Georgia Bill

We almost beat New England too, so I'm not sure how that measuring stick works... Still, I'm picking the Patriots. Schottenheimer's brain gets all screwed up during playoff games, and the pressure of going up against Bill and the perennially good Pats will be too much for him.

Not making excuses, I thought it was a low class move. But couldn't help wondering what was going thru his head at the time!?? Maybe something like, "Now I've got to go do the BS man-love w Mangini thing, god I hate doing this, get the f out of my way a..hole, ..." Hard to imagine he was desperate to get to Mangini out of true concern for the guy...

I was also surprised that both announcers, and the article today in USA today, did not mention that he had a first down possibility at the one yard line. In the paper they said a couple of times that he fell just short of making it in for the touchdown. He was way closer to getting the first (which probably would have sealed the game what with ability to run the clock down), but nobody mentioned it. Go figure.

I saw one angle that was totally conclusive. From the sideline, looking straight across the field, you could clearly see the 1 yard line hash marks, and also clearly see that the ball never progressed all that close to that, which is what was needed for a first down. I was wondering why no one pointed that out, to me it was obviously at least 1 to 1.5 ft short, which is where they eventually spotted it.

Part of me wishes the same exact thing could have happened to them, except at the end of the Super Bowl instead of just their first playoff game. I'm a sickie I guess, but I'd love all those 'Boys fans to have had their hopes even higher, and than have them smashed to earth in heartwrenching fashion.

Maybe Jimbo suggests a new man law - "no perfect hair-do's" and then they pan to a red-faced Johnson starting to sputter...

New England played great today. I think San Diego is going to have their hands full. I know everyone here seems to hate the Patriots, but you've got to respect (and basically envy) what they have been able to do over the last 6 yrs. I personally hate the Jets and Dolphins more than NE, but to each their own.

I got all wrapped up in the "what needs to happen for us to get in" talk too, starting to believe we had a chance. What a disappointment (and eye opener) to see we couldn't even win one of the last two. I guess a lot of us were guilty of "wishing it to be", instead of properly assessing where the Bills stand relative to true playoff caliber teams. Oh well, next year is looking more promising. I doubt we start out 2-5 again.

yo' crazy

Call me crazy, but I think we win in Baltimore. I think we are going to see this team has heart, can beat a solid playoff contender in their house, and end the season on an up note. Perhaps it's just wishfull thinking but I have a good feeling about this game.

I think we'll be better next year, and probably make the playoffs. But if our defense keeps reminding me of Indy, w the inability to stop the run, we'll lose our first playoff game. I guess that's progress. I'd just feel a lot better if we had a bone crunching defense you could count on.

I agree wholedheartedly, the lack of an ability to stop crucial 4th quarter drives was sickening. You just have to have a D that can make those stops to even think about getting in the playoffs, let alone going anywhere once in. I don't give a damn about stats, when it was crunch time we were bowled over like the sta-puff marshmallow man.

I don't know about Kelsay in particulary, but there were so many bad plays by our defense (Young's TD scramble being one of them) that it is not grasping at all to lay blame there (more so than the Royal non-TD IMO). We folded like a paper bag in the 4th quarter when we desperately needed the stops. Too many times I've seen it this year, where we had a chance to win against good teams, and the opposing team just marches down the field on clock robbing drives for the TD. God I miss a run stuffing D so much. Ted, Pat, Sam, where are yea? Oh yeah, I forgot what we need is lighter quicker D lineman. That's working REAL well!

I beg to differ. I'd have rather missed the FG than try the bumbling 4th and 5 play we tried to pull off. I would have been sad if we missed - and said we should have found a way to get closer on prior plays. I would have, however, accepted the loss better. The odds of completing a hail mary pass into the wind are worse than making the FG, plus we looked to be in total disarray.

I was at a bar w one other Bills fan, and about fifteen Dolfans were there. They were all wanting the TD bad, it was obvious. I found myself getting that old familiar playoff football pumped up feeling, really wanting the stop. If the Fins wanted to avoid the shutout they could have just kicked the fieldgoal, but noooo.... they wanted the TD, to make some kind of point! They did not make a point. To stop them play after play (and on an extra one w no time) was sweeeeeet!

Man I'd love to have the chance to have the Baltimore game mean a win and you're in, loss and you're out! Basically, that would make it a playoff game for us. I don't care if they play their starters or not, we would have a shot and that's all we're looking for now. Go Bills!

What is truly sweet is to see this team really starting to gel. The possible shot at the playoffs is icing on the cake. If we keep playing like we have the last couple weeks AND get in, we could make some noise! I bet teams are starting to worry about having to play us now (and if not, they should be). Go Bills!

Didn't LA lose the Rams then Raiders? Doesn't sound like a great town for pro football to me. I think Southern Cal is now sorta Northern Mexico ish. Don't they like their football with a round ball?

It's not possible that Willis only gets really motivated when he has an ex college teammate on the other team to jaw with. Is it?

I agree. If we beat both Miami and Tennessee at home (which certainly is looking do-able), we may end up at Baltimore on the last week of the season STILL with a playoff chance. Win or lose there, it would be really nice to still be in the hunt that deep into the season. I would LOVE it if we got in, but gotta say it is nice enough for me just to have some real reasons for optimism for next year. GO BILLS!

We'll finish out 3-1 for 8-8 on the season. A step in the right direction. With a couple breaks we could have beaten the Patriots, Colts, Chargers. With the right off season moves, playoffs next year!

Well if he wasn't taunting the fans, who was he taunting? Or was it not taunting in your opinion? In my book, there is no "excusable" explanation for his actions. He lost all my respect - forever

the Chargers had the ball in the 3rd quarter and LT was on the field raising his arms in the fashion usually imployed by the defense to get the crowd to get loud? I wasn't sure how many at the game noticed that, but watching it on TV, that really got my blood boiling . The guy is good but that was a cocky in your face thing to do. After that I just wanted us to stuff his a.. into the turf on every opportunity. Did they replay it on the jumbotron or was it just a passing moment?

I was thinking that today on the way back from watching the game. When we had Ted alone, then Ted/Pat, then Pat/Sam, we had some serious beef clogging up the middle, and you just did not run all over the Bills D. We are sorely missing that now!

You know at first when we ended up that close I thought "go for it"!, But then sanity took over. I can't recall exactly, but it was either late 2nd qtr or early 3rd, and we were somewhere in our end (around the 35 yard line)? Going for it there is CRAZY. I know it always seems gutless, but you have to take your field position and amount of time left in the game into consideration.