Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

Thank god the coaches are smarter than most posters here.

Who would have predicted Bass would break the Bills scoring record today and not kick a field goal.

I certainly think if they hadn't lost that game, they'd have lost at least one down the stretch, maybe more. So overall agree Hail Murrey helped the team.

I also thought the Bills game plan was a little more conservative than normal too, particularly in the 1st quarter. Seemed like after that they decided Miami isn't very good, lets just put them away and be done with it. Also noticed Bills receivers doing much more sliding to give themselves up. I'm guessing that was hammered into everyone, you want to play fine, but as soon as you see/feel the defender closing on you, go down.

Agree for injuries could help, but if 50 to 60 passes to Thomas, it will be maybe around 45 to 55 less to the remaining players.

Why so he can keep handing off and throw less passes or throw to Thomas instead of Diggs, Bealsey, or someone else. It's the same argument people make; "If only we had a great TE" Allen is 1.6% behind the season leader in completion percentage and that's Drew Brees. In the 100 year history of the NFL there's only been three QB's not named Drew Brees who have ever completed more than 70% of their passes and was just a little over 70% Brees all time record is 74.4% about 5% better than Allen. That means 5 more completed passes for every 100 passes thrown, roughly 1.5 passes per game. Compare the top three receiving stats for KC and Bills, about identical, KC (including Kelce) had like 300 total yards more, but 4 less receptions. All more weapons means is less catches for the existing leaders. The only place it would help would be to improve running game if passing game wasn't working or to run out the clock. But in that case would prefer M Lynch to churn out 1st downs.

Maybe Daboll kept calling running plays, Barley said screw this I'm throwing!

It's funny Tua had 360 yards passing, completed about 60%, but looked terrible. Granted three Int's but even without, plus most games he's had very few Ints, he still looks bad. So many passes no where close. He looks like Allen 2 years ago, but without the rifle arm.

All backup QB's first option is a place where there's an open competition for the starting QB slot or next where the starter is on shaky ground. i.e. 2019 Tenn with Mariota as the starter so Tannerhill went there. If both of those options fail, then go anyplace that wants you even if you know the only way you'll get to play is in blowouts, or injury. The third group is where the Bills fit in so not exactly getting prime pickings. Likely either someone no one else wants or someone older maybe with a year or so left in his career

All backup QB's first option is either place where there's an open competition for the starting QB slot or next where the starter is on shaky ground. i.e. 2019 Tenn with Mariota as the starter so Tannerhill went there. If both of those options fail, the ngo anyplace that wants you even if you know the only way you'll get to play is in blowouts, or injury. So agree Fitz is only coming here if he's down to option #3, but he's good enough that unlikely that will happen as he'll get a better option someplace, Miami certainly being one of them.

Yes as long as the QB is named Peyton Manning. I'll even go out on a limb and state we could have seen similar results with Ely Manning, that's how good Gase is!! Hell I'll even throw in Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees!

They do have to have 47 active players, who should they have sat and who instead activate. Explain the numbers here. Please don't suggest Jake Fromm as I think the Covid risk is greater than the injury risk which they'd be opening themselves to.

To quote Jim Boheim, Hawaii is just like Syracuse in July!

The other difference is Pitt is likely assuming we'll win so doesn't matter. If they had announced they were playing all their starters all the way, Tomlin might be assuming Bills would have done the same and Bills would win and they'd still be in 2nd seed. Big difference in how you plan/play game when you control your own destiny. Speaking of which was just looking every team in AFC controls their own destiny except Colts. They are the only one that win a win, they are still not in. Likely Balt, Indy, & Tenn will win so they likely need to count on either Bills or Steelers win to get them in. But one is not inclusive of the other. Late breaking headline, Steelers-Browns agree to play the game 7 V 7!!

And make them all about safe 5 yard slants to Diggs so he's about 15 catches and 125 yards up on Hopkins so not likely he'll be caught for season leader.

