Fitz OUT sunday

[Fan in Chicago]

1 hour ago, syhuang said:

 

Soooo.... If we lose to the 'Phins this Sunday playing backups at key positions, they make the playoffs, we get them in the 1st round without them having Fitz and we proceed to thrash them for our first playoff win this millennium? 

[klos63]

16 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Okay, rest the offensive starters.

All 11 of them?

[djp14150]

38 minutes ago, CorkScrewHill said:

Kudos to @djp14150 who posted this but whose post was closed ... good info from your friend ... thx

 

thanks. I don’t post BS stuff.

 

my friends friend is good friends friends with Fitz. Still is friends with him. He lived across the street from him.

 

I got this text from him to me a group of buddies we share this a few hours before it was known but I waited till I saw a second source when WGR retweeted a Miami beat reports tweet about him out of practice.

 

ive asked the mod to re open and merge the thread but for some reason he won’t.

 

 

 

 

1 minute ago, Fan in Chicago said:

Soooo.... If we lose to the 'Phins this Sunday playing backups at key positions, they make the playoffs, we get them in the 1st round without them having Fitz and we proceed to thrash them for our first playoff win this millennium? 

 

the dates depend on when he tested positive, not when it was reported.

[ProcessTruster]

3 hours ago, Michael1962 said:

I hope Fitz is ok.  That being said it makes the game more interesting.

make sure the rest of that team is clean.  they could crush our season by infecting a bunch of our starters.  

[John from Riverside]

Well this just got interesting seeing as how to tua barely even seen snow before

Edited December 31, 2020 by John from Riverside

[SirAndrew]

13 minutes ago, ProcessTruster said:

make sure the rest of that team is clean.  they could crush our season by infecting a bunch of our starters.  

Exactly, without getting into Covid science stuff, I’ll just say this situation kind of scares me when you have a positive on the opposition a few days before playing them. Especially considering the playoffs begin next week. 

[zow2]

2 hours ago, NE Branch said:

Not excited for the potential slow-roll of positives and the possibility of a Dolphin being contagious on Sunday.  

As for our guys, remember when Bruuuuce didn't get a flu shot and was was sick for the 1988 Championship game?  

I hate for these things to be determined by injury/illness.

 

FWIW,  i saw a report recently that said there has not been one case of a player with Covid traced back to an outdoor football game.  That includes college and NFL.  These guys are spreading it by being indoors in enclosed rooms together with someone who unknowingly has it.  

[Meatloaf63]

2 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

If McDermott doesn't believe Tua is a future franchise QB based on what he has seen on film and he wants to play chess while everyone else is playing checkers maybe he and Leslie Frazier call a game plan that makes Tua look respectable? I'm not saying we want him going off for 4 TDs and 300 yards but maybe just don't call a game plan that really brings the pressure, particularly if it's the second half and we already have two score lead. Give them hope for next season so the Dolphins don't see a need to give him the Josh Rosen treatment.

You think Barkley is going to give us a two score lead against a tough defense? And the Tua disrespect here is a bit over the top. He has a winning record and can be very efficient. If our starters don’t play to win, this will not be a cakewalk...

[zow2]

With regards to Tua,  just remember how many people who are "experts" on NFL matters simply dismissed Josh Allen after his first season.  Heck Terry Bradshaw still insists that a QB's completion % out of college never gets better...  Aikman is suspicious too,

[Green Lightning]

16 minutes ago, Meatloaf63 said:

You think Barkley is going to give us a two score lead against a tough defense? And the Tua disrespect here is a bit over the top. He has a winning record and can be very efficient. If our starters don’t play to win, this will not be a cakewalk...

Spot on. If our B Defense is playing and they hand off 49 times, I can see us losing a 13-10 game. They have a solid D and Barkley + back up ain't gonna scare them. 

[BillsFan130]

51 minutes ago, Fan in Chicago said:

Soooo.... If we lose to the 'Phins this Sunday playing backups at key positions, they make the playoffs, we get them in the 1st round without them having Fitz and we proceed to thrash them for our first playoff win this millennium? 

If bills lose to Miami, the Dolphins clinch the 5 seed so the bills would have no chance of playing them in the first round.

 

If the bills beat the Dolphins, then the Dolphins probably either finish 7th or even miss the playoffs.

Edited December 31, 2020 by BillsFan130

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

1 minute ago, Green Lightning said:

Spot on. If our B Defense is playing and they hand off 49 times, I can see us losing a 13-10 game. They have a solid D and Barkley + back up ain't gonna scare them. 

 

Yeah, here's my idea of the McD gameplan:

 

- Play Allen to start- he gives us a two TD lead because he's god-tier right now.  Bench him.  Barkley is probably good for 10 points.  Sic the D on Tua and let him flounder around phins up like a beached mammal in the snow.  Should be enough for a win, even against backups on D.  That's the plan anyway.

