The Big Cat

122 of those yards and 7 of those points came when we were down by 20 with 10 minutes to go.

Okay, but both the Pats and Bengals had gift-wrapped field position through long portions of the first half. So the Bills held them to fewer yards, but gave up more points. Does this come as a surprise to anyone? At best the D gets an 'incomplete' because of the difficult field position foisted upon them by the offense and ST. At best. I don't think anyone is convinced they're great. But they also haven't been awful. And they also haven't been measurably worse than where they were at this time last year. Don't think that because I argued the latter two points that I intended to argue that they were great.

Agreed: Schwartz scheme for the DLine was much more successful and much more tailored to their talents. I think that's a huge problem, but Rex has said (or at least hinted) that they need to figure out a way to implement some of those same elements, or at least find a way to maximize the talent on our very expensive d-line. It's all we fans can hope for. But it's something that must happen. And if it doesn't that's a major problem. Disagreed: They've done well against crappy defenses, and yes, we'd all like them to have done better against two of the better offenses's in the entire league. But the buffer I give them here is that it's still very early in a scheme which (as mentioned above) is still finding its way, something you acknowledge. So I neither share nor understand your outrage that they were unable to slow down two of the better offenses in the entire league. If the big takeaway from this is that Schwartz got them to full throttle faster, then fine. It completely ignores the week five Patriots* deluge at RWS last year. But fine.

Yes, I hear what you're saying. But even with the glut of sacks we had last year, we still gave up more net yards per passing play than we are this year--as those posted stats reflect. So when we talk about how "different" this defense has looked during six games, I would counter to say that in four of those games, save one missed tackle in the flat from Bradham, they've been about as stout as you could POSSIBLY ask for. They haven't been flashy. They haven't gotten picks, fumbles or sacks, but by god they got the job done. In the other two games, they were against two of the best offenses in the league. Not a total excuse, I understand, but by the same token it IS still the first six games in this scheme--a scheme that the head coach (in spite of how effective it actually has been in the large part of contests this year) says needs to be tweaked.

look for A LOT of 22 this weekend with Felton in the backfield with Shady and Gragg/Mulligan in with Clay to block/run routes with Hogan/Woods. Wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of two back, three TE either.

Big day for Clay and Gragg. Or else.

I welcome an online PPV model, quite frankly. Buy in bulk at scale, or buy game to game. Would be a hell of a lot cheaper than the several hundred DTV charges for the ticket...on top of your satellite subscription. Plus, even if they sold ads at a reduced cost, it would probably still net more revenue for the shield. Resist all you like. But it's happening.

Please do. Happy to point you away from the tourists toward what Chicago REALLY has to offer!

That's a great spot. Good friends of ours named their daughter Cornelia (Nellie) because the lived for so long on the block between Southport and Lakewood. I'm in a different direction: north. Just past Irving, on a block between Broadway and Sheridan.

That's not what anyone was arguing. But carryon.

Let me pile on here for a second. In week 2: Rex Ryan and Tyrod Taylor were in their 2nd start together. Brady & Belichick: their 209th. In week 4: Rex and Tyrod: 4th start together. Coughlin and Eli: 171st. In week 6: Rex and EJ: 1st start together. Lewis and Dalton: 70 So, put another way, in the games we've lost, the head coach/QB combinations we faced have had an average of 72 TIMES the shared experience that Rex has had with his BUF QB's.

Exactly. So don't get your tightie whities in a bunch.

Right, well we'll see how the 2015 stats transform over the next ten games when we face: Bortles Tannehill Fitz x 2 Hoyer/Mallet Bradford Cousins Smith Through six games we've seen Luck, Manning, Brady and Dalton. The stats I posted were to show that we're not THAT far off from last year's defense at this point, as Mr. ScottLaw insisted we were. I'll give you that the ST caused some serious damage. But the bolded statement, hell no.

Offense went three and out four times in a row. Failed to move the ball 10+ yards on four straight possesions. ST was pretty lousy, but it wasn't as if they were kicking from their own 40.

Right. Some of us believe the offense was to blame.

Through six games, we threw 2 pick sixes. So take 14 points off or 2 off the ppg. so 18 vs. 23. You said they didn't look similar. Stats say otherwise. Yes, now to that point, keep in mind that those are NET pass yards per play, which count negative yards per sack, driving last year's down significantly, compared to this year's, which is already lower.

Oh really? Stats through 6 games.

Also, given that the Bengals have a very potent offense and given that you've acknowledged what gracious field position they got from us all day, exactly what kind of point total do you think would have been realistic from this defense?

Shocking: the ESPN rankings are total nonsense. 2-4 Seahawks...at 12!? Eagles at 9? 2-3 Cowboys at 16? What a joke. What an unmitigated joke ESPN is.

Um. He is most definitely better than Eli. And he has better running backs than Eli, better tight ends and better receivers too. Also a better defense. So...?

Dude, that's a great museum. You'll have a blast. For you and for any other TSW'ers headed to the Windy City, NEVER hesitate to hit me up (or BillsBackersofChicago (we watch the games together, are co-presidents, although he's da real MVP)) via PM for recommendations or questions about Chicago. We're happy to enhance your stay any way we can!

No but seriously, Mike Rodhack is completely objective in his reporting. He never bends over backwards to find a way to put a negative spin on things. Never. Nope. Totally objective. Only gets flack because he's an out-of-towner. Yep. Mike Rodhack is a great reporter. CONTEXT: I had a heated back and forth with Sal Capaccio (the best) on Twitter after I spit some hotfire at Rodhack. Sal swooped in to stick up for the guy. I was having none of it.

Nah, looks like tonight's game may be the last game in 2015 played at Wrigley. I can hear the crowd from my house. I'm not terribly shook up about it.

Since there are teams that have played 82% of the games we have, I go by per play stats.

Sorry, I often say Stafford when I mean Bradford and visa versa!