Agree he has been doing better of late. I am starting to wonder if the teams plans for him next year are to start, thus making either Hughes or Addison expendable

LOL, you proved me wrong! You must have young kids. Stated after spending a week at Christmas with grand kids and am very Blippied out! Got to say Blippy is educational though as I did learn things.

In fairness Rex had a better coaching record and resume than Schwartz did. From what I remember his time in Detroit as HC was not very good besides the record.

I travel a fair amount for work as I'm sure many others here do too. What do you typically do when traveling when you're done with work, go out to eat and drink and do all kinds of other bad stuff. But when you don't travel and are at home you don't do that. My point is when you're home you have many things around the house to keep you busy, not as much when away staying in a hotel so could see players getting in more trouble in a bubble.

I have to say I really thought that was going to be a huge problem in college this year with walk-ons. You're the 17th LB on the depth chart at Alabama (and yes there actually is a 17th LS there and believe I saw 3 long snappers too) how motivated is that person going to be to stay clean. Thought they should have dumped all the walk-ons, but didn't seem to affect them any worse

20 to 30 years ago, Buffalo would never be a choice for an 8:15 game as you wouldn't schedule a cold weather city at night to make it hard on the fans. Today which ever games generates the most interest will get the late slots. No real warm weather sites either other than inside the dome in New Orleans. The one factor that will be taken into account is time zone, Seattle would not be scheduled for a 1:00 eastern start time game. Currently only one west coast home team, so not too much of an issue.

Agree with you there about the DE not getting enough sack for what they were paid. I'd be OK with cutting Addison and Butler in exchange for signing a good edge rusher. Did see a list a few weeks back there are some guys available as FA who have put up good sack numbers. The nine I'd go with on game day would be Hughes, Epinesa, Addison/new guy, and Johnson outside and Star, Phillips, Oliver, and Zimmer, plus Jefferson who can play inside or outside. Likely the saving from cutting Addison and Butler could afford a top signee. But like often happens the good upcoming FA right now may not be free agents by March.

Phillips, Johnson, Oliver, and Epenesa are all young on rookie contracts. Jefferson think is only 26 so you have a pretty young line there already. Butler agree with cutting, but if you cut either Addison or Hughes likely see a drop off on the rush. How many sacks/pressures did Epenesa have this season, think it was one and he was a 2nd rounder. Yeah rookies can make an impact as a rotational backup, but unless it's maybe a top 20 pick doubt they are going to help that much.

You can't cut a free agent as is Murphy, there's no saving as he isn't getting paid anything next year. Agree about Hyde. It took half the season for he Bills pass rush to become effective, would have to cut Addison and/or Jefferson and need to start over their again. Do think you cut Butler though.

Think you're very optimistic that you'll sign them for the vet minimum as these three are currently making around $9 mil, to expect them to agree to take under $1mil each. A guy like Roberts will be in demand. Would be surprised if Kroft would even want to return to a situation where he's been inactive, but that still means he needs to be replaced by someone else. Maybe you can find a guy like Olson in the tail end of career to sign for the vet min. Certainly can sign Ike B, Bojorquez, and L Wallace to their tenders guessing likely costing you around $2 mil for the three of them combined. You really need to factor in more than 53/54 players as every year there are a couple of players start on IR so they are replaced, this year, Sweeney, Feleciano, Hodgins, Last year there believe there were also 3 of them, plus want to keep $3 to $5 mil for in season signings. Certainly agree on cutting Butler, but Matakevich & Lee Smith were contributors throughout the season, can't see cutting them if you do, you'll need to replace them with another body who fills the same role. Could see them taking a pay cut may save you a couple mil there. Same with Hyde. Projected contract numbers I saw about a month ago for Feliciano was around $7 mil and Williams may get $10 mil. Overall think you may be over stating discounts players are willing to take to stay here in Buffalo. While I do agree that will factor in, would be surprised if it's at the level you're projecting. Overall seems crazy to me to consider cutting players like Matakevich & Lee Smith who contributed throughout the season in their own special ways in order to keep a guy who was inactive for half the season and his a replacement is already on the roster on a cheap rookie contract who is only going to get better just for a small amount of speed.