Pats are 4-4 with a rookie QB and almost top 10 defense

[BubbaT]

I think the Patriots are a definite threat in the division. They have a better O line and just as good if not better d line. I like their pass rush a whole lot more with Judon than I like ours. Their secondary and linebackers are also good and they run the ball well. They caught a huge break (no pun intended) when Henry broke his foot as that is one of their toughest games coming up. Allen is certainly a more dynamic player than Jones but in a grind it out, ball control style, Jones fits what they do. They played a very solid mistake free game on the road to beat the Chargers. Looked like a vintage Belichick team. The 2 games with them will likely be huge.

 

People question who the Patriots have beaten but the Bills can't really brag about their 2 wins over last place Miami, and win over last place WFT, last place Texans and declining KC. Not a lot to brag about there.

Edited November 1, 2021 by BubbaT

[Ethan in Cleveland]

6 minutes ago, corta765 said:

 

Bills fans obsess over NE. No I don't care at this time and truthfully evaluating anything right now is a mute point. Good for NE they are 4-4, they could also be 5-8 in four weeks and none of this matters or 8-4 idk idc, we are at week 9 the NFL landscape is vastly different every year come seasons end.

No obsession with NE with Brady gone.  Just commenting on the NFL landscape

[timekills17]

14 minutes ago, Klaus said:

 

Agreed, when 50% of your wins are against the Jets it is hard to take the 4 wins as a sign of anything. 

 

 

 

Just to play devil's advocate...

 

The Bills have zero wins against a team with a winning record.

The Jets have only two wins, but both against AFC division leaders, and teams that can or did beat the Bills (Cincy and Tennessee.)

 

I don't hold any wins inside the division lightly. Pats beating the Jets counts just as much as our two wins against the Dolphins. Arguably more so, since I'd say the Jets might be better than the Dolphins right now. Recently in the division, the Jets and Patriots have matched up much more closely to the Bills than the Dolphins have, and we have yet to play either of them.

 

Any given Sunday for a reason. The Bills on paper should sweep again. Let's see.

[FloridaSnow]

1 hour ago, LyndonvilleBill said:

I would add the Saints as well.

 

I'd agree if Winston were still playing, but it looks like he will be out for a while. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

15 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I'm glad McD and the players will take the games more seriously than you seem to.

 I take them seriously 

 

I’ve said time and again on any given Sunday 

But I’m 95.8% cured of my BBFS 

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, golfball323 said:

Whoever thought the Pats were going to lay down and die because 5 of their starts opted out last year and returned this year wasn't paying attention. 

 

If we don't start playing full 60 minute games, our matchuhps with the Pats will be tough contests. 

If we don’t start playing full sixty minute games ALL of our games will be tough contests…, the pats themselves are not really the determining factor. 
 

Go Bills!!!

[hondo in seattle]

37 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

 I take them seriously 

 

I’ve said time and again on any given Sunday 

But I’m 95.8% cured of my BBFS 

 

That's more than me.   

 

I'm perfectly aware of his Brady-less win record.  Still, I respect his coaching ability.  And I've endured too many sorrowful Sundays thanks - in part - to that  man to take him lightly.    

[Freddie's Dead]

The Cheats are pretenders.  We will unmask them in due time.

[Matt_In_NH]

The Bills need to still beat them when it comes down to it, won't be easy.   They are well coached and have a lot more talent than last season.   They lost some close games against good teams.  They will not be pushovers.

[Jeffbigalls]

1 hour ago, MAJBobby said:

Lets see

 

Wins against Jets, Houston, Jets, Chargers.

 

I dont see anything majorly impressive in those wins (maybe Chargers) 

Miami 2x, Houston, wft, KC 

The same can be said here

[RyanC883]

3 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Win over the Chargers on the road was impressive. They look like a WC team at this point. I didn't think much of Jones at the time of the draft but he is completing 68% of his passes. And he has over 7 yards per attempt so even if most of the passes are short they are moving the ball.

Defense is just outside of top 10. 

Should be good games this year to see how McD challenges the rookie and what our offense can do against their defense.

 

 

they did a really good job building that team around him.  2 top TE's (a rookie QBs best friend), good OL, defense, and capable backs.  

[JDubya76]

I won’t discredit the Pats beating the chargers BUUUUT the chargers are still the chargers. They are never as good as everyone wants them to be and when it comes down to the final minutes the chargers are usually the team that is anti-clutch when the game is on the line

[MAJBobby]

2 minutes ago, Jeffbigalls said:

Miami 2x, Houston, wft, KC 

The same can be said here

Yep it could.  However KC will end up winning that Division.

