Mikie2times

That dude is off his rocker. But agree to disagree on athletes disposition. Yes, they have a job and its to be ready. But sometimes it's closer to home and you can see that intensity when that's the case. Eventually it does wear off, but in a game of inches even a little can be a lot. I thought I saw that next level intensity from the Bills defensive line last year in the Ravens playoff game.

Well, first we would have to have won our first OT game in Josh Allen's career, which is probably likely. Then we would have to beat the best version of the team we couldn't beat. Which is not as likely. But yes, after those two things happened we would have went to the Super Bowl.

Keon would have scored on that return.......... Maybe 😆

Raiders beat Baltimore after the KC loss to open the year last year. THAT was motivation. They left in all on the line the week prior and just showed up week 2. While this is week one, I feel that Allen being the MVP, Jackson losing again in the playoffs, and the playoff loss all are things that will give Baltimore a little chip. It's not as if Buffalo won't be ready to play. But a little chip can matter. We had it in the playoff game, they had it in the first match up. It's not something that can happen naturally. It happens when you don't get talked about all week but your opponent does. When you have had months to hear about how you failed. All that stuff. It can be overplayed a little, but it is a thing. Lamar's turnovers are the main reason we won. If he played a clean game we probably don't win. So I would say Lamar was probably MOST of the issue that day. Eventually he couldn't overcome himself, he certainly tried.

Wouldn't be shocked if he takes a pay cut to stay

We ran this play when I was in high school and I caught about a 30 yard post off it. Really neat seeing it used outside of that situation. I have wanted to see the fake QB sneak swing pass, ala Willis McGahee. I think we have actually tried that. But when it works it's a house call. Also wouldn't mind seeing some jet sweep action out of that, I figure you would have to hand it off behind you, which makes it a little more dangerous. That said I don't think we need to complicate this. If we get signs that team is really penetrating on that play, let Josh have it out of the gun. Force them to respect the pass. He is so dangerous on short yardage out shotgun. It's how we beat KC in the regular season game at the end.

Everybody over reacts to the winner and loser. Usually a lot of good opportunities to bet as a result. Football is not a game where the better team always wins. It can be used both for us and against us. I find it is used on our behalf just as much as it isn't. As an example, I thought Baltimore outplayed us in the 2nd playoff game. Which would make two straight games and what I think will be three straight games after Sunday. But a lot of people here look at the 2nd playoff game as a reason for more optimism, because we won. To me we got outplayed by a large margin in the 2nd half. After what was about as good of a 1st half as we could play. I think you need to see the nuance in the game. All the situational elements that lead to big swings. How points are being scored. Then likely multiple games against that opponent. Then you can get some sense of what is real. But in that, I would never expect most fans or the media to care a stitch about any of this. But realistically, as time progresses, should they care? For example, at this point, despite knowing we are on KC's level, should we believe we will execute better than them in the final 5 minutes? I see no reason to think that and I don't think it's random. We either don't execute at the player level or at the coaching level in clutch moments. Which at that level of play, situational football is literally an entire element of a team, like offense, defense, and special teams is. So sure, we are really close in a lot of ways with KC and the narratives are bit overblown. Indy was really close to New England as a similar example. Likely even better. But like Indy, we aren't close to being our best when it matters most. They did just that the year they won the Super Bowl with that huge 4th quarter comeback. That is what it finally took. We will need a similar exorcism of the demons to actually change these narratives.

He is the most well rounded TE on the roster and he's been a fun player to watch. But it's a bit of a precarious situation with him along with the rest of the TE room starting next year for how much we have invested. Knox is a 3rd round pick and top 5 cap hit (almost 10 million in savings by cutting next year) Kincaid is a 1st round pick, jury is still out, and is more one dimensional as a pass catcher Hawes is a 5th round pick, unknown, and is more one dimensional as a blocker What does this position even look like next year? You sort of need to either keep Knox or replace him with a similar player and that replacement is a full on multi skilled TE. We really can't afford to spend another high pick here IMO.

Again, how do you know he is not taking a ton of crap?

Notre Damn spends a ton of NIL money. They ranked 4th in rivals recruiting rankings this year. Last year they had a F+ finish of 4th and knocked off Georgia in route to the title game. Since 2022 only Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan have more F+ top 20 wins. Yes, they will probably make the playoffs on a cup cake schedule. But as Carr matures in that process, it would be silly to not think they're also a top 10 team deserving of the playoff.

