8 games in and the Bills control their own destiny to the #1 seed

[GunnerBill]

The reason some are uncomfortable despite 6-2 is that the book on beating the Bills is now out. The run defense is on tape for every single team that studies it. You think Dallas, Denver, Miami and Baltimore are not going to run that same inside left zone run that has gashed us three weeks in a row repeatedly until the Bills stop it? Cleveland might not because Freddie Kitchens is an absolute clown. So the Bills have to show that the adjustment they made in the second half yesterday - which was a combination of run blitzing and (as per @GoBills808) going to more of a 2 gapping scheme up front - is sustainable. Both of those adjustments have a significant impact on the way that the overall defense is designed. Heavy run blitzing means leaving your corners in more 1v1 matchups - and Levi Wallace isn't suited to that. 2 gapping on the dline affects the way that want to rush the passer from the interior. I know people have banged on about sack numbers not being there but the pressures from the interior were a major reason for the Bills keeping New England, Cincy, the Giants and the Titans off schedule earlier in the season because they were forcing the ball to be thrown off time and out of rhythm with the offense. So there are fixes for the Bills to the run D but they have to show those fixes don't hurt the integrity of the rest of the scheme.

 

Anyway, that is the negative. The positive is that despite the run D struggles the defense remains 3rd in yards per game and 3rd in points per game. The offense continues to lack consistency but continues to be pretty good in the redzone (think it was 3 TDs from 4 trips yesterday) they lead the NFL in that category. I think the Cleveland game looms extremely large now. It will not make or break the season but if the Bill can win it and get to 7-2 and 5-1 in the conference then only an almighty collapse will keep them out of the postseason.

[OutOfBubbleGum]

Blah Blah Blah... Getting ahead of yourself there.

[fergie's ire]

2 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Check your math. If the bills win out, they've handed the pats theirs second loss

And if that happens, and we both have 2 losses an have beaten each other, WHY do we win the division?  Because we were smart and lost to Philly.  Genius.  That loss could actually give us the number one seed.

[Seven-N-Nine]

1 hour ago, njbuff said:

Oh for the love of God.

 

Can we worry about beating the Browns first?

 

Hasn't the 2019 version of the Buffalo Bills taught you anything yet? Like the fact that EVERY game is dog fight for them, no matter WHO the opposition is.

 

With that little margin of error every week, we have no business talking about "controlling their own destiny".

 

There is still a half a season left and even the playoffs are no guarantees whatsoever, never mind a number one seed.

 

This is a team that definitely has to concentrate on one game at a time, every game they seem to struggle in one major area or another.  

[The Red King]

Nobody here thinks the Bills are some kind of juggernaut that are going to crush everyone in their path.  They have weaknesses, things that will make any fan reach for the Pepto.  But at the same time...

 

...the Bills are 6-2.

 

Let that sink in.  At the midpoint they are 6-2, with one loss coming to the Pats, a game most of us would have expected them to lose.  The Bills right now are in a position teams like the Browns and Jets are envious of.  Before the season, I think we would all have been thrilled at the prospect of 6-2.  And yet, now that we're here some fans can't just bring themselves to enjoy the ride.  They won't be happy until Buffalo is a completely dominant team, steamrolling opponents.  I mean, you don't hear San Fran fans bitching about close wins, and they only barely edged these same Skins 9-3 if I recall.

 

6-2.  Shh...just go with it.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, The Red King said:

Nobody here thinks the Bills are some kind of juggernaut that are going to crush everyone in their path.  They have weaknesses, things that will make any fan reach for the Pepto.  But at the same time...

 

...the Bills are 6-2.

 

Let that sink in.  At the midpoint they are 6-2, with one loss coming to the Pats, a game most of us would have expected them to lose.  The Bills right now are in a position teams like the Browns and Jets are envious of.  Before the season, I think we would all have been thrilled at the prospect of 6-2.  And yet, now that we're here some fans can't just bring themselves to enjoy the ride.  They won't be happy until Buffalo is a completely dominant team, steamrolling opponents.  I mean, you don't hear San Fran fans bitching about close wins, and they only barely edged these same Skins 9-3 if I recall.

 

6-2.  Shh...just go with it.

 

Exactly.

