Even after Jacksonville Debacle, Bills STILL favorite to win the Super Bowl

[Albany,n.y.]

1 hour ago, dorquemada said:

The Bills have beat 1 team with a winning record.  i think i'd tap the brakes on the super bowl talk until they beat a quality opponent.  In fact, let's start with beating a bottom feeder and work out from there

 

Do you believe that the Buffalo Bills, as constituted today, are the best team in the NFL? 

There is no best team in the NFL in November that means anything.  Last November the Bucs lost 3 games & fell to 7-5 after 12 games.  The best team in the NFL is decided in January & February, not November.  Right now a team missing 2 of its starting O-linemen and their top TE (really the only real NFL TE on the roster) can't be evaluated until these 3 either return or don't.   Also don't be surprised if some guy comes in off the street & ends up getting significant time at RB.  

[Blainorama5]

2 minutes ago, Albany,n.y. said:

Also don't be surprised if some guy comes in off the street & ends up getting significant time at RB.

That might be a pleasant surprise - but not holding my breath on that one.

[MPL]

5 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

Nothing was tougher than 84 and 85. Back to back 2-14 seasons. 

I am very grateful to have been born in 86.

Edited November 9, 2021 by MPL

[Albany,n.y.]

21 minutes ago, MPL said:

oof, I was at this game. Roscoe Parish muffed a punt late in the 4th, allowing the Browns to kick the go-ahead field goal. We boo'd the offense every time they took field in the 2nd half. 

After the game, Trent Edwards was asked if he would have boo'd if he was a fan, to which he responded, "I don't know; I'm not a fan." 

Those were tough times. 

I was never so happy to have a game end without going into overtime as this game.  The weather was lousy & I had a 5 hour drive back home after the game.  I just wanted that game to end so I could go home & put the memory of attending the worst football game I was ever at behind me.  I remember after the game on the postgame show one of the main topics was: Are the Bills Cleveland's Bi##h?   

[Teddy KGB]

12 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

Your entire premise revolves around your belief this oline is so bad and so soft that this team is incapable of winning a SB. Feel free to have that opinion. To me, your question is irrelevant because I happen to disagree with you. I think a realistic evaluation of the body of evidence with this team leans more in my favor than yours.

 

It is a long season. We will see.

lmao, you should watch the jags game.  
 

they were the worst front 4 in the league, and whooped these softies.   
 

i think one dude, doubled his career sack numbers vs these outclassed bums. 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Teddy KGB

[billsfan1959]

Just now, Teddy KGB said:

lmao, you should watch the jags game.  
 

they were the worst front 4 in the league, and whooped these softies.   

 

Right. In. One. Game.

 

Thanks for making my point....

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

Honestly, this is kind of ridiculous. And the Titans should clearly be the favorite for homefield advantage. They have a huge lead, and their schedule is clearly easier.

[dorquemada]

1 minute ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

Honestly, this is kind of ridiculous. And the Titans should clearly be the favorite for homefield advantage. They have a huge lead, and their schedule is clearly easier.

 

With King Henry coming back for the playoffs. 

 

My worry for the Bills this year started with that game.  TN absolutely manhandled the Bills.  JA made it a good game, and nearly pulled it off, but the longer that game went, the more TN was going to win by.  I don't feel like the Bills have recovered from that yet, mentally. If they got to play the Dolphins every week, sure, they would win most of those games, but as it stands they have to play other teams as well, including some pretty good ones.  I watch a lot of TB games, that D is going to embarrass us unless we can come up with something more novel than throwing the ball 3 yards behind the LoS

[LABILLBACKER]

26 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

You. Missed. The. Point.

 

He basically said if the Bills were a real SB contender they wouldn't be 5-3. If that is true then TB wasn't a real SB contender at 7-5.

 

And there wasn't anyone thinking the Buccaneers were SB contenders at 7-5 and coming off 3 losses in four games - including an absolute beating and pathetic performance by the GOAT with 3 INTs and a 40 QB rating against the Saints...

 

It is a long season and you do not pre-judge the outcome by what happens in the 8th game of the season...

Hopefully Daboll can pull 5 olineman out of his butt. We're not winning any SB this year with these 5. Josh will continue to try and "leap tall buildings on a single bound" but he can't do it all.

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

Wow...color me shocked...

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-the-bills-are-the-super-bowl-favorite-at-the-halfway-point-of-the-2021-season-144427688.html

 

Buffalo is the clear favorite for the AFC despite a Week 9 loss to Jacksonville. Here's how all the betting odds have changed through 9 weeks.

 

Not sure why anyone would be shocked.  Upsets happen every week, lots of them happened this week and even the week before.  I mean the Bucs lost to the Saints with Trevor Simien playing most the game.  

