BigAl2526

Yeah, it's not easy to beat a good team coming off a bye. I hope Benford is back for the Philly game. The Bills should be able to handle Cleveland without him.

Palmer, Coleman and Cooks all had drops today too.

It keeps Buffalo in the hunt. That's all we can ask at this point.

Next week, Buffalo plays Cleveland. If Buffalo lets Cleveland stay close, they deserve to miss the playoffs. Yeah, Cleveland has a physical defense and the best defensive end in the game, but they've only won 3 games.

Win out. New England plays Baltimore next week. Baltimore has had a disappointing season, but maybe they have enough to beat New England on a good day. That would net the Bills a tie in the division. I'm not sure what the next tie breaker is, probably division record, which goes to New England, I think. New England's last game in the season is against Miami. That's the next chance for New England to lose, albeit a small one. Miami has not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet so at least they're not among the bottom feeders at this point.

I think this season the league introduced several new helmets for players that are supposed to offer better protection against head injury than the previous generation of helmets. It may be that some players who formerly wore the helmet cushions felt the new helmets are sufficient protection, but the pillow tops are still an option.

If you had asked me on Monday which defensive player was going to be key in the matchup against New England's offense, I would have said Benford. I would have envisioned Benford following Diggs wherever he lines up, except perhaps in the slot. I hope he's up to playing. It is frustrating though seeing key players getting hurt week after week this season. Darnell Savage is primarily a safety, but can play some cornerback.

I can't disagree with Cosell. Buffalo has an MVP QB, a great running back, a quality tight end and a very solid (usually) offensive line. They have one of the weaker groups in the NFL at WR. On defense they have a decent secondary with some upside, one really good defensive tackle (Oliver - when he's healthy), one really good defensive end (when healthy) at the end of his career (Bosa) and not much else in the way of high end talent. Milano was elite at one time, but is in decline and has had lots of health issues. Rousseau is good when there are good players around him, but he's not a difference maker. Deone Walker has flashed, but he's not consistently good and certainly not consistently great. He has upside though. Bernard has regressed some from last season. Daquan Jones has been better than a year ago, but he's far from elite. There are clearly areas where Beane needs to upgrade talent, areas where he needs difference makers, not role players. He's been trying to upgrade the receiver group with role players and the deep passing game is paying for it.

Especially given Buffalo's relative lack of production from the wide receivers this season.

Now let's see him do 50 pull ups.

Ed Oliver getting healthy enough to play by the playoffs would help. Joey Bosa's hammy appears to be a minor one. Hopefully he's back soon and can stay healthy through the playoffs. Otherwise, McDermott and Babich may need to be willing to dial up some timely blitzes.

Update: Buffalo has signed Devonshire to their PS. He replaces an offensive lineman (Broecker) who was released.

Solomon has been underwhelming to be sure. The question is, who is Buffalo going to find to play defensive end for them next season? I think both Epenesa and Bosa are at the end of their contracts. One or both are likely to be gone. Rousseau will be here. Hoecht is still under contract as is Landon Jackson. Rousseau isn't exactly crushing it this season, Hoecht is probably not going to be playing at full speed at the start of the season, assuming he's on the field at all in September and Landon Jackson has yet to show he can figure out how to play defensive end in the NFL. The Bills might draft a defensive end next spring, but I'll be a bit surprised if it is in the first round. I don't know that there are any future superstars among defensive ends in the upcoming draft. The Bills will be very lucky if they can find a real productive guy after round 1. Good free agents defensive ends are expensive unless there are unusual circumstances.

Interesting. Wide receiver is Buffalo weakest area on offense. Buffalo only gets a handful of receptions out of their receivers anyway. Running back and tight end, along with Josh, of course, are the skill players carrying the Bills offense this season. Those realities, along with New England's strength at cornerback has got to inform and shape Buffalo's offensive strategy.

Just going by the article itself. I didn't check it for accuracy. Wikipedia says he spent 2024 on the Patriots PS. He made NE's initial 53 man roster, but was cut on September 9.