Dr. Who

I have no idea what you gals and fellas are talking about. Don't you just use your real name? I was born on Gallifrey, always had trouble with authority, borrowed a shape shifting Time and Relative Dimensions in Space cruiser for a little spin, and since I like underdogs constantly having to overcome long odds against evil empires, naturally, I am drawn to the Buffalo Bills.

With a little help from the zebras.

And Cody Ford who is awful, but who is actually going to be available on the oline? The Grinch is showing up big time.

Just get the top one on the list. Everything else is gravy.

I was thinking about this as well, M. I don't think he needs any extra fire, but it's there for the taking. My main concern is what kind of oline are we going to trot out there. If they can manage mediocre play which is about their high mark, I think Josh torches the cheaters. Praying for it.

Well, in my opinion, this sort of thing happens across the spectrum -- politics, academe, popular culture. Even the so-called serious subjects have approved narratives. Institutions have the power to select what is worthy of attention and what isn't. Headlines slant and overtly or implicitly tell you what you are supposed to think. In a lot of ways, society never gets far removed from the level of a high school clique. The insiders are jealous to maintain power and prestige and they can be very mean and shabby the way they keep it. The NFL is not a brave organization. Allen is a farm boy with the traditional apple pie, work ethic kind of appeal. That's not the kind of hero that is currently in fashion.

Injustice naturally incites wrath -- Homer wrote a little poem about it. And yes, it's meaningless, doesn't make it not exasperating.

Wasting downs? As in handing off for a meaningless, er, unhelpful two yard gain on first and ten? That's his usual role, especially in the red zone.

Well, I'm not reading through the thread. Maybe I misunderstood. I inferred your claim was they could have scored 21 in the game in Buffalo. Conditions limited both teams, but I don't see how that contributes to any assertion the Pats* were capable of more points, but tactically restrained themselves. Obviously, for this coming weekend, you wouldn't put a 14 point ceiling on either team.

BB has never shown compunction about running up the score. It wasn't a prudential calculation to only score 14.

Well, I think we beat them. We're the better team. It's Buffalo DNA to hate Boston, but they certainly make it easy.

I hope he's at least charging rent. That seems uncomfortable.

In general, bad weather levels the playing field. If you have a good team, you want ideal playing conditions. Years of bad Bills' teams and nostalgia have skewed the perception on this.

Well, according to J. R. R. Tolkien, trolls turn to stone in daylight. I'm guessing you never leave the basement.

Selective amnesia. Pats* fans use that a lot.

No matter how many times you complain about the team, you can't come back and coach.

Hopefully the oline, which is subpar to begin with, gets their LT and Mongo back. You, Ethan in Portland (who prophesied an epic loss and McD on the verge of being fired), and Gene1973 are among the most persistently negative posters on this board. The Bills have disappointed, partly through miscalculations in roster construction, but also because they've had some ill luck and egregious officiating that have contributed to their mediocre record. None of that makes them a bad team.

Well, you're always good for a joyful thought.

Yep, that's how they balance the books.

Rex Ryan is ecstatic.

Right, but, well, an explained joke isn't any good -- it would be especially bad if they called a foul when a player is on IR.

Yes, if we had overcome wildly bad officiating and won, folks would quickly get over it. It's ridiculous, however, to simply dismiss the attrocious calls made and obvious calls that were not made as special pleading based on nothing much. Your assertions amount to the usual "play well enough to overcome bad referees. If you don't, it's your fault and not the splendid indifference of the NFL to blatantly awful officiating." If it doesn't bother you, that's your perogative. Folks who are upset have a right to be.

I'm surprised they didn't throw a flag on Tre White . . .

That is the extreme conclusion. Most are saying there is a bias, conscious or not, that benefits certain players and teams. The Bills are not one of those teams. It has clearly cost us games.

I don't think anyone is saying we don't ever get a questionable call. Does your example make all the other points go away, because I am skeptical of your skepticism?