This is a must win game for the Bills.

[Freddie's Dead]

5 hours ago, BillsVet said:

"This is not a must-win; World War II was a must-win."

 

-Marv Levy

 

 

I agree with Marv.  And this game isn't a must-win either. 

 

You beat me to it.

[Doc Brown]

Not with this coaching staff.  You could still talk me into the playoffs even if we lose our next three.  Five probably wins against the Fins (2x), Skins, Broncos, and Jets.  The Browns, Steelers, and Eagles don't seem as formidable as they did before the season started.  Any given Sunday (or Thanksgiving) against the Ravens, Pats, and Cowboys.

[CSBill]

6 hours ago, Happy Gilmore said:

It's not exactly a must win, though it is.  Losing this game would suck...it is a game the Bills are supposed to win and should win.  Plus the Bengals are in the AFC, so that can count in a tie breaker scenario for a WC spot and seed positioning.

 

This is where I'm at ???

 

Logically? = No! Still plenty of time and pathways to the playoffs

 

Emotionally? = Yes! A loss would be a huge blow to the psyche of the team, and especially to the current "high" of its fan base.

[dollars 2 donuts]

6 hours ago, Tipster19 said:

2-0 and now the home opener with the Patriots on the horizon. Matter of fact forget the Patriots, this is a must win gam me period. After having the first 2 games under their belts without a loss the Bills have a great opportunity to spring forward and start putting a bit of separation between them and most of the other AFC teams.

 

Losing this game would be a big oops. Regardless what happens with the Patriots the Bills need to prove that they can win games that they are suppose to and not shoot themselves in the foot otherwise they will be playing to being the same old Bills. Winning this game, regardless what happens in the Patriot game and then beating the Titans on the road would propel and advance the Bills to a level that they haven’t been to in decades. On top of all that having to play the Dolphins twice and ending the season at home against the Jets would just about solidify the play-offs. Any other games that they win, especially against AFC teams would start to give the Bills the idea that they can almost threaten for the division but make no mistake about, it all starts right here right now against the Bengals. Go Bills!

 

6 hours ago, LSHMEAB said:

Had they lost to the Jets, I would say it's really close to a "must win" if must win means they're not making the playoffs if they lose.

 

I think there'd be a reasonable path to the playoffs even if they lose this one.

 

6 hours ago, Sig1Hunter said:

A must win? No sir. The season is not doomed with a loss. Stop setting up your tent on the ledge. Makes it that much more tempting to jump off if they lay an egg on Sunday. 

 

I get what you guys are saying, LS and Sig, but I think I am going to go with Tipster on this one.

 

a couple of years ago, when looking at the schedule I thought the Bengals game in week 5 was a must win, given the way everything played out.

 

 We lost, but still got into the playoffs.  However, we needed that miracle by the bengals as we were out looking in.  I believe I’m sure that Bengals win would have made the Bengals/Baltimore moot.  Yes, the ravens and bills both would have had one more afc win, but I think we would still take it on tie breakers as we did.

 

...I don’t want any more miracle finishes or backing into the playoffs.  I think it is a must win.  If the don’t they must pick something else up somewhere down the line to make up for it.  That something else is likely a win against the Patriots, who we haven’t beaten with Brady at the helm since 2011.

 

I really don’t want to be in the position of we don’t HAVE to beat the Bengals but they we kind of MUST beat the Patriots.

 

other must win games are Dolphins (2), Jets, Washington, Denver...in total that get you to 8 with the 2-0 start.  They need 2 more (at least) somewhere with the Pats (2), @ Titans, Eagles, @ Cleveland, @ Dallas, Baltimore, @ Pittsburgh...and I like the odds of a pick’em in two of those games instead having to win 3 or 4 from there.

[JM57]

No such thing as a must win game in week 3, but this is a game that a good football team does not lose. That's going to be the deciding factor for me this week. A win is going to have me leaning toward optimism for the rest of the year. Yet ANOTHER disappointing loss to the Bengals and I'll be expecting same old Bills

[HOUSE]

Let me say this, Its a must win for the Bengals

[GunnerBill]

Must win if this is a good team. There is still a route to squeezing in at 9-7 with a loss but if the Bills are good then they have to win this game. 

[NoSaint]

8 hours ago, LSHMEAB said:

Had they lost to the Jets, I would say it's really close to a "must win" if must win means they're not making the playoffs if they lose.

 

I think there'd be a reasonable path to the playoffs even if they lose this one.

 

Ultimately the standard expected defines the need...

 

if ok sliding in at 9-7 and seeing if we get tie breaks etc.... we can drop this and even a few of these.

 

if hoping to play I’m buffalo in January, not much room for error in a conference game at home that you should win. It’s crucial to take this victories as otherwise you have to start sweeping teams like NE to make up for it and I’d much rather expect to split NE and beat Cincy at home when penciling in the path to the playoffs  

[njbuff]

A loss to the Bengals would certainly kill any optimism we have towards the team, but it certainly isn't a must win game.

 

A playoff elimination (type) game is the only must win game.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

With all due respect, someone should have prompted General Marv to get the boys out of the Officers Club a bit earlier the night before the big battle.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

It's an important win, but losing to Cinci and beating NE would hurt less than in the grand scheme of it all rather than beating Cinci and losing to NE.

 

Losing to both will also hurt, but AFC is pretty weak this year. 8-8 may land a wildcard. 

[Utah John]

You never know.  Josh Allen hasn't had a stinker of a game in a while.  He's young and will still have a few of those to get through.  Everyone's assuming he's going to keep playing as well or better than he has been, but that's not a sure thing.

[RobbRiddick]

If the Bills lose this game the sky will fall, everyone will be depressed and we'll have a week of threads asking if McDermott will be fired by season's end.

 

Then if we beat the Pats next week the sky will turn blue, we'll be winning the division and going to the Super Bowl.

 

My own thought is, it's great to be 2-0 but, in the words of Winston Wolf, "let's not start sucking each other's d**ks quite yet"

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

Posted in the score thread, but just to spread the word...

 

Andy Dalton is 4-1 against the Bills; in fact, 5-1 if you include the beat-down in the 3rd preseason game last year. We also shouldn't dismiss the fact that that was Josh's first game with the starters and it did not go well. Even though it was preseason, don't think for a second that that doesn't give the Bengals more confidence, and it probably puts a chip on Josh's shoulder as well, which could be good or bad.

[Mark80]

Never in the history of the NFL has a week 3 game been a must win game.  Never.

[Big Turk]

This would be a very "Billsy" loss...that being said this team is starting to show they are creating a new definition of "Billsy" and winning here would help continue moving that in the right direction.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Its more a mustn’t lose than win.  

 

A loss to the Bengals who seem to be the worst of the 2 statistically would hurt but not catastrophically.  (Yet). 

 

The must win is next week but that’s next weeks problem.   

 

Get the W and make the believers believe more and the doubters wonder how / why they were wrong. 

 

[US Egg]

12 minutes ago, RobbRiddick said:

My own thought is, it's great to be 2-0 but, in the words of Winston Wolf, "let's not start sucking each other's d**ks quite yet"

That's not a doctrine one should be spouting imo.

 

But will ask at what point do you get on your knees ? 3-0, 4-0, a Super Blow win ?

[Patrick Duffy]

1 minute ago, I am the egg man said:

That's not a doctrine one should be spouting imo.

 

But will ask at what point do you get on your knees ? 3-0, 4-0, a Super Blow win ?

 

I don't know, but when you do make sure to relax your throat and make eye contact. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

To go 16-0 it is a must win.  

 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

If the Bills lose (and I sincerely doubt they will), blame it on the train horn.

Edited September 21, 2019 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[ThurmasThoman]

The term "must-win"is a completely subjective term, invented by fans to make themselves feel as if their rooting interest controls the action on the field. 

 

Must win for what? 

They must win it to clinch the division? Make the playoffs? Secure home field advantage? None of that is true.

 

Josh Allen has not even quarterbacked a full seasons worth of games yet. He is going to lay eggs at some point in time. Possibly this weekend, as the team historically struggles with Cincinnati, for whatever reason. 

 

The only "must" I'd associate with this game is that it's a "must approach with perspective" game for fans, as if they win, they beat what will be a banged up 0-3 team, and all of Bufs wins thus far could potentially be against teams with a combined 0-9 record. And if they lose, they're losing to a veteran quarterback who has had success playing in Orchard Park and it doesn't mean Josh Allen's career is over, or it's time to start Barkley. Yes, even if he throws 5 picks in a blowout loss. It happens.

 

The AFC looks pretty gosh darn weak this season.

Pats and Chiefs look like division winners, and potential first round byes.

The other divisions are up for grabs, and the teams that come in second in those divisions likely won't be very good.

Any of Buffalo, Cleveland, Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Oakland, San Diego, and even Pittsburgh could be in the mix for those 4 spots, and so far Buffalo has looked as good or better than all of them. 

 

If you can just come to terms with the fact that Buffalo has a good (maybe great) young team with a good (maybe great) young quarterback led by a good (maybe great) head coach, built by a good (maybe great) GM, then you can maybe stop stressing about week 3 games. 

 

Pats fans go to bed at halftime of prime time games. They're jaded to winning. Not saying Buffalo is at that point, but I am saying that I believe they are past the era of worrying about the wheels coming off every week of the season. They'll win some, they'll lose some, but I think when it's all said and done, for the next decade they're going to win more than they lose every year, and it's time as fans to maybe start enjoying this hobby, instead of fretting about it.

There will be plenty of playoff games to stress about in the years to come. Save what's left of your hair for those. Enjoy these early season games for what they are--they're not the end of the world, I promise.

[JoeF]

Every NFL game is worth 10 MLB games....every game is important....I like the 1-0 every week philosophy.  

 

In the NFL, a team, to put itself in a position where a game is not a must win, must win a lot of games.  This is my Yogi Berra philosophy statement of the day.

Edited September 21, 2019 by JoeF

[GunnerBill]

13 minutes ago, JohnnyGold said:

The term "must-win"is a completely subjective term, invented by fans to make themselves feel as if their rooting interest controls the action on the field. 

 

Must win for what? 

They must win it to clinch the division? Make the playoffs? Secure home field advantage? None of that is true.

 

Josh Allen has not even quarterbacked a full seasons worth of games yet. He is going to lay eggs at some point in time. Possibly this weekend, as the team historically struggles with Cincinnati, for whatever reason. 

 

The only "must" I'd associate with this game is that it's a "must approach with perspective" game for fans, as if they win, they beat what will be a banged up 0-3 team, and all of Bufs wins thus far could potentially be against teams with a combined 0-9 record. And if they lose, they're losing to a veteran quarterback who has had success playing in Orchard Park and it doesn't mean Josh Allen's career is over, or it's time to start Barkley. Yes, even if he throws 5 picks in a blowout loss. It happens.

 

The AFC looks pretty gosh darn weak this season.

Pats and Chiefs look like division winners, and potential first round byes.

The other divisions are up for grabs, and the teams that come in second in those divisions likely won't be very good.

Any of Buffalo, Cleveland, Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Oakland, San Diego, and even Pittsburgh could be in the mix for those 4 spots, and so far Buffalo has looked as good or better than all of them. 

 

If you can just come to terms with the fact that Buffalo has a good (maybe great) young team with a good (maybe great) young quarterback led by a good (maybe great) head coach, built by a good (maybe great) GM, then you can maybe stop stressing about week 3 games. 

