seattlebillsfan

Hope so!!!

This is the 258 million dollar elephant in the corner that I hope is getting serious attention, starting immediately: how much damage has already been done to Josh Allen’s right elbow, what is the plan for sorting out whether rest alone is enough or if something surgical is required, what are the implications for his off-season depending on which scenario he is in, etc. There is precedent in another sport for a late-blooming super-talent to dominate at super-human levels for a few years and retire at age 30 due to elbow pain; his name was Sandy Koufax….

I would love to see data on whether the Bills became more big play oriented after #17 had his elbow injury. My sense was that the frequency and effectiveness of short passes was down from the Jets game onward, and I recall seeing remarks from another QB who had experienced a similar injury some years ago, that his short game accuracy and touch was affected more than his long game. Have been wondering whether some of the head scratching play calling and decision making was a function of these physical realities. If that were the case no one would ever talk about it, to avoid tipping off opposing coaches, but it might help explain some of what we have seen over the past 8-10 weeks. This is pure speculation though; as I said would love to see some data on these tendencies pre- and post- the early November Jets game…And most of all if true I hope #17 completely shuts down to recuperate for the next couple of months and figure out if anything else is needed to get him back to 100%…

This game is not over

I am hoping the Bills have been secretly working up a great screen game and saving it up for the Bengals. Seriously; I feel like there is something special in the offing for next week. And something else for the AFCCG….

I have been asking this question since Richard Sherman took him on back in 2013!

Reserved a refundable hotel room in October in downtown Phoenix and booked a refundable plane ticket on frequent flyer miles. I also placed a bet in September for the Bills to make the Super Bowl that should cover about half my ticket. (I also did all of this last year.) My one in-person Super Bowl experience to date (Seahawks-Broncos) taught me how big a hole in my heart there is from the Bills’ losses in the early 1990s, and forged an internal commitment to going if ever the Bills get back. I am in my mid-50s so feel like this window may be the best shot in my lifetime. And I still Billieve THIS YEAR’S team can do it!!!

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Wasn’t his arm moving forward? Why do the NFL and east coast media elites feel a need to cheat to get Jacksonville in the playoffs? Is it an effort to start building the Trevor Lawrence storyline?

I still gravitate toward the simple solution of deciding the Bills-Bengals game by coin toss. Eliminates any need for rescheduling or format shifts, and doesn’t automatically hand KC the 1 seed due to a tragic event (though they would have the inside track if Bengals win the toss, just as they would have if the Bengals had won last night). I would think the teams could agree to this on Tuesday, and let the league know this is how they would like to handle it. Imperfect to be sure but it has the virtue of providing quick clarity, starting with the players and coaches, who still have the Herculean task of getting ready to play on Sunday while (in the case of the Bills, particularly) praying for a comrade in critical condition.

Rather than wait for the NFL to do something rational and humane, perhaps the Bills and Bengals should agree to settle the outcome by coin toss. Simple, fair, and would have the fringe benefit of quieting people like Skip who can be counted on to spout nonsense under any circumstance.

I rarely post here but have been a Bills fan for 5 decades; first game in Rich Stadium as a kid was watching OJ run wild over the Colts in the first half but Joe Ferguson getting knocked out in the second and the Bills grinding to a halt, losing 42-35. And so it began. I have not lived in Upstate NY since I left for college in 1987 but have been back for a few games and in Bills Backers bars everywhere I have lived. In Seattle since 1999, and picked them up as my #2 team when the Hawks traded for Marshawn Lynch. And went to the Seattle-Denver Super Bowl. My dominant feeling after that game was that I had not fully realized until then how big the void in my heart is that can only by filled when the Bills win the big one. the point of this long winded wind up is to say that when I see something like the McDermott speech, not to mention his moment with Diggs on the sideline on Sunday in Cleveland, and the craziness of #17 pulling off the 35 yarder to Diggs with half a right arm, which was a gutsy call, and the weariness in that locker room that McDermott acknowledges and treats with respect, I get the feeling that with this special team—and make no mistake, this is really, really special right now—there is a kind of quiet emotional leadership needed that McDermott appears to provide. I also don’t think he is God’s gift to game time coaching decisions; wish he were better. And strongly believe that no coach is perfect, and you kind of have what you have when your run takes place; new head coach midstream potentially can disrupt things quite a bit. But I think we have a good part of the formula of what is needed with McDermott. If I were Beane I would be thinking really hard with McDermott about whether we need a new OC or DC that can complement him in new ways. But would ride McDermott, who brings a lot, just not everything, which no coach does.

Optimistic take on the Miller knee injury: Perhaps this where Von’s leadership and mentorship helps the rest of the D-Line step up while he is out. Perhaps they find things im themselves they didn’t know they had. And perhaps late season recovery and rehab time enables Vin to come back in a well-rested, monster mode for the playoffs, which don’t start until January 14, January 21 if the Chiefs lose another game and the Bills win out.

I was surprised today to review the Bills’ team stats and see that G.D. has more than 600 yards receiving this season. Basically on pace for a 1,000 yard receiving season. That does seem #2ish, like how Peerless Price had 1,000 yards during his one good season with the Bills (2002). That said, Diggs and Davis are not Rice and Taylor. If we don’t get a Taylor-quality #2, then we need a 2a, 2b, 2c lineup (with Davis as one of those) that is much deeper than our status quo. TBD If Shakir can be 2b or 2c. Clearly Isaiah McKenize cannot. I guess what I am saying is if we had 2 more guys as good as Davis, plus Davis and Diggs, plus Knox and Morris, I think we would be OK. Basically we are missing the 2c receiver and the coaches need to let Shakir show his stuff so we see if he is 2b or if we also need a 2b…

Tough one. The NFL seems to want its favorite teams to win games like this. No other way to account for the horrid officiating in the last 90 seconds. As others have noted, the refs didn’t stop the Bills versus NY and Minnesota, and that is because the Bills are nearing NFL-favorite status now. We get some calls, like the Davis catch/non-catch on the sidelines against Minnesota, and can win games like this—except versus the even more favored-by-the NFL Chiefs, particularly in Arrowhead. Sadly, the Bills beat themselves in those 2 games and now we will have to beat refs and the Chiefs in Arrowhead, which is tough to do. Not impossible, but really, really tough.

My guess/hope is that we will win several Super Bowls between now and 2028 and then that #17, swimming in endorsement money, will pull a TB12 and play for less than his market value, opening another window for the last 5-6 years of his career in which we win several more.

Thank you! Stinks to have to head out during the weekend but nice to have a place to check out the game!

I have a week of work in London coming up and will be arriving at Heathrow this Sunday, early afternoon. Would love to get myself to a Bills bar for the 6pm (London time) kickoff of the Jets game. Hoping someone can suggest a location. I'm staying in central London, right by the Embankment Place tube stop and Charing Cross. Grateful for advice anyone can pass on!

Hi--I have a week of work in London coming up and will be arriving at Heathrow this Sunday, early afternoon. Would love to get myself to a Bills bar for the 6pm (London time) kickoff of the Jets game. Hoping someone can suggest a location. I'm staying in central London, right by the Embankment Place tube stop and Charing Cross. Grateful for advice anyone can pass on!

Got a concussion from a bike wreck (wearing helmet) a few years ago. Was incoherent for about an hour and can’t remember much. Spent the night in the hospital. Took a few days off of work and was advised by my doctor not to look at a computer screen or phone for 2 weeks (my secretary saved my bacon; it was back to the 1950s…). Followed instructions and have never had any Ill effects….No screentime plan worked well for me….