 

Any Bills "fan" still whining at 6-2 needs to get chucked off the bandwagon with force, and not allowed back on.

 

[Seven-N-Nine]

Just now, The Red King said:

Before the season, I think we would all have been thrilled at the prospect of 6-2.  And yet, now that we're here some fans can't just bring themselves to enjoy the ride.

 

They have the lowest point total for one of the "good teams", and have struggled in every game, and many of the games have been against bad teams.  I don't think most fans just look at the record as the totality of the "ride".  It's akin to enjoying the Sabres ride last season, you kind of knew it was a faux-ride.

[Cripple Creek]

4 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

Pats losing to the Ravens tonight seals that.

 

Buffalo is being overlooked by absolutely everyone as a good team.

 

But we've also beaten every team we were "supposed" to beat. Who cares how it looked?

 

Seahawks went to overtime against an inferior 2 win Bucs team with a turnover prone QB. Will the conversation be about how the 'Hawks are in trouble? Probably not.

 

Packers lost to the 3-5 Chargers today. They're still going to be talked about as a legitimate Super contenders and this game will likely be an afterthought.

 

Patriots have only beaten one team with a winning record: that was Buffalo and it was by 6 points in a game that they had a fluke ST TD and knocked our starting QB out for the entire 4th quarter. Tonight they got dominated like we did last week against the Eagles.

 

So that leaves the Ravens. We play them. They stomped the Patriots. But they also got stomped by the 2 win Cleveland Browns. It's not like they're unbeatable.

 

Wins are Wins and any team in the NFL can win in any given week, so don't overlook anyone!

 

Just keep winning Buffalo!!! 

What body part is it that you had transplanted?

[Seven-N-Nine]

Just now, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Exactly.

 

Any Bills "fan" still whining at 6-2 needs to get chucked off the bandwagon with force, and not allowed back on.

 

 You don't get to decide who is a fan of the team.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, Seven-N-Nine said:

 You don't get to decide who is a fan of the team.

 

Hell I don't. You're gonna be first to get the aunt edna treatment. Tied to the bumper.

 

[Seven-N-Nine]

2 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Hell I don't. You're gonna be first to get the aunt edna treatment. Tied to the bumper.

 

 

A personal threat? Plus that was the dog I think. Edna was on top of the car...

Edited November 4, 2019 by Seven-N-Nine

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Just now, Seven-N-Nine said:

 

A personal threat?

 

It's a metaphor, fool.

 

 

[Dopey]

4 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

Cant we just be happy they are 6-2 after a couple of tough wins and moving on?

 

The thought of them being the No 1 seed in the AFC has not entered my mind until this thread..

So now it's in your head. Embrace the possibilities. It's been quite a while since we could even imaging this scenario.

[HomeTeam]

5 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

Pats losing to the Ravens tonight seals that.

 

Buffalo is being overlooked by absolutely everyone as a good team.

 

But we've also beaten every team we were "supposed" to beat. Who cares how it looked?

 

Seahawks went to overtime against an inferior 2 win Bucs team with a turnover prone QB. Will the conversation be about how the 'Hawks are in trouble? Probably not.

 

Packers lost to the 3-5 Chargers today. They're still going to be talked about as a legitimate Super contenders and this game will likely be an afterthought.

 

Patriots have only beaten one team with a winning record: that was Buffalo and it was by 6 points in a game that they had a fluke ST TD and knocked our starting QB out for the entire 4th quarter. Tonight they got dominated like we did last week against the Eagles.

 

So that leaves the Ravens. We play them. They stomped the Patriots. But they also got stomped by the 2 win Cleveland Browns. It's not like they're unbeatable.

 

Wins are Wins and any team in the NFL can win in any given week, so don't overlook anyone!

 

Just keep winning Buffalo!!! 

I love the optimism but lets pump the breaks. Why do we always do this to ourselves?

 

Last week, lose to the Eagles, "we are pretenders"

This week, beat the Redskins, "possible 1 seed?"

 

I'm just going to let things play out as they do and try to enjoy the season. 

 

Go Bills!

[Bills!Win!]

5 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

Cool..

 

No not really..

Bit of a dud thread actually..

 

But of a did comment by you 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Doesn't every team control their own destiny??   

