folz

Here are two more shots. Look at the momentum of Taron's body between the images. Seems an obvious push off, imo.

I was just watching the highlights of the Jets game again and saw something that I hadn't noticed before: I know refs often won't make calls on Hail Marys or end-of-half, end-of-game plays, but it looked to me like there was clear offensive pass interference by Lazard on T. Johnson. He grabbed him and pushed him down, and kind of used the momentum to make his jump. That's why Taron is in such a bad/awkward position (not looking at/jumping for the ball). He was the box out player. He would have been in front of Lazard, blocking him out like for a rebound. But he was unable to do so because of the offensive pass interference.

Does anyone know what the original tweet meant by "rising" kicker? Has he been getting interest elsewhere or what not?

Don't feel bad OP. I gave Damar a little shout-out in the post-game thread and got piled on too. Look, we all know that Damar is more of a backup-level safety rather than a starter and I assume that Cole will eventually take over his spot. But, it doesn't hurt to give the kid some props for playing to the best of his abilities. He is a very good tackler and made a lot of nice tackles last night. He's tied for 2nd on the team in tackles (38), he's second on the team in solo tackles (28), with two tackles for a loss, 4 passes defended, and an interception in 6 games. He may not have the skills (speed/instinct) to be a permanent starter, but I'm not going to knock the kid for playing his heart out (no pun intended).

I thought Beane would make a bigger move for a WR in the offseason after letting Diggs go. But when they didn't, I was one of the guys saying/thinking that the WRs/overall weapons we had could get it done. But, I am in no way opposed to this trade at all (and will eat some crow from/for the guys that kept pushing to get a better WR). Losing Shakir for a couple of weeks really kind of made it even more clear. Of course part of it is on Brady too. I mean why has he been using Mack for deep shots and red zone when that's not his skillset? But I'm all on board with Cooper being added. We pay almost no salary. Low cap hit. We can sign him or move on next year. The seventh round we gave up is in 2026, so that almost has no value really. So, we gave up a third and got back Amari and a 6th next year. And if it is true that if he walks next year we would actually get a comp. pick for him, then it really is almost like getting him for free. Great move by Beane. As to his drop issue, I looked up his catch percentages out of curiosity. Cooper has a career 61.1% catch percentage. But let's take a closer look. Since going to Cleveland, his catch percentages over those three season have been: 51.9%, 56.3%, and 45.3%. Pretty bad. But that's with Cleveland with QBs such as Watson, Flacco, Jacobi Brissett, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Jeff Driskel. 17 of his 38 games in Cleveland were quarterbacked by the guys not named Watson and Flacco. And let's face it, even with the two of them: Watson stinks and Joe was old. In his 7 seasons prior to joining the Browns (not counting his rookie year), his catch percentage only fell below 63% once. He had two seasons over 70% catch percentage. And those 7 years combined he had a 65.4% catch percentage. So, over 7 years with Cowboys and Raiders = 65.4% catch percentage Two plus years with the Browns = 55.5% catch percentage. Just FYI.

I'm not sure what you saw tonight specifically (please explain if you want to). I saw one coverage assignment that might have been Damar's mistake, but other than that, he led the team in tackles (with a lot of nice solo stops) and was in on the hit that prevented one of the almost-TDs. I'm not saying Damar is the answer, and we all expect Cole to take over at some point. But I thought Damar played tough tonight, so I wanted to give him a shout out. 🤷‍♂️

The only thing worse than the refs tonight was the call from the booth. Aikman is atrocious. At one point Buck said when Josh was asked about his INTs being down, he humbly replied something like, "I've thrown a few, they just haven't caught them." And then Aikman turns that into a rant (I'm paraphrasing), "yeah, he's still trowing a ton of bad balls, he's just lucky the defenses aren't catching them this year. He should probably have like 5 or 6 interceptions already." What? Has he even watched another Bills game this year? Ugh. Also, amidst the praise for Rapp, Davis, Johnson, etc. Wanted to give a little shout out to Damar Hamlin. I thought he played a really nice game tonight also. Go Bills!

Yes, but this is Josh's seventh year, and he hasn't played the whole season yet. In Patrick's 1st seven years, he started 96 games and had 231 total touchdowns. In Josh's 1st seven years (to this point), he has started 98 games and has 234 total touchdowns. So, you can't use the Mahomes didn't start his rookie year excuse. Josh has only 2 more starts than Mahomes in their first 7 years (not a whole season) and Josh has 3 more TDs. Now, maybe if Mahomes had two more games, he'd be a couple of TDs ahead of Josh. But it doesn't really matter. Either way, it shows that Mahomes and Allen are in a class all of their own right now, and Josh is not second tier...he's right there with Patrick. Now by the end of the year, Josh will have way more TDs than Mahomes in their first 7 years, and at that point you could say, well the gap is only that big because Mahomes barely played his rookie year. But right now, it's pretty darn even.