[Green Lightning]

1 minute ago, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

 

Yeah, here's my idea of the McD gameplan:

 

- Play Allen to start- he gives us a two TD lead because he's god-tier right now.  Bench him.  Barkley is probably good for 10 points.  Sic the D on Tua and let him flounder around phins up like a beached mammal in the snow.  Should be enough for a win, even against backups on D.  That's the plan anyway.

I could live with that. I would really like to demoralize Tua.

[Saint Doug]

I don’t like this headline. I don’t want the Bills facing any team that is having Covid problems. Now is not the time. And if it is truly going around the Miami team, I want all Bills starters watching from home on Sunday. 

[BillsFan130]

7 minutes ago, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

 

Yeah, here's my idea of the McD gameplan:

 

- Play Allen to start- he gives us a two TD lead because he's god-tier right now.  Bench him.  Barkley is probably good for 10 points.  Sic the D on Tua and let him flounder around phins up like a beached mammal in the snow.  Should be enough for a win, even against backups on D.  That's the plan anyway.

I like the positive thoughts .

 

But to score two Tds on 2 drives against one of the best defences in the league, in bad weather, is pretty optimistic.

 

I am not saying the Bills can’t do it.

 

But Miami has a damn good defence with everything to play for.

 

Remember as well the bills probably won’t give their A game plans away. Cause if they do beat Miami, there’s a chance they got to play them in the wild card round.

Edited December 31, 2020 by BillsFan130

[Royale with Cheese]

3 hours ago, Beast said:

 

I hope that exact scenario happens and the Fish panic and draft Fields if available.

You are heartless. 

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

Just now, Green Lightning said:

I could live with that. I would really like to demoralize Tua.

 

I think that happens, Tua being demoralized.  I thought the Patriots might make it a game, but we just crushed them under our boot like a spent cigarette.  Now, granted, the Dolphins are a much better team, but we're predators on the prowl and we won't give Tua any quarter, no matter starters or what.  As long as Allen plays a half, I'm confident we win this game.

2 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

I like the positive thoughts .

 

But to score two Tds on 2 drives against one of the best defences in the league, in bad weather, is pretty optimistic.

 

I am not saying the Bills can’t do it.

 

But Miami has a damn good defence with everything to play for.

 

Well, Allen has more total touchdowns than times we've punted.  Look it up, it's a fact.  So yes, I don't think it's optimistic.  And anyway, who said two drives?  A half.

[BillsFan130]

2 minutes ago, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

 

I think that happens, Tua being demoralized.  I thought the Patriots might make it a game, but we just crushed them under our boot like a spent cigarette.  Now, granted, the Dolphins are a much better team, but we're predators on the prowl and we won't give Tua any quarter, no matter starters or what.  As long as Allen plays a half, I'm confident we win this game.

 

Well, Allen has more total touchdowns than times we've punted.  Look it up, it's a fact.  So yes, I don't think it's optimistic.  And anyway, who said two drives?  A half.

I highly doubt the starters play the full half. 

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

Just now, BillsFan130 said:

I highly doubt the starters play the full half. 

 

Fair enough.  We'll see.  I don't see Allen starting the game and then not playing a full half at least.

[BillsFan130]

Just now, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

 

Fair enough.  We'll see.  I don't see Allen starting the game and then not playing a full half at least.

Ya it’s hard to say. I guess we will all find out In a few days

[Doc]

8 minutes ago, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

Fair enough.  We'll see.  I don't see Allen starting the game and then not playing a full half at least.

 

If Josh starts, he'll play a series or two.  I think they get him his 40 yards, Diggs as many receptions and yards as they can, and then let them both sit.

[FTLBillsfan]

The Fins have one of the best defenses in the NFL. All they need is average production from the offense to win games. Sound familiar? Same pattern the Bills used the previous 2 years. It seems that Flores is using the same pattern to build the fins that McDermott and Beane used to build the Bills. Of course they took less time since they had a ton of draft pics and cap money to work with this off season.

 If we rest any starters we lose a low scoring game. Thinking that Barkley can put 10 points against that defense is absurd unless you mean giving 10 points, 7 from the pick 6 and 3 after another int. This game is not going to be a cake walk even with the starters playing. If we do build up a 3 score lead then by all means put in backups, not only to rest the starters but to give the backups valuable game reps while still securing the #2 seed

Edited December 31, 2020 by FTLBillsfan

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

2 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

If Josh starts, he'll play a series or two.  I think they get him his 40 yards, Diggs as many receptions and yards as they can, and then let them both sit.

 

Yes, I get this logic.  I just think that McD wants to play it until the half, to see how the Steelers fare.  I think he wants to win this game if necessary to ensure the 2 seed.

[buffalo2218]

I’m hoping Allen plays at least one quarter if not the first half. I wanna see if he can smoke this defense the same way he did in week 2. Keep his mojo goin

[Sharky7337]

3 hours ago, Beast said:

 

Close contact is considered for a period of continuous time. Not a few seconds.

Don't downplay the bromance !

[NEBranch]

3 hours ago, eball said:

 

The Bruce Smith incident you are referring to was the 1995 divisional playoff at Pittsburgh, not the ‘88 AFCC.