 

13 minutes ago, HomeTeam said:

I love the optimism but lets pump the breaks. Why do we always do this to ourselves?

 

Last week, lose to the Eagles, "we are pretenders"

This week, beat the Redskins, "possible 1 seed?"

 

I'm just going to let things play out as they do and try to enjoy the season. 

 

Go Bills!

 

excellent post.  

We're on to Cleveland and what that presents against a struggling desperate team.

 

Does Cleveland still have any fight left? 

The Browns are a shambles ... Will they finally crack and surrender or keep on trucking.  

 

Take nothing lightly in the NFL 

 

[FiftyPercent]

10 minutes ago, SlimShady'sGhost said:

Doesn't every team control their own destiny??   

 

 

excellent post.  

We're on to Cleveland and what that presents against a struggling desperate team.

 

Does Cleveland still have any fight left? 

The Browns are a shambles ... Will they finally crack and surrender or keep on trucking.  

 

Take nothing lightly in the NFL 

 

Eagles were desperate but they had a real playoff chance still.  The Browns desperation is different, just not sure yet if it is more dangerous.

[Josh_Allen]

One game at a time please!

[buffaloboyinATL]

6 hours ago, Warcodered said:

I mean it is ridiculous but I do love that optimism, I mean why not.

I agree it's a long shot, but I believe the OP's point is that this is the best position we have been in, 8 games into the season, in a long, long time.  We all know there are some weaknesses that need to be addressed with this team, but I am happy to see us continuing to move in the right direction! I am officially on team optimism.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

16 minutes ago, FiftyPercent said:

Eagles were desperate but they had a real playoff chance still.  The Browns desperation is different, just not sure yet if it is more dangerous.

 

which is why I posted what I did.  

 

On any given Sunday.   

The ROOKIE that had an NFL record with 27 TD's last year ....  You can not over look that. 

In 8 games no less 

Edited November 4, 2019 by SlimShady'sGhost

[Jobot]

The Bills could have theoretically ended the season at 15-1, and still only lay claim to a wild card seed following their loss to New England through when they lost to the Eagles. 

 

But now, as a result of NE's in-conference loss at Baltimore, The Buffalo Bills control of their own destiny.  Winning out would result in them beating the Ravens Week 14 thus splitting the 'common games' tie-breaker with NE, and then beating Patriot's Week 16 will result in splitting head to head tie-breaker.  This leaves Conference record tiebreaker awarding the Bills the division!

 

Now, it may not play out exactly like this in Act-2 of the 2019 NFL season.. but who wouldn't have taken 'essentially tied with NE' at the halfway point?!

 

NFL Divisional Tie-Breaking

1- Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3- Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games (games played against the same opponents).
4- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

[DJB]

Don't we always control our  own destiny?

 

Nobody is helping us go to the playoffs if we go 0-16 right?

[wagon127]

You know, the Sabres control their own destiny too. Only 67 games to go. Why don't we talk about that as well?

 

Controlling your own destiny is an accomplishment you can talk about when there are 2 or 3 games to go in the season. Not 8...... Way to much can happen...

[whatdrought]

Let’s just beat the Browns. 

 

Besides, I don’t expect the Pats to be 15-1 or even 14-2 if we beat them. They have the Eagles, Texans, Cowboys, and Chiefs the next 4. 

[FiftyPercent]

6-2 is sure bringing out the loonies.

[Mrbojanglezs]

this seems silly to discuss with half a season left.

[RiotAct]

yep, we know.

[Your Brown Eye]

[DC Tom]

Hard to believe a 6-2 team could control their own destiny, isn't it?

 

Oh, wait...you've got more than 250 posts.  I don't have to be subtle!  You're an idiot.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

2 minutes ago, DC Tom said:

Oh, wait...you've got more than 250 posts.  I don't have to be subtle!  You're an idiot.

Good thing you’re saying that to Jobot, and not Jermaine Whitehead!  ?

[Jobot]

7 minutes ago, DC Tom said:

Hard to believe a 6-2 team could control their own destiny, isn't it?

 

Oh, wait...you've got more than 250 posts.  I don't have to be subtle!  You're an idiot.

 

Apologies for offending you DC Tom.

