Brand J

You’re better than this, HappyDays.

Are you saying Mahomes didn’t make the plays that needed to be made when they needed them? Because that was my point. His defense stepped up, no question, but who’s to say if they didn’t step up, Mahomes would’ve made the same mistakes or missed all those throws in the 2nd half?

I mean, Mahomes was on one leg, throwing to a bunch of nobodies, sans Kelce, in the AFC Championship game and STILL made the plays that needed to be made when they needed them. People can dismiss what he brings to the field and say “it’s mostly Andy Reid,” but those are just thinly veiled ways to discredit Mahomes. Would Pat be as successful if he was on another team? If he was drafted by the Bills? Maybe not initially, but I fully believe he would’ve figured it out, even if the playcalling wasn’t Reid-like. They used to say the same stuff about Brady, “put him on any other team and he’s an average QB” and then the guy goes and wins the Super Bowl with the Bucs as a 40 year old. Great players will be great players no matter where they end up. And Mahomes is a great one. That’s to take nothing away from Allen, but our QB just isn’t on Mahomes’ level yet. And the reason isn’t simply “Andy Reid.” He can get there, but his approach to the game has to change. He has to become more cerebral pre and post snap.

Time to move on to a DC who really knows how to scheme X’s and O’s. It’s clear we won’t have the Jimmies and Joes next year, so conduct an exhaustive search for the next great defensive mind. Even if it’s a different philosophy than McD. If McD wants to run his same defense (as Rex Ryan wanted to after Jim Schwartz was highly successful here), then McD needs to call the plays. Prove you’re a defensive guru who’s unit won’t be a total liability when it matters. Take ownership of the defense.

That’s what I found damning personally.

We can speculate that a completely different defense would’ve been called if Miller was on the field, sure, but Frazier is on record leading up to that game as saying they “just have to find ways to make him (Burrow) hold the football.” That was the game plan Frazier came up with to force Burrow to hold the ball? It was the opposite of his intentions, it allowed Burrow to get the ball out quickly to his playmakers. He had the best game of his postseason against Frazier’s D.

Von Miller doesn’t make a difference in that CIN game, not with the calls Frazier sent in. Burrow got the ball out somewhere around 2 seconds, to wide open receivers. It’s not like he was holding it, waiting for someone to come open. The game plan was flawed, as it is most of the time in the playoffs. Miller doesn’t get pressure because nothing the Bills did forced Joe to hold the football. It was pitch and catch in the snow.

If a cash strapped team that needs all sorts of resources on the offensive side of the ball pays Edmunds close to $20M/yr, I’ll mentally check out from this point going forward.

Von is an older player, but has the legs of a 20 year old. He still looked spry and fresh, easily the fastest DE we’ve had on this team since an in his prime Jerry Hughes - only he was still bendier and stronger than a young Jerry. Hopefully it doesn’t take him the 2 years it usually takes to fully recover. We don’t have the time. And yes, Beane has been horrid on evaluating the trenches and WR.

I was surprised when he picked the Bills and the Cowboys earlier this season for the SB, with the BILLS winning.

Three games stand out that Oliver had a big hand in. The Detroit one you mentioned, the Dallas game Thanksgiving, and one of the Jets games he was absolutely dominant. A one man wrecking crew. You’re right in that Edmunds plays 100% of the snaps vs Oliver’s 50% or whatever it is, but if we’re talking about sheer impact, I’ve seen Oliver do it, just not consistently. Edmunds doesn’t have to be Lewis, Wagner, Urlacher or Kuechly to me, but I would like to see him rise above the rest of his teammates every once in awhile. Force some fumbles, grab picks, blow up RBs or TEs who try to block him from getting to the QB, slip around OL that try to get their hands on him and make the tackle. Haven’t seen any of those as often as I would like. Some I’ve never seen.

I think Oliver is better at his position than Edmunds. Oliver is incredibly inconsistent (like Edmunds), but at least he’s shown he has the ability to take over games. I’ve never got the feeling Edmunds took over any game.

I was working the US Open a few years back and a woman I swear looked like Kim Pegula walked up asking for directions. But what would Kim be doing at the US Open? This was before I knew of Jessica’s tennis career, had only heard an occasional mention of it so I hadn’t put two and two together until I saw “Jessica Pegula” in one of the draws. Turns out it was Kim and I regret not giving her a “Go Bills!” Get well, Mrs Pegula!

