Billy Claude

I think that's the whole point -- they hope that enough new subscribers keep their subscription to make money. If 10% of the 23 million subscribed to get that particular game and 20% of those keep the subscription, that would be almost half a million new long term subscribers. I think they would be pretty happy with that. They paid 110 million for the game but they get some of that back from advertising and so forth.

I guess that Peacock and the NFL is pretty happy with the 23 million viewership. It was the most stream event ever in the US and viewership was just a little bit lower than might be expected if it was on live TV (80% of Browns-Texans while the Sunday evening game was 90% of viewership of the Sunday afternoon). It shows the NFL that a lot of people are willing to pay $6 to see a playoff game. Expect to see more of the same in the future.

You want fans of all the other teams to call Allen every name possible because it would mean that the Bills have won multiple Super Bowls. Right now it is only Dolphins fans and, to a much less extent, Jets and Pats fans that think he is a douche. Once the Bills get the second Super Bowl, everybody will hate him.

It's not about the quality of the game, it's about whether it is safe to get there and back.

I would have waited to make a decision. They are still not very good at predicting lake effects. If it turns out ok Sunday it will be an embarrassment.

They already have the AFC equivalent of Green Bay in Kansas City.

Every league has superstar calls, whether it is Michael Jordan, Sidney Crosby, Lionel Messi, or Tom Brady. I haven't been following baseball that much but I am sure top echelon pitchers get the benefit of doubt on ball/strike calls compare to an unknown rookie. I don't think you need a the NFL league office handing out a conspiratorial edict for this to occur, it's just human nature. If DeAndre Hopkins is going up against some unknown rookie CB, Hopkins will get the benefit of the doubt on borderline DPI calls simply because referees expect Hopkins to come up with the ball.

They don't have to because Mayo had it in his contract that he would be head coach when BB left: https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/jerod-mayo-hired-new-england-patriots-head-coach-bill-belichick-replacement-departure-robert-kraft-nfl/ So there was little chance they would hire Vrabel unless Kraft was willing to be sued.

People's ability to only remember things that confirms their believes is always amazing to me. In this case, the believe that Allen's turnovers don't actually hurt the Bills chances of winning. Even more amazing is the contortions people go thru to convince themselves that someone else is to blame for every interception that he throws.

Definitely agree that the blue font on green background they use there is awful and makes it hard to read. Readability should be the top priority and nothing is easier to read than black font on white background. As they say: keep it simple, stupid.

To be fair, there was a ton of holding by the Bills oline that were also not called. There was one on the QB pushes where the Bills oline man had his arms completely around the Dolphin player but perhaps they never call holding on those plays.

Bad weather, by which I mean wind, rain, or snow will definitely benefit Pittsburgh. I see some comments upthread that Allen's arm strength will allow him to cut through the wind. But that to me is the whole issue; rather than recognizing limits due to weather conditions, Allen just throws the ball harder which leads to poorer accuracy and more dropped balls. Hopefully, they will rely more on Allen's legs which is a huge advantage. The Steelers will try to replay their game against Baltimore though it will be much harder without Watt. The good thing is if the Bills get out to an decent lead (and don't make stupid mistakes) it will force them out of this mode and it is unlikely Rudolph will be able bring them back.

The defender also stood there for two seconds waiting for the ball.

Allen is a great QB, obviously the Bills would be nowhere without him but I hate that according to many every mistake is someone else's fault. How in the world, do people think that if Davis didn't trip, the 2nd int would have been a touchdown? The defender was standing there for two seconds waiting for the ball to get him. The best you could have hope from Davis was that he would break it up. However, that wasn't the issue, it was 4th down so the interception was better than turning it over on downs. The issue on that play was that he was looking at a TE who who was open and 90% would have gotten a first down on YAC and he didn't throw it to him.

Not to interrupt the Davis hate-fest but a lot of the reason Davis is targeted for a high percentage of Allen's interceptions are because pf the types of the balls thrown to Davis. To me Davis is targeted for a higher percentage of passes that Allen is throwing it 30 yards down the field during scramble drills, similar to the second interception tonight. Of course, those passes have a higher chance of being intercepted.

Difference was who they replaced. Favre was beloved when he was replaced while the Packers fans was pretty tired of Rodgers by the time he left.

How exactly does Lamar Jackson handing off the ball three times in the pouring rain affect whether he comes out flat in two weeks or not? If Allen did anything more than that in those conditions, everyone would be calling for McDermott to be fired (beyond those who are already doing so).

So lets take care of all possibilities why the NFL will choose a particular team to make the playoffs: Steelers -- large nationwide fanbase, blue-blood team (whatever that means), Rooney is an influential owner (no idea if this is still true but facts don't matter). Jaguars -- NFL desperately trying to build up fanbase in the UK. Bills -- Josh Allen is one of the most popular players in the NFL, Buffalo Bills are loveable losers, like the Chicago Cubs were before they won. It would be a great 30 for 30 story and the Bills have a lot of support as team #2 among fans of other teams. Bills need to be in the playoffs to to sell PSLs for the new stadium. Texans -- large market, exciting young player in CJ Stroud, great turnaround story and good to have a fresh face in the playoffs. Colts -- I've got nothing, maybe Gardner Minshew? He seems like a fun guy.

I think what you said was interesting though it would have been more effective if you made your point more succinctly.

Steelers have won 5 of the last 6 against the Ravens.

If Jackson had played in this weather he would have handed off three times and called it a day. Does anyone really believe that would make a difference?

I don't doubt that you are right but it is very difficult for an opposition HC/DC to say the Bills offense is well coached when the Bills HC clearly does not believe so.

In this rain I am sure everyone on the Ravens wants to get it over with as soon as possible.

That is recency bias because he has fallen off the cliff so quickly and is a kind of a weird dude. I feel Russell Wilson will definitely make the HOF. He was never the best QB in the league but for each season from 2013 to 2019 he was unquestionably a top five QB maybe as high as second best in 2019, he won one Super Bowl and went to another. The NFL HOF is not the baseball HOF, it should be more than enough to get in.

There's been plenty of players who threw a hissy fit when taken out even when they clearly had lost it.