Ethan in Cleveland

No matter the outcome today they will extend his contract over the summer. While they don't have to, the model in the NFL is to extend after year 3 if they are a proven talent. Wilson, Mahomes, Goff, and Wentz were all extended after their third year. Only in Wilson's case did the team not have the fifth year option to consider. They all chose to lock up their QB early. Its an extension not a new deal. When Mahommes signed his extension there was virtually no impact to the salary cap in the first year. Actual cash spent went up but that is meaningless to the cap.

My X-factor is whoever lines up over RG. Nelson is the best guard in football and is the second best player to come from the 2018 draft. He looks like a HOF player if he stays healthy. Neutralize him by lining up Zimmer or Harrison over LG. That frees up Oliver and Edmunds to rush an immobile Rivers up the middle. I've been hypercritical of Edmunds, but I think he could be huge blitzing up the middle. Hopefully he can get a forced fumble and a tipped pass or two.

655 am drop my son off at the airport for semester two of college 9am get 2nd dose of COVID vaccine 10 am wondering if you nerves are the game or the vaccine 1pm feeling good!

Someone needs to play the garbage time in the second half while Diggs rests

White, Allen, Roberts and Beasley were all second team. Poyer got robbed. Williams probably was right on the cusp. Edmunds did not make it which makes me feel like the process is somewhat valid although it still can be a popularity contest.

That actor went on to play a surgeon on ER

Didn't know much about him. When the Saints steamrolled the Bills for over 200 yards rushing and his response was to bench TT and start Peterman when the playoffs were still in sight was the first of two low points for me. I was at the Peterman Chargers game and left at the half throwing my Bills hat in the trash on the way out. The second low point came when he cut Shady and kept Gore. Shady was the one bright spot for a few years and he loved the city and his teammates. Hated how he was treated. I am most impressed that he has embraced a wide open offense. Perhaps he is emulating Belichick and what he was able to do with the Patriots and Brady at their peak. At first we all thought he was Dick Jauron 2.0 and there was ample evidence to support that. But he has evolved with the growth of Allen and the assets Beane has provided him with. And either he or Frazier have embraced a more attacking style of defense. So I will give him immense credit for adapting and evolving. That is a hard thing to do especially when you have had success with a certain style.

Lots of Bills fans in Portland! Every time I wear a hat or sweatshirt out I get a shout out

Chris Carson got injured reading this article. No thanks Stay young and cheap at RB. Sherman is too slow now. Agree they need to get rid of Norman but they can add a younger zone DB in FA or the late rounds of the draft. Dane has shown enough that he deserves a roster spot next year. Tag either Williams or Milano, try to sign the other, bring back Feliciano, and tender an offer to Levi Let Murphy, Kroft, Butler, and Addison go If they lose either Williams or Milano, they had better make sure they are net negative in free agent signings. I suspect either of those guys would get them a 4th round or higher comp pick.

In some respect there is little way to not call a 13 win season a success. But a first round playoff loss will taint how you feel about the season. Think of it this way, in five years will you be able to remember they won 13 games or that they lost the first home playoff game in two decades to Philip Rivers and the lowest seed Wildcard Colts?

Pass and rush the passer.

Yes. Seattle is my son’s favorite team and I’ve always liked Green Bay. So I’d prefer Tampa. I don’t have a good reason but Brees bugs me so would not mind beating him either. And I think we would get a lot of support from Boston going up against Brady.

I really like Hughes coming off a week of rest against a back-up LT. Bills blitzed more this year under Frazier than in years past. I think he will call some timely blitzes in the early downs against the most immobile QB in the league. Force a few short fields and the Bills can open a big lead early

Agree. His history would suggest he will turn it over if they are able to make him throw 30+. As always should the Bills score early with TDs and not FGs, they can force Reich to abandon the run game which plays right into the Bills strength. Phillips is so immobile. I would really like to see some well timed DB blitzes. I think they can get to him.

Yup, Tenn game was a travesty of COVID, injury, and delays that resulted in a lopsided loss fueled by -3 in TO margin. KC and Patriots first game, the Bills run D was gashed. Pats backup RB had over 6 YPC. I still fear physical teams and Edmunds ability to read the run, but there is no doubt the defense is playing better. Dline is healthy and even with a few guys up there in age are well rested.

Good post. I think it's the running ability of Allen. At least some of the time they employ a spy on Allen. If they had 6 DBs I suspect some of the RPO plays that are quick slants would change to runs off tackle

Elway's arm, Kelly's toughness, Staubach's elusiveness, in Big Ben's body frame I've posted before I think his intermediate throws are as good as any QB in NFL history, right up there with Marino. The combination of accuracy and velocity is unmatched and it is the throw that separates him from the rest of the league. Wilson and Rodgers have better deep balls and Brady/Brees are better on the dink and dunk stuff. Only Mahommes is comparable when looking at the full array of throws.

It's interesting. There are more legendary coaches that go to another franchise at the end of their career than I initially thought. Of course his mentor Parcells did but only after coming out of retirement. Lombardi finished his career in Washington Shula was already a great HC with Baltimore before going to the Dolphins. Ditka went to the Saints Bum Phillips from Houston to the Saints? Does he count as lengendary? Reeves, Reid, Vermeil, Holmgren, and John Fox all took two different teams to the SuperBowl Schottenheimer had success with three different franchises Of course the opposites would be Knoll, Landry, Grant, and Madden all coaching with only a single franchise

You say that with such confidence but remember McD's first OC Dennison came in and changed the run scheme when they had the #1 rushing attack two years in a row. Don't assume these people are smart.

Let's win a playoff game before we start saying it is like the 1990's.

Agree

Maybe. Bills in 1990/91 had fewer yards and actually fewer yards per play. Different eras for sure so it is hard to evaluate. Kelly, Reed, Lofton, Thurman, and that O-line would be lethal in 2020.

Neither Bennett nor Tasker belong But neither do Swann or Stallworth

Good take. Totally agree on TE assessment and I forgot about Sweeney. I’d probably still add another TE in the draft but it depends what happens in free agency. Beane has always drafted for need despite what he says. So I suspect again they will draft to fill holes. For the record, I still think Knox is going to be a star. Just needs to be a little more consistent. Lack of cap space around the league will hurt guys like Roberts. There probably won’t be too much demand for a pure returner. He has been great and hope he comes back, but they can always find a guy to return kicks if needed.

I think Star will come back and play. Feliciano may be hurt by the lack of salary cap space around the league and may not have much of a market. I too think he will come back on a reasonable contract.