finn

I thought he did pretty well filling in during the COVID season. Maybe the surfeit of injuries will have a galvanizing effect on the team rather than discourage them. A circle the wagons, next man up kind of thing.

Actually, the offense under Dorsey did better than under Brady in pretty much every category, except, you know, wins.

I didn't mean to imply the Chiefs lack those qualities, just that the Bills have them in greater measure. Not sure yet if that applies to McDermott, though; I think he choked in both playoff games against the Chiefs, the first when he punted at least twice when it was clear the Bills needed to go for it, and for what appears to be his prevent defense in the 13-second game. I don't want him to be an avoid-losing type of coach, but he might be just that. Of course, I have no qualms in that regard about Allen.

I'm not saying it's easy, not with a QB as big and mobile as Allen. And the strategy does carry risks. You're giving him time. Just because Allen never has time doesn't mean he can't make good use of it.

I hope you're right. I want to feel more confident. If I'm KC, I keep Allen contained in the pocket. Take away the deep stuff and make him check it down. That's when he gets impatient and forces things. No scrambling, no off-script improvisations, no deep passes. Blitz on occasion. Make the Bills earn every yard. On offense, go to work on the Bills' backup/injured linebackers. Short passes, screens, slants. Then go deep when the opportunity is there. I see a tough game and a Bills win just because they have more grit and character than the Chiefs.

It is, you're right.

Exactly. Give a very good quarterback like Eli Manning a great line, receivers, play caller, run game, coordinator, and head coach--or even most of these things--and awards and trophies will follow. Hardware does not equal greatness, not by itself.

Appreciate the detailed post. But I have to call BS on one point, which is the familiar claim that Mahomes is better because he has two rings (MVPs, etc.). I would argue that any of a half a dozen quarterbacks in the league now would have done as well as Mahomes under the same circumstances: throwing to two future HOF receivers behind an elite line with (as you say) one of the best offensive minds in the game calling plays. Can you think of another quarterback who has had all these advantages who has NOT done as well? No, having watched both, I think Allen is objectively better. As I said, he's bigger, meaning that he can and has broken far more tackles that the smaller Mahomes. He's faster and more athletic, and he has at least as strong an arm and as creative off script. And his stats (if not awards) are comparable to Mahomes'--with inferior receivers, a far inferior line, and inferior play callers. In fact, now that Mahomes no longer has all these advantages (just some of them), we're seeing that he, too, can struggle. Put it this way: What can Mahomes do that Allen can't do just as well or better, all things being equal? Same receivers, same line, same play calling. Anything?

He better step up. He owes one to Josh.

Great matchup. About time it's not in Arrowhead. Both defensive coordinators are innovative, so that's a wash. I'd say the offensive coordinators are about even, too. And Allen and Mahomes, although I think Allen is better because of his will to win. Pachenko = Cook. Home field is an advantage, but it's more than outweighed by the injuries. Their kicking game is superior. The slightest of edges to KC, but a single holding or PI call, a blocked kick, or fumble, a big return...anything can turn the game one way or another. All things being equal, I'd give it to the Bills because Allen is a better quarterback than Mahomes. Bigger, faster, stronger, more clutch, more determined. Plus, he doesn't run like a squirrel or sound like Kermit.

Look, Allen turned it over 23 times, Mahomes 17. Meanwhile, he produced 44 touchdowns compared to Mahomes' 27. Would you give up six turnovers for 17 touchdowns? More to the point here, how often do you see these two sets of numbers presented together? Like, never? It's always some version of Allen as turnover machine, to the point that literally every comment or observation about Allen includes some note about his turnovers. As for dropped passes, whose receivers led the league in dropped passes last year? If you don't know, it may be because the media didn't repeat the fact ad nauseum because it wasn't Mahomes. It was Allen. And Allen also lost his coordinator, didn't he? In fact, he's on his third in three years. All his career, Mahomes has been playing for an excellent coach with excellent receivers and an excellent line. For the first time, he has to do it himself, the way Allen has all HIS career. And the excuses pour forth.

No, but don't you find all comments that he hasn't been great are quickly followed by excuses, none of which have to do with Mahomes himself? It's his receivers, his line, the fatigue that comes with all that winning, etc. His Holiness himself is never doubted that I ever heard. Nothing like, "He's great but..." as with Allen. It's always "He's struggling because others are letting him down." I get why. People think he deserves the benefit of the doubt because he's won in the past. But that doesn't change the facts, which are ignored in service of the Narrative.

The OP is right about the anti-Bills, anti-Allen narratives out there. They stand in stark contrast to the narratives on KC, which are invariably positive or spin any negatives in a positive light. Doesn't reflect very well on the media figures perpetuating these narratives. They come across as not just lazy but cowardly as well. It would take initiative to say something new and courage to point out that (correctly) that Josh Allen has done more with less than anyone else in the league. Laziness and cowardice must be part of the job description.

I just wonder how Baltimore's receivers always appear to be wide open, much like Kelce in past years, while our receivers are open only because they're terrific route runners (Diggs) or someone falls down (Davis). Maybe they have a better coordinator. My take is that Allen has made a one-man receiving corps look average or even above average at times over the past six years. Thank god Shakir is developing and Kincaid looks good. With Diggs evidently fading, the cupboard is otherwise empty.

Shakir and Kincaid are bright spots. Add one star receiver and they'd have one of best receiving corps on the league. I hope Beane realizes this. Davis has been a disaster in much the same way Von Miller has been this season: He takes snaps away from more effective players, which is saying a lot because it's not like there's a lot of star power behind them. Hopkins would likely have caught a lot of balls AND drawn double coverage. Davis has done neither.

I haven't heard a single commentator point out that maybe, just maybe, Mahomes did as well as he did in his career because he was throwing to two future HOF receivers. TWO! And his down year (relatively speaking) may be how he performs when he has the same quality receivers most of his peers have. He's terrific, but hardly the Messiah Who Must Not Be Criticized.

More like a chipmunk on meth, if you ask me.

Agree, but it's rare to see this many injuries during the game.

The blocked punt was the turning point, but that Knox drop was killer, too. Allen was sacked, and that was it. I think that's when the Steelers went down and scored.

Can you imagine Mahomes against this defense?

Play action, anyone?

Now let's see if Knox can catch a pass.

I was reassured by Allen quietly taking that sack instead of trying to flip it to someone or whatever.

This board would have erupted if McD had punted. It was a good call, but, truthfully, a punt would have been better if it pinned them way back with three minutes on the clock.

You don't need a healthy hamstring to hold.