Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

I will preface by stating I am 100% Bills fan IMO the Titans should forfeit these two games so their record would be 3-2, let them suffer I don't however think the Bills and Steelers should be given wins as wins are too tough to come by in the NFL to award a team for doing nothing. Typically the difference between winning the division and/or getting a wild card comes down to tie breakers like div/conf record, or even points so to give a team a win just seems like too much of an advantage to them and unfair to the other teams. At the end of the season playoff spots are awarded on winning percentage, Bills are 10-5 played 15 games, and team is 10-6 and played all 16 games. Bills are ahead of them. (I did just read a column that the NFL is looking at changing playoff seeding to be based on win percentage so may be heading that way) MLB, NBA, etc where you're playing 80 to 160 games a year would have little problem awarding a team a win as not nearly as impactful in the grand scheme.

I think if what is happening now happened a month from now, there would be more discussion of a bubble for the home stretch of the season. But IMO it's too long for players to agree to it, plus you're throwing the holidays in the middle of it. The NBA has already stated, there will be no bubble next year. It worked in the NBA and NHL because they were shortened periods of time The NBA was down to 4 teams in about 3 weeks more time than it took the NFL just to get through training camp. They also had weeks maybe more like months to prep for the bubble. If the NFL announced a bubble tomorrow I'd be surprised if they could get them up and running much before Nov 1st. By then either things will have settled out, or the season will likely be on hold.

True but there may be enough players who want them on their own even to protect themselves.

Kind of surprised haven't read anything about it either. I'd tend to agree with your guesses too. Ironically the Bills would not have been able to scout Tenn this past week since game was canceled.

One thing I haven't read about at all, with all the Covid restrictions being imposed on teams, one thing I was wondering about. Typically each team sends a couple of coaches/scouts to attend the game of the following weeks opponent. For example under normal times, Tenn would have been at this weeks Buffalo game and The Bills would have been at the Pitt-Tenn game scouting and filming the Titans. I haven't read anything if teams are still allowed to do this or not. Considering how restrictive they are being with even announcers wouldn't be surprised if no longer allowed. Are press even allowed to travel on team plane to road games or are they on there own to get to game site?

Last week there was a video on ESPN from Mike Greenburg commenting if he were Lawrence and the Jet's had the #1 overall pick, he'd return to school. And Greenburg is a Jet's fan too. It is rather embarrassing for a team to have someone who is in that high of a profile and fan to make statements like that.

The odds of that game not effecting seeding for at least one of the two teams is minimal, likely could even mean the difference between winning the division or wild card. Even so if I were running the Bills and was given the choice of playing the game while my opponent next week is sitting back watching TV, I'd take a forfeit and a lower seed as oppsed to playing the game. I'm sure the NFL would have an issue with that but.

Maybe the move the KC game to Monday the 19th and make it another doubleheader. We have a bye the following Sunday anyway!!

Recall watching a college game played a few years back on Saturday during a hurricane at NC State. Was kind of fun watching it. (From the comfort of my dry house) Agree that far inland will likely be heavy rain and maybe 20 to 30 MPH winds, kind of like a normal game day in Buffalo.

Wow that picture don't look good. He may as well be kissing him. Wouldn't be shocked to see new NFL requirement of Lexan face shields in helmet.

Likely half the schedule was completed before anyone even heard of Covid. By the time it was released things were known, but many things done last spring particularly in sports but even in other areas were based on things being better in the fall. If they knew things were going to be the way they are now, why not have played the Master in April, was better than it is now for example. As has been stated it is easy to just stop this week and do a reset, though that could be a bad idea if things become even worse. Right now the issue is only one team, though the Bills have to worry some now that one of the Raiders tested positive. I'm sure they will be getting extra tests this week themselves.

What I read was it will be a forfeit IF It's deemed Tenn or its players violated NFL protocol which sounds like might be the case, but not yet established. People keep suggesting making the game up in January, not just for Buffalo but any others that get canceled. Both these teams likely could be in the playoffs. Who's in favor of playing a makeup game week 18 while potentially the rest of the playoff teams have a bye? The only way I see it would be close to being fair would be to have the make ups 2 weeks prior to the end so everyone plays games the last two weeks. And there's a plan ZZ for any required make ups the last two weeks. Maybe as simple as go to winning percentage instead of record.