If only those highly ranked defenses translated to championship level football. Do you care to post the defensive stats from the playoffs and where those stand since regular season rankings carry so much weight with you?

I wholeheartedly disagree with #3. Dorsey is the biggest gamble? On what planet? Continuing to bring back your defensive coordinator whose defense has proven to fail time and time again when it matters is the biggest gamble. The sample size is also 5x as larger than Dorsey and that unit has hoarded all the premium picks. Funny how Buscaglia can make excuses for Frazier, but then condemn Dorsey. Fact is they both probably need to be replaced, but I’m willing to see if the offense can evolve with a 2nd year play caller and more resources allocated to his side of the ball. I have no faith in the defense next year to make the plays when needed. None. And much of that has to do with who’s coordinating and calling the plays. I have years and years and years of history that paints that picture.

To hug up on the opposing QB, he takes the loss better than a Brady would 😅

Donald was already thinking of retirement prior to this past season. No doubt the Rams would want a bounty in addition to taking on his hefty contract. If he was coming off a rookie deal, no doubt, figure it out. But a Donald who’s already considering retirement? No thanks.

Maybe put Allen in the Arena League for a summer. That’s where Kurt learned to get the ball out super fast 😄

A SB preview of sorts. These two battled last year in PHI. Mahomes went off, but he won’t have a key WR from that game, not that he’s had him all year. Neither defense could stop the other from moving the ball, but Spagnuolo’s unit made more plays. Chiefs vs Eagles 2021

You’ll have someone come out and say Rosie looked better during her teen years.

You must not have watched the games. Allen’s first 5 years was not on Brady’s level in his first five. No objective thinker would believe otherwise. Yes, it is pure homerism and if you took this ridiculous take to anyone in the NFL, including Josh, you’d be laughed at. And as far as hardball? That would mean Allen would’ve had to hold out for more than Mahomes. Which was only slightly more. Need I remind you Allen set a record at the time for guarantees. There was no discount, no matter how much you believe there was. It was a fair deal for Allen. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-comparing-patrick-mahomes-and-josh-allen-contracts-making-them-nfls-highest-paid-players/

Mahomes has lived in the AFC Championship game (5 straight), so if any QB threatens Tom’s 7 rings it’ll be him. But he has to win next Sunday to make it less arduous of a feat. There’s this fallacy that Josh gave the Bills a huge discount on his contract and it’s simply not true. It was a fair deal to both parties at the time it was signed. Made him the 2nd highest paid QB in the league to Mahomes. Chiefs actually got a much better deal provided that Pat stays healthy for the 10 years and doesn’t ask to renegotiate his contract. Comparing the deal at the time to deals now signed 2 and 3 years later is off base. I’ll never forget what the OC of the Pats said when Brady stepped in his 2nd year after Bledsoe got hurt. He said that when Brady went into the lineup, the offense was much more machine-like. His play calling became easier, more stuff worked. Brady wasn’t setting the world on fire stats wise, but he was unflappable and still processed the game at a higher level than Josh does today. Brady was better than Josh Allen in their first 5 years, regardless of what the stats say. He also wasn’t asked to be the entire offense which helped, but he made the plays he needed to make to not only send the Patriots to the SB, but actually win the whole thing. To suggest Allen is a superior QB is homerism and I love Allen, he’s just far more Favre and Roethlisberger than he ever was Brady.

Nick Wright has already crowned Mahomes the 4th best QB in the history of football, says he’s behind Brady, Montana, & Manning. With a win Sunday he leapfrogs Manning. Would love to see the Eagles make Mahomes look pedestrian, partly to shut up Nick Wright and his worship, but I dunno. Pat has a good OL now and he’s never trash for 4 quarters. I do think the Eagles OL can keep Chris Jones from going off, but I’m not sure if Hurts is equipped to handle Spags aggressive blitzes.

I wanted a 4th poll question, but thought of it just after I hit submit: Philly Cheesesteaks or KC BBQ? Would probably be the BBQ for me, though I’ve never tried it.

Main priority is protecting Josh Allen.