Einstein's Dog

McD was doing a rebuild. Doing it by shoring up the D and getting a franchise QB. You seem to nitpick on the small items missing the big picture. The team is on the rise, year over year. First playoffs, now franchise QB, odds on division winner. Add in a couple playoff victories and this year is a big success, and yet you seem to be fixated on the small, fringe, somewhat inconsequential details.

I'm pleasantly surprised the Bills have worked him in so much, they use this asset. The FO deserves credit for the change in offensive philosophy. Often times WRs that change teams don't fare so well - like OBJ in Cleveland, or anyone in Baltimore now. On a second note, I think now with the shown usage Diggs can accept a game with less targets. When Seattle played AZ, D Metcalf had a very quiet game because they put a stud to cover him and it was Lockett that went nuts.

Pigheadedness? Josh was a raw draft pick, who they wanted to develop. They were in a rebuild. For anyone who was listening it was obvious, a "process". Now, you claim you're not ignorant on predraft Josh, just feigning it when convenient. Everyone said he needed development, you just didn't believe it? We don't know how long exactly he would sat, but you are speculating with regards to his development. Did it hurt Mahomes to sit for a year? Glad to hear you are being entertained and excited. It is much better than the negativity you were spreading after the most meaningful win of the decade last week. The next step for you (and your ilk) is to give the FO its due. Your disagreements with the FOs QB draft pick, development plan, and team direction just start looking more and more foolish each week.

As you state, you knew nothing about Josh, so let me fill you in. He was viewed as a raw QB with outstanding tools. He was considered one of the highest traditional ceiling QBs to come out in years (arm strength, height, athleticism) but behind in almost all other categories - such as time in D1 program, reading Ds, accuracy %, etc. He was going to need time to develop. A lot of fans here were upset with the pick, in part, because they are impatient, and one risk of taking a raw QB is the time element of determining if he is actually a franchise QB. Many said "wrong Josh" because Rosen had a higher floor and was thought to be a quicker fix. The FO took a huge risk in selecting JA, put their careers at stake pretty much. When you write above about your desire for "trial by fire" your ignorance on Josh's predraft status works against you. Josh needed to be developed. The fear when Josh got thrown to the wolfes was it could have ruined him - he wasn't ready. As for your ridiculous hindsight criticism of what happened in retrospect, lets not forget the other side of the coin. The Mahomes model of waiting a year behind Alex Smith didn't turn out too bad- and he wasn't considered as raw as Allen coming out. Quit congratulating yourself that you finally see the Josh everyone hoped would develop. He wasn't ready for this 2+ years ago. Will you ever give this coaching staff credit for the development of Josh?

What?? Bummer. Got to keep a little offensive pressure going, the Hawks are just too explosive.

Yes!!!!!!

Yes, Hughes!!! Tre with the cleanup.

Klein two plays in a row

NO. Keep them out!!!!!

According to Rotoworld's blurb, Milano could be back after the bye - they quote the Athletic.

Point taken. I guess getting on the staff for going all out to beat NE hit a nerve. It is exactly what I thought they should have done. Huge game, huge win. It should also be to Milano's credit to go out there when he obviously was not 100%. Team player.

I can see your point if you, as most here, totally underestimate the magnitude of importance that winning against NE had. The next two games in comparison are insignificant.

Yes, Milano was limited. And yes he gutted it out. He gave what he could. It's like some people here don't understand the magnitude of the NE game. This game (and AZ) pale in comparison. Let Milano now heal up. Probably will take through the bye.

For the record, I was not happy with McD from day one. And I am wavering into really liking the guy. Wins over NE and taking the division are really helping his cause. Plus the McBeane combo did right in my book with the Josh pick. You don't think the teardown was needed? Yes, they made the playoffs the first year but they correctly identified it was a fluke. In this era you need a franchise QB and they ditched the mediocre to go all in on an attempt at a franchise QB. That is the when the clock starts on the rebuild.

