Tolstoy

Is it better to get into the playoffs, and lose before going to the Superbowl, or fail to get into the playoffs at all? (a) If nothing is acceptable short of a Superbowl victory, then it is better to not get into the playoffs at all: easier schedule and higher draft picks. (b) If winning is better than losing, then going to the playoffs is better than not going, even if it means losing before going to the Superbowl. I don't think the Bills could have gone to the SB this year, even if they were very good. Very good teams get beaten on the road against other very good teams. I also subscribe to view (a). Hence, I am happy that the Bills did not make the playoffs, even though I am bored to tears this weekend with no game!

Canisius College alumnus here. Class of 1993. Any others?

Good analysis Greg. I'm with you. Life goes on. Hopefully, the team will learn from this next year, and be all the stronger.

There were many mistakes today, by defense, offense, and special teams. However, in my opinion, the turning point of the game was the missed field goal by Lindell. Why? It was an 8 minute drive by the Bills, already up 1 point. If they make that field goal, the put the pressure on the Steelers, who were already working with backup QB's. And the crowd would have smelled the victory, at that point. Instead, because of the missed field goal, the Bills defense come off the bench cold (having sat there for the long drive), and gave up a huge play to the Steelers, who go on to score a field goal. Bledsoe now feels the pressure, as we are down by two points, and starts hanging on to the ball too long. Result: forced fumble and Steeler's score. If we had made that field goal, the entire tenor of the game would have been different. You just can't march 80 yards in 8 minutes and not come up with a score. That is unforgivable. And as for Bledsoe, he had some decent games this year. I just don't think that he can handle defensive pressure very well. Sometimes, you need your QB to win it for you. Bledsoe just doesn't seem capable of it any more.

Let the Steelers have it, and don't let up. Even if we are down on the scoreboard, make it so loud that the Steelers can't hear themselves think. Be the 12th man today. As for me, here in NH (Patriots country), it looks like I won't even be able to see the game. Ugh.

I apologize if all of you know this already, but apparently Rob Ray is being punished by the NHL players union. They are refusing to compensate him from the players lockout fund. He is being punished (according to Ray) because he declared in October that he would be willing to cross the line and return playing in the NHL as a replacement player. If this is indeed the reason that he is being refused compensation, it shows how rotten the player's union truly is, and how much a man of character Ray is. He just wants to play hockey. On the other hand, Ray is getting very old for a hockey player, and one who was very short on skills from the start (not on grit!). He did not play most of last year before signing with the Senators in February. It is probable that he would not have been playing with a team if the league were going on as normal. Should he be given compensation if he wouldn't have been playing? Ray's declaration that he would play, given the opportunity, may have been a ploy to give himself leverage to receive compensation as a player suffering from the lockout. Well, I side with Ray here. He has as much sand off the ice as he did on the ice. I believe he has every intention of playing hockey, provided some team signed him. At any rate, he has filed suit against the players union. Good for him: throw them a haymaker! Just leave your shirt on Rob!

First off, I suspect that McGahee is going to start, and carry the bulk of the load. The fact that he was observed walking around without a visible limp on Tuesday (with five days still to go) is one thing. Add to that his quote (something to the effect of) "I have to contribute on Sunday," indicates that he himself (who knows his own body best) thinks that he is going to play. Mularkey is stealing a page out of Belichek's book here by playing this injury stuff close to the vest. Second, Bledsoe definitely performs better in warm weather. He has looked fairly bad these last two games, but looked wonderful in Miami. The same seems to apply for McGahee, who needs to get himself a nice pair of long johns. The last two games he has looked pretty bad, and has complained about the cold (this is pathetic for a RB!). At any rate, they will be in SF Sunday, so I expect you will see good performances from both. Third, Bledsoe and the offense had a bad game last week. I expect that they will look to bounce back this Sunday. Fourth, the SF defense is nothing to write home about. I predict that the Bills offense scores at least four TD's this week. Bledsoe gets 290 yards passing, 2 TD's. Hope I'm right.

All you experts out there: did WM injure the same knee that he blew out two years ago, or the other knee? Granted it is probably just a hyperextension, but it seems to me to be more of a concern if it is his reconstructed knee. I have read conflicting reports out there on the subject. Which knee?

