finn

I'm not worried about this game, but I don't think I'll even watch the Bills-Chiefs game. The copy is already written and ready to go to press: "Surging Chiefs Humiliate Overrated Bills." I think the Bills will recover, in part because the fresh players, including (I hope) Olave, will get up to speed, and they could even beat the Chiefs in the playoffs, not easy with the ref bias. But week nine will be miserable.

Strong is the most overlooked loss of all the injuries, in my view. He might have quietly saved the day as CB2, allowing Hairston time to get his feet under him and keeping Tre mostly on the bench. He was playing well, especially for a rookie. If he returns, he could have more of an impact than Hairston, who has missed so much time. Dream scenario: We muddle through until late in the season when Strong returns, Hairston is making an impact, the PED twins are making a difference upfront, and the Olave-Allen combination is starting to click. 😀

Agree. Yet so many people defend the most corrupt, even evil politicians. Many Russians wept bitterly when Stalin died, even though he murdered six million of their countrymen outright and deliberately caused another 20 million to die of starvation. The most despicable congressman today in both parties are reelected every year, often by huge margins. People turn their minds off and believe what is easy for them to believe. I get it, but it's pretty lame all the same.

That's a fair criticism, but it gets at a big problem with this thread: erroneous assumptions. You seem to assume that I think the league is rigged from top to bottom, and that everyone from the commissioner to the water boys are in on it. I don't. But I think it's naïve to assume that the league hasn't been corrupted to a degree, when 1) so much money is at stake every week; and 2) it is so easy to tip a close game, even under the eyes of millions. To answer your question, I enjoy the NFL because I think only a few games are rigged, and even those (all KC games) involve a finger on the scale, not an all-out settled result. Think zero flags for KC against Detroit, ruling the Kelsey turf "catch" a catch, and so on. It doesn't take much. But even that level of corruption bothers me. I don't know why it doesn't bother you, or, alternately, how you could think the refs haven't favored KC.

Hey, no fair being reasonable, fair-minded, and accurate when we're all frustrated and mad!

The best quarterback in the league, and the only way we can beat you is with the running game. Something went very wrong along the way.

Tell that to Brandon Beane.

Like I said, sad. Goodell would be pleased. Tell me, what would it take for you to agree that some games, such as key ones played by KC, are fixed? Two TDs overturned by a call from NY? Ten? Maybe automatic PI calls on every Mahomes incomplete? Or would you even then deny what you're seeing? If so, you should check out another league where everything is also completely, 100% honest: the WWE. Thanks, I'll try it. And as I recommended to beebe, you might try the WWE for your own entertainment needs. It's real!

It's pretty sad that most people still don't think the games are rigged. They watch the KC-Lions game and say, "Well, maybe KC just played a clean game and maybe the refs realized minutes after the Lions TD that they saw a motion penalty." Goodell and his rich buddies must just laugh. They're counting on fans' gullibility and they're not disappointed.

If only there were a receiver-rich draft. Why, we could even move up in the first round and get one of the true blue-chip prospects, as long as we're willing to give up our second-round pick. But if I'm Beane and I'm honest, I would admit I tend to whiff on second rounders, so better one sure WR than, say, a one-dimensional receiver and a safety who can't cover or tackle. That would sure put us in a pickle the next year!

Funny how quickly the outlook has turned around. Turns out the gleaming building is resting on a termite-infested foundation. Or maybe a better analogy is that scene in the Matrix where Neo is breaking out Morpheus, who is running across the room to the hovering helicopter and Neo says, "He's not going to make it"--and proceeds to grab a strap and jump toward him, meeting him halfway in the air. Beane needs to throw himself out of the helicopter, because the Bills are simply not going to make it.

The vaguest kind of all: rumors reported here second hand, hence the "if."

Also why we've signed a disproportionate number of Carolina Panthers signed to the Bills roster. There is some logic to recruiting players you know well, but not to the degree they've gone, to say nothing of White, Poyer, Jackson, and Phillips. At some point you're buying comfort with mediocrity.

Josh Allen might not be the best source for draft or personnel moves, at least reports of his advocacy of Kincaid and Coleman are accurate.

But catches aren't the only important metric. Targets count, too, as well s drops, fumbles, and separation. The others you mention might all be superior to Coleman in all four categories. We've seen Coleman fumble, get boxed out by smaller cornerbacks, mysteriously not jump for balls, have balls hit his head, and, most of all, not give Allen anything to throw to except back shoulder. I can't remember any fades, which were supposed to be one of two throws he is good at, although that might not be his fault. I don't mean to condemn him; I like his body control, size, and RAC ability. But I don't think he's shown himself to be a featured receiver, much like Gabe Davis. As others have said, his best role might be as a big slot receiver spelling Shakir. A valuable depth player, but no more than that.

I'm always combining the salaries of Beane's free agent signings and dreaming about the one player he could have signed. Same with draft picks, e.g., give up that second rounder AND a third to move up in WR-rich draft. I think there's a reasonable chance the Bills could turn the season around, but (imho) it would take some bold moves. Trade what it takes--first-round pick included) for a real WR, like Diggs in his prime. Fire or demote Brady and replace him with someone who has some ideas. And just hope (what else can you do?) that Hairston, Hoecht, Obiwan, a rapidly improving Walker, AND--you need still more!--a returning Strong and a revelation at safety in Hancock will bring the defense up to championship level. Beane has been bold at times, and McDermott did fire Dorsey, so maybe?

Sounds like Beane's kind of guy.

Say McDermott fires or demotes Brady. Who do we have on the staff who can do a better job? Kromer? Tabor? Or anyone outside the organization? Right now,, heading into the bye, is as good a time as any for a change. I think they can do better than Brady.

With Shakier double teamed, we're down to Moore, Shavers, and Coleman. No wonder they're sending the house on every down. There is absolutely no threat anywhere on the field, especially with our idiot coordinator taking Cook off the field.

We need a turnover. The offense can't get there. Really impressed by the defensive adjustments, though.

He takes off Cook and gives the ball to Moore--in yet another cute play. An end-around against a blitzing team. What is up with this guy?

WHY TAKE OFF COOK??

You know, that may be profoundly true. His drafting and free-agent signings have been mediocre, and as a result, the roster is mediocre in too many areas. Linebacker, pretty much the entire secondary, receiver, pass rush, run defense, wide receiver... They're all just tissue paper.

Part of the conspiracy!

True. The curse of this team is that Allen will win (and has won) enough games to make McDermott unfireable. It will have to be worse before it gets better, although I can't think of anything worse than losing to Mahomes a fifth time in the playoffs.