finn

STILL no play action on first down!

Even when Allen throws ZERO interceptions on the season, that's all the announcers can talk about and the only graph they can think to show.

Bills 9 Jets 6 It'll be one of the ugliest games we've ever seen. And boring. Injuries everywhere, intolerable announcers. But the Bills will win.

No gut sense at all from me, just not sure. Fork in the road, though, right? Path One = the three wins were an illusion, the team is a paper tiger, the season is pretty much shot, and it's time to talk about the draft. Path Two = the AFCE is pretty much locked up, the Bills are a top-five team with tons of young, hungry players, and we're all eagerly looking at who they play next. I suppose there's a middle path, where they eke out an ugly win, Allen throws for less than 100 yards and three picks, and everyone agrees they such AND will win the division and make the playoffs.

I get a sense that MVS would respond to flattery, like "We need you to come through for us today!" He strikes me as a talented player who can't be bothered most of the time. But I admit this is based on nothing I can put my finger on. Maybe the fact he shines only in the playoffs when the lights are brightest.

I'm relieved about Taron and Bernard, excited by Williams, Carter, Bishop, and Solomon, delighted with Benford, content with Douglas and Martin, optimistic about Coleman, ok with the O-line, and impressed by Rousseau, Cook, and Shakir. But I'm disappointed with DeQuan, Oliver, and Kincaid, disgusted by Von, done with Hamlin, and dismayed by MVS, Samuel, Hollins, Knox, Epenesa, and Bass. And of course I remain in awe of Allen, as should everybody.

They'll win both games; it's the Bengals way to wilt early, lose to the Chiefs (to help ensure Chiefs homefield advantage in playoffs), get their mojo back and play like a top-five team after that, particularly if they have the Bills on their schedule. Meanwhile, Baltimore may be for real but Pittsburgh is about to be exposed, and not just by Cincinnati.

Makes you realize how bad MVS, Coleman, and Hollins are that even Josh Allen can't make them look like NFL players.

You're right, spaced that point.

Yeah, I made this suggestion before the season, thinking it might have been that counter-intuitive but correct move that helps salvage a team's future. Even then, his value would have been diminished coming off a major injury, but it would have been higher than now. At this point, I think it's better to keep a guy who might be a difference maker when we need it in December and, I hope, January, than trade him for a fifth rounder in 2027 or whatever. The only reason to do so at this point would be to shed his salary so they can sign a receiver.

Ok, here's what I wonder: Why not put him on IR? Shoot, let him heal until December or January or next year if that's what it takes? He's just taking up a roster spot at this point. Worse, he's on the field for a large percentage of snaps, meaning someone more effective (hard to be less) is not out there. What am I missing? Are they trying to get their money's worth, wins by damned? Don't forget Hamlin running after Henry like a little kid after his dad. I won't forget that image anytime soon.

Oh, I'm a big Allen fan. in fact, I think he's not just better than Mahomes, I don't think there's any argument. People keep bringing up the hardware argument, which never impresses me. (Was Hostetler better than Marino?) No, my point is that he may have gotten concussed in the Baltimore game and been playing with an addled pan, which got still more addled in the Houston game. If that's the case, I hope McDermott is smart enough to bench him.

Allen played so badly (as did others) that I wonder if he was concussed before he hit his head the first time. I'm convinced he was definitely concussed afterwards. As bad as his receivers and line were--and are--he's played with worse. That was a different quarterback out there.

I'm more worried about losing Cook's receiving ability than his running. That's very good, obviously, but with him and Shakir out, Samuels injured or otherwise useless, he's throwing to a raw rookie and two street free agents. Ty Johnson might off something out of the backfield, but it looks grim overall. I had been optimistic about Kincaid, but he looks like a JAG this year, and Knox... well, you know about Knox. I'm still shaking my head at an NFL team starting Mac Hollins.

Silver linings: Dorian Williams is starting to pull it all together. Bernard is back and appeared to play well. The defense as a whole played clutch football, getting two turnovers and making some key stops. Carter, Solomon, Williams are all really coming on, and that's exciting. If Bishop joins them, we got us a young, upcoming defense, with Benford, Rousseau, and Oliver just coming into their prime. I'm not ready to write off this year, but next year looks great, with these players and the draft capital and cap room to add still more talent.

I suspect Beane may have privately written off this season because he's taking the long view, hoarding draft picks and cap room for a big splurge next year that will set the team up for the next decade. Borrow from that treasure now, say giving up a second-round pick for an expensive receiver well past his prime, and odds are you get a lot less bang for your buck overall. I can understand this reasoning, but it's cold to condemn this year's team to a mediocrity.

That's probably was thinking in the first Jets game when Allen's 60-yard bomb hit him in his hands. Not quite perfect. Hollins is what he is: a journeyman receiver who should be confined to special teams, blocking, and the occasional emergency fill in. Yet he's the Bills starting receiver, which says it all. You were dealt a poor hand, Beane, but you're also playing it poorly.

Yet people here bought the happy talk about "everybody eats" and "Hollins is great in the locker room."

Check his portion of the salary cap.

Prevent defense coming? Don't let them get more than 10 yards at a time?

If they have anything in their back pocket, now is the time.

I had the same thought.

Good for you to go to the festival. Trust me, you won't regret it, especially years later.

To whom? At this point, I prefer he run it over and over until they score.

Now, run it three times up the middle for one yard a rush!!!!