UKBillFan

Josh is physically the best QB in the league for me. He has the arm, the body strength, the legs, to make plays that no one else can, including Mahomes. But where Mahomes, and possibly Burrow, is better is mentality. They can read the field better and they’re more adept at protecting the ball. We saw peak Josh in the play offs and at the start of this season, but his floor is lower than Mahomes and Burrow. I think stricter coaching would help. He needs to be kept on a leash and it feels like Dorsey is too happy for him to make big play after big play, which feeds into Josh’s natural approach. A lack of an O Line also, understandably, feeds into Josh’s mind and sometimes he feels rushed when he has time. We saw at the end of the Bengals game that his first reaction post snap was checking his protection rather than reading the field. Mahomes is a fantastic QB but, for the most part, he was aided and abetted by his O Line. Consider how ordinary he looked when it collapsed against the Bengals last year. It’s the same for every QB - no one, no matter how talented, can do it on their own.

Surely the opening TNF will be a repeat of the Super Bowl?

There is a legitimate argument, for me, that Mahomes would not look as good if he was the Bills QB as he does with the Chiefs. As a counterpoint, Cook would probably look better playing for the Chiefs than he does at the moment.

Considering Stefon’s dead cap, and Trevor entering the last year of his deal, is it more like the latter joins the Bills than Stefan moving to Dallas?

Though there are five key words said in that interview - Josh Allen is my guy. Considering his coldness in previous interviews, I think that’s a sign of him mellowing. I do think it’s a really revealing interview, though, especially when talking about the Chiefs,

You do not do it in that manner. And Josh basically carried us through the season - his excuse, not that he points the fingers at others, seemingly unlike Diggs, is pathetic protection from a dire O Line. If anyone, Diggs should have been yelling at them.

The NFL is a team game, dependent on the quality of the coaches and play calling. Having a class QB is important, but not key. Look how far the 49ers went with Purdy, and they would have pushed the Eagles more than they did had he not picked up an injury. Josh is, physically, the best QB in the league for me but he needs support on the mental side of the game, whilst a better O Line and weapons at his disposal. Put him in the place of Mahomes tonight and the Chiefs would have still won. Put him in the place of Hurts and I think the Eagles may have won. Their coaching calls are what is superior to the Bills at the moment. I’m hopeful Dorsey may grow as a coordinator. McDermott and Frasier less so.

Think it's time to see if there's some brown envelopes making their way from Arrowhead to the commissioner. A dreadful call to end a superb game.

NFL Superbowl winners: The officials.

I think I'll be watching the game on mute. Won't be able to stand the over-praise if one of the QBs does as much as sneeze. I looked forward to last year's game more.

Have to admit, I feel worse now than I did directly after the Divisional round. The bubbling under of Josh and Diggs falling out with no attempt from those involved to quash it, Frasier seemingly being offered a new contract despite failing in the play offs time and again, Beane apparently prepared to run it back next year rather than making moves to improve matters... any hope I had after the Bengals play off game has been diluted. A good draft and a couple of decent signings off free agency will change my mind. And it is a long time until September.

I don’t think Diggs pitching a fit is a key concern, as much as the subsequent interview where he refuses to call Josh by name and admits it was down to increasing tension through the latter part of the season. Diggs is Josh’s number one guy, but the key to that is a good relationship. Is it as strong as it was? Diggs’ interview suggests not.

As has been said before, nothing reassuring there.

Interestingly, I read that, on all statistics, Dorsey’s offense in the regular season was better than Daboll’s in 2021. I think the play off performance, specifically from Josh, overlooks that the Bills were very hit and miss, at best, in the regular season with some very poor performances from Josh himself. Looking back with a balanced, rather than anti-Dorsey, eye was Josh that much different post bye to his performances in the regular season 2021? The run from the Patriots play off game through to the first half of the Packers shows what Josh can do at his best. But his floor is too low for a player of his natural calibre, and that was the case at the back end of Daboll’s time here too.

Don’t get how Diggs is being the bigger person if it’s Josh who walks on eggshells. Otherwise, that would add up with Diggs’ coldness towards Josh in the Dan Patrick interview.

I'm more concerned about the Dan Patrick interview than whatever Trevon is saying. Diggs is still coming across as cold towards Josh - as said, not even calling him by name, and certainly not stating it's all brushed under the carpet. The relationship between the QB and the WR1 is the key one on the field for the offense. It's not coming across as very strong at the moment; especially considering how it seemingly used to be.

Not sure, but Poyer just gifted the NFC the Pro Bowl.

If I was him I'd feel the same, for my own health. I'm sure come September he'll be back in the groove again.

I'll still watch but, whatever I see in the regular season, I'd have little faith that the Bills defense will hold up in the post season.

I think St Brown had the upper hand with the creativity. I'm just glad Diggs wasn't injured during that.

Stef missed a pretty easy catch in the best catch competition. And then kicked the ball away in frustration.

Physically, Josh is the number one QB. I'd argue with anyone who tries to say otherwise. He has the arms, build and legs to put any team to the sword. Of course he needs help from the OC, WRs, RBs and OL but the biggest issue is himself. He was so good taking what was there in the play offs last year and at the start of the season in 2022, but it seemed to slip away after the bye. The long ball is a superb asset but it needs to be used sparingly, not as the first go to. And that's about mentality whilst on the field of play. The only issue is, if he does try and adapt, does that affect his natural game? A lot of us were calling for him to run less but he didn't look the same, even with the passing game, after his run time was cut. And it's not even designed runs; he didn't even take chances when the possibility was there as the season went on.

Buy yourself out of trouble, Mixon. Good job.

Had a quick look at passer rating - there is a greater discrepancy there. But have to bear in mind Josh was playing for the bulk of the season with a bad elbow and Buffalo were one of the top teams, if not top, for dropped catches this year.

Mahomes’ lowest: 35.6 (vs SEA); 56.0 (vs BUF); 63.2 (vs LVR) - overall regular season average 77.5 Josh’s lowest: 44.7 (at CHI); 49.5 (vs NYJ); 54.2 (at MIA) - overall regular season average 71.4 Burrow’s lowest: 18.7 (at CLE); 24.1 (vs BAL); 32.7 (at BAL) - overall regular season average 58.6 Josh did record a rating of 26.0 in the Wildcard round. Mahomes’ lowest to date was 67.2 yesterday; Burrow’s 43.6 vs BAL. I generally agree with your point about ceiling and floor but Josh’s lowest ratings are it massively different to Mahomes and better than Burrow’s.