 

Pats fans go to bed at halftime of prime time games. They're jaded to winning. Not saying Buffalo is at that point, but I am saying that I believe they are past the era of worrying about the wheels coming off every week of the season. They'll win some, they'll lose some, but I think when it's all said and done, for the next decade they're going to win more than they lose every year, and it's time as fans to maybe start enjoying this hobby, instead of fretting about it.

There will be plenty of playoff games to stress about in the years to come. Save what's left of your hair for those. Enjoy these early season games for what they are--they're not the end of the world, I promise.

 

I frett about every game. My soccer team once did an undefeated season. They were great. I still fretted about every game. 

 

The Bills will win tomorrow though. Won't be easy but they will win. 

Edited September 21, 2019 by GunnerBill

[dpberr]

I agree with the OP. If the Bills are truely better, they should beat teams that on paper, have less talent than them. 

 

This Bengals game is going to be difficult. They will play with nothing to lose.

[Clyde Smith]

12 hours ago, H2o said:

Nate Burleson picked the Bengals as is Grade A, 100%, uhhhh.....ah f*** it. His lock of the week 

Don't like Burleson, didn't like him as a player either. He's always negative towards the Bills.

[ALLEN1QB]

Not even close. A loss and a win against the Pats and were still in 1st. Cool your jets season is young.

[die hard bills fan]

Just win. No other bs matters.

[stinky finger]

4 hours ago, HOUSE said:

Let me say this, Its a must win for the Bengals

 

yep.

 

Which makes this a dangerous game for the Bills. They'll have to be at their best to win this. I expect a close game that we should win.

[BullBuchanan]

I don't think 10-6 gets it done for you this year without tie-breakers. The Browns and the Chargers are early teams to be wary of taking those spots and the Jags/Houston certainly look like they'll be in the conversation. There's maybe some other teams that will right the ship too.

This is a must-win game not just for standing purposes, but it's time we win all the games we're supposed to win like it's no big deal.

[row_33]

this is the biggest gimme so far

 

losing this will be very very disappointing for many reasons...

 

 

17 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

I don't think 10-6 gets it done for you this year without tie-breakers. The Browns and the Chargers are early teams to be wary of taking those spots and the Jags/Houston certainly look like they'll be in the conversation. There's maybe some other teams that will right the ship too.

This is a must-win game not just for standing purposes, but it's time we win all the games we're supposed to win like it's no big deal.

 

if half the NFL is this rancid, may take 12 wins to get a WC, happened a few years ago.

 

 

[GunnerBill]

51 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

I don't think 10-6 gets it done for you this year without tie-breakers. The Browns and the Chargers are early teams to be wary of taking those spots and the Jags/Houston certainly look like they'll be in the conversation. There's maybe some other teams that will right the ship too.

This is a must-win game not just for standing purposes, but it's time we win all the games we're supposed to win like it's no big deal.

 

I'd be shocked if there are three 10 win teams in the wildcard race. I have been less impressed with the Chargers than I expected. They are missing too many pieces I think.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

It's not a must win in week 3. After week 17, this game will go a long way to determining if the Bills made the playoffs or not. Conference game at home. These are the games you can't lose if you want the tiebreakers on your side. 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

[Jasovon]

In the afc just about every game is must win. Gonna need 11 or 12 wins for a WC I reckon 

[quinnearlysghost88]

I would agree with you. Must win sounds weird, but it’s one of those games you should win and would kill you not to win when December comes rolling around. If we’d only beaten the bengals in sept. 

[QCity]

No it isn't lol

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...I see it (FWIW) as more of a statement game......coming off 2 road wins and the home opener is the perfect scenario to silence the detractors and make "The Hat" as an unwanted venue for opponents like yesteryear.....SIXTY MINUTES of football versus a 3rd quarter "turtle snooze fest" please...........

[RaoulDuke79]

The term must win is over used. The superbowl is a must win. A game to clinch a playoff birth is a must win. The 3rd game of the year isn't a must win, but it's definitely a "should" win.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Do you want to look back and say 

 

we really needed that win against Cincinnati