Luxy312

I wouldn't be terribly surprised or upset to see the Bills draft a DE in the first round that can play DT if needed. I'm not 100% convinced that if Mario refused to restructure his contract that the Bills wouldn't part ways with him. He is going to count nearly $20m against the cap, of which only about $5 is prorated signing bonus from the original deal. The rest is salary and incentives, which is a lot for a guy who hasn't been productive this season. To boot, Kyle Williams has been hurt now 3 years running and isn't getting any younger. I also like the OP's point about ILB and think it's spot on. So give me an Ezekiel Elliott (DT) or Reggie Ragland (ILB) in the first round. I'll be more than happy!

They didn't "tank". They just sucked. They could have easily drafted the next Jamarcus Russell. Terrible argument.

The whole idea of "tanking" makes absolutely no sense in the NFL. Let's just take the current Bills team as an example. Rex and Tyrod are going to be here next year no matter what happens the rest of this season. The notion that the Bills would go after a high first round draft pick in 2016 is a pipe dream. So the soonest that you could be talking about is the year after next. Let's assume the Bills have a crappy year next year. Offense and defense both stink and they win 3-4 games tops. First, Rex would be fired. The expectation is that he had the talent to make the playoffs and if he doesn't next year, he's gone. So now you're talking about a complete coaching overhaul. New systems for the players to learn and new concepts. Notwithstanding who's gone this year, even if you assumed NO ONE is gone, you would be looking at a massive sell off after next season. Mario gone, Hughes gone, Williams retires. This team would be completely gutted. So now you talk about the draft in 2017. Who's to say that you get the talent of an Andrew Luck or Cam Newton? You could just as easily end up with a Jake Locker, Sam Bradford, Christian Ponder, or Ryan Tannehill. There's a LOT of starting QB's in the NFL that are mediocre. The idea that you would effectively gut your front office and your team on both sides of the ball for a quarterback just doesn't make any sense unless you're living in a Madden video game.

Assuming that's where they end up, there's a lot of prospects that could improve the team positionally. If they're not comfortable at OT, they could look at a Jack Conklin or might have a shot at Taylor Decker. Early in the draft is way too early for a TE. There's none coming out that most people would have as a value pick before the 2nd round. A Reggie Ragland at ILB wouldn't be a bad pick. I'm assuming Preston is back healthy next year as well, so can't see them going OLB. Safety is like TE for me. I don't touch anyone early. If they go away from Mario (which I'm 50-50 that they do), they might be able to take Shaq Lawson to replace him. My two cents for what it's worth!

Not even remotely accurate. Buffalo only team to go to 4 in a row. No one has made it to 5, much less 10. Lions currently match the Bills for ineptitude, not having made the playoffs since 1999. They are pretty much eliminated already for this year to boot, so they should match the Bills. I wouldn't recommend citing statistical quotes that are nothing more than exaggerations than actual statistics.

This in a nutshell and it really helps us put more description about what the Bills offense is and is not. In games where their offense is scoring a bunch of points and the defense is doing their job, it doesn't really matter that it's the big plays getting it done. Whether you have a 3 and out on a series here or there is irrelevant. In a situation where the Bills have basically ONE opportunity to get the ball in FG range to tie the game, they can't do it. Opposing defenses aren't giving up the big play because they know that the only way for the Bills to move the ball is to do exactly that. To boot, Roman is too stubborn and/or too stupid to call something different. Where's the slant routes that take advantage of Sammy's ability to get separation? Non-existent. It's either a bubble screen right at the line of scrimmage, or a bomb downfield on fly pattern. It's futile when it needs to be potent.

