BigAl2526

Buffalo is a much better team with a much better QB. The Patriots will likely rebuild at least to some extent, but there aren't enough QBs the caliber of Josh Allen to go around. There are maybe three in the league right now. Besides Josh, there's Pat Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, and Rodgers is only a few years from retirement. I'd have put Tom Brady in that category a few years ago, but I think his skill set (which is somewhat different from Josh's) has waned. He's still very good, but he wouldn't make New England better than the Bills at this point. Maybe Hebert of the Chargers and one or two others will come close. The odds are overwhelming that Bill Belichick is never going to find a QB to match Josh Allen's stature among the elite of the league. Yeah, I know the league hasn't quite put Josh Allen in that top three tier yet, but I think it might happen next season.

No. I think Daboll knows what he's doing even if I don't agree with every play call. He's done a masterful job of introducing a massive playbook and complex scheme to his offensive players and getting them to play it more competently and with fewer mistakes than offensive coordinators for over 20 previous years. Continuity is good. On the other hand, I think Buffalo probably has a competent replacement in house, so it wouldn't be a disaster if he left.

Is there something in the NFL rules that say Buffalo has to play KC every year, and they have to do it in Kansas City?

Yeah, I think their mods deleted that thread and started their own. The new "official" one seemed pretty lame. There was one Patriot fan predicting a Bills win though.

I'm always concerned about things that can go wrong in upcoming games, including Dabol's play calling and Joh Allen's handling of cold weather and wintry conditions. I'm hoping that some of what happened in the Jets game amounted to Dabol experimenting with some things and giving their next opponent (which only later turned out to be New England) more things to worry about and prepare for. I do think all the coaches will up their game for the playoffs, but then so will Belichick and every other team Buffalo might have a chance to face.

It's possible he's gone after the season. It's been a case of diminishing returns. The Bills have to decide how much he's worth, and Hughes has to decide what he'll accept in a contract. It might be tough for Hughes and the Bills to find common ground. I'd be happy to have him in a reduced role at a decent price though. I think he's a good locker room guy and team mate.

LOL Jags' owner must love dysfunction.

Ryan Bates is not the most massive offensive lineman and might not be a great fit in a power blocking scheme, but he's easily the most athletic interior lineman the Bills have, and far better fit in a gap scheme system than Feliciano or Ford.

Well, I have my doubts that Buffalo has what it needs at cornerback with Tre White hurt to make it all the way through the playoffs. I think Breeland might be a prudent signing at this point.

I takes a long time to disabuse someone, who feels entitled, of that mindset.

Of course, we know Bates is the most versatile backup offensive lineman Buffalo has. However, I suspect Buffalo would regard using him at tackle as a last resort. Practically speaking he's an interior lineman who could move outside in case of disaster, a disaster that likely is never happening, especially if Tommy Doyle develops as a decent backup as a swing tackle. As has been noted, Feliciano can play center. I think all the guards (Feliciano, Williams, Ford and of course Bates) can play either side of the center if need be. I didn't mention Boettger since he's out the rest of the year. The bottom line is I don't think Bates' vaunted versatility is so precious that Buffalo can't use him to start over another interior offensive lineman if Bates is better. Buffalo should start their 5 best offensive linemen, even if one of them is Bates.

It's a good thing when Buffalo can limit Matt Haack's opportunities to punt, and give him a few opportunities to hold for Tyler Bass field goal attempts.

He may be able to play early next season, but he will have problems being effective for virtually the entire season. Best case scenario: the Bills won't need him and can carry him on the practice squad for the whole season.

The Bills have now won two straight and have a good chance to close out the season with two more wins. That said there are some teams that scare me in the playoffs, particularly with the bills' issues at cornerback and in run defense. Kansas City has gotten on track and I don't see how the Bills are going to stop Mahomes from passing for 350 yards with Tre White on the shelf. KC also has a defensive line that is healthy and talented. I think Indianapolis would cause problems again for Buffalo as I don't think Buffalo has an answer for Jonathon Tayor. I admit, however, that I did not see Buffalo's easy victory over New England in Foxborough in the cards either.

