Sierra Foothills

I'm not missing it. I thought it was clear that I'm saying last year is not relevant based on all of the changes in scheme and in personnel this year. l'm done here... it's all yours.

The idiot receiver Thrash could have run out of bounds to set the Browns up for a FG attempt but he turned upfield instead and was tackled. The clock runs out. Game over. And the botched attempt at downing the punt earlier in the 4th... The Browns pissing away an upset opportunity by failing to understand the fundamental concepts of the game.

Go Buffalo Joe!!!

"Folks, we regret to inform you that we just poured the last shot from that bottle of Jagermeister that's been collecting dust here since 1979... which means that we're officially out of any and all adult beverages. The bar will be closing in 5 minutes." Back on topic, it's just been reported that Rex and Michelle Ryan are keeping overnight vigil at Sanchez' bedside... sitting by the footboard.

Ciarlo hasn't passed Buffalo Joe on the depth chart yet, has he? That's funny. I've not heard that one before.

As @Robert Paulson touches on, Ciarlo could take some of Buffalo Joe's special teams snaps which in a longshot, reverse trickle-down way might mean that we see more of Buffalo Joe in the defense. Personally I'd be all for him getting more opportunities. This is super interesting. Somehow I missed Ed's comments. Thanks.

I thought both coaches were patient and balanced the interests of the team, the quarterback, and themselves perfectly.

Arguably so.

Here's the way I see it, both before and after harvesting some great opinions in this topic: There are three groups in this discussion, the believers, the doubters, and the "wait and see" group. A fairly large percentage of doubters are panicking about the defense based on only 4 games PLUS the regime's history of poor defensive play in the postseason... Expressed as an equation it's like this: My final judgement = the first 4 games of this season + the Bills playoff history. There are some legitimate concerns but also some legitimate counter arguments and almost no criticism or counter argument of the defense has yet been proven for this season. Some people here want to pass final judgement in week 4 but at the risk of belaboring my point, their opinions are based in fear and history and ignore the upcoming 13 games. Nothing the believers or the wait and see'rs can say will reassure the doubters that this year will be different. Some of the doubters will be vocal and constant if the defense doesn't improve over the course of the season. Some of the doubters will be vocal and constant even if the defense improves over the course of the season. I'll repeat what I said before the season started (anticipating it would take months for the defense to gel)... it's preposterous to judge the defense after 4 weeks. There are 2 new coaches, 5 new veterans, and 7 defensive rookies who are all trying to grasp a defense that is clearly different than last year's. The testimony of several respected posters in this topic point to a defense that's evolving. Even the type of players the Bills acquired this offseason are different prototypes than they've sought in the past. Everyone should take a chill pill and at least withhold judgement until the week 7 bye... though it would be better to withhold judgement until after the Chiefs game in week 9. The constant drumbeat from the doubters is really tiresome, having taken over several topics and dominating the topic listing. We've reached the point of diminishing returns on this conversation. Let's put this on hold for a few weeks??? As far as Babich, in the near term (week to week) he's not on the hot seat. In the context of the 2025 regular season and playoffs, he probably is. Are you saying that @GunnerBill isn't a normal person? 😊 I'm not disputing anything you're saying here but it's funny how you take a criticism of the Bills defense and turn it into a criticism of the Bills offense. Clearly this is one of the worst 4-0 teams in the history of the NFL. 😆

As others have pointed out here and elsewhere... that is the question... how effectively the Bills will throw when the defense knows they have to throw? I think the offense is well-constructed and QB-friendly and that's what makes me concerned that Trubisky has such a hard time running it. I know there are a lot of factors when choosing a backup QB but bottom line, I'd like a better one. This is another of my concerns... the drop-off from Cook is too large. IMO we need a better RB room... or Johnson and Cook have to start playing a lot better. This is the other question... how much depth, complexity, and variation Brady adds to the offense. Is this happening behind the scenes? Are the Bills keeping stuff under wraps? Except Manning had Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in Indy and Demaryus Thomas, Eric Decker, Emmanuel Sanders, and Wes Welker in Denver... plus excellent tight ends. Manning has had better weapons than Josh. Kudos to the Eagles on being the first team (fittingly) to build wrinkles off of the Push Tush. How great would it have been against Kansas City for the Bills to have used it as the basis for fooling KC in the championship game? Based on the Chiefs overselling out to stop it, there seems almost no doubt that a trick play counter would have worked for the Bills. And without the benefit of a great defense. The bolded is the great unanswered question... how much influence does McDermott exert on the play calling?

Fast forwarding to this year, I think that the Giants and the Browns waited as long as they could before going to the rookie QBs.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That's pretty much every week for some of the posters around here... Regarding this game and both teams, I'm nearly blue in the face saying this about the Bills but it especially applies to the Patriots too, who have virtually an entirely new coaching staff and a substantially re-made roster... We don't know who these teams are yet because it's week 4. We have a better idea of who the Bills are but their defense and the entire Patriots team are works in progress. The Bills overall are much more established in their program and being at home and in prime time, I see the Bills covering the spread.