First, I'm just not going to dignify the title of this thread with response. The team has far more problems than just one guy. Let's start on the defensive side of the ball. There were about a dozen instances yesterday where I witnessed either Mario Williams and/or Marcel Dareus dropping back into pass coverage. We've witnessed this now for the better part of 3 weeks and Rex admitted after it happened the first week that it was a mistake. So why keep doing it? Simple answer is that Rex and his D.C. are living in an age long passed where the schemes used were more important than the players. He's taken a top-5 NFL defense from last season that was upgraded player/personnel wise and turned them into a below average defense by asking players to do things they're not capable of doing. How many passes has Mario defensed this year? What about Dareus? Coaching stupidity has turned one of the leagues best pass rushing specialists into one that has the lowest number of sacks so far this season. On the offensive side of the ball, we have multiple issues as well. Starting with the OP's namesake, Taylor has some good statistics. High QB rating. TD/INT ratio is off the charts and he's been able to keep some drives alive using his legs. That all sounds well and good until you look at situational play calling. Why the hell is there an option to try to hit a 30 or 40 yard pass when you're on your opponents 45 yard line with third and two? Didn't we get Shady to run the ball? This happened 3 times yesterday. Drives ended and the Bills punted because instead of taking the sure play to keep the chains moving, Roman thought that his system was better than the players. Speaking of play calling, I don't recall seeing one short slant route for Watkins this entire season over the middle. Makes no sense not trying to get your playmaker the ball and let him make the play. Clay was supposed to be a huge upgrade over the 50 for 500 Scott Chandler. So far this year, clay has 51 for 528. Marginally utilized more at best. Special teams are a train wreck. Thigpen should be cut immediately. Make the fair catch call and you have a short field for the go ahead score. Instead, you GIVE Phily 7 points several plays later due to stupidity, laziness, or both. Carpenter is a mental shell of what he was last year. I feel like he can miss extra points at pretty much any point in time. Punt and kick coverage is also atrocious. It's all facets of the game folks and a lot more than just one guy. For me, it starts with just terrible coaching in all facets of the game and thinking that your systems are what defines your team, in lieu of molding the system around the talents that players actually have.

Given where they are in the playoff hunt too, now what if the Bears lose due to poor play from Clausen? Front office would look like a bunch of idiots. Likely would be their jobs in the offseason, in particular if the Bears miss the playoffs by a single win.

While I don't disagree, I'm trying to be optimistic. Most of the statistical models say that the Bills chances of the playoffs finishing 4-0 are around 80%. That's a pretty decent figure. Not a guarantee, but a good number. That drops to 35% going 3-1, and only 3% going 2-2. They have to show us some resolve or we won't be watching them in the playoffs.

Honestly, I'm not even sure why he would risk it. He's not going to be in a position like Peyton Manning where he's not making serious contact. If I were in his shoes and the doctor says 50-50, my decision is already made for my family.

I'm not sure he can justify missing it. At the end of the day, the guy lives out in California while Jay is here in Chicago. Maybe they were "telephone tight", but it doesn't sound like it.

I don't disagree. Should be an interesting game on Sunday between these two. Cincy is effectively playing for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. If the Bengals did lose, then likely the Broncos would be playing for it next week against Pittsburgh as well.

The Eagles game comes down to two things. First, the Patriots lost the turnover battle (2 to 1). One of those turnovers was a touchdown (99 yard INT return). No way week to week that I would expect that from Brady. 14 more points came off of special teams. Punt return TD and blocked punt TD. That's 3 TD's from defense and special teams and yet it was only a 7 point game. Hoody will have him up for the game. Bills play 3 crappy NFC Least teams in a row. No reason they shouldn't be playing NY in week 17 for all the marbles.

My take for what it's work folks and the teams that I think will be in it for the wild card. Houston - They have the same record as the Bills right now, but lose the tiebreaker for the wildcard. They get New England coming off two consecutive losses, which can't be good for them and then follow that up with a game on the road in Indianapolis. While I don't see them beating New England, they could win their last 3 @IND, @TEN, and home versus JAC. Their best possible record is 9-7 and they could actually finish the season 8-8 depending on how the Colts play. Indianapolis - They're winning their division right now, but depending on Hasselbeck's play could be in trouble. I still think all of their games are winnable though. They still have the offensive talent to score points and are @JAC, home versus HOU, @MIA and finish at home versus TEN. The only way that they end up in the wild card hunt is if they don't win their remaining games and somehow lose one they should not. I have them at 10-6 or again at 9-7 if they lose the game to the Texans. None the less the tiebreaker goes to Buffalo for conference record. Pittsburgh - They currently have a game on the Bills, but the Bills have the tiebreaker on conference record. They're @CIN this week, who's playing for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. They follow that up with a red hot DEN team at home and finish @BAL and @CLE. Their highest upside IMO is a split with CIN and DEN, winning the last 2. That's 10-6. If they happen to lose the next two games and win the last two (which is also very possible), they're 9-7 with the tiebreaker going to Buffalo. NY Jets - I don't know how this team has won games. They just don't pass the "eye test" to me. None the less, they also have a game on Buffalo. While they could lose to TEN this weekend, I don't think they do. Then they're @DAL who is completely disfunctional. I don't see them beating NE the next week and finish @BUF. So that puts them at 9-6 at best coming to play Buffalo. I'll come back to that game later. Kansas City - They're playing some of the best defense of any team right now and the offense hasn't been bad either. They have no one left on their schedule that's noteworthy. SD at home, @BAL and finishing with CLE and OAK. Even if they lose one, they're 10-6 with the tiebreaker over the Bills and would take the first wild card spot. So....it comes down to a couple things for me. The Bills need to match wins with the Jets from now until Week 17. I think if they lost two games, that they would be out no matter what. I think if they win all of their remaining games that they're a virtual lock for the 2nd wildcard spot. If they go 2-1, I think it's highly likely that they're playing the Jets for the final playoff spot in Buffalo in Week 17. That's my take!