 

Bills are clearly the best roster in the AFC...we are still the number #1 defense in the NFL and #4 scoring offense.  Doesn't mean its a cake walk to the SB, but we clearly are still rightfully the favorites, at least until we see how we rebound from the upset next week.  

 

This board is just utterly bipolar with wins and losses.  Bills could win 8 in a row then lose one.  After the one loss, the season would be declared all but over.  Its ridiculous.  

[Mat68]

Still an easy schedule.  Buffalo needs to figure it out.  Got half way to go yet still.  Rather have these issues before thanksgiving than after. 

[Logic]

Personally, I think it's really, really weird that the Bills are still the Super Bowl favorites. REALLY weird.

There are multiple teams with better records. There are even multiple teams with quarterbacks playing at a higher level (at least statistically) than Buffalo's.

I can see being in the top 5 in Super Bowl odds, but FIRST?! 

Doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

[billsfan1959]

2 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

My worry for the Bills this year started with that game.  TN absolutely manhandled the Bills. 

 

To the tune of 28 - 16 1st downs (Bills), 417-362 Tot Yds (Bills), 33 min - 27 min Time of Possession (Bills), and the Bills falling one yard short of winning in a 34-31 loss on the road...

 

I don't think the word "manhandled" means what you think it means...

[dorquemada]

13 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

To the tune of 28 - 16 1st downs (Bills), 417-362 Tot Yds (Bills), 33 min - 27 min Time of Possession (Bills), and the Bills falling one yard short of winning in a 34-31 loss on the road...

 

I don't think the word "manhandled" means what you think it means...

 

Yeah, and JA was running for his life a lot of the game.  As the game went on, TN got stronger, the Bills got weaker.  JA can play superman but by himself can't win a 60 minute game.   TN had plenty of injuries in that game as well, so we can't use that as an excuse.  It's one thing to jump out to an early lead, but playoff teams aren't going to be so easy.

[Alphadawg7]

7 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

 

Yeah, and JA was running for his life a lot of the game.  As the game went on, TN got stronger, the Bills got weaker.  JA can play superman but by himself can't win a 60 minute game.   TN had plenty of injuries in that game as well, so we can't use that as an excuse.  It's one thing to jump out to an early lead, but playoff teams aren't going to be so easy.

 

Its amazing how many of you possess extreme selective memory.  

 

Manhandled?  LMAO...we weren't manhandled by Tenn.  We dominated most the key metrics of that game.  The issue was once again self inflicted wounds that cost us that game.  Its that simple.  

 

The single biggest contributor for this team right now in all 3 losses is one thing and thing only.  Penalties.  Every time offense was gaining momentum in key moments of the Steelers game, Titans game, and now the Jags game we would have a really stupid penalty on the OL that would take us back.  Then the OL with down and long wouldn't hold up in protection.  

 

Take away both bad penalties and the absurdly terrible calls by refs in those 3 games, we are undefeated.  Our OL is struggling both in blocking and penalties and its killing our momentum constantly on offense.  But Allen is athletic enough to counter the blocking issues enough times to still put enough points up to win.  The penalties though, they are drive killers.  They are the primary cause of leaving points on the field and creating wayyyyyyy too many down and very long instances which is also contributing to the lack of run game involvement.  

 

So sorry, we were not manhandled by the Titans, we killed our selves, just like in the Steelers game and just like in the Jags game.  Clean that up, and we can handle the other obstacles a lot better.

 

[Fan in Chicago]

28 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Not sure why anyone would be shocked.  Upsets happen every week, lots of them happened this week and even the week before.  I mean the Bucs lost to the Saints with Trevor Simien playing most the game.  

 

Bills are clearly the best roster in the AFC...we are still the number #1 defense in the NFL and #4 scoring offense.  Doesn't mean its a cake walk to the SB, but we clearly are still rightfully the favorites, at least until we see how we rebound from the upset next week.  

 

This board is just utterly bipolar with wins and losses.  Bills could win 8 in a row then lose one.  After the one loss, the season would be declared all but over.  Its ridiculous.  

I challenge that assertion esp on the OL. We are a fantastic D but the O is mercurial/bipolar (take your pick). There is a consistent pattern in our losses in that the OL wasn't able to handle the pressure and couldn't establish a run game outside of Allen. Sure the OL was missing starters in the Jags game but most teams are missing starters. To say that "we would win the SB with all starters playing" is being utterly optimistic. Even with all the OL starters (not even sure who is labelled as a starter at which position outside of Morse and Dawkins.

 

I am NOT saying this team is bad. All I am saying is that O stats look good because of a few blowouts. You have to look at the ways we lost to truly consider the prospects of reaching (and winning) a SB. As of now, with most starters playing, Imo, we wont get past the AFCCG.  