What were your public feelings about the Amari Cooper trade at the time it happened? I understand your frustration but both McDermott and Beane have stated many times that the team's philosophy is that you win football games in the trenches. This is their philosophy. A few things on the subject: 1) Solomon is a core special teamer. 2) This is Solomon's audition. It's his last big chance to show he belongs before they make a decision on him. 3) The team is winning without Jackson and still has plenty of time to ease him into a rotation based on Solomon's performance... there's no reason to rush.

I'm a bit concerned if Dorian Williams misses the game from a special teams standpoint. I disagree with the bolded... agree with the second sentence. Agree. My gut feeling is that Oliver, Brown, and Milano are all close decisions for this week.

You brought our 1st round pick into the discussion and it seemed like you were making a negative statement ("Jackson and Hairston are 2 of 3 players picked in the top 72 picks that have yet to play a down. ") about the 2025 draft class. In following up you're saying that Hairston and Jackson not playing is "more of a fact than a criticism" which clarifies the intent of your first post. Sorry if I misinterpreted. More broadly, I understand that people can criticize an individual pick 4 weeks into the season if they want to but knowing the crapshoot nature of the draft, it seems fairer and wiser to look at the entire draft class. We have 4 rookies that area already getting significant playing time and we haven't even seen Hairston, Jackson, or Hancock. IMO this is looking like a great draft and so I guess I'm sensitive when someone wants to prematurely judge one member of the class... if that makes any sense.

What's interesting is that Knox's and Hawes' predraft measurables are nearly identical with the obvious difference being that Knox ran a 4.59 and Hawes ran a 4.82. Other than that, their height, weight, vertical, broad jump, 10-yard split, and bench press are almost identical... all within 1% of each other. Knox doesn't stretch the field in any discernible way and Hawes was clearly an underrated receiver coming out... I see no reason that Hawes can't be a direct replacement for Knox some day.

Pretty sure it's Ryan Stoneball and Matthew Hayhouse... The Polka King????

It won't be Leslie Frazier... 😀 He's been the Assistant Head Coach in Seattle for the last two seasons.. I've posted several times that I think they'll improve as the season progresses. But I've also questioned whether it will be enough.

And Jackson Hawes, Deone Walker, TJ Sanders, and Dorian Strong are all hovering at around 100 snaps. This is shaping up as an excellent rookie class. I don't know if you're trolling or just lack perspective. Thank you.

Yes. It was a defensive timeout. That's my understanding too... the timeout was because they only had 10 for the 2 point conversion. After the timeout, they prevented the 2 point conversion with a full complement of players. Speaking of. locker room speeches and the slow clap, this might be the greatest one of all time, albeit in cinematic history:

Tight end snap counts for week 4 (59 total offensive snaps): Jackson Hawes 31 53% Dawson Knox 24. 41% Dalton Kincaid 22 37%

Yes, the Packers gave up 40 points to the Cowboys... after losing to the Browns last week. Then again as you know GB, a coordinator change is not unprecedented.... Dorsey was fired in his 2nd season as OC... but after 10 games and in the midst of a 2-4 stretch. Still, it's not beyond the realm of possibility. Some of the lack of cohesion and fundamental shortcomings are hard to understand. Also not unprecedented... and it's interesting to read @SectionC3's comments upthread. I could see McDermott running onto the field in full uniform and giving Rapp, the hook. You know, I've slowly come to understand and appreciate opinions like yours... that nothing has any meaning until the playoffs begin. The question for you and others who take your position is: Are you going to actually enjoy the regular season or not? Because it gets very tiresome reading over and over that all of these victories are meaningless.

To the bolded, I'm pretty sure the Bills are doing a lot of self-scouting and testing of various strategies, tactics and personnel. I believe that's why the margins of victory have been what they've been the last two weeks... because the team recognizes that this part of the schedule gives them a little leeway to test out different approaches and players.

Ty did have a great 2024. He has great straight line speed and he's best when the play utilizes that speed. But he's been a journeyman throughout his career... this is his 8th season in the NFL. I was certainly expecting a regression but I think also he bounces back and plays better. IMO this is not an offense where WRs are going to have big statistical games. The team truly embraces the "Everyone eats" mantra and I believe that in all 4 games this year at least 8 players have caught passes. To me it's only important that people play their roles and catch the passes thrown to them. Yes, Solomon is getting every opportunity to win the chance to continue his career with the Bills. He's starting to look more like a career special teamer, as is Dorian Williams. I hope I'm wrong but that's how it looks and it makes me disappointed of course. On the other hand I'm excited to see Buffalo Joe get more snaps with the starters. Thanks for posting. The safety didn't hesitate at all making the INT... he had a conviction where the ball was going to be thrown.

I agree. I understand the concerns of those that would like a receiver that can take the top off a defense but against the Saints Josh averaged 9.5 yards per attempt and 13.2 yards per reception which are both well above the league average. We're also capable of worse than we showed today. The numbers show convincingly that the Bills are one of the most consistently dominant teams, week in and week out. You don't appear aware at all that the pass that Bishop intercepted was thrown by a wide receiver on a trick play... and that it was a great one-handed interception by a player showing off his 39" vertical jump. Big fail by you. Yes, apparently 23 points is the new 30 points. 😄