[mjd1001]

The could potentiall win their next 4 games and come into the Bills game at 8-4.  They SHOULD win 2 or maybe 3 of them and come in 6-6 or 7-5.  I'm still not concerned about them. To me they are just another 'in the hunt' team. If they Beat Buffalo and come out of that matchup leading the division, that is when I'll be concerned.

[Jauronimo]

The Pats offense put up 350 yards and scored 1 TD.  Tough to win like that in the NFL.

[Jeffbigalls]

1 minute ago, MAJBobby said:

Yep it could.  However KC will end up winning that Division.

I hope they do, I got a futures bet on Chiefs AFC west. 

[BuffaloMatt]

1 hour ago, MAJBobby said:

Lets see

 

Wins against Jets, Houston, Jets, Chargers.

 

I dont see anything majorly impressive in those wins (maybe Chargers) 

Chargers yesterday = Herbert was not great with accuracy 18-35, QBR 16.0 , 2 INTs, five drives end in punts, Ekeler was playing hurt. Defense 1 sack. 

[Ross Murdock]

Lots of tough talk regarding the Patriots here. Who have the Bills beaten? Nobody. The Chiefs are currently rated the 14th best team in the league. The Bills schedule is a cavalcade of the leagues worst bottom dwellers. They need to spank someone good. If the Bills lose to the 3-5 Colts at home, it would indicate the Bills as frauds. The Patriots have a solid offensive line, a large and stout defensive line, and punishing running backs. All bad ingredients for the Bills. I hate the Pats, and Belichick. But I believe the Bills almost comically favorable schedule makes them susceptible to teams that play physical football. The Bills would be doing well to beat the Pats once. The Bill's aren't a top 10 team until they beat someone.                  

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

3 hours ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

Cute. Since you rarely post I'll assume this is your thing. So have at your Pats

I prefer quality over quantity. 

If I wanted 4000 posts I would indeed go to threads and post "Who cares". 

Hey, way to rack 'em up!

 

[JohnNord]

3 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Win over the Chargers on the road was impressive. They look like a WC team at this point. I didn't think much of Jones at the time of the draft but he is completing 68% of his passes. And he has over 7 yards per attempt so even if most of the passes are short they are moving the ball.

Defense is just outside of top 10. 

Should be good games this year to see how McD challenges the rookie and what our offense can do against their defense.

 

If the Bills play the way they did during the first half of the game vs Miami - they are in trouble.  
 

At their best, I think the Bills offense will be hard to handle.  Of course, all pending on the O-line.  I still think the NE corners have a tough time with the Bills WR’s
 

The game plan for NE is going to be simple.  They are going to try to pound the ball, dink and dunk, and then use play action for a few shots downfield.  
 

How well the Bills can stop the run will be huge.  

 

[Sundancer]

7 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

If the Bills play the way they did during the first half of the game vs Miami - they are in trouble.  
 

At their best, I think the Bills offense will be hard to handle.  Of course, all pending on the O-line.  I still think the NE corners have a tough time with the Bills WR’s
 

The game plan for NE is going to be simple.  They are going to try to pound the ball, dink and dunk, and then use play action for a few shots downfield.  
 

How well the Bills can stop the run will be huge.  

 

 

The Pats did the smartest thing ever for Mac Jones. Bought two good tight ends. 

[JohnNord]

2 minutes ago, Sundancer said:

 

The Pats did the smartest thing ever for Mac Jones. Bought two good tight ends. 

Yeah but they aren’t really doing much this season.  

[Sundancer]

Just now, JohnNord said:

Yeah but they aren’t really doing much this season.  

 

Except providing blocking and drawing lots of attention to themselves in the middle of the field? 

 

Good tight ends make a difference. 

[Success]

I was bummed yesterday. The Chargers really handed them the win.

 

But, teams tend to do that against BB.  He generally makes sure that it's not his team that makes the game-deciding mistake (though that happened earlier this season).

 

They won't be an easy out by any means, and I do NOT want to face that team in the playoffs.  The "playoff experience" advantage is ridiculous for Belichick.  It's like a normal day at the office for him now.

 

It will be nice when he finally retires. I think this Pats team is very middlin' in terms of talent, but that's all he needs to keep them in contention.

