finn

Question for those of you who follow other teams: Do the Bills have the worst wide receiver group in the league? That would be ironic: the best QB throwing to the worst WRs.

So the last Diggs contract and the Von contract were two huge investments that the Bills are still paying off, with very little return. Blame aside, both contracts were objectively mistakes, hobbling the organization during prime Allen years. I just haven't heard that stated concisely before. I hope it's not the epitaph on Allen's career.

Totally agree. Also, the way he whines, how he never gives sincere credit to other players, the way he prances around with a limp wrist held up in the air (not that there's anything wrong with that), and especially the way Collingsworth and lickspittles glaze him like he's the Messiah. That last bit isn't his fault, but I want it to be. Back to the therapy couch....

Coleman is a basketball player playing football. He's tall with a crazy vertical and elite body control--when the ball is five feet over his head. Allen and Brady have assumed that with his athleticism he could catch back-shoulder throws, making up for his lack of separation. Makes perfect sense, only he simply can't seem to adjust to those throws. Bizarre but true. That makes him even more one-dimensional. The good news is that one dimension can be spectacular, as he showed in college. Give him fades and high jump balls, and he'll win every time. I don't recall which game it was, but remember that high ball in the back of the end zone that he skyed for and caught, only to land out of bounds? Compare that to the "fade" in the end zone in another Baltimore game that was chest-level. He might have caught it if he weren't interfered with, but my point is that if Allen had thrown it ten feet above his head, he would have climbed the ladder and brought it down. So there's hope! Maybe we have a star here who Allen and Brady (of course not Brady, who can't figure out anything) haven't learned to use yet.

Well, a shell of arguably the best player in NFL history can still be a lot better than Nathan Peterman, or even most other quarterbacks in the league. But you're right, it was too harsh, reflecting my anxiety. I get it that he's playing with a set of receivers who are just a cut above practice-squad quality, and I also get it that this mediocrity downfield might have gotten into his head, thrown off his rhythm, etc., even if he's given (and gives himself) oceans of time to make the throws. But even so, I'm increasingly concerned that he might be broken, at least in the short term, maybe the lingering effects of a concussion, a mid-career slump, or whatever. The contrast between the announcers mechanically intoning that he's the "best player the league" and his play on the field is jarring. I keep waiting for him to snap back into the jaw-dropping Superman we know so well. Maybe he'll do it against the Chiefs, but if he struggled against the Panthers, Saints, Pats, and Dolphins, is he really going to suddenly come alive against a Spagnuolo defense, working with the same set of mediocre receivers? As others have said, my heart is hopeful but my brain is not. My intuition, lying somewhere in between, tells me that to save this season, Dr. Beane needs to inject some adrenaline, fast.

KC beat the Lions at home only with big help from the refs; they should have lost that game. Then the beat the Raiders (wow) and the Commanders without Daniels. I don't see a juggernaut. But neither do I see lesser team than last year. It's the Bills that have changed. Their defense has gotten a lot weaker, and the passing game is positively alarming, no sugarcoating that. On the other hand, the newcomers on D and McDermott helping to call plays might be enough to overhaul the defense, and maybe Cook and the run game will provide enough offense. I say that last part with much less confidence. The Patriots and Falcons showed the league how to stop the Bills: stack the box and blitz Allen like crazy. With this receiving crew, that's just printing money. I really thought Brady and Allen would have it figured out after the bye, but the Panthers game showed they haven't, at least not yet. I will be surprised and delighted if they win. But with the shell of Allen we've been seeing and Brady calling plays, I think there's a greater chance they'll be embarrassed. Maybe that's a good thing. Like others, I'm tired of them beating the Chiefs in the regular season and losing in the playoffs. Maybe it'll be the reverse this year.

Only if Brady sticks with the running game instead of pulling Cook off the field when they're down two scores and betting the house on the intimidating crew of Samuel, Moore, Shavers, and Coleman. I don't know how Spagnuolo will sleep this week. 😕

Watch him get ten sacks. That'll put a bow on the whole debacle.

Funny combination of crazy-good RAS score (9.95, 10th best score out of 1829 DEs since 1987) and a stiff body, with little bend to go around the corner.

Yeah, Rapp was really struggling, especially his tackling. Interesting we got the Poyer/Hancock, White/Hairston rotation going on at the same time. Along with Walker stepping in for DeQuan, we're seeing the defensive starters getting younger in front of our eyes.

What is up with Brady sitting his second-best player on offense? Until the Panthers game, he's been doing the same thing this year. It's utterly baffling, given the pathetic WR room and mediocre play of Ty Johnson and Ray Davis this season. Even if he can't block, he can still catch and be a real weapon in space. Instead, Brady has Allen throwing to the likes of Coleman and Moore. Opposing defensive coordinators must be trembling in their boots.

And the Chiefs swap late-round picks for AJ Brown.

Our leading TE (Kincaid) is an improving blocker, but I wouldn't call him stellar. Our leading RB is taken off the field on passing downs despite his receiving prowess, evidently because he's a lousy blocker. As for what you call our "leading WR" (insert vomit emojji), I stand by the evidence of my eyes that Coleman sucks at blocking, although I admit that's just based on the broadcast, not any all-22s. Watch him. He doesn't sustain his blocks, leading to his man making the tackle. So, yeah, you very much can lead the NFL in blocking with your leading WR/TE/RB all lousy at run blocking, providing your other TEs/WRs/RBs are good at it.

My theory is both he and Benford are suffering from the aftereffects of concussion. At that level, a little brain fog makes a huge impact.

I've noticed he's a lousy blocker too. Pushes with his arms a bit then gives up. Might have a future as a big slot to spell Shakir. Would have been a decent pick in the fifth or sixth round. Who else does Allen want the Bills to draft? Find out and pick someone else.

Fine, but repeat after me: Gabe is not a WR1 or WR2, Gabe is not a WR1 or WR2... We learned this lesson the hard way, remember?

Can't get the game, but let me guess: The Chiefs are getting all the bounces and calls (of course), and they've had zero injuries.

Remind you of anyone?

One bold signing--for an excellent wide receiver--would be a shot of adrenaline, especially with the newcomers bolstering the defense.

Ah, the second-oldest motivation known to man. Thanks.

I've heard suspicions he's faking it but not that it's related to his contract. Isn't he locked in for ten years?

Bishop with the bad read again.

For all the yammer of "everyone eats" and "we don't have to worry about anyone getting his targets," it's awfully nice to have that one receiver who will almost always be open and will reliably catch the ball. Acquiring the 2020 version of Diggs right now would mean the Super Bowl. Acquiring a legit WR2 to go with Shakir and the Minions would mean a Super Bowl victory.

He showed it on that rundown. He was in on some other tackles, too.

Maybe Beane needs to realize that the advice of a "draft junky" like Allen is not to be relied on. Allen reportedly lobbied hard for Kincaid (with LaPorta on the board) and Coleman (over any warm body in the first three rounds), which is not much of a track record. What did Marv say? He who listens to the crowd soon joins them? In terms of draft expertise, Allen is not much better than any of us.