Thanks for the correction.  I can now move all distaste for that '88 loss into the Ickey Woods column!

[Steptide]

Just taking a wild guess here, but I think with Fitz being out and Tua having to play the whole game, McDermott will rest starters. I think the bills can beat the Dolphins with mainly backups playing. I don't think it'll be a blowout, but I believe Barkley is better than Tua right now 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I don’t understand how people on here think the Fitz situation changes what we do.
 

Fitz is the backup there— odds were slim he was going to play anyway (it would have to be a close game in which Tua was ineffective— similar to the Miami/raiders game). If we are up big or Tua is doing okay, we wouldn’t have seen Fitz anyway— and even then, I think he is being brought in as an absolute last resort. 
 

i think McD is either going to play his starters or not regardless of what anyone else is doing. Unlike with the Steelers, There’s been no indication from anyone on the Bills that the backups will be playing. 

[Captain Caveman]

59 minutes ago, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

 

Fair enough.  We'll see.  I don't see Allen starting the game and then not playing a full half at least.

Last year where he still needed the work he started the game and played less than that.

[Bad Things]

The thought of our team catching Covid from these guys absolutely terrifies me.

Could you imagine if Josh would have to miss a playoff game because of this?

 

Can we just start the Practice Team against them?

[Steptide]

6 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

I guess everyone forgot Barkleys performance in last years season finale already... 

Different years, different stakes. Like I said, I'm guessing, we'll find out Sunday 

[Doc]

10 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I don’t understand how people on here think the Fitz situation changes what we do.
 

Fitz is the backup there— odds were slim he was going to play anyway (it would have to be a close game in which Tua was ineffective— similar to the Miami/raiders game). If we are up big or Tua is doing okay, we wouldn’t have seen Fitz anyway— and even then, I think he is being brought in as an absolute last resort. 
 

i think McD is either going to play his starters or not regardless of what anyone else is doing. Unlike with the Steelers, There’s been no indication from anyone on the Bills that the backups will be playing. 

 

Fitz won't be there to rescue Tua if the Bills decide to play their starters on defense.  That Raiders game is a loss last weekend if not for Fitz.

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, klos63 said:

All 11 of them?

Why not?

[djp14150]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

With regards to Tua,  just remember how many people who are "experts" on NFL matters simply dismissed Josh Allen after his first season.  Heck Terry Bradshaw still insists that a QB's completion % out of college never gets better...  Aikman is suspicious too,

 

the difference...Josh seem to have  nfl arm strength.  I am unsure on Tuaifhe can’t throw downfield by more than 10 yrds or throwing tight coverage.

 

looking-at his stats says he might be padding stats late in games after it’s been decided 

 

idlime to see is pro stats based on air thrown Remington YAC.

[klos63]

26 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Why not?

Do we have enough backups.  2 backup RB's , a 4 backup WR, 5 linemen....

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

52 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

Last year where he still needed the work he started the game and played less than that.

 

But this year we're winning the whole thing.  And IMO McD thinks the 2nd seed gets us there easier.

[Captain Caveman]

1 minute ago, {::'KayCeeS::} said:

 

But this year we're winning the whole thing.  And IMO McD thinks the 2nd seed gets us there easier.

I am completely baffled why anyone thinks this.  McDermott hasn't really said anything other than we'll do what's best for the team.  And why would he or anyone expect the Steelers to win the next 2 games after the way they've played for the last month?  

We'll see on Sunday, but I'd bet good money that Allen and Diggs at minimum will not play longer than a quarter (my gut tells me they might play one drive or less.)

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

Just now, Captain Caveman said:

I am completely baffled why anyone thinks this.  McDermott hasn't really said anything other than we'll do what's best for the team.  And why would he or anyone expect the Steelers to win the next 2 games after the way they've played for the last month?  

We'll see on Sunday, but I'd bet good money that Allen and Diggs at minimum will not play longer than a quarter (my gut tells me they might play one drive or less.)

 

I hear you.  I'm just casting the bones and doing my occult rituals about the McDoubleSpeak.

 

 

[Phinsfaninpeace]

I know I'm late to this topic. Admittedly I haven't read any of this thread. But I swear the football Gods are against us. We just aren't allowed to have nice things! Here's hoping to you guys resting your starters!!🍺

 

I will start reading the thread now!

6 hours ago, Fixxxer said:

finheaven ready to explode...

Oh yeah, we are battling eachother for sure!! Lol

6 hours ago, MAJBobby said:

I would be poking them. But they are banning all Bills fans for this week. Ahhhhhh poor thin skins. 

Are you serious? Thats funny. Thats pretty petty also. 

Edited January 1, 2021 by Phinsfaninpeace

[YoloinOhio]

7 hours ago, SirAndrew said:

I get it, and not being a Tua defender, but many pro athletes never see real snow or cold before playing in the pros. 

There are no practice conditions in Miami that can prepare him for the weather he will play in on Sunday. Maybe he will do ok. But it has to be a concern for them.