Lurker Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Didn't see this posted yet, but mods please feel free to delete if already posted: https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-the-bills-shock-the-patriots-should-a-national-holiday-be-declared-11576761327?mod=hp_lead_pos12 By Jason Gay Dec. 19, 2019 If the Bills Shock the Patriots, Should a National Holiday Be Declared " I know the country is roiling right now, ablaze with a president’s impeachment, a clamor of partisan finger-pointing, a lot of Beltway yappers barking in circles on cable news, and, as always, angry tweets. So many angry tweets. Also, there’s a very alarming new “Cats” movie, apparently, with singing, mewling cats. Still, I need everyone to focus on something much more important: The Buffalo Bills have a chance to shock the world. They can topple the mighty, mightily-respected, mightily-despised New England Patriots. I know. I told you. It’s a big deal. Knocking off the fancy Death Star Patriots? It’d be more seismic than impeachment. Clocks would stop. Mountains would move. Parents, children and dogs of all sizes would rush to the streets and dance. A national week of celebratory Bills Mafia table smashing would commence. ... But this could be the moment the Patriots are vulnerable—and not just vulnerable in the playoffs. They’re also potentially vulnerable in their own division, the AFC East, which has been a light appetizer they’ve snacked on for this entire century. Enter the Bills. Buffalo isn’t a perfect club—they’ve beaten a lot of middling teams on their way to their first 10-win season since Bill Clinton was in office—but they’re feisty, and they’re just one game in the standings behind the Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain, Bill Belichick. They have an excellent defense (third-ranked in NFL total defense) a sturdy secondary (led by Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White) and there’s stability at quarterback, in second-year passer Josh Allen from Wyoming. ... Head coach Sean McDermott has taken Buffalo to the playoffs twice in his first three seasons, and he appears to know what he’s doing, which immediately vaults him over basically all of the Bills coaches since Marv Levy left the sideline. McDermott’s turned the Bills into nasty visitors: Buffalo is 6-1 on the road this season after their Sunday night victory over Pittsburgh. Because of this, they actually have an outside crack at the AFC East. Let’s be clear: the Bills will need to win and get some help to do it. For the Patriots to fork over the division, they would need to lose to Buffalo Saturday and also drop their regular-season finale with fetid Miami. That’s a big ask. Probably not going to happen. But the fact that it’s the third week of December and we’re even talking about this is, well, staggering. ... This all could change over the next couple of weeks. A win by the Bills (5-34 against the Patriots since 2000) would be a mood-changing event. Even if the Patriots cling onto the division, a rival will have made them work for it. New England’s anxiety will intensify. I haven’t even gotten into the latest “scandal.” The league wants to know why a Pats staffer was videotaping the sideline of a Bengals game a week before New England’s game with Cincinnati. This is suspicious because A) it was the Patriots and B) who on earth wants to watch tape from a Bengals game? For Buffalo, it would be a stunning revival for a club primarily known for a run of early ‘90s Super Bowl losses and—more recently—viral internet videos of their tailgating fans jumping off structures and smashing into cheap plastic tables. The Buffalo Bills…AFC East champions? Unimaginable. The skies would thunder. Birds would sing. So would those strange movie cats. 7 8 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldog Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I think that the WSJ considers this article to be funny. I can't imagine why - to me and almost everyone I know, the prospect of the Bills "Blowing up the Death Star" is vastly more compelling than anything emanating from the Swamp in Washington. This article is more accurate than funny, lol. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden*Wheels Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 "Head coach Sean McDermott has taken Buffalo to the playoffs twice in his first three seasons, and he appears to know what he’s doing, which immediately vaults him over basically all of the Bills coaches since Marv Levy left the sideline. " joke or not True Story 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notwoz Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I frequently read Jason Gay's columns in the WSJ. He's not bad as a humor writer although he's not as funny as the WSJ's op-ed columnists. But he usually has some salient observations tucked in between his stabs at humor: "Buffalo isn’t a perfect club—they’ve beaten a lot of middling teams on their way to their first 10-win season since Bill Clinton was in office—but they’re feisty, and they’re just one game in the standings behind the Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain, Bill Belichick. They have an excellent defense (third-ranked in NFL total defense) a sturdy secondary (led by Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White) and there’s stability at quarterback, in second-year passer Josh Allen from Wyoming." 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted December 19, 2019 Author Share Posted December 19, 2019 1 minute ago, notwoz said: He's not bad as a humor writer although he's not as funny as the WSJ's op-ed columnists. Ain't that the truth. Oh, sorry. Can't use that word any more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemma Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 ? Nice turn of phrase: Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain 4 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlbillsfan1975 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) It’s amazing when you get to read a real journalists article verses the dribble you see so often presented as journalism online. Nice article and I’ll take it, even if it was written with a tongue in cheek slant. Edited December 19, 2019 by atlbillsfan1975 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Egg Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 The WSJ didn't mention since McDermott's hiring, 1/11/17, the DJIA has gone up near 9000 points. Not only is he good for Buffalo, he's good for the country. 2 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) even w/o winning the AFC East, finishing the season with 2 wins, (unless we rest starters week 17 if the seeding is finalized) would provide great momentum for the Playoffs. Also, everyone should click on the article itself. Good pictures in it. Edited December 19, 2019 by RyanC883 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78thealltimegreat Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Reading this it seems this season is like two ships passing in the night...a 42 year old qb starting to play like a 42 year old qb and young upcoming team playing like a young upcoming team..Saturday the Bills are playing with house money and a loose team is a dangerous team 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobChalmers Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Just the act of beating the Pats*** and forcing them to work for the division in week 17 would spell BLOOD IN THE WATER and the impending finish of this stinking dynasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjag Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 All they need to do is drop Brady on that elbow-thingy he has got. Edelman is playing wounded. Miami winning with Fitz doesn't sound so much of a long shot afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 3 hours ago, Lurker said: If the Bills Shock the Patriots, Should a National Holiday Be Declared YES 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 "...fetid Miami", LOL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 4 hours ago, Lurker said: Ain't that the truth. Oh, sorry. Can't use that word any more... Can’t use ‘truth’?! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in Horseheads Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Everybody has their opinions on the intent and rightfully so. I take it as a positive, guess what the national press hath noticed the Buffalo Bills! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF2006 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 My favourite line: and they’re just one game in the standings behind the Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain, Bill Belichick. LMAO what a great piece from a neutral source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSBill Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 good article, thanks Lurker . . . . and I love your byline: "Celebrating the tail of the Bell Curve since 1996!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts