MDH

I'm excited as hell about this team. If they can maintain just a .500 record through 8 games it'll be interesting to see what they can do in the second half of the season once they get players back on D, Manuel has more seasoning and both offense and defense are more comfortable with their new schemes. I'm not worried about Manuel in the least right now. If he is playing like this a few years from now, then I'll be worried.

You run three times and pick up a first down you win the game. It says something that a first down never occurred to you... And this is the answer I was looking for. Not a bad strategy, good thing there are reporters out there "complaining" to the coaching staff...errr, I mean asking questions about game situations.

If they actually took that money and spent it on another position (and spent money on other players so they were near the cap) I'd agree that it's a very tough decision. But as it stands now, with $20M in cap space remaining overpaying doesn't seem like a big deal. Why do Bills fans care if the team has $12M in cap space left or $20M?

Is it more risky than a botched long snap to the punter, a punt block, or a return? I don't have the stats but it's worth raising the question. The reason people are asking about it is because it was different than the norm. Perhaps the norm is wrong - but when someone does something different I see nothing wrong with questioning it. Hell, I see nothing wrong with questioning the norm for that matter. And I love the people in this thread who equate questioning with "complaining."

I'd call it missing all of our starting secondary. Williams wasnt a starting CB which is where he lined up.

Interesting note about the Cleveland D: They're the best D in the league when it comes to yards per play at 4.2, 3rd in yards per pass attempt at 5.5 and lead the league in yards per rush at 2.9. They're also 3rd in the league in sacks with 14. That's a solid all around D.

I wouldn't want my team to have to pay Flacco like the best QB in the league when he needs an outstanding D just to get into the playoffs. If I'm hamstringing the rest of my team that QB better be able to put the team on his back and win games like a Manning, Brady or Rogers. Flacco's a good QB but for that cash he has to be great and he's not.

How long before people are cutting off perfectly good limbs because they want a bionic one? Sounds crazy but give it 20 years to perfect the tech and I bet we see it.

Now if they'd just lose the rest of their starting DL they'd be in the same boat as the Bills with their DBs.

Man, I can't believe it. A rookie QB who has played 4 games has to improve? Shucks, I thought he was a finished product.

I don't know. There aren't any rookie RBs lighting it up and the only WR I can think of that's obviously outpacing Woods right now is DeAndre Hopkins in Houston.

Yeah, I'm curious about the lack of sneaks too. I'm guessing it has to do with EJ's knee and trying to protect him as much as possible. And Brady runs the best QB sneaks I've ever seen. He waits for the line to push forward before dipping into the hole for the first. I don't know how many QBs I've seen who just immediately run into the back of their center.

I don't know if it was a mismanagement, I'm just curious about the strategy. Most coaches run the ball there and try to seal the game with a first down instead of risk punting the ball. And of course nobody is going to complain about mistakes by the other team. Let their fans do that.

Article this morning says that FJ has a torn MCL but will play. Same knee as a few years ago. Ugh. Hopefully the reporter got his facts mixed up and it's just a sprain as initially reported. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/week-4/injured-jackson-says-he-will-face-browns-20130929?two-bills-drive

I'll be interested in seeing Joe Haden go against Stevie. He pretty much shadowed AJ Green today and shut him down. The guy is a hell of a player.

Manuel has a habit of carrying the ball in one hand with his arm out wide. He needs to hold onto the ball better while scrambling/running. I'd also like to see his internal clock work a little better. At some point he's just got to throw the ball away and move on to the next play.

What I'd like to know is why they didn't run the ball on 1st or 2nd downs. What was Marrone planning on doing when he was going to be forced to snap the ball on 4th down with 5 seconds left? Safety? Squib kick? Just punt it away?

You guys are expecting way too much from an OC who has to simplify everything for a very green rookie with (now) 4 starts under his belt. We aren't seeing the entire offense yet and I'm not sure we will until next year. If the Bills tried to run the schemes Gaily ran it would be a clusterf(*& and after the game fans on this board would be screaming that if they'd just play it safe and ride the D they'd be better off. Damned if they do damned if they don't.

Fitz has his flaws but it's tough to look good with the wide-outs he was throwing to. Other than SJ he had nothing.

I admire FJ more than an football player in the past 20 years. The guy is everything that is great about sports.

I'm going to take a wild guess and say they both make their debuts in two weeks vs. cincy.

Yeah, I'm sure he'd take a little more money to be the Buffalo Bills DC than to be a HC somewhere else...

Perhaps he should have said players with physical gifts, intelligence and work ethic dont end up as busts.

Ravens 27 Bills 15 Yes, 5 FGs

Nothing they do today will tell me they've turned a corner. Turning the corner and becoming a solid team is about consistency not playing well one week.