[DC Tom]

1 minute ago, Jobot said:

 

Apologies for offending you DC Tom.

 

I'm not offended.  Jeez, if I were offended every time someone was an idiot...

[The Red King]

I think some people are missing the OP's point.  It's not that people believe we're gonna run the table.  It's more, can we just stop and appreciate where we are right now?  Halfway into the season and instead of talking about how tenacious our playoff chances are, we're still in a position where we could still win the division and even top seed, however unlikely.

 

Yes, the Bills could collapse.  I'll worry about that if and when it happens.  Let's say the Bills utterly collapse and lose out.  When the season is over, I'll have enjoyed half the season and lamented the other.  The naysayers here will have hated all of it.  Who got more enjoyment out of the season in total?

[nedboy7]

I could see this happening if daboll isn’t calling the plays. 

1 hour ago, Mrbojanglezs said:

this seems silly to discuss with half a season left.

no you see every week you are supposed to predict wins and losses going forward depending on the emotional reaction to whatever happened that week. So this week we be winning the SB. No wait we suck! 

[WhoTom]

7 hours ago, JoPar_v2 said:

That’s true. Don’t we have the easier schedule though?

 

Record in common games within the conference takes precedence over strength of schedule. If the Bills win out, they'll have beaten the Ravens, who beat the Pats*. The Bills would have one AFC loss, while the Pats* would have two.

 

https://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures

 

 

[Watkins101]

If we somehow win out, no matter what, we are the 1 seed in the conference. We would beat the pats out by having a better conference record if we were both 14-2

[djp14150]

8 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

Pats losing to the Ravens tonight seals that.

 

Buffalo is being overlooked by absolutely everyone as a good team.

 

But we've also beaten every team we were "supposed" to beat. Who cares how it looked?

 

Seahawks went to overtime against an inferior 2 win Bucs team with a turnover prone QB. Will the conversation be about how the 'Hawks are in trouble? Probably not.

 

Packers lost to the 3-5 Chargers today. They're still going to be talked about as a legitimate Super contenders and this game will likely be an afterthought.

 

Patriots have only beaten one team with a winning record: that was Buffalo and it was by 6 points in a game that they had a fluke ST TD and knocked our starting QB out for the entire 4th quarter. Tonight they got dominated like we did last week against the Eagles.

 

So that leaves the Ravens. We play them. They stomped the Patriots. But they also got stomped by the 2 win Cleveland Browns. It's not like they're unbeatable.

 

Wins are Wins and any team in the NFL can win in any given week, so don't overlook anyone!

 

Just keep winning Buffalo!!! 

 

 

TAs oof know if they win out they wil be 14-2 tied with NE at 14-2

 

H2H split

same division record of 5-1

common game record the same, both 2-0 against non common

conference record would be in BUF Favor because one lose against NFC so better AFC record

 

after their bye NE as a gaintlet

 

bye

at PHL

DAL

at HOU

KC

 

I see them going 2-2 here/ going 1-3 is not a surprise

 

BUF has

at CLE

at MIA

DEN

at DAL

BAL

 

I see BUF going 4-1

 

BAL/PHL/DAL --both have gone 0-1

 

noncommon games is the edge at Ten/DEN vs at HOU/KC  BUF can go 2-0, NE can go 0-2

 

 

 

 

[ganesh]

8 hours ago, JoPar_v2 said:

If the bills win out, and the pats win out, then we still have 2 losses to their 1. So how do we control our own destiny? Don’t we need the pats to lose at least 1-2 more games to have a shot at the 1 seed? I’ll hang up and listen.

If the Bills win out, the Pats will have 2 losses (One to Baltimore and one to Us !!).   Both of us will be 14-2...Our 2nd loss was to NFC opponent whereas they would have two losses in the AFC...Hence the Bills control their destiny to the Top Seed

[Don Otreply]

8 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

That’s good advice but I’m still struggling..

 

I think I need a transplant of something..

Maybe have your spleen removed, that might help..,?

 

Go Bills!!!

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

thinking about the # 1 seed 8 games in to the season is really putting the 

 

 

cart............................................way before the......................................horse

 

 

win a few more. beat the ravens, ne*, sweep the fins and jets and even beat the cowboys before this kind of thought should even be considered, this early?