Mikie2times

The Ravens outgained us 843 to 509, 45 first downs to 32, 7.59 yards per play to 4.39. Unless we force 3 turnovers it won't be a game. Those stats are what you would expect to see with a top NFL team playing a team in last place. The current line is a gift.

I was exaggerating for extending credit for past accomplishments. They have not been a top 10 team in awhile. The ACC is just too weak to credit that has some major accomplishment. They’re basically South Carolina at this point. A team that can be top 20 and can also stink it up. Not close to a top 10, those SEC schools would run them as the better ones have.

Well, for about 5 years they have been on par with B grade SEC schools getting consistent top 10 pre season rankings and never coming close to expectations in the weakest division in college football. We should give Nebraska some credit for those Natties with Tommy Frazier.

Based on what? Our domination of the AFC East with an MVP QB? QB's that put up the type of QBR Allen has given us year in and year out average over 65% winning % over the last 20+ years and that isn't with a division of back up QB's for half a decade. Compared to the the contending teams we have the least top 100 players, least pro bowlers, and least All Pro's. All "measurable" things. But the take tends to be, "but in poor Buffalo, nobody knows our players". While simultaneously having the MVP on our roster and more national TV games per year than just about anybody outside of Dallas or KC. We have Allen, Cook, Dawkins, Brown, and Benford, maybe Johnson if you count nickle corners as far as top 10 positional players. Yet we have invested the 3rd most draft capital in the defensive line since McD has come here (I can prove that as well). Our WR's are a hot plate of garbage along with our secondary which is REALLY saying something given two of those top 10 players I called out reside there. Funny thing with both is the problem existed last year as well. We just don't seem to acknowledge it as we will ride the extra wiggle Allen gives us into the ground vs upgrading. Christ, we played last year like a cheap MLB team waiting for the trade deadline to be certain they don't have what they need, while first place was lost long ago. What we have done during this rebuild Version 2 has been very, very average. Something that would be exposed to the core if it wasn't for Josh. Beane is doing a fairly blah job with the occasional single or double for some time. You can only live off Allen for so long. It will get exposed soon enough and already has been for plenty of us.

Agree 100% on Mack. Gabe is a poor mans Mack, which is a bit wild to think. I used to think it was the other way around.

I just can't assume that, in fact, I would bet money against it. He's a better blocker than Palmer and you saw how Hollins solidified a huge snap count as a result of that quality. He will rob snaps from at least Palmer and maybe Palmer and Keon. He's got too much "process" for that not to happen. A reason exists why he couldn't get off the field before. They like him, a lot. He's a McD guy to the core. They just knew Jags overspent.

I just don't like how clear it is a sign of a downgrade. We project how good or bad our roster is and in my view, a lot of people project it to be better than it actually is. But when we make a decision to part ways with a player, then another team makes that same decision, then that player circles back to us, older. That is a clear sign to me of getting worse. Teams need new energy, new blood, new competition. Running it back is a very rarely a good thing.

Watching a dude go back to his x because he's desperate is not the sign of good things.

Ya, but multiple times exist where Allen and Gabe weren't on the same page resulting in INT's or failed conversions. Gabe is not a good WR and our consideration to bringing him on the roster is a direct reflection of our talent. Tory Horton lasted until the 5th round and we didn't even deem it necessary to take flyer. The Beane love on this site has just gone too far. This roster is depleted at WR, DB, and is finger crossing at DL.

Both players 25-29 year old seasons, which are both's best samples. Moulds was not nearly as big a D-Bag on top of the era adjustment and YPC on Moulds. More of a playmaker than Diggs with worse QB's. Moulds all day.

I’m surprised more can’t see this. Not exactly science either. He was playing for his career when he was playing .500 ball. At this point does anybody think Mitch is doing anything other than working with Josh in the QB room? Which is fine if that’s the case, so long as Allen doesn’t get hurt. Which is very unlikely with his history, but ya, we have no viable alternative. Everybody eats only works with 17 doing the cooking. Otherwise it’s pedestrian talent with a guy that can’t cook.

