nick in* england

OK historical inaccuracies aside, I retract the Brady comment. It kills me that I picked Marcia for my fantasy team.... Also - no idea why anyone would switch teams. I bleed red white and blue, and will ALWAYS support the Bills.

Trent's benching is the biggest disappointment I have felt as a Bills fan since the playoff loss to the Titans in 1997 (I refuse to recognise any of the nicknames for this game). It's not so much that Fitzpatrick is horrible (which in my view he is), it's more that Edwards benching says something more fundamental about where this organisation is. I think, and have said repeatedly, that the front office needs a major overhaul, from top to bottom, to reset the organisation. The entire front office is largely intact over previous years, and look at the horrible decisions that have been made... They need a root and branch rethink of how this organisation does football - clearing out so many of the scouting and personnel department. It made me so sad today to think of the Bills and for the first time as a Bills fan that I probably don't care what happens on Sunday. OK this has more to do with the fact that I am a new father, but even so, the Bills are a passion of mine, and to be getting it so spectacularly wrong for so long is a major let down. I looked at the guys on the field this past Sunday and several realisations hit me then - benching Trent again is the final nail in the coffin. Honestly - look up and down the roster and we will not be remembering fondly very many of these players. That makes me sad because the day I got engaged in Ralph Wilson Stadium, in 2001, it was exactly the same story. Keith Ellison = Brandon Spoon. Reggie Torbor = Eddie Newman. Ryan Fitzpatrick = AVP. The list goes on. Every year I am willing to suspend my irritation at a seemingly inept offseason, only for disappointment to come surging back at the point in the season where you just know the playoffs aren't going to happen. This year - I have reached THAT point at week 3. And Fitzpatrick is the living embodiment of that feeling - and that's why I hate him. So this Sunday, I'll be there, cradling my 4 week old daughter as we both wear our Bills gear and I will watch the game. But I'll be rooting for Brady who starts for my Fantasy team, and I'll flick to other games to see my Fantasy Team play. Because at least if the Fantasy Team loses, that's on me, and my decisions. When the Bills lose, I'll just be sad.

Trent's benching is the biggest disappointment I have felt as a Bills fan since the playoff loss to the Titans in 1997 (I refuse to recognise any of the nicknames for this game). It's not so much that Fitzpatrick is horrible (which in my view he is), it's more that Edwards benching says something more fundamental about where this organisation is. I think, and have said repeatedly, that the front office needs a major overhaul, from top to bottom, to reset the organisation. The entire front office is largely intact over previous years, and look at the horrible decisions that have been made... They need a root and branch rethink of how this organisation does football - clearing out so many of the scouting and personnel department. It made me so sad today to think of the Bills and for the first time as a Bills fan that I probably don't care what happens on Sunday. OK this has more to do with the fact that I am a new father, but even so, the Bills are a passion of mine, and to be getting it so spectacularly wrong for so long is a major let down. I looked at the guys on the field this past Sunday and several realisations hit me then - benching Trent again is the final nail in the coffin. Honestly - look up and down the roster and we will not be remembering fondly very many of these players. That makes me sad because the day I got engaged in Ralph Wilson Stadium, in 2001, it was exactly the same story. Keith Ellison = Brandon Spoon. Reggie Torbor = Eddie Newman. Ryan Fitzpatrick = AVP. The list goes on. Every year I am willing to suspend my irritation at a seemingly inept offseason, only for disappointment to come surging back at the point in the season where you just know the playoffs aren't going to happen. This year - I have reached THAT point at week 3. And Fitzpatrick is the living embodiment of that feeling - and that's why I hate him. So this Sunday, I'll be there, cradling my 4 week old daughter as we both wear our Bills gear and I will watch the game. But I'll be rooting for Brady who starts for my Fantasy team, and I'll flick to other games to see my Fantasy Team play. Because at least if the Fantasy Team loses, that's on me, and my decisions. When the Bills lose, I'll just be sad.

I love the 97 Rock pre-game.. Can't listen to it any more though due to restrictions in my area (England). If anyone has a stream link to WGRF I'd be grateful.

They ALWAYS do that on Fish day...

No no no no no no no. One game folks and you want to put in Fitzpatrick? I'm staggered Fitzpatrick is even on the roster. The guy is horrible as a starter. Give this new offence under Trent more than one game!

I agree. Modrak should have gone this past off season and a lot of our scouts need sweeping out too.

These streams are illegal. There are many many ways to watch NFL games live online by paying legitimately for them. Please stop this folks.

Easy (I've only personally seen one Fins game in the flesh). 2002 - Snow Bowl. FANTASTIC game to be at.

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. Work it out.

The internet cannot detect sarcasm. Please remember this fact.

Dowsed.

Wow a Son! FANTASTIC. Great news mate.

I wish. Actually. December 12. Browns. I will be there. You have no idea.

Genius. Did anyone say squish the fish?

