MRW

Everyone writing the Bills off after this loss needs to take a look around the league and realize there are only 2 undefeated teams, and every year even the Super Bowl contenders have a loss or two that leaves you scratching your head - where they should've won but just came up short. Yeah, the Bills had some weaknesses really exposed, but the lines between "good" and "mediocre" and "bad" in the NFL are thinner than ever. I think we can learn a lot more about the team based on how they bounce back from this (or not). If they want to be counted among the good teams, here's their chance. The games the first 3 weeks proved they have sufficient talent.

I don't think so. It was 4th and 14, he had to try to make some kind of play there. Regardless of the outcome of the game that play would never qualify as a backbreaker.

I don't understand the distinction here at all. Both Fitz and Stevie have had a season's worth of good play which has continued up until now. Why are you nervous about one but not the other?

When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way?

Maybe people would be criticizing Chan, but, to be blunt, they'd be idiots. Nothing is guaranteed to work, including a chip-shot FG. At a certain point it's out of the coach's hands and the players would deserve all the blame for a negative outcome - if there was a bad snap, or Lindell missed, that would be on the players, one of the few times I'd be comfortable saying something was 100% their fault.

Haven't seen too much out of Carrington yet, although he did have a very nice tackle for loss against the Patriots (of course, they went on to complete a 20 or 25 yard pass on the next play. He actually looked huge out there, I think especially against more run-oriented teams he will have a big role to play as the season goes on.

That was the day I saw all hope for Trent Edwards as an NFL QB vanish. I was never a fan of him, and he had a horrific start to the game, but at the end he had a nice 20 yard pass to Royal to get to the outer edge of field goal range. Well, that was good enough for Ol' Dick, and from that day on I don't know if I saw Edwards take another chance. Certainly seemed to me that the message he took away was that the only thing that mattered was trying to avoid bad outcomes. Other people can point to the concussion against Arizona, but I think the disastrous Cleveland game and the signals that Jauron sent to the team were what did Edwards in (of course, that's not to say he would've amounted to anything anyway, but I saw some glimmers of hope that were gone after that game).

An NFL head coaching position?

Yeah, I remember thinking as I was watching that game that it was all about the coverage. The Jets' pass rush wasn't bad, but it didn't strike me as phenomenal. On several plays Brady had plenty of time but couldn't find anywhere to throw. He was getting very obviously frustrated as the game wore on.

Indeed, from NE's 39 I see the likely playcalling sequence as: Run into the middle of a huge pile, no gain Run into the middle of a huge pile, no gain 5-yard throw to a receiver with no RAC opportunity Attempt a 52-yard field goal with 1:30 or more left.

Why is it that Matthews' Bag is bringing up on-field performance and you're bringing up the reactions of ex-Bills players and sports shows? (Seriously, that comment that Edwards was on Rome etc. - just like Fitz! - may be the most irrelevant point I've seen anyone make.)

One of the things I like the most about him is he is not a "players' coach". Clearly the players like playing for him, but it's not because he's trying to be their friend.

Even without the new rules, since the score occurred inside the final two minutes, I'm sure it would've been reviewed.

I'm still worried that the refs are going to review and award a Hail Mary TD to the Raiders.

I'm sure he would've - but Chan didn't give him the opportunity.

Maybe neither team's fans were delusional when they were talking 'em up. Pretty crazy, huh?

Which one? The one where the DB ran square into Nelson in the end zone? That one was so obvious any refs would've had to call it.

I didn't see any blitzes, but even so, I was disappointed by the complete lack of any pressure on Brady. I'd say it's a cause for concern for sure, but if the Bills can beat the Pats even without that, I'd say it puts the Bills into the category of good teams with a major weak spot - of which I think there are many in the league.

Raiders vs. Jets is tied at the moment. It could still get better.

Couldn't believe there wasn't a flag on that hit on Fitz the play after the PF they did call.

I just hope that no one tells him that Gailey doesn't use a TE in his offense.

Again today, Chandler was wide open for a TD. Teams have to know he's a threat - how does this keep happening?

You're right to be worried. Detroit is also 3-0. Clearly, something is amiss.

Belichick is "football brilliant". Look around the league, see some of the boneheaded decisions that are being made, and you'll see Belichick start to look pretty smart just based on avoiding those mistakes. But he's not a genius. A genius is someone like Norman Einstein.

Calvin Johnson: 6 years, $55.5 million + 8.5 million in incentives Andre Johnson: 7 years, $63 million Reggie Wayne I'll give you (for now), he's on the last year of his deal and making $6 million But if you want to talk sky high, here's a reason why I think new receiver contracts might be higher than you expect... Larry Fitzgerald: 8 years, $128.5 million And the franchise tag is $11.5 million. So at $8 million Johnson would be coming in under the money currently being paid to some of the top receivers and, I would guess, under the contracts you will see more and more players getting.