 

[Rocky Landing]

2 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

Bills fans obsess over NE. No I don't care at this time and truthfully evaluating anything right now is a mute point. Good for NE they are 4-4, they could also be 5-8 in four weeks and none of this matters or 8-4 idk idc, we are at week 9 the NFL landscape is vastly different every year come seasons end.

I don't obsess over NE*. I just want every team they play to curb-stomp them into oblivion, and for their fanbase to go skulking back to their crappy basement apartments, and drink themselves to death. I want Belichick* to be humiliated at every one of his grim-toned pressers. I want Mac & Cheese to rue the day the Patriots* drafted him, and I want them to experience an unslakable drought with nothing but misery and Monday morning hangovers on the horizon. But, I don't obsess over them.

[Scott7975]

Honestly, I am surprised no one is worried about the Jets yet.

[streetkings01]

Can’t wait until we play the Jets 2x to pad our stats.

5 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

Honestly, I am surprised no one is worried about the Jets yet.

Probably because outside of beating a Titans team with no Julio Jones or Brown they’ve been curb stomped by just about every team they’ve played. They’re the worst scoring offense in the NFL and the 27th worst scoring defense. 

Edited November 1, 2021 by streetkings01

[FilthyBeast]

4 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Win over the Chargers on the road was impressive. They look like a WC team at this point. I didn't think much of Jones at the time of the draft but he is completing 68% of his passes. And he has over 7 yards per attempt so even if most of the passes are short they are moving the ball.

Defense is just outside of top 10. 

Should be good games this year to see how McD challenges the rookie and what our offense can do against their defense.

 

 

The sad reality is they could easily be 6-2 or 7-1 right now if not for a few plays (specifically against the Dolphins/Bucs/Cowboys). The only true bad loss was against the Saints. It was very impressive what they did against the Chargers on the road coming out of their bye week.

 

Despite the Dolphins being a major disappointment this year I've felt all along the Pats are a real threat to the Bills this year and still are despite sitting 2 games back in the loss column. And it's vomit inducing that they may have very well found another franchise QB so soon after Brady leaving.

 

Either way it's not a slam dunk we are going to win either game against the Pats this year but must split worst case.

 

[Big Turk]

Ok, we should still beat them twice. Once may be close like last year, the other likely not.

 

[YattaOkasan]

1 hour ago, Ross Murdock said:

Lots of tough talk regarding the Patriots here. Who have the Bills beaten? Nobody. The Chiefs are currently rated the 14th best team in the league. The Bills schedule is a cavalcade of the leagues worst bottom dwellers. They need to spank someone good. If the Bills lose to the 3-5 Colts at home, it would indicate the Bills as frauds. The Patriots have a solid offensive line, a large and stout defensive line, and punishing running backs. All bad ingredients for the Bills. I hate the Pats, and Belichick. But I believe the Bills almost comically favorable schedule makes them susceptible to teams that play physical football. The Bills would be doing well to beat the Pats once. The Bill's aren't a top 10 team until they beat someone.                  

To the bold, you mean like the Dolphins, WFT, Houston, KC?  What?  we have done very well against our schedule.  Hell we covered the spread against the fish yesterday.  

 

To the underline, Pretty sure noone in the world makes their rankings this way.  If we were just sneaking out wins sure, but we have been winning by > 1 possession and with losses by a total of 10 points to good teams.  If anything we are getting the short end of the draw on these close games.  

 

Could the Pats beat? Sure.  Do I think well be doing well to beat the Pats once? No thats what I expect.  Winning twice would be doing well.  

 

Your BBFS is strong still.

[FilthyBeast]

4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Ok, we should still beat them twice. Once may be close like last year, the other likely not.

 

 

I've said all along I don't see this team sweeping the division again and yesterday was a sobering reminder of why.

 

We'll no doubt be favored at home in the MNF game unless something drastic happens but the game in Foxboro is shaping up to be very difficult assuming their Pats current ascent continues.

 

This is a good Pats team regardless if whether or Bills fans want to acknowlege it.

[Big Turk]

1 minute ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

I've said all along I don't see this team sweeping the division again and yesterday was a sobering reminder of why.

 

We'll no doubt be favored at home in the MNF game unless something drastic happens but the game in Foxboro is shaping up to be very difficult assuming their Pats current ascent continues.

 

This is a good Pats team regardless if whether or Bills fans want to acknowlege it.