The horrible roughing the passer on AJ gave the Jets 3 points (almost 7). The terrible call against Spencer made the Bills punt rather than having a first and goal, taking at least 3 if not 7 points off the board for the Bills. Would have been a different 2nd half if the Bills were nursing a 6-13 point lead instead of being tied. The Hail Mary and the refs kept the Jets in this game. Otherwise the Bills would have coasted through the 2nd half.

We're up to 7 or 8 Fire McDermott threads. Come on guys, you can get it up to at least 10.

I'm fine with Mack out there as a blocker and possession receiver, but why are they throwing him the ball down the field? Those targets should go to Coleman or MVS.

No question they should have played for overtime. And the team was completely flat the first half. Doesn't make me want to fire everybody though. Some of you guys expected us to be terrible this year, yet seem mad/surprised that we haven't pulled it all together yet. New offense, new receivers, no Shakir (Josh's security blanket and our best WR). We'll bounce back and get better as the year goes. Glad to see rookie Dwayne Carter ballin' out. See you guys next week....I'm not sticking around the board this week. Eeesshh!

You kind of have it reversed in regards to Curtis Samuel. His rookie year he broke his ankle and missed 7 games. And his 2021 was a wash due to a groin injury that lingered. So, that's two seasons where he missed a lot of time. In his other 5+ seasons, he has played in 81 of 85 games.

Kind of a sad perspective to have dude. Are there guys in the league that are all about money? Yes. Are there guys in the league that are criminals? Yes. But there are also a ton of good guys in the league. Just as there are criminals and greedy people in every profession and every group of people (maybe not to the same percentage, especially due to the amount of money we are talking about, etc.---but still). If you can't see the difference between how a guy like Stefon handles his business and how a guy like Josh handles his business, then I don't know what to tell you. And yes, these guys are still human beings. You can pretend that because they are on your TV screen and they make a lot of money that they don't have feelings, etc. like the rest of us. But it's just not true. Just look at Jim Kelly's journey for one. These guys aren't untouchables that aren't affected by life like all of the rest of us. And there is a HUGE difference between a guy quitting on a team for an entire year, causing ill feelings, and forcing his way off of a team (for a second time---patterned behavior) than a bunch of guys who had just gone through the most tumultuous and emotionally-draining season an NFL team had ever experienced and not quite having the fight left in them, no reserves left to draw on. What Stefon did was quitting. What that team did wasn't quitting...they just weren't in the right emotional mindset and energy-level to execute at a high-enough level (like they were used to). And if you think that a teammate and friend dying on the field in front of them (all of them knowing they put themselves at that same risk every week) is just a convenient excuse for fans. I...I...have no more words.

I wholeheartedly agree that Kincaid needs more touches. And we should probably be taking a couple more shots with MVS and/or Coleman down the field (to keep defenses honest---though again, due to the blowouts, it wasn't really necessary in the first 3 games). MVS is obviously a package receiver rather than a consistent contributor, which is ok with who is ahead of him. I think Hollins is fine. Kind of what I expected from his role. Mostly a blocker with a couple of targets per game (though I wish he would get his catch percentage up a bit). Knox is an interesting question. I agree he shouldn't just be used as a traditional #2 TE. But, again, there are only so many balls to go around, especially with as little as we have needed to pass thus far. It will be interesting to see if Brady can take advantage of the fact that we have two good TEs eventually. There may be certain opponents that it would be effective against. And then hopefully Shakir is back soon, Samuel comes on as he gets healthy, and Coleman progresses as the year goes on (Josh and Brady trust him to do more). We are still in the learning curve of the season. Brady's offense is new. How defenses react to it is new (which will take adjustments along the way). Josh has 4 new receiving targets that he's still building rapport with. With all of the changes, there is no question that we should actually get better as the year goes on. The big question right now is the whole "will defenses catch up to the offense and be able to nullify it." First of all, teams need the personnel to do so. Not every team would be able to do it even if there were some type of blueprint. Secondly, with what I have seen from Brady thus far, I think he can adjust and adapt. In the first three wins, we played each team very differently. It is kind of like the old New England offense, the game plan is tailored to each opponent...rather than stubbornly sticking to doing things one way. So, I don't think there will be some type of blueprint that will work for everyone. Sure, it will be tougher going against teams with a great pass rush and/or secondary. But that's par for the course for every offense. And this offense wasn't meant to stretch the field vertically. It is meant to stretch the defense horizontally (to create space for guys like Cook and Shakir to get into the open field). Take what the defense gives you. Run the ball. Move the chains. Though as I said, a few more shots down the field to keep the defense honest would help. And if defenses get out of the 2 shell or zero coverage that is so popular right now (especially against the top QBs), then you unleash Josh's down field game (big chunk plays). I guess I just have confidence in Brady to get it done (despite making probably the worst single offensive play call in the history of the Bills last week).

