrilled they can win a shootout, been a long time since you could say that about the Bills I believe McDermott and co can and will get this fixed, and when they do, dream big.

They've surrounded Allen with studs, Beasley is definitely one.

Will Josh Allen ever pass for less than 300 yards?

Still in awe. This was a game scenario I've seen so many times during the drought... Bills have started hot by beating some bad teams, they get an early test and BOOM hopes are dashed, it turns out they weren't good after all (of course). Barring a massive slide, the Rams are a good, well coached team and this was a quality win against a quality opponent. They almost unraveled but they kept it up. Thank you gift call at the end but it was an atrocious call that got the Rams going. And that's not to take anything from the other side, good team and thrilled about the win!

It's worrisome but I trust the coaches and personnel. Who expected the Bills offense to be doing the heavy lifting?

Truly. We needed him at the end and he came through. 3rr quarter even started well enough until things began to unravel. We have our franchise QB and he's surrounded by studs. I have no frame of reference for a Bills offense like this other than the Super Bowl teams. And yes, we're only three games in. Sorry for hyperbole.

Bills defense suspect, bills offense legit. PFF will rank Allen the 12th best QB this week.

This drive took 5 years off my life

Plenty of game left but still not quite sure what I'm watching when I see this Bills. I believe it's a powerful offense, a stout defense and well coached team with a deep roster. Don't quote me on this.

He's not going to do this every game but I believe he'll have a 500 yard game. They have the playmakers to make this possible, Diggs especially. Two weeks in a row he's around 250 yards at the half. He'll eventually have a lucky "hit everything week" and post a 5 TD on bombs, 2 on runs style GOAT performance. What the first Jets game could have been, without the turnovers, and the offense staying hot to start the second half.

Allen's first 400 yard game and we damn well needed it. Great to see it wasn't padded by garbage time.

Heart attack game where a game we should have dominated seems like it’s going off the rails? #1 WR domination game? Josh Allen’s monster stats “say my name” game? what a difference 8 minutes makes

Just took a stroll through their forums; I should be above this but am thoroughly enjoying a rival's misery. I don't know what % of their fanbase that message board represents but general sentiment: grim. No sugar coating it, no optimism. They know they have a bottom tier NFL roster, and they're (almost) proud to admit it. The thread for Gase supporters was worth the price of admission (IMO).

Bills clearly have a superior roster and they’re playing like they know it and aren’t afraid to admit it. Love how Allen just totally brushed off that first fumble and went about the business of methodically beating down an inferior team.

First half lowlights for the Jets should be accompanied by sad trombone sound.

Both seem like great people in the IRL (redundant, see redundant) The 2011 season ended up being a kick in the groin, but we'll always have that Week 3 win over the Pats. As much as Fitz would go full gunslinger (without the gun) and try some CRAZY things... it's like the young guy we have now, except the young guy has the cannon arm. Tyrod was far too cautious. I work with a guy who is a Hokies fan from VA, and he loves every present and past player. I had to explain the "Tyrod special". You know the one where your quarterback throws for 98 yards. And yes I know it 134 yards in a playoff game against a formidable Jaguars defense, but come on, man. I think Fitz could have made magic here with the team they have now. That 2011 era vintage was fun in a Bad News Bears sort of way, as in a not-very good group of misfits who won (and broke) our hearts. With the contract they gave him (prematurely), they had to move on from him. But it's unfortunate because he was already regarded as a top shelf teammate, whether the starter or the backup, and we could have used him at the beginning for Josh. Glad they stumbled upon Barkley along the way, so it worked out regardless.

I'd do it. It's the default for performance and reliability. Without seeing what else is offered I can't imagine you wouldn't want it, assuming it's the default offering.

Agree with what has been said for the most part. I don't think it's time to throw the baby out with the bath water barring some freak once-in-generation style regression from Josh where he's consistently missing wide open Diggs/Brown and giving the other team easy INT FOR TD, Nate P style. I also don't think 60% passing is an unreasonable ask at all; as Biscuit mentioned that's a fairly low bar for even an average NFL QB. It's obviously not a concrete KPI that must be obtained; I'm more interested in hitting targets down field which will result in more touchdowns. But to repeat, 60% is a very attainable and reasonable minimum expectation. I really love Gunner's comparable: Brady vs Favre. I doubt Josh will ever be Mr. Hyper Effective: throwing short-mid range lasers and dinking and dunking the defense to death. We also get the "worst version of Josh" if he's so afraid of mistakes that he becomes a higher ceiling Tyrod Taylor (no offense to Tyrod, loved him but you all know the rest). A playmaker with a cannon arm who will make the occasional mistake because he's trying to make something happen would be fine by me. And yes, both Allen and Daboll are entering "come on, man" territory if the offense is bottom tier again. Without having seen the games the Bills have a great potentially elite defense, what could be a potent running attack, a good perhaps great group of wide receivers, and what might be a young stud at tight end. Without being able to qualify how good or bad the oline is, I saw a line that was good enough to enable the offense to score points and sustain drives. If the expectation is pro bowlers everywhere along the line, I think those with such hopes will be forever disappointed. And what has Dallas done with their vaunted line? It takes a whole team and I like ours, and the QB. Hoping they get it done.

Excited to see if Edmunds can take that jump this year. As others have pointed out, just being consistent in the run game (good but not even great) makes him elite with his already-elite coverage skills. Tremaine and Josh both look jacked this year; the kids are putting on some big boy muscle. If if if but if both he and Allen take that next step... elite QB on offense and defense, so to speak.

I've got to echo the Fitz love. As lovable as they were, in a Bad News Bears sort of way, Fitz has played for some trashy teams.He beat the Patriots in a game they really wanted with a "better than college, but just barely NFL" roster. Total team/coach effort but I digress. I have no idea what Beane/McDermott would think, but to me, Fitz would have been the ultimate backup QB for us. From all reports, he would have been an exemplary mentor for the starter, giving him all the help he needs, but would also compete like hell to be *the* starter. The guy has had a long and very profitable NFL career as a top tier backup and fringe starter, without the arm to do so. All brains, leveraging experience, toughness, being a world class teammate... the NFL love for the guy is universal and can't be smokescreen. In terms of intangibles, he's first team All-Pro. If he had Brady's arm, he would have been a star. Hell, if he had Josh's arm he would have been a Hall of Famer. Just my lukewarm take.

For me, any permutation of a season where they win the Super Bowl. Finishing 9-7 and squeaking in (while making us tear our hair out every week) then going on a "heater", Giants-style, works for me as well as 14-2 dominance where they have a top 10 offense with the #1 defense. This is not to say I would be disappointed by the usual markers of success: Josh taking another step forward, winning a playoff game, fielding a competent (dare I say dangerous) offense and... stop leaking 20 yard run gashes up the middle (it's better now but it's a problem they've seemed to have had for 15 years+). But if hope springs eternal then the best I could hope for is a Super Bowl in whatever flavour is offered, except an asterisk season. A 9-7 scenario where they lose twice to the Patriots but still win the Super Bowl would provide endless entertainment: watching people proclaim a Bills season that ended with a championship parade was a failure.