Josh Allen in the AFC east without as much as a back up QB and we still champion regular season success. It will never get old.

Good seeing Hamlin 75 yards off the ball and still allowing a house call.

So your bet is on Brady being the first OC Allen has played with not crapping themselves with another QB at the helm? We could "McD ball" our way to a few wins. But Mitch is completely washed at this point.

I think he's regressed since posting those numbers. Most of which occurred earlier in his career. The two years he left and started a few games for Pittsburgh he was 2-5 and had more INT's than TD's. He's hot trash at this point. I don't even think we have a a guy that can keep us a float for 4-5 weeks if necessary.

His appreciation for the moment and humility are just rare things.

At this point, the further away I can get from what you think, the closer I likely am to reality

So who again has done the kumbaya Super Bowl? The best teams pursue talent first, character second. The Bills pursue character first, talent second. Then they retain players as if those players are the most talented in the roles they have, boxing out any potential to upgrade those positions with extensions. As if Bernard at MLB is the best we can do. Please…. Would we have taken Tyreek Hill, Jalen Carter, or even a total scumbag like Aaron Hernandez? Nope. That’s not in the process. What good is process if it can’t absorb talented players with character issues. Football isn’t charity work. It’s a violent game that often has troubled and violent people playing it. Do we have the dogs we need? I don’t know, but the question doesn’t scare me like it appears to scare you.

Draft, develop, and retain. A strategy most/no teams focus on and we do it as brand. it often time feels like our leadership is a little “too” invested in branding and public image. What we are doing sounds good for the cameras, but most teams are focused talent above all else. Buffalo “processes” themselves out of talented players to stick to whatever the slogan is. I think history has shown pretty conclusively teams that try and kumbaya vs pursue the best talent, lose. Patriots, Chiefs, Eagles, Cowboys. All of those runs, multiple Super Bowls. Multiple problem players at the least at the draft pick level. Where is the example of what we label as our identity taking home the Lombardi?

The only thing I didn’t agree with fully was the lack of talk about Corner. I think Corner is higher risk than DT at the moment. That can change if Max develops.

Totally agree. I just think it’s a difficult spot if they don’t like them in pass protection. Especially with Spags tendency to blitz. But ya, you need your best players on the field.

They don’t trust him in pass protection, he won’t be in again in that situation

This was as good a preview as I’ve ever seen on the Bills. Must watch. Thanks OP!

In most the Super Bowl runs they made they had to come from behind once, if not multiple times and that’s something I don’t know that we have figured out in the postseason. We have trailed for a few minutes here or there and won, but for the most part when we have got behind we haven’t been able to come back (exception 13 seconds). To truly get it done we are likely looking at least one if not multiple late game comebacks which will also have to include late game stops. Pretty tall task from what we have seen so far. Baltimore basically avalanched us in the 2nd half. Perhaps Josh goes down and ends it if they convert the 2 pointer, but if he doesn’t that game is going the other way. The Chiefs aren’t the end of this. We will still need to close the deal in the Super Bowl. Which for a lot of teams, along with us being the most famous for, can be a bigger hurdle than anything that precedes it. NFC is getting stronger. Eagles were the best team in football last year. It’s a long road to eliminate our demons. What I want to see this regular season is Bishop stepping into a starter role. Max able to look like a first round pick towards the back half of the year. Possibly unseat Tre. Some pop for at least one of our interior DL rookies. A reasonably healthy season from Bosa, Bernard, and Milano. If these things happen I really think this defense could be positioned for a serious postseason run. Just a lot of ifs, especially when we have so much exposure with a few guys missing time like Benford or Bernard. It will be a fun year this year. I’m looking forward to it. But a lot needs to happen for us. I think if it’s going that way it will be apparent in the stats. The first iteration of this team was fielding #1 defenses at times in the regular season. Much more aggressive and disruptive dictating pace vs bend but don’t break. That’s what we need to see.

I actually like his takes most the time. They aren’t as tainted. I agree with game script impacting things. But as we know, it’s efficiency of each play. EPA, YPA, Doodle Day. Doesn’t really matter what A, it’s na nay.