finn

People keep comparing Josh Allen to a young Ben Roethlisberger. Ok, let's compare their third seasons: Roethlisberger (15 games): 3513 yards 59.7% completion 18 TDs (20 total) 23 interceptions 7.5 y/a 234 yard/game 75.4 rating Allen (11 games): 3403 yards; 69.9% completion 26 TD (33 total) 8 interceptions 8.9 y/a 105.9 rating Ben's fourth year was more like Allen's current year, with 32 TD/11 int/65%.7.8 avg, but he only passed for 3154 yards.

The "trained" people grading throws as turnover-worthy are probably counting throws like the one to Gabe Davis over the SF into an incredibly tight window. PFF needs to adjust its metrics to allow for superstars. They assume a throw like that is bad because it would have been a turnover if it was less accurate or had less velocity. The fact that it was on target and impossible to intercept doesn't matter to them.

I'm not too worried about the Steeler's running game, even though they'll have Connor back, but I do worry about Juju Schuster and Claypool. White can take one of these more or less out of the game, but that leaves Levi on the other one. Claypool going deep...yikes. Ebron at TE is no slouch, either. But I guess if they can't handle this crew there's no way they can handle KC. So bring it on!

I imagine the producers of these shows aren't going to allow all the personalities to rave, except maybe for the darlings like Brady (in the past) and Mahomes (now), who can do no wrong. Someone has to be the contrarian to spark discussion and controversy.

Butler seemed to be playing with leverage for the first time. He's relied on his quickness and swim moves up to now, funny for such a big guy. When he gets low like Oliver with that bulk, watch out. Talk about the game slowing down for him! You half expect him to exchange comments with the sideline as he runs by.

A mistake many teams made with Bruce Smith years ago, although he would regularly blow up double teams, too.

Since the first seed and its bye is unlikely, it actually might be better to be the third or fourth seed given the passing identity of this offense. Snow and howling winds are not ideal for four-receiver sets Allen thrives in, and the favor running teams like Cleveland and Tennessee. Look at how Allen struggled at home against KC in the rain and wind. The Bills might be better off playing away games in warm conditions or a dome than at home, especially since they don't have fans in the stadium in either case.

Maybe the coaching staff finally figured out that they were losing the third quarter by abandoning the pass.

Mahomes never played better than Allen did tonight.

The 49ers wrote the book on how NOT to play against Josh Allen. No pressure, sit back in zone.

All week the media narrative was how tough the 49ers defense was. Now what will it be?

We need to draft a corner in the first round. Pretty big weakness over there.

Winters is like a bad penny. He keeps coming back.

Or at least make them think hard about what they did.

The offense is making a STATEMENT!

Allen is pissed off. He's playing fiercely. Two big-time drives.

Don't jump on me, but wasn't that a really dangerous throw?

The announcers have a narrative going already. Tough 49ers. They will just keep pounding. The Bills? Meh.

Did you notice that when Mahomes missed that deep pass the Al Michaels talks about how "they" missed deep and "they" have missed deep several times before? Not easy to keep the adulation going at times, but they sure work at it.

Yeah, but the sample size is too small to give real credit to Tua and Flacco. That puts Allen below only Newton as best in the league against the blitz. I notice that Allen is ninth best in bad-throw percentage. As someone here said, he's top ten or top eleven in pretty much every category you can think of, including, alas, percentage of passes dropped by his receivers. 😒

Or they could just be reading the usual narratives about Allen being inaccurate, inconsistent, wild, etc.

Getting Brown back this season--and finding a decent TE next season. I think the jury is in on Knox not being that guy. Same with three other long passes to Gabe. Remember the long bomb where he had to make a toe-touch dance to stay in? There was no one around him. And that other one down the right sideline--forgot which game--where it actually might have been a TD. And the long TD called back for (ob)Knox(ious') illegal shift--and actually a fourth, another TD, also called back for a penalty. He's been getting open deep all season long.

Are we sure "kicking" means punting? Maybe it means kicking the field goal instead. At least this season, I don't recall lamenting a punt at the 35-yard line or whatever, but Bass has attempted some very long field goals--and made most of them.

49ers are coming off a tough divisional game. It seems that is when let-down games happen, especially coming off a close win. But that's just my impression.

Defense trending up, special teams trending up, running game trending up (albeit in just one game), coaching looking good. If the passing game can regain its form--not too big an ask, at least when Smoke comes back--the Bills will be looking very good for the playoffs.