finn

They're a pass-first team. I would say they need an upgrade at tight end before running back. Knox doesn't appear to be improving.

You see the same thing in all sports. Look at old film of Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Don Luce, and you'll laugh out loud at how slow they are compared to today's NHL players. It's like an old man's league.

I think this team would destroy the Bills teams from the 90's. Kelly, Thomas and Reed would score points, and Bruce would get some sacks, but not enough in either case. Offense: better. Defense: better. Special teams: same. It wouldn't be close. I'm nostalgic but also realistic.

And the no-look passes?

What execution on that play. Allen with his manipulation, the line, Moss and Mackenzie picking up the blitz, and Brown setting up the CB with that subtle head turn to the inside. Really impressive. That's not bad play from the Dolphins; that's superb play from the Bills.

My instinct is to give him even more weapons, like that TE in the draft, Kyle Pitts. TE is the missing piece. Knox just doesn't appear to be the answer. He's willing, but he doesn't seem to understand zones, and he keeps dropping or fumbling the ball. Can you imagine a Travis Kelse in addition to Diggs, Brown and Beasley?

No Fitz to bail out Tua this time.

Miami writing the book on how to defend against Allen.

Hard to tell if that overthrow was Knox's fault, but given his history, I would bet it is.

Gabe Davis fails to come back for the ball.

I don't think setting records or league leads will factor at all in McDermott's decision. He'll make his decision based on football, not vanity or bragging rights. For this reason, you play the starters so Allen reestablishes his connection to Brown, and, ideally, build a lead for Barkley (who's going to need it; did you ever see his career stats?) so we have take the two seed if Pittsburgh wins. I see him playing the starters for a quarter then sitting them down. But I don't see him putting them back even if Cleveland wins. That sends the wrong signal, that we're ducking the Ravens.

Right. He also talks all the time about the motivation he derived from not being recruited by any big college. But wanting to prove people wrong doesn't have to mean he's any less admirable. I admit the "chip on his shoulder" cliche isn't quite accurate. He's not oversensitive or spoiling for a fight. As he said himself, he wants to prove himself right, not so much others wrong. That rings more true than "he has a chip on his shoulder."

He looks like a smaller Metcalf. What's his downsides, besides not being able to stay healthy?

I'm torn about this take. On the one hand, it just sounds like smart football. On the other, it sends a message that the Bills fear the Ravens. A team can be affected by that vibe. I guess if I were McDermott, I would say, basically, "We can beat anyone anytime. I'm resting my starters. Let the chips fall as they will." That's the position of a champion.

In hindsight, you can see all the elements were in place: the physical talent, itself very rare, high football IQ, based on interviews and Wonderlick score, an almost ludicrous competitiveness, which you see come out in the crazy laterals, etc., and, finally, a powerful drive to prove people wrong (or himself right, as he has said). Have we ever seen those traits combined in one person? To put it another way, what's missing?

Well, if his turnabout is amazing and unprecedented, why was he considered a top 10 pick all around? Did people think he would be a franchise QB even if he didn't improve as much as he did? No subtext here: I'd really like to know.

Worse, praise them first. Pour it on, just like Belicheat did all those years to the Bills before destroying them.

What did Mahomes tweet? I haven't seen much of Mahomes, but how could he be much better than Allen? Today we he was about as good as a QB can be, and it's not the first time he's been excellent. That was against a top-ten defense, too, not the Carolina Panthers. I'm wondering if the "Mahomes is god and there can only be one god" narrative is about to change. It certainly should.

A blowout win was the one thing missing from their resume. Check that off the list.

Maybe not the time to complain, but isn't Schlereth terrible? I can't listen to him, even when he's praising the Bills. Breathless, empty hype, no insights or observations... awful!

Gilliam!!

Boy, Knox is just not a natural pass catcher, is he?

How about some calming runs?

Short field.

Whaley, man, he's looking worse and worse as time goes on. And he looked back at the time. Three first-round picks for Watkins and Manuel.