A lot of people seem to forget (because it's kind of been under the radar), but Curtis Samuel has been dealing with a turf toe injury since camp. It's been about 4-5 weeks since the injury. So, I wouldn't be surprised if they were bringing him along slowly due to that. Maybe we'll see him a bit more this week with Shakir out. As to Knox, he's just fallen down the target list a bit. When everyone is healthy, he's basically the 5th or 6th target (Shakir, Kincaid, Coleman, Samuel, Cook). Either way, it is kind of hard to get a full picture yet since all 4 games have basically been blowouts (3 in our favor and 1 against). Yes, the team looked bad against the Ravens, but it' only week 4. Let's see how they respond before jumping off the bridge after one game. 4 games thus far...and the everyone eats thing worked 3 out of 4 weeks. Let's see where it goes.

I don't think anyone is saying we have a top 5-10 wide receiver room talent-wise based on each individual player. We are saying that this wide receiver room is better than last year's wide receiver room (despite not having that elite #1 wr) and that they are the right type of receivers the Bills needed for the offense that they wanted to run. This is the type of offense that Sean has always wanted (remember the pushing and pulling with Daboll). He finally found an OC who not only agreed with him, but is still able to be creative with that type of offense. And just to note: Keon is a rookie who has played 3 games with a coach that likes to bring rookies along slowly. Tough to knock him for any lack of production yet. And he'll just get better as the year goes. Curtis Samuel, many people forget that he's been dealing with a turf toe injury for the last month. Last week they started using him more and in that swiss-army knife style that was envisioned. I assume they were bringing him along slowly from the injury as well and we'll see much more of him as this thing goes. Khalil is still just coming on (since mid-season last year) as who he is. So much room still to grow and flourish. He's looked pretty high-end already with just 14 targets. With the way the games have gone thus far, and the way he is playing, I expect his targets will increase. So, trying to project his season stats at this point won't really tell much. And lots of guys have flourished in the league of late who weren't just that traditional, big X-receiver...but more of a position-less guy. Can play X, Y, or slot. Plus, everyone eats. This offense won't produce individual players with monster stats because the ball is spread around. The idea is to scheme different guys into good matchups on each play, so defenses can't just focus on one player alone and try to take him out of the game, therefore stifling the offense. In the offseason, I kept saying that if nothing else, this wide receiver room will be bigger, stronger (i.e., will be better at blocking and red zone), but more importantly, will have better hands. It's still too early for any stat to be too meaningful at this point...but I like the trend (and was what I expected). Catch Percentages (top four wide outs by number of targets) 2023 2024 Diggs 66.9% Shakir 100% Davis 55.6% Samuel 85.7% Shakir 87% Coleman 71.4% Sherfield 50% Hollins 60% Are we one of the most-talented WR rooms in the league right now (individual talent-wise)? No. And I don't think anyone is claiming that. But we certainly are an up-and-coming receiving group...and set of overall skill players. All this talk of the Bills not having talent may look silly down the road a bit. I think Cook, Shakir, Kincaid, and Coleman all look pretty darn talented to me. And the rest of the guys are great complimentary pieces. As far as needing an elite #1 wide receiver to win a Super Bowl, I would say that only 4-6 of the last 15 Super Bowl winners had an elite wideout (in the way that some of you are thinking about a #1). The guys I consider elite or fringe-elite are in green. Now, someone could argue for Edelman (but with only three 1,000 yard seasons in an 11-year career and his size and position---he is much more like Khalil than that big #1 elite boundary receiver that most posters are talking about): Here are the #1 and #2 receivers for the last 15 SB winners (year is season, not date of the Super Bowl): 2023 KC: a rookie Rashee Rice and MVS 2022 KC: Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster and MVS 2021 LAR: Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson 2020 TB: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin 2019 KC: Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins 2018 NE: Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon (as a shell of his former self) 2017 Phi: Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Aghalor 2016 NE: Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan 2015 DEN: DeMaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders 2014 NE: Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell 2013 SEA: Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate 2012 BAL: An old Anquan Boldin (maybe) and Torrey Smith 2011 NYG: Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks 2010 GB: Donald Driver (maybe) and Greg Jennings 2009 NO: Marques Colston and Devery Henderen And my gosh, forget about the #1 WRs. Look at that list of number twos. I mean, KC was running with MVS as their #2. He's our #5. And just look at the other guys. I would put our current top four at least on par if not better than 9 or 10 of the last 15 SB winning WR groups.