The defense had lots of problems. The problems in the secondary (cornerbacks) were somewhat masked by New England's shortage of quality receivers. The New England running backs were consistently able to bounce outside because Buffalo failed to have contain ono the edges. Those were a couple of the issues Buffalo's defense had.

Yeah, Judon did enough unsportsmanlike stuff to get himself kicked out of the game and maybe warrant a fine, but we know that's not going to happen.

Agreed. Josh Allen played a great game yesterday, but he was not perfect. But then Tom Brady on the best game of his career was not perfect, even if the stat sheet might look that way. Nobody is perfect.

That's kind of where I am, Miyagi. The Bills' offensive line played well in spite of being short handed. I don't think it necessarily follows that the Bills are better off without Ford and Feliciano, though I do think that Ryan Bates has earned himself some playing time. I hope the stronger play from Dawkins and Morse is a sign of things to come in the playoffs.

I believe Mac Jones will continue to improve, but his ceiling is not nearly what Josh Allen's ceiling is because Josh just has a broader and more elite skill set. Buffalo has a chance to have something of an AFC East dynasty because of that, but it will depend on smart management of the cap and surrounding Allen with quality players. I think the Bills' coaching is good enough to keep them in control in the AFC East if they can keep the other parts in place.

I don't have a particular desire to be rid of Beasley, but the reality is he's an older player, and the older he gets the more unfavorable the cost - benefit ratio becomes, unless he's willing to accept a very team friendly deal the next time around. That means a shorter contract for fewer dollars, and less money tied up in bonuses.

Hopefully, Dawkins didn't have severe symptoms and was able to work out all week on his own. If he could do that then he won't necessarily struggle any more than he would normally. Which is to say, he has struggled sometimes during the current season. Still, if he can man the left tackle spot, that means the starting 5 on the Oline is 80% intact, as opposed only 20% of the starting 5 playing (center Mitch Morse)) at the spot which seems to work best for the team.

Rhamondre Stevenson did a fair amount of damage to the Bills in the last game. He's big and powerful with decent athleticism. Buffalo's defense runs a little light with their predominant use of a nickel lineup. That makes them vulnerable to big backs with power, especially when they have athleticism added to it. As far as Agholor is concerned, he's a starting caliber receiver with the potential to hurt any opponent. Being able to face a Patriot offense without Agholor mitigates the loss of Tre White. I don't know that those losses will have the same level of impact on the Patriot offense that losing 40% of a mediocre offensive line and a receiver with high end potential like Gabe Davis. Buffalo is up against it tomorrow, and Sean McDermott is going to have to do the coaching job of his life in order for the Bills to pull off a win.

I presume that means Buffalo's offensive line versus New England will be Spencer, Boettger, Morse, Bates and Williams. Hart and Doyle are the reserves. Ouch. The good news (and it's not much) is that Spencer Brown will have had a week of practice at left tackle whereas last week he was thrust into the role after the team had already finished game preparations for the week. Heaven forbid someone goes down during the game, or someone else turns up positive between now and Sunday afternoon. He's unvaccinated. I really don't think the insider sources that revealed that info are wrong. Gabe Davis will miss the Patriots game, and probably the following week because of the 10 day requirement for unvaccinated players

I think for years the rivalry has been more in the minds of Buffalo fans than in the minds of Patriot fans. They're still the most "entitled" fans in the league believing their team will win most games just by showing up. Buffalo got their attention last season, but now, they are probably just reasoning that 2020 was a rare off year for them. If Buffalo can win this weekend and go on to take the division, Patriot fans will take the Bills more seriously, and the Bills will probably be more of a rivalry game for Patriot fans going forward.

I've never had a lot of interest in "woulda, coulda, shoulda." If Beasley was not vaccinated, he's out of the game, pure and simple - as per league policy. If he was vaccinated he's got a chance. Beasley has had a somewhat reduced role in the offense this season. McKenzie is the obvious option to serve as a slot receiver. McKenzie may not be as crafty as Beasley, but he has more potential to bust a big play. Buffalo still has lots of weapons, even with both Sanders and Beasley out. If Buffalo loses versus New England, the lack of receiving weapons won't be the primary reason.