MRW

OK. Would it be fair to say that you think that inaccurately predicting a great record makes you feel worse when the team does poorly? Because based on my experience in the past few years, I enjoyed it more when I let myself get swept up in (in retrospect) ridiculous hopes. I didn't feel noticeably worse when disaster struck than if I had seen it coming. Making accurate predictions is great, but I'm a fan, not a professional analyst.

Don't get me wrong, Jackson's run was a great, GREAT, play, and a real spark for the team. But it did come on a 2nd and 3 after two drives in which the offense had moved the ball but wasn't able to get it into the end zone, and after the Bills had moved the ball 35 yards on the drive already. I didn't see a demoralized unit at all, I saw a team that was upset they had let the first half get away from them and wanted to get back into it.

My best guess is they were waiting to make a big announcement after the next win - and then the Bills reeled off 4 stinkers in a row, culminating in that MNF loss to Cleveland, and the fans' mood had soured so much the team just wanted to keep it under wraps. It was pretty asinine, whatever the reason.

I think you have a huge unexamined assumption underlying your own argument here, namely, that accurately predicting a bad record helps you feel better when it comes to pass. Guess what, I got more enjoyment out of the 2008 season when I thought the Bills were headed up and had those hopes dashed than I did in the 2009 season when I knew they were going to be terrible. Maybe for some people having that letdown is a bigger deal than it is for others. For me, it's not. I'd rather entertain dreams of playoffs (as ludicrous as it might sound) than preemptively brace for a comeuppance.

I sprained my undisclosed once, took me months to recuperate.

Big-time advantage for the Bills if the Pats have to bring in a punter off the street who won't have time to learn their plays.

I'm glad you're so impressed with yourself, but it might help to quote the person you're replying to.

For sure there's no reason why it should apply to only one side or the other. I just find it a fascinating concept that explains an awful lot. Personally, I'm just happy that (outside of a few games at the beginning and toward the end of last year) the Bills are playing entertaining, competent NFL football again. I try not to get too excited because the Pats* are probably going to bring this team back down to earth a bit, but then I think I should just go with it and have fun. So I'm biased toward the optimists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger

Oh, I was all mixed up. Thanks for the correction. And sorry to PtP for an invalid criticism of your comment.

By "make a play for Brandon Meriweather", do you mean that the Bills should've offered to trade for him? Because he was picked up off waivers by Carolina, the Bills never had a shot at him at all.

A Patriots* player is the last person who should be accusing another team of faking an injury to buy time.

Martin was a UDFA.

Man, these professional athletes. You or I try to get away with that and we'd be arrested for sure.

http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/135061-congratulations-bills-fan-great-win/ He and Chronic each posted with congrats, haven't seen Bump though.

Who has never been in my kitchen?

The Upchuck

Sadly I'm forced to agree with you. But that Pats* defense is exploitable if the offense can keep up the play they've had so far this year.

Really? Winning the game doesn't count for anything? 35 points in the second half means nothing? I would've loved to see them go for it and get it, but they drove down, came away with points, and went on to win.

I've seen enough of the Bills dropping guys back into coverage against Brady. And based on the performance today, I can't say I'm a big fan of rushing 3 or 4 and letting him sit back there all day. Bring as many as you need to hurry him, hit him (legally) and try to shake him up a bit. Sure you're vulnerable to the big play, but what does it matter if your alternative is a 14-play TD drive?

Donald Jones was the best DB on the field today, breaking up that INT that would've won the game for the Raiders.

Can I just put in a big "screw you" to the NFL and its TV contract switching over to Pats/Chargers with 30 sec left in this game. Un-be-freakin-lievable.

I think it makes a huge difference in a backup's effectiveness, too, to sub in after the starters have shoved the offensive line around a bit as opposed to the other way around. I mean, those same guys were backups last year too (albeit inexperienced in the case of Carrington and Troup) but it couldn't have been too exciting to come in after watching the D give up 8 yard runs.

Why do you keep bringing up Corto? A backup safety getting paid league minimum doesn't have any connection with another player's salary.

If that's the case I'd rather they just go ahead and do it officially instead of by creeping rules changes.