Here's what I like the most about Shakir, along with his YAC ability and versatility: Catch Percentages: 2023: 87% 2024: 100%

I had a comment/mini-rant that I wanted to make regarding the media. It may get lost in here, but didn't think it deserved a full thread. I absolutely love that Josh is finally starting to get all-around recognition as at least one of the top two QBs in the league (if not #1). I saw pre-season QB rankings that had him as low as #6. I don't think it has ever taken another elite player this long to be accepted as such. It is strange the grudge that so many held against such a good guy and great player for so long---for no apparent reason other than what, they wanted their pre-draft predictions about him to be true? Silly. BUT...and this isn't everyone of course, but now I hear so many talking heads saying look Josh is doing it all on his own, with no talent around him. Which is such a slight to the rest of this team. So, before it was Josh was only good because of Stefon...and now it's Josh is doing it on his own with no help because he has finally matured or something (as if he hasn't been playing lights out for like 4-5 years already). Did they actually watch Monday night? Josh was electric, yes...but that was also one of the best team wins I have seen, well, at least since the Miami game the week before. Are we really going to look back in a couple of years and say Cook, Shakir, Kincaid, and Coleman were not talented...or were only 2nd or 3rd tier talent (couldn't start elsewhere in the league)? And the rest of the guys are no schlubs either (or lacking talent, as it were): Samuel, Knox, Davis, Johnson, Hollins, MVS. Plus we have an excellent O-line, a defense playing lights out right now (with a number of backups in), and a coaching staff dialing it all up. I know some of them are just saying it to kind of lift Josh up higher, or prove how good he is, but I think it is such a slight to the other guys on the team and shows how little they actually know about the league they are commenting on. We are actually a very-talented overall team, with a lot of depth, even if our players are not household names yet. Why can't the media acknowledge that the way they do for other very good teams with top-tier QBs. "Josh will never be good." "Josh is only good because of his weapons." "Josh is a turnover machine" "Josh is winning it all by himself with no talent around him." Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Yes, it is a quarterback-driven league...but you don't play like the Bills have these first three weeks with an elite QB, but no talent around him. Just ask Aaron Rodgers (he has a 4-win season, three 6-win seasons and an 8-win season in his career) or Drew Brees (a 2-win season, five 7-win seasons, and two 8-win seasons). It doesn't have to be one way or the other. Every elite Super Bowl QB had a very talented team around them (or they wouldn't have made it to and won the SB). It doesn't take away from Josh to say so. And just because Josh is an alien-unicorn-dog beast and does everything at a high level, doesn't mean he's doing it all on his own. Josh is just that good. He would be doing the same whether on a talented team or the worst team in the league. I assume the media will catch on as the season goes. I have heard a number of them talk up Shakir and Brady's coaching already. But, yeah, this is a very good---and talented--- Bills team. Probably the most talented overall in the McDermott/Beane/Allen era.

To the bolded: 1. Just wanted to note that Samuel has been dealing with turf toe (happened about a month ago). So, they may be bringing him along slowly too. Hopefully we'll see what they envisioned for him in this offense at some point---though right now it doesn't seem like a desperate need to do so. 2. Cook had the big drop on Monday night. But yes, that was something I was pointing out during the off-season, that our receiving room this year have far better hands (catch %) than the guys that departed. The team obviously put an emphasis on that (and getting bigger/stronger in the receiver room).

😁 It's kind of crazy...but I was thinking that the 2nd half almost felt like a pre-season game. Kudos all-around. Go Bills!

Some of you guys are kind of missing the point. Strip everything away for a moment. You own an NFL team, the draft is tomorrow. You have every NFL player available to draft. Who are you picking #1 overall? Right now. You may disagree...but for me it is Josh also. If KC, right now, wanted to straight up trade Mahomes for Josh, I'm not doing it. And for those that bring stats or the past into the conversation (in regards to playoffs/SB---while disregarding all context of course), here is a stat: Over the last 5 seasons, Josh Allen has 26 more touchdowns than Patrick Mahomes. Just FYI.

No game balls needed tonight, unless you give one to every player and every member of the coaching staff. But, if I was the coach in the locker room after the game and had to pass out three balls, they go to Josh (obviously---a master at work), Damar (1st career INT), and Keon (first career TD). One quick note...Elam looked like a man against boys out there when the 2nd teams were in for both squads. Good to see.

I edited my post to include Time of Possession, per your request. 👍