The article in the D&C this morning brought to mind how fortunate we are to have such great leadership on defense. London Fletcher, says his former coach Martz, is a leader on the field, and the kind of player who makes everyone better around him. The same, however, can and has been said for Lawyer Malloy, whose former team (Patsies) almost committed collective suicide when he left. He, too, commands the respect and attention of his teammates on and off the field. The same can again be said for Troy Vincent, who is not only an excellent defensive back, but is also the player voted by all of his peers to represent them and their interests in bargaining with management. Perhaps to a lesser degree, Sam Adams can be included here. To have three, possibly four genuine leaders such as this is a great credit to Donahoe, and reflects, perhaps, the kind of person he himself is: a man of character. After all, like knows like.

Cincy is going to be a challenge. They took the Patsies to the wire at Gilette stadium (every time the Patriots had them down, Cincy would march down the field and score). We are going to need some steady offense next week. No turnovers. And solid defense with some takeaways. As for all the playoff scenarios--it is all for naught if we don't win next week (obviously).

According to McGahee, he has done a lot of work in strengthening his legs (e.g., pulling cars tied to his waist, etc.), especially since his injury. Now I am no athletic trainer, but doesn't building up muscle usually decrease flexibility and, in this case, speed? In other words, is it possible that McGahee's lack of a speed burst is due to more muscle and bulk (which can benefit a runner in a different way)? If so, perhaps he will never get that burst back. Just a thought.

Folks, if you look at the schedule, it is fairly soft for the rest of the year. Th one exception is Pittsburgh, but that is a home game (in our favor), and the last game of the year, when Pittsburgh may be resting its starters (also in our favor). If we go 10-6 (a big if, but not as big as it could be, given our schedule), I think we will make the playoffs. Two of the teams ahead of us will drop the ball. To go 10-6 and not make the playoffs would be criminal. There is hope among Bills fans!

Jerry Sullivan's shameful demagogery notwithstanding, Mularkey should stand his ground and wait to play Losman. When the guy has had enough practice time to give the Bills a better chance of winning than Bledsoe, then and only then should he play him. Long term, we want this kid to develop in the right way. I, for one, am not willing to sacrifice the future for a short-term fix. Nor do I think Losman would provide a short-term fix if he is not ready to play. Let's get real. The guy is a rookie. He missed two months of practice. We have a suspect O-line. And you want to throw him in there? Get real. Stop hero-worshipping; stop having visions of sugar plums; stop sucking your toes. If you have ever had experience of performing in the public eye, you know that proper preparation is absolutely vital to success.

Look, I hear Bledsoe being called all kinds of names out there, and I am tired of it. He is a very bad QB right now, but he is a first class human being. Feel free to criticize his play all you want (I too think it is time to turn to the future), but be respectful. An article in the Boston papers tells how he called a Providence reporter on Saturday to offer condolences for her mother's death. This is only the latest act of generosity in a long career of it. If you were in real trouble, Bledsoe would help you out. How would you feel about calling him the names you do then? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Grow up. Let the lion go down in a respectful and dignified way.

Just kidding! BTW, how is that for circular logic! Great win yesterday. Now lets beat the Patsies!

I'm a philosophy professor, and it makes my day to hear Descartes quoted on a football web site. NJSue, I will sleep well tonight.

Good post. I agree that a QB depends heavily on his line, and that Brady's stardom has depended in good part on his tremendous line play. At the same time, Bledsoe has not had the time he needs to make a good throw consistently. However, you must acknowledge that good line play also depends on the QB. If the QB is immobile, and takes too long to make decisions, the line is put under tremendous pressure. I happen to think we have a symbiotic relationship here: poor QBing and poor line play have re-inforced one another. I am hopeful that a change at QB will break the spiral.