We're in a different era than when Herm was a player. That's what he doesn't get. Social media is rampant and it's nearly impossible for a player to not be quoted with a comment, unless he takes the Marshawn Lynch route and eats fines every week. McCoy could have left it at the fact he hasn't stayed in touch or otherwise communicated with Kelly since leaving. That's it. That's all he had to say. It's none the less irresponsible for the media to take one quote out of the context of the entire discussion and focus on it. That's really what Edwards is doing here in his rant.

Personally, any scenario where the Bills do not win out and they're done. There could be a few teams sitting at 9-7 that would have the tiebreaker over the Bills.

This is 100% a system issue folks. Last year, the Bills sent 4-5 guys at the quarterback on almost every play/down. This year, I watch Rex send 3. Guys like Mario and Marcel are being dropped back into coverage. It's utter stupidity. To boot, Rex RECOGNIZED that it was a problem. That was 3 games ago. During the last two games, same **** different day. When 5 or 6 are blocking 3 rushers and one of those rushers isn't Mario or Marcel (or both), that's a problem. It's a system problem no doubt. Rex is almost ignoring the players that he has and instead suggesting that they SYSTEM is what makes his defense successful. Ridiculous.

Agree with this 100%. How many RB's facing their former teams end up with lost fumbles because they try to squeeze out extra yards on plays? This worries me more than anything else.

I honestly wouldn't have graded out Mario any better than a "C". He's not getting pressure on quarterbacks, period.

Without reading through 5 pages, Manning hit the wall because of getting old AND recurring injuries. He simply is not the same quarterback that he was 5 years ago. Brady isn't even close to being in the same position. The only possible way that Brady falls off the proverbial high horse is if he takes a serious injury.

My 5 best: 1 - LeSean McCoy. He looks to be back to 100% and is the most dynamic guy on the field. 2 - Sammy Watkins. His mantra to Tyrod has to be "just throw the ball in my direction". Last two weeks have been awesome. 3 - Ronald Darby. He's been the most consistent pass defender. Gilmore is good, but I think this kid is better. 4 - Marcel Dareus. I only include him here as a run stopper. Still don't understand having him drop into coverage. Makes no damned sense. 5 - Richie Incognito. Glenn is doing a good job, but I think it's because he has Richie next to him. My 5 worst: 1 - Dan Carpenter. It's all mental. Just can't be missing as many extra points as he has. 2 - Mario Williams. His forte is pass rushing and he has a total of 3 sacks through 11 games. Not good. 3 - John Miller. I thought he might be a bright spot, but recently has had some terrible beats. He's got to get it together. 4 - Jerry Hughes. I don't think anyone has as many offsides penalties as he does. I get that he's urgent to get to the passer, but just awful. 5 - Rex Ryan. I almost feel like the Bills win in spite of the coaching. He recognizes that defensive play calling is suspect and then just repeats what he did the week before. When all is said and done, the Bills are losing to the good teams and beating the bad to average ones. Not a good formula for the playoffs.

The OP is just flat wrong. It doesn't come down to "just coaching" and "nothing more". It comes down to turnovers. In the 5 wins that this team has, they were +3, +3, Even, +1, and +4 in turnovers. That's +11 for 5 games folks. In our 6 losses, they were -1, -1, -1, -3, Even, and -2. That's -8 for 6 games. Turnovers are the single biggest statistical factor to winning and losing in the NFL. Go -1 in turnovers and history says you lose 90% of the time. Go -2 and that climbs to over 95%. I'm not going to sit here and say that coaching doesn't have a little to do with it, but it comes down to players not losing the football and giving the other team more opportunities to get the win.

Someone smoking a shorty...lol

This absolutely is a Charles Clay week. The Bills will 100% need to pass the ball to open up the running game. This game will NOT go down like the Miami week where they run a lot and eventually just get some big plays.

Beating the Jets tomorrow is more important than beating the Dolphins last Sunday. A Jets win gives them a 2 game cushion and the tiebreaker for a wildcard, assuming that the Patriots to fold like a wet taco. This absolutely 100% is a playoff game for Buffalo.