 

I like McDermott's D against a rookie QB.  Pats may be a good team, but the Bills are simply an elite team who has no business losing to them.

[FilthyBeast]

1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

 

I like McDermott's D against a rookie QB.  Pats may be a good team, but the Bills are simply an elite team who has no business losing to them.

 

If the Bills were truly elite they wouldn't be 0-2 against teams that currently have a winning record. And I don't feel the Steelers and Titans are elite either.

 

Not saying we won't continue to ramp up similar to how we finished last year but again at this point and time there's not much that separates the Bills from crowded AFC field right now other than having a better QB which certainly matters but it's not everything in the playoffs as we've seen in years past when top seeds get bounced early by teams playing better as a whole vs the sum of their parts.

[Scott7975]

19 minutes ago, streetkings01 said:

Can’t wait until we play the Jets 2x to pad our stats.

Probably because outside of beating a Titans team with no Julio Jones or Brown they’ve been curb stomped by just about every team they’ve played. They’re the worst scoring offense in the NFL and the 27th worst scoring defense. 

They just beat the Bengals though with a no name at QB passing for 400 yards.  I don't think you know how BBFS really messes with a few here.  I was being sarcastic though. Come Jets week at least one person will be worried.  There is always at least that one person.

9 minutes ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

I've said all along I don't see this team sweeping the division again and yesterday was a sobering reminder of why.

 

We'll no doubt be favored at home in the MNF game unless something drastic happens but the game in Foxboro is shaping up to be very difficult assuming their Pats current ascent continues.

 

This is a good Pats team regardless if whether or Bills fans want to acknowlege it.

 

No team has ever swept their division two years in a row.  When the Bills do it, it will be a first.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

4 hours ago, First Round Bust said:

Pats will play us tough like the Fins did yesterday...good teams find a way, a different way to win every week. 

Division games are rivalries and the coaches-players know each well from all that film work x 2 games per season...

cant muff punts and our O-line needs to play better...rinse lather repeat

agree. Going to be tough division games, even against the Jets. If we can finish 5-1 In the division (splitting with NE), I will be really happy. 

1 hour ago, Ross Murdock said:

Lots of tough talk regarding the Patriots here. Who have the Bills beaten? Nobody. The Chiefs are currently rated the 14th best team in the league. The Bills schedule is a cavalcade of the leagues worst bottom dwellers. They need to spank someone good. If the Bills lose to the 3-5 Colts at home, it would indicate the Bills as frauds. The Patriots have a solid offensive line, a large and stout defensive line, and punishing running backs. All bad ingredients for the Bills. I hate the Pats, and Belichick. But I believe the Bills almost comically favorable schedule makes them susceptible to teams that play physical football. The Bills would be doing well to beat the Pats once. The Bill's aren't a top 10 team until they beat someone.                  

Lost in this post is the great use of the word “cavalcade”!!! Nicely done!! 

[Bob in STL]

The Pats* have a lot of new players.  They are just starting to get the system there.  They will be a challenge. 

[evek]

They are a playoff team that had a rough start where they lost a lot of close games. Their remaining schedule is easy enough for them to get in and they have shown they can take good teams down to the wire. Early on a lot of people made them out to be as bad as the Jags or Texans. Clearly not the case.

Edited November 1, 2021 by evek

[Dan]

1 hour ago, Scott7975 said:

They just beat the Bengals though with a no name at QB passing for 400 yards.  I don't think you know how BBFS really messes with a few here.  I was being sarcastic though. Come Jets week at least one person will be worried.  There is always at least that one person.

 

No team has ever swept their division two years in a row.  When the Bills do it, it will be a first.

This is what I was wondering yesterday. How often does a team sweep their division?  ...in 2 consecutive seasons?  
 

All teams in the NFL have the ability to win a couple games.  So it’s going to be tough to beat the Pats twice.  That’s for certain.   Yeah, this team can and may need to, but it’s a tall order!  And certainly just shouldn’t be expected based on the team’s records. 

[ColoradoBills]

The Pats* are playing good football right now.

They are a divisional rival and until they are eliminated from a chance to win the division title I will want them to lose.

How can a Bills fan feel anything other than that?

[LyndonvilleBill]

4 hours ago, Fan in Chicago said:

Any given Thursday and all that, but I wouldn't. Only thing that may make that game competitive is Payton's ingenuity.  

Wonder if the Bucs thought the same thing.🤔