Dr. K

We went 4-2 in the division last year, he best record the Bills have had in the division since Wade Phillips was coach.

They had exactly this--Donohoe was his name. Long time football man, respected throughout the league, who had unprecedented power over all decisions. How did that work out?

I expect a decent effort in the first quarter, sabotaged by mistakes (penalties, dropped passes, turnovers), and eventually a run for the bus, leaving the Jets to feel undeservedly good about themselves.

I think this is the worst general attitude I remember on the board, though there have been plenty of displays of widespread hysteria in the past. Yes, the fast start and subsequent collapse have something to do with it. I don't know the age of most of the angriest posters, but maybe there's something to the idea that the older you are, the less likely you are to think you have it all figured out. But it does make it hard to read here. I don't find much calm reasoning. I check in every day, but don't post too often, because the general tone strikes me as being hopelessly negative and lashing out at everything and everyone. It's like ill-tempered eight-year-old boys who were promised a birthday present they really wanted and they really worked hard for, and then didn't get. I expect most of them to pack up their slingshots and run away from home any day now. Some of them might set fire to the garage before they go.

It's hard to disagree with any of what you say. Yet another horrible Bills season, maybe the worst ever, by some measures, since I can't ever remember so stunning and complete a collapse in their history.

I remember at the time Wilson fired Polian thinking that he fired the wrong guy, that if Levy could not win a Super Bowl with all the talent Polian gave him to put on the field, what the Bills needed was a new coach, not a new GM. But that's water long under the bridge. I am not any big Jauron fan, and the flaws in this team drive me crazy, but I think those on the board who get all wet hoping for a coach who screams at his players and jumps around, thinking that will make a difference, are idiots. It's not Jauron's demeanor that bothers me. I LIKE his dispassionate demeanor. It doesn't mean he doesn't care. But the great confidence with which you (and others) say "Just hire X" and we'll turn this thing around in a year makes me want to laugh, or cry. Yes, some teams turn around in a year with a new coach. But the vast assurance over this or that "big name" or "sure thing" or"born leader" is complete delusion. Most "savior" coaches fall flat on their faces. It happened when the Dolphins hired Jimmy Johnson, and hired Nick Saban. They were supposed to turn the Dolphins around on a dime, get them in the Super Bowl in a season. People talked about Crennel coming to Cleveland, or Parcells coming to Dallas, or whats-his-name (the current coach, who was such a hot prospect before they hired him) coming to Cincinnati, in exactly the terms you use for this Raheem Morris, whoever he is. If the bills fire Jauron, I will understand the move, but if you think blowing it all up and starting over from scratch means the Bills will be in the playoffs next year, I'm not saying it can't happen, but I wouldn't bet on it, brother.

Sure, fire Jauron. I said that to my pals after the Bills ran three times into the line before attempting the last field goad against Cleveland. Who's the sure-fire coach you want to hire? Did Sparano have "sure thing" tattooed on his forehead when the Dolphins hired him? About as much as Romeo Crennel did. Or Denis Erickson. Or Nick Saban. I think were all pissed off and depressed. I also think a lot of people on this board think running a football team is a lot easier than it really is. But I'm no expert, I'm just a fan. The thought of blowing it all up and starting over again with the Bills, bringing in a whole new coaching staff with new schemes, needing new personnel, just makes me tired. But if that's the call so be it. Maybe I'll dump my wife too and try asking out that cute blond secretary at work.

Changing coaches every three years is the definition of spinning your wheels, IMHO. I'm not happy with the results so far, but I'm unconvinced starting over is going to improve things. Most of you guys must have been married many times.

groin groin groin groin groin *I just thought I'd add that comment.*

I would have called that the play that began the true downfall. Not that they HAD to fall apart after that, but that's when it truly started, if I had to point to one season-changing play.

Thanks for the analysis. This makes it more understandable, but still remarkable. if I weren't such a pessimist, maybe we shouldn't be as down as we are, since this piling on of improbabilities is not likely to come again.

Right. So how do you explain that? It makes little sense that the difference would be so drastic, on successive weeks.

It just occurred to me last night, has an NFL team ever had a more extreme collapse in scoring from one game to the next? With the 54 coming on the road and the 3 at home? I find it hard to believe. And of the 54 the Bills scored in the Chiefs game, 47 was put up by the offense--in other words, it was not one of those games where special teams or the defense scored three or four TDs. So the difference between 54 and 3 basically falls to the offense. Which leads me to wonder, how bad or good is this team, really? Such a schizophrenic performance on successive weeks suggests that neither performance is an accurate reflection of the team. It reinforces the fact that the team went 5-1 in its first six games and 1-5 in its next six. I keep feeling the team is only a phase shift from being very good (or, I suppose, very bad). It's no wonder so many of us are tearing our hair out. How do you get a fix on such a team and season?

The defender was right there, but the ball did bounce off Parish's chest. It's a catch that a pro receiver in that situation has to make.

Would have to win out, and I don't think that will happen. Prove me wrong, guys.

Exactly. I couldn't believe they were running, settling for the long field goal attempt.

I thought he played very badly, but I also don't want him yanked.I think he has to play through this stuff, the way Eli Manning had to play through some bad stretches before he became, in his third season, a good QB.

I saw a couple of replays where guys were open and Edwards just did not throw it. I think after the interceptions he just went into a funk, refusing to pull the trigger unless the player was standing wide open BEFORE he threw it. He would not throw it on the receiver's break, or before the break. His last pass to Royal was his best of the game, I think. It was like he knew the game was on the line and he was willing to take a chance. Then Turk and Jauron decide to let the air out of the ball.

If you want Trent to gain confidence, you let him win the game by getting you in decent field goal range--or at least give him a shot at passing the ball once on those last three plays. A play action pass, a quick out, something other than three dives into the line. Instead he comes out of the game with the knowledge that when it came right down to it, the coaching staff did not trust him not to screw up the chance to win. They rather take a chance on a 47 yard field goal into the wind than on letting him try to make even a small play.

I've defended Jauron up until now. But that turtle act, settling for a 47 yard field goal attempt into the win, is a sign of incompetence. Fire him. Please don't let us have to live with him for three more years. Even if they made the playoffs sometime in the next few seasons by some miracle, he would lose some close game by taking a similar strategy.

He's not the worst. But he's completely mediocre.

Pathetic play calling at the end. Just inexcusable.

This is another idiot thread. The premise is that Jauron is terrible on challenges. Actually, despite some mistakes this season, he has a very good record on challenges. And the coach has to heavily depend on whoever is in the booth as to when to throw the flag.

Another vote of thanks. After the game Sunday, one of my pals I watche dit with asked me, "Okay, who will the TBD board be screaming about this week." I said "Jauron." I could hardly stand to read here this week because of the unceasing drumbeat of "fire Jauron" fanatics. I'm not happy with the way the team has played in the last three games, but the hysteria we've been hearing here this week does not speak well of the average fan.

This has been a paid public announcement from General Managers-R-Us, sponsored by the "let's blow up the team every three seasons and start over again because our pants are itchy" coalition, in collaboration with "fans who play too much fantasy football-dot-com."