In the spirit of 'fessing up: So... Wrong on QB - I hate Fitzpatrick for the very averageness of him and for him actually being able to threaten Trent for the starting spot. I didn't want him around. Wrong on RB - but Bell retained on PS is good news. I should have known better that with those three guys, you don't need a 4th RB. Right on FB - easiest of the bunch! Wrong on TE - Schou going was a mild surprise. Wrong on OL - but oh so close. I thought Wang would probably go on Reserve/PUP, hence guessing Calloway had a shot... Wrong on WR - I gambled on Hardy and I knew it. As for Jackson, well - I like his story and hoped he made the roster. But very pleased for Jones. Right on DL - I had this one nailed. Wrong on OLB - I gambled that Maybin would be a sacrifical lamb for the new administration. Pleased to be wrong. Wrong on ILB - I honestly thought Ellison was a goner off the bat. Right on CB - also nailed. I thank you. Wrong on S - but oh so close, like some others. Cary Harris a big surprise. I dunno - guessing was fun. So I suck at it, but I am doing the guessing from 3,000 miles away and had to go off what I saw on TV in pre-season and not in practise overall.

I don't actually post frequently enough here at the moment to feel like this is totally appropriate, but I'm singing it from the hilltops to anyone that will listen! My wife gave birth to our first child yesterday. Erin Grace, 7lb 1oz. Amazing stuff and a total surprise. We didn't know what flavour she was before she popped out...! Heck of a ride. Prospective Dads: labor is rough. You have no idea.

hells yeah! squish the fish!

Yet another example of why manners are needed. Just because it's the internet, and it's a message board, doesn't mean the people posting and reading don't have a feelings... Please, everyone who posts here needs to read this thread and think twice before posting.

My 53: QB: T.Edwards, Brohm, Brown RB: Jackson, Lynch, Spiller, J.Bell FB: McIntyre TE: Stupar, Schouman, Foschi, Nelson OL: Hangartner, Levitre, Wood, Green, D.Bell, Howard, Meredith, Calloway WR: Evans, Johnson, Parrish, Jackson, Hardy, Nelson DL: Stroud, Williams, Johnson, Troup, D.Edwards, Carrington OLB: Kelsay, Torbor, Ellis, Coleman ILB: Mitchell, Posluzny, Davis, Moats CB: McGee, Florence, McKelvin, Corner, Youboty S: Byrd, Wilson, Scott, Whitner ST: Moorman, Lindell, Sanborn

Don't get me wrong folks. Levitre is a baller - but he's got a long way to go...

I posted the thoughts/analysis below in another thread... It strikes me that the Levitre stuff is new criticism and counter the argument that our OG's are beasts. Clearly at least one of them has a ways to go...

Chaps - this is a learned and engaging thread that makes TSW a great place to be a Bills fan. I commend your discussion and analysis. I have just gone back to the tape of the Colts game to check Trents performance in the first quarter (hurrah for NFL Game Pass HD). There are two key takeaways from the tape I was able to watch in 5 quick minutes (approx the first three offensive series). One relates to the passing game, one to the running game. Passing game 1. On the whole the first three series were pretty poor from a passing perspective for several reasons. The OL had a tough time giving the QB more than a second or two of time in the pocket. The Colts DL puinned their ears back and made life tough. 2. When Trent had time to drop back and plant, on about 50% of the throws he hesitated. Much of this is down to the situation the Offence was in. On one key third down on the third series, Johnson runs an out route about 6-7 yards from the LOS, but the 1st down marker was roughly 12 yards. Trent could have pulled the trigger at the bottom of his drop, but he hesitates to hit (I think) Parrish who is running a corner/seam route deeper. The pass falls well short as Trent gets hit as he throws. 3. In the first series, another play where Trent gets time to drop, plant and throw is designed to be a comeback route to Evans down the right sideline. Trent has little hesitation with the pass and guns it. The pass hits the DB who wasn't looking as was almost an INT. The problem here, I think, is that Evans and Edwards just aren't on the same page. Evans has his man beat with no safety support but he breaks to the sideline, away from the QB at the down marker. From the placement of the pass, Edwards clearly expected the read to be back into the field of play, which was a move that Evans could easily have done... There's also a case (Tasker makes the point) for taking it deep on that play, which they make hay with later in the game. Running game My comments here come as a real surprise. Andy Levitre had a bad first three series, characterised by two major mistakes in the running game. I don't suggest he is solely to blame, but definately more that 50% in both cases. My analysis here is very quick and dirty because I am at work, but... 1. In the first series, the play call is a toss left to Spiller, with McIntyre and Levitre out in front. Levitre pulls from LG and he and McIntrye meet at the point of attack and get in each others way as they block the man at the edge. Levitre has got to be quicker out of his stance and down the back of the line here. Instead, he drops too deep on the pull, gets tangled up in a block (looks like a designed kick out block) that McIntyre has to make (into a seal) for him, and is then behind the play that Spiller takes for positive yards. Had Levitre got to his block in time, McIntyre would have been out in front of Spiller to spring him for more yards... Alternatively, McIntyre makes that block and Levitre kicks out at the second level, giving CJ more room to run. 2. Third seies. Play call looks a bit like a long Trap to the right. Again, Levitre is very slow to make his pull down the back of the OL to the right and Spiller gets blown up 4 yards deep.

I don't have a problem with Sully's analysis. The 'backers have looked very suspect in pre-season, none of them have stood out at all. They really need to work in the next couple of games to develop that pass defence and to get the run fits right. I do disagree that you have to have stars to work a 3-4, that's not right. But you do need players to execute the system right - and our guys can't do that yet. On Poz - I'm always so torn about him. Very worried that he could be a mope. On the other hand, he might be a perfect fit for the 3-4... I dunno. He has this year to play his way into my good books.

Maybe I missed it, but Jairus Byrd has just had SURGERY for an undiclosed, non-football injury. What on EARTH could this be? Bad case of piles? Kidney transplant?