BigAl2526

The first week of football didn't quite put the Ravens in the driver's seat in the AFC North, but it came about as close as the first week in the schedule could.

Just make sure you've got developmental coaches on staff with the potential to move up.

If scary means, "I don't see any way we can win," then no, I'm not afraid of any opponent. The thing is, Buffalo is also capable of losing any game they play. They have to stay diligent and aggressive. Realistically, they will not go 17 - 0 in the regular season, but there is no team I'm chalking down as a loss at this point. When they lose, it will be because of a lapse in focus and intensity, and mistakes.

I read one comment that said Tim Settle was a wrecking crew yesterday. Buffalo is two deep across the defensive line with starting caliber players. Rousseau, Basham and Epenesa are all improved over last season, and Jordan is a far superior 3 tech versus Oliver's backup last season. I wouldn't be surprised if Derrick Henry matches his total rushing yards against the Giants when the Titans face the Bills, but I think the Bills can win with Henry having 82 yards. Buffalo is better than the Giants both on defense and offense, and they are far more physical than they were last season. There is no reason to fear the Titans.

I'm happy at this point with the thought that the Bills are really good, and should be in the thick of the chase for a Super Bowl championship.

Among QBs in the MVP race, today Rodgers had a terrible day versus Minnesota. Brady is very pedestrian versus Dallas. Herbert had an excellent game - not as many passing yards, no interceptions, but only one yard rushing in 4 attempts. Joe Burrow had a lot of yards, but tossed 4 interceptions in a losing effort. His completion percentage was around 60%. Mahomes had an outstanding day tossing 5 TDs and 360 yards. If stats are what determines the winner, combined with leading one's team to victory, Mahomes and Allen are probably 1 and 2 in the race at this point, but it's a long season.

Happy Birthday, young fella!

It was one play. I'm not forming "set in stone" opinions about a guy based on one play.

Yeah.

Beane made a concerted effort to make sure the Bills were at least two deep with quality players across the front four so McDermott could effectively run his famous rotation while maintaining pressure on opposing offenses.

I heard on the radio that McDermott said Oliver is day to day. That seems to rule out a high ankle sprain. With 11 days from the Rams to the Titans, it does not seem as if the injury will affect personnel decisions.

The tougher the opponent, the more likely it seems the Bills are to call designed runs for Josh. It forces defenses to spread their attention out and opens opportunities for other players. In theory, the defending Super Bowl champions should be as tough an opponent as the Bills will face this year.

Too bad Buffalo could not have negotiated a contract that paid the punter on a per punt basis. Of course, he held for Bass five times (4 extra points and a FG). I suppose that counts for something too. LOL

Well, Diggs is certainly faster. Kupp is a bit taller. Other than those two metrics, I don't know how you'd compare other traits to come up an assessment that one is better than the other.

It's been my understanding that Sean McDermott is one of the best defensive minds in the league when it comes to disguising defenses, and Buffalo's safeties, Poyer and Hyde are among the best at executing the disguising of coverage. Josh Allen faces them every day in practice. It seems to me that he would have to have a very thick skull not to have developed an ability to recognize pre-snap disguises. I don't think he has a thick skull at all.

31 - 26 Buffalo

I can say with complete confidence that King's predictions will not be perfectly fulfilled. More than likely, he won't get more than half the division winners and wild card picks. Hopefully, the Bills is one pick he gets right.

Obviously, McDermott and Frazier are aware of what McVay does. Hopefully, they have some ways to counter it. The Bills are capable of running press man, man and other kinds of zone coverage, ant McDermott is a master of disguising coverage. It is not going to be a straight cover 2 the whole game.

Agreed. Benford and Elam are both rookies, with potentially a number of years in the NFL ahead of them. Especially for a late round pick there needs to be no rush to get on the field. He's going to get opportunities, and if he's good enough, he's going to start some time, somewhere. In the meantime, having a reputation as a solid teammate and having a team first attitude is only going to help his prospects in the future.

I'll turn down the sound during halftime and find something else to focus on.

I'm a retired pastor in a denomination that frowns on gambling. Not betting relieves me of any personal pressure. In yahoo pickem, I'll pick the Bills. That's enough for me.

Darryl Williams is the only one that really puzzles me. He's a quality lineman with miles remaining on his tread. Beasley is older, as is Lotulelei, and given their time and experience in the league, may want bigger contracts than teams are willing to give, but certainly they can still play.

I can't give you numbers, but I did hear that even though he wouldn't take a pay cut from the Broncos, he took less than his old contract to sign with the Bills. This is a sound signing. Martin's leg may not be freaky, but is certainly above average, maybe well above average. He's said to be a capable holder of field goals and extra points, and he's good a directional punts a pins a lot of opponents inside the 20. Most importantly, he's consistent.

I don't have a horse in this race. The Bills should sweep the division. That's all that matters.

Cooper Kupp is kind of a unicorn. He is an outstanding receiver with terrific ball skills, yet he has only fair athleticism. He's slow for a receiver and not quick or abrupt in his cuts, yet he still gets open. He's got good size at 6'2", but he's not the physical monster that some receivers are. It seems to me as if the secret to defending him is more mental than physical. I don't think that the cornerback who defends him has to be the fastest guy around. He does have to be a student of the game and willing to do the film study to help him understand Kupp's little tricks, and how to defend them.