I agree they are 4-0, playing great, but they are not dominating games as this other poster is arguing.

After I posted looked at your post again, figured they must have been the opponent based on how much they changed each week. Thanks!

But you're a doctor!

LOL I didn't realize he wasn't still with NE

Are these the rankings of Tenn or the team they played each week?? Example: 23rd ranked offense and 19th ranked defense To me the question is which defense shows up, the one they played the 2nd half of the Raiders game or the one who played the 2nd half of the 1st three games. If we can have the Raiders defense all game, think we should be in good shape. I'm mostly worried about Henry much more than their passing game. Are the ten players for Tenn who tested positive all out for this game? Were they all placed on the Covid IR list and does that mean they are out for three weeks?

LOL Well they don't mention the Miami game at all so apparently that wasn't a dominant one, though I'm sure you'll find a headline someplace where some one used the word dominant. So blowing a 28-3 lead and having to come from behind after that to win defines dominate?? One of the quotes in the article about the Rams game was: "Then, the Bills pulled an Atlanta Falcons" Does that sound dominant to you? Go ahead knock yourself out thinking they're dominating everyone.

True, though is concerning that a 4-0 team isn't doing better running the ball since they had the lead. The post I originally replied to asserted the Bills are a dominant team period, didn't state offense only or passing only, just dominant. While their passing game has been dominant and overall offensively great but without the running game being better IMO wouldn't call them an overall dominant offense. Certainly a team that wins 3 of 4 games by one score only and lets the opponent back into the game three times by blowing leads is far from dominant. They are doing great, winning and I'm happy.

I'd say: They have dominated every team they played on offense for the first half and played well in the 4th quarter and only thru the air. 4 TD's a game isn't dominant, not when you're giving up 2 to 3! They certainly haven't done a dominant job running the ball and defensively no area has been dominant. He was Fitzmagic with a bunch of no name receivers other than Parker because our defense was bad. Imagine if Miami had the receivers we have, we probably would have lost. 2 of the 4 games the opposing QB had more yards than Allen. We've only won one game by more than one score and that was only 10 points. We are playing very good, better than the opposition, Allen is playing at an MVP level and receivers may be the best group in the league, those two areas you could argue we have been dominant and wouldn't disagree, but overall as a team far from it. If you think that's overall dominant, you don't know what the word means.

You forgot about another guy who was a 6th round pick who has had a decent career. Barring an injury or a major collapse by Wilson or Mahomes, (which could also happen to Allen) one of those two will likely win the MVP this year. But Allen certainly will be in the discussion going forward and likely any games against any of these other top QB's in future will be a national TV game. Was looking at the schedule ahead to see if the Seattle game would get flexed, but that's a Fox game and CBS has the doubleheader that week, and the Sunday night game is a good match up so likely won't happen. The way the schedule works out every upcoming game for the Bills that would be worth considering to flex, the other network has the doubleheader game. Plus the entire month of December they are on national TV every week assuming the Denver game is moved to Saturday.

Have to say was surprised to read in 91 and 93 the defense was ranked 27th! Seemed like they were dominant on both sides, but guess it's a case of having a couple superstars like Bruce hid things. Plus that back back everyone was online 24/7 so much less info/stats easily available to fans.

The only place we've dominated is on passing stats which in most cases (though the trend is changing) is by the losing team. No where near the top in takeaways, rushing yards, yards given up and many others. And had to come back against 1-3 Miami and blew a 28-3 lead. You call that dominating!

Minor concern. Look how easily they signed both of them plus others in the past two years that have been much more than salvageable. They could resign one or even both for a relatively cheap contract, if not find the next similar guy on the FA market and probably should draft one in the 2nd or 3rd round. There is always a number of Felicinao type's every year that hit free agency. The Bills i.e. Beane seem to know where to find them better than most.

I almost feel sorry for Belichick!!