Building is not a cheap excuse when they are executing it. The rebuild really started when they drafted Josh. It was a gutsy and smart move. The FO realized they had just been gifted a fluke playoff spot and it didn't deter their try for a franchise QB and rebuild. Now you constantly criticize as they are in the midst of the execution of the successful building project. It is right on schedule. First playoffs. Then continued progress w your QB to be identified as a franchise QB. Take the division. That is all happening! Please excuse a lot of the fans who are thrilled to see this come to be.

I agree you shouldn't revise expectations mid-season. And at the end of the season the win will stand out more than the closeness of the game and not winning by a lot. My hopes/expectations for the season were for the playoffs. Hope to take the division. More important to my hopes though were the progression of Josh and having a franchise QB. Seeing that the franchise hopes were answered so quickly I can see how some might reset their hopes/expectations. But to me the joy of taking down NE and making them irrelevant for this season in game 8, far outweighs the lack of style points.

For me, the issue is with the OP thinking the issue is posters subjective ranking of this team. Factually/objectively the team is 6-2. It would be nice to see some threads revolving around the last time they were 6-2. It would be interesting to me to hear the last time the Bills have had a 2+ lead for the division. The last time the Bills had over a 3 game lead on the Pats*. The odds of winning the division and the playoffs just skyrocketed- what are they now? The Bills just won the biggest game of the season, possibly the year. Odds on to make the playoffs, knocked the Pats out of the race. Looking great for what many could consider a successful season. Just won a huge game to have year over year improvement. Looking like 3 out of the last 4 for the playoffs and will be the division winner. This long time fan has been looking forward to the day to talk about these things, instead I must endure the "real issue" crowd.

But we did just significantly increase the odds of being in the playoffs!! Over 80% IMO. Would be interesting to see the Vegas odds increase. We did significantly increase the odds of being the AFC East division winners!! Also increases odds of the steady of the Bills, not only 3 out of 4 playoff years, but this year has the added improvement of hopefully (odds on now thanks to this huge win) being the division winner. Year over year improvement once again. And with those increases the Bills significantly increased their relevance for the remainder of this year and next year. More publicity, probably more prime time games next year. Huge, huge win.

I think one problem with Poe is he was/is a kneeler. I don't think he is good enough to take with that baggage.

It would be a disappointing loss, but could happen. I'm with others who would like to see more threads on the positive side, like how high this team ranks compared to other 5-2 Bills teams. I think the only Bills teams I was more excited about were probably in the 90s when the Superbowl was there. The last few 5-2's Bills teams I was concerned with. This time at 5-2, I'm very excited, not expecting Superbowl but do believe Division winner and has the feel of just around the corner from the elite teams and on the right trajectory.

I was wondering if it might be possible for the Bills to designate a different place for their home playoff game, like in FL. They could distribute the tickets through the season ticket holders first and that would get the crowd pro-Bills. They have allowed teams to use other stadiums before. I would rather have a pro Bills crowd than the cold weather.

I didn't like the overturn, it looked like the ball started coming out a little before the knee hit (but then again, I'm a Bills fan and might be a little biased). I certainly would have been psyched if they had won. It looked right from the pre-game benching they were baiting KC into running the ball so it would be close. There would still be problems with this defense. But they would be 5-1. I would have loved it.

And as previously covered, there have been exceptions, like Irma. Plus it is an old rule and these are new times. Saturday is something they certainly can be considering.

To be fair, the D has made some big 4th down stops. Pretty much showing some moxie and desire out of a D made more for stopping the pass, they came up big more than once. Our apposing D's really haven't stopped us on the big 4th downs. So we've got that going for us. Also, the end of the Raiders game gives hope. Could be a change of attitude with Norman back, a little more physical and turnover inducing.

Sorry. I get defensive with any shots to Josh. Just touchy I guess. As for Haskins, I don't know. Does seem early to pull the plug. Does seem like Wash made a mistake if they didn't have Gruden in on the decision to draft Haskins.