Inside the NFL was must see TV in that era

Listen, I get that I really don't have a place with next level thinkers like yourself. But some of us smooth brains look at how teams execute in critical moments as way to evaluate them. We don't chalk that consistent execution or failure to execute up to luck, to do so would invalidate the difficulty of executing in those situations. It would remove credit from the teams that do. It would effectively rewrite the history of the game. I know that seems intriguing to the most brilliant minds but us simple people tend to think those moments are made up of failed execution. Situations like letting a defensive lineman plant your QB a millisecond before he hits a wide open WR. Leaving the seams completely unprotected with almost no time in the game remaining. Not recognizing a blitz package forcing an off script throw and then dropping a pass or multiple passes. But I get this is a simple view. The simple view actually puts responsibility on the teams for outcomes while the brilliant minds know it's all just random. Who would argue that we aren't close? Nobody. The argument is what does close actually mean? Coin flips or being consistently outflanked and outmaneuvered.

Odd take. So I guess whenever a QB and team do remarkable clutch things repetitively, we can just take away the credit and give it to luck. Brady, Montana, Elway, now Mahomes. Those skilled coin flippers. They are t just good when it counts they got lucky. Pshhhhh……

This is what I’m talking about. They have been to 7 straight AFC championships and the roster is just as strong. So how does anybody figure they will just get in. The only team that has ever shown they can beat them is the Bengals, and that’s not the same team composition anymore. So when they limp in as some would say, somebody is still going to have to take it and I’m not sure how much home field matters. To me, the bye matters more. Especially to us. If we can get that, yes, it’s a possible path to increasing our odds in that spot. But I’m not even sure HF matters against a team like that. You will still need to take it from them and win the last 5 minutes.

Totally agree. I think people fall into the trap of who looks better or matchups. As an example, most fear Baltimore more because yes, Baltimore can blow us out, while nobody thinks KC could and that’s likely true. But nobody is going to play a better last 5 minutes in the playoffs and it’s really not that close in that regard.

Lamar has been pretty bad in the playoffs and I’m sure Harbaugh gets plenty of grief, you’re just not a Ravens fan so how dialed into that could you be? They also have had one ring in the lifetime of most current fans and it was with the coach you’re talking about. Regardless if that matters to you or not, I’m sure it still matters in the eyes of some of those fans and the leadership of the org. As it would with Buffalo and McD if the situation was reversed and he already bagged a ring.

What gets me more than anything is 7 straight AFC championship games. Then the fact that Mahomes has played in one every year he has started is insane. People predicting the demise are just delusional. If they have Reid, Spags, Mahomes, and Jones, no demise is coming. Problem is they have more than just that. They’re still public enemy number 1.

He’s going to be a good one. I liked how he looked week 1.

I understand it’s his first road start and that was a very difficult environment, but I don’t think I recall seeing a QB that inaccurate in the top 10 of college football. Maybe DJ Uiagalelei at times last year or with Clemson? He wasn’t just missing. He was missing by 5 yards. Virtually all routes. Several times he could have made a sandwich looking for a WR. Again, understand Ohio State and on the road. I’m sure he will have some games this year. But not a good start to his season.

He was out all of last year but the year prior he was the same. He's a really good QB, I enjoy watching him as well.

I was a proponent of drafting him in January of 2024. I just really liked him at FSU. So I have been in on him since well prior to the draft. Last year he didn't appear to me to be a physical as I thought he might be able to be. In addition, I didn't think he was as effective in jump ball red zone targets. I recall him grabbing several jump balls, which helped contribute to his insane YPC, but I expected him to be dominate here. I think a lot of this was just the adjustment period to the NFL game. So a lot of potential. I think a big sign for him will be getting that YAC down. A number one WR has to catch balls between 5-10 yards, which is often a product of route running and separation. If we see that YAC come down and his receptions go up I'm confident in even more TD's from him this year. It could be a really big year for him. One of the guys I'm most excited to watch this coming year. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. 65 Rec, 900, 8 TD's ..... I would have him even higher on these Reception and Yards targets, but I just don't know how much Brady will ever feature one player. At the least he is going to be a Tuddy machine.

I like that dudes comedy (Pack fan) but hearing him just talk shop makes me want to punch his face

For those that are in the camp of too much money, what do you expect to pay if we hit on a elite DE? Are you going to let him walk after his first contract? The goal is to be in a position to pay somebody this type of money. We haven’t been yet. So in some ways whenever we see these deals, especially given our inability to find this type of talent ourselves, yes, it’s a little frustrating that we aren’t in the mix. A player like this is the difference at this point and a couple picks in the 30s hasn’t really elevated this team. To me, a guy like this is worth Keon Coleman, Max Hairston, and Ed Oliver. That’s a couple 30 picks and your DT. It’s not even a thought. I hope we at least made the call.

When I fall off my bike those cuts hurt a bit more

I'm not failing to give KC credit and sure, do you "press" a bit more vs a team you think can score a lot of points? Sure. That however doesn't explain what we are seeing in these match ups. Buffalo's defense regresses to the extent that it can't be explained by any one thing. Certainly a huge part of that is KC.