You know, when you think about it, it is hard to figure out why this team doesn't have a better record. The Bills have 1. excellent special teams (that should be worth a couple of wins a year alone!) 2. a very good defense (and defense wins ballgames!) 3. some real talent on offense, especially at RB and WR 4. good coaching (I happen to think we have good minds behind the offense) So, what the hell is the problem with this team? Ok, I know what many of you will say--its Bledsoe. Sure, maybe when Losman comes in, he will make a huge difference. But to be fair, Bledsoe hasn't played horribly every game. He has had a couple of bad outings, a couple of good ones, and then a lot of mediocre ones. Given all the other positives with this team, they should have a better record by now. Still, a team is as good as its record, and the Bills' record says they are a bad team. One of the worst in the league. Go figure. I will go back to scratching my head.

Hey, TD has taken his lumps here. But let's not forget that there are some damn good young players on this team, and some very good veterans, all of whom he brought in. If Evans and Losman come through, TD will have done a very good job. I guess everything will hang on Losman, though. It makes me think: there is a hell of a lot of pressure on this guy (Losman) already, and he hasn't even played a down!!!!

Look, lets be happy with the great win today. I can't remember the last time we won a game by this margin. However, enjoying the win does not mean that we should think the Bills are going to the SB. I, too, noted the fact that Bledsoe did not have a great day passing. Still, he did throw for two TD's, and we must give him credit for that. So long as he wins, I for one will not criticize. Next step? Beating the Jets. That is all that matters. Beating the Jets. You become a good football team by winning, and that's all. Beating the Jets. Can it be done? I think so. Strong Defense. Strong Special Teams. Strong Running Game. And a passing game that is just good enough to keep the defense honest.

I guess it is true. To the Bledsoe Apologist, there will always be another problem: the receivers drop the ball, the O-line stinks, the coaches call the wrong play, the Defense let us down, etc., etc. They will skirt and avoid the real problem which is more difficult to see, because it is the malady, and not the symptom. The malady is that Bledsoe does not have the Jim Kelly drive to win, the drive that passed through the entire offense and team like an electric current.

Ah, Campy. You are truly a marvel to behold. Don't you see, I was once firmly on your side? Now, I have seen the lemming light. Bledsoe lacks a very subtle but very important ingredient to good Quarterbacking: fire in the belly. What am I talking about? I am talking about the sheer determination to win, to become master over other men, to obtain glory. It was what Achilles had when he stood over the broken body of Hector on the battlefield of Troy. It was what Alexander the Great had in abundance when he conquered the known world. For that matter, it was what Takeo had when he first came to Buffalo, and said all he wanted was to become a household name, to be a name on everyone's lips at the dinner table. Join us lemmings Campy. There is peace and joy in the truth, and only misery in falsehood and denial.

Thailhog, I'm mystified by your poetic response. Count me for a dolt. What does it mean?

I'm curious. Many posts still refer to Bledsoe Apologists, but I can't imagine that anyone would still defend Bledsoe's football skills. Mind you, this has nothing to do with his qualities as a human being, which may be exemplary. Admittedly, at the beginning of the season, I thought with a good system, and a good coach, Bledsoe would have a comeback. I was wrong, wrong, wrong. Bledsoe is a broken QB who isn't going to get fixed. Are there any Bledsoe apologists still out there? Does anyone still think he has what it takes to lead this team to a victorious season? Step forward please so we can peer at you with wondrous awe. If there is no one out there, then I figure it's not just me and a few others who think Bledsoe has had it, but every reasonable person. This would mean that it is more likely that Malarkey agrees with us, and benches Bledsoe in the near future (Heavens be praised). On the other hand, if a lot of you step up to defend Bledsoe, I am not so hopeful that Malarkey sees things the way I (and others) do, and may stick with Bledsoe the rest of the way (pass the arsenic please).

Well, this is good news about McGahee. It shows that Malarkey is not worried about players' feelings, but about putting the best man for the job out there. The same principle will see Bledsoe benched as soon as Losman is healthy. On a separate note, I am sick and tired of waiting for the right changes to be made. Last season, we had to wait a full season for Gilbride to be axed, even though it was clear to everyone that it should have been done after the first few games of the season. Now, I hope to God that we don't have to wait a full season for Bledsoe to be benched, when it was obvious to everyone that this should have happened after the first few games of the season. Enough already. Let's get on with the future now! (as soon as Losman is healthy). See Pittsburgh.