mannc

Won’t be easy…they are in a brutal division and will have to win on the road in the playoffs, but they are more than capable. Kind of incredible how many franchises have never won a Super Bowl…I count 10

I absolutely dread the Bengals winning a Super Bowl before the Bills do…probably gonna happen, too

Just one dirty play after another from this team. Garbage franchise

Yes, and his successor in Houston looks like the truth, despite that fumbled snap just now.

Points are way down the last two years and this is a big reason, along with far fewer DPI, defensive holding and illegal contact penalties. I can't remember a year when there were so many dominant defenses, especially in the AFC...Jags, Jets, Browns, Ravens, Steelers, hell, even the Chiefs...tough sledding for offenses these days, unless you happen to be playing the Bills.

Whom do you think is responsible for that? And why is nothing being done about it?

Excellent and highly watchable analysis. Quick summary: The Bills need a new offensive coordinator. (Duh)

I think the Bengals took their foot off the gas...I have the feeling that they can score practically at-will against us. Still stunned by Taylor's decision to punt on 4th and 2 from our side of the field in the third quarter, but the game never felt close. Just seems like a terrible matchup for us. I don't feel that way about any other AFC team, except maybe Jaguars.

Not to mention Panthers fans, assuming there are any left...

I think Kincaid had his first drop Sunday night, on a 95 mph fastball from Josh in the first quarter. I'd also like to see us mix in some more downfield throws to him...but yeah, one of the few bright spots on offense this year.

Correct. The current Bills team’s only chance to make the Super Bowl is if the Ravens or some other playoff team knocks off Cinci in a wildcard or divisional game. The Bengals would beat this Bills team 10 times out of 10, even with Taylor’s bad game-day decisions.

The Rams didn’t have a quarterback…they had limited options…teams with bona fide, top three franchise quarterbacks shouldn’t have to mortgage their future like that to make a Super Bowl run…they’ve already hit the lottery.

Ok, that makes more sense. I wasn't in favor of signing Hopkins, for various reasons, but he seems to have plenty left in the tank...it would be nice to have him. I actually like our mid-season deals this year...

I don't really get this. Just because the Rams once upon a time mortgaged their future to win a super bowl doesn't mean it's the only, or even the preferred, way to do it. Did the Chiefs ever "push their chips in and go for it"? Did the Eagles? The problem with the Bills isn't that they didn't "push their chips in"; it's that for four seasons they have failed to capitalize on having one of the three best quarterbacks in the league. They didn't need to make any kind of huge, risky trade...all they needed to do was be competent and smart

Exactly. Josh Allen will be here long after McDermott and Beane are gone. Job One for Beane/McDermott is to maximize the franchise's return on this most valuable asset and they have been failing badly. It can't be allowed to continue.

The Eagles are an interesting comparison. I don't think the Eagles ever "went all-in." I would argue that they've gone down the same path as the Bills, except they've executed better. The AJ Brown trade was exactly like the Stefon Diggs trade, first round pick for a veteran WR looking for a new contract; it's worked out well for both teams. The difference is that (1) the Eagles have had a few more high draft picks to use, thanks to the Colts foolishly taking Carson Wentz off their hands; (2) being able to land Hurts with a late second round pick (think he's still on his rookie deal); (3) developing a great offensive line, which has been done without the help of high draft picks, other than Lane Johnson, who's been around forever; and (4) better coaching, and not being afraid to move on from a previously successful coach who wasn't cutting it.

That’s part of it, but the Bills have not added impact guys on defense either…they have had a lot of day 1 and 2 picks who have become average starters, and sometimes not even that, and they have whiffed on a lot of FA signings, as well. Just not good enough, even though, with Josh Allen, we’ve had a huge leg up on the competition.

Everyone here likes to dump on the national media, with some justification. But, while national media types of course don’t follow the Bills as closely as we do, guys like Simms know a lot about football and have connections around the league who know even more, and Simms isn’t the only one who’s been saying it. There has been a consensus developing for the last couple years that the Bills outside of Josh Allen just aren’t a very talented team. People who have said that stuff here have been shouted down, but we’re starting to see that the national media weren’t wrong. It’s not one thing of course…it’s a roster with really only 2 elite players, combined with uninspired coaching, especially on offense, that has put us in a tough spot. It’s not magically going to come together over these next 8 games…big changes are needed.

But that would still leave McDermott in charge, right? So what’s the point?

And don’t let their special teams beat you…

Judging by McDermott's demeanor last night when interviewed at halftime by the sideline reporter, I doubt he could inspire anyone to do anything, other than perhaps to run for the bus.

File it under "Complete and Utter Nonsense"

That's a fair point...of the teams you mention, how many of those "bad" years happened after reaching/winning the Super Bowl? Trough years are easier to absorb if your team has already reached the promised land at least once...this Bills team, on the other hand, has never fulfilled its promise...

A little closer to home, the Bills under Jim Kelly never had a "trough year" from 1988 to 1996...

For example, when McDermott was asked why the team abandoned the no-huddle he said he had no idea and “would have to look into that”. He made some other comments that seemed to point the finger at Dorsey…