1 minute ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Take away both bad penalties and the absurdly terrible calls by refs in those 3 games, we are undefeated.  

 

I am also concerned about the clear penalties on our OL and ST. 

[Teddy KGB]

49 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

Right. In. One. Game.

 

Thanks for making my point....

your point is we can’t beat the jags but we are going to win a sb ? 
 

yikes 😩😩

 

fantasyland must be nice.   

[dorquemada]

9 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Its amazing how many of you possess extreme selective memory.  

 

Manhandled?  LMAO...we weren't manhandled by Tenn.  We dominated most the key metrics of that game.  The issue was once again self inflicted wounds that cost us that game.  Its that simple.  

 

The single biggest contributor for this team right now in all 3 losses is one thing and thing only.  Penalties.  Every time offense was gaining momentum in key moments of the Steelers game, Titans game, and now the Jags game we would have a really stupid penalty on the OL that would take us back.  Then the OL with down and long wouldn't hold up in protection.  

 

Take away both bad penalties and the absurdly terrible calls by refs in those 3 games, we are undefeated.  Our OL is struggling both in blocking and penalties and its killing our momentum constantly on offense.  But Allen is athletic enough to counter the blocking issues enough times to still put enough points up to win.  The penalties though, they are drive killers.  They are the primary cause of leaving points on the field and creating wayyyyyyy too many down and very long instances which is also contributing to the lack of run game involvement.  

 

So sorry, we were not manhandled by the Titans, we killed our selves, just like in the Steelers game and just like in the Jags game.  Clean that up, and we can handle the other obstacles a lot better.

 

 

"Take away the penalties" is doing some pretty heavy lifting for you.

 

The Bills OL had zero answer for the Stunt.  I don't care what the 'key metrics' say.  Games aren't won on a PFF scorecard.

 

 

1 minute ago, Teddy KGB said:

your point is we can’t beat the jags but we are going to win a sb ? 
 

yikes 😩😩

 

fantasyland must be nice.   

 

No, you don't understand, our O & D Rankings and my mommy said we are the best team in teh league!

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

1 hour ago, Mat68 said:

Still an easy schedule.  Buffalo needs to figure it out.  Got half way to go yet still.  Rather have these issues before thanksgiving than after. 

How exactly is it an easy schedule? The Bills have 5 toss-up games remaining: IND, @NO, NE, @TB, @NE. Even ATL doesn't look like a gimme either. Yes, we should beat CAR and NYJ (twice), but who would be shocked if we split the other six? That's 11-6, nowhere near the record of a 1 seed or a Super Bowl favorite.

 

And you can't assume wins against NYJ or CAR. They're both better than the Jaguars.

 

The Bills are in trouble right now.

[Sharky7337]

Not to be too pessimistic but now is the time to bet against that. Right now we look like the steelers last year with a worse defense(slightly) and a better QB (not at retirement age yet)

 

And we know how being one dimensional played out for them.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Sharky7337

[billsfan1959]

24 minutes ago, Teddy KGB said:

your point is we can’t beat the jags but we are going to win a sb ? 
 

yikes 😩😩

 

fantasyland must be nice.   

 

And your point is they couldn't beat the Jags on Sunday and, therefore, are incapable of winning the SB.

 

Ahhh, must be heavenly to possess the powers of predicting the future, eh, Nostradamus? And I'm living in a fantasy land?

 

We can go round and round on this point all day. The only way we will know which one of us is closer to the truth is to wait and see how it all turns out. So, check back in with me in a couple of months, my friend, and we will see. And don't mind me if I hope you are the one that is wrong.

 

Cheers 

[Logic]

9 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

How exactly is it an easy schedule? The Bills have 5 toss-up games remaining: IND, @NO, NE, @TB, @NE. Even ATL doesn't look like a gimme either. Yes, we should beat CAR and NYJ (twice), but who would be shocked if we split the other six? That's 11-6, nowhere near the record of a 1 seed or a Super Bowl favorite.

 

And you can't assume wins against NYJ or CAR. They're both better than the Jaguars.

 

The Bills are in trouble right now.

I mean...that seems a bit much.

If by "trouble" you mean that they're not looking likely to get the number one seed at the moment, then sure.

But "in trouble" seems an exaggeration for a team that has the number one scoring defense, a top five scoring offense, and currently leads their division.

[Alphadawg7]

56 minutes ago, Teddy KGB said:

your point is we can’t beat the jags but we are going to win a sb ? 
 

yikes 😩😩

 

fantasyland must be nice.   

 

How about this...why dont you go look at the regular season of every past SB winner for the last 25 years and tell us all if they had any losses during the regular season.  Then let us know how many were upsets losses.

 

I can save you some time and tell you that plenty of them experienced losses in the regular season they should have won in upsets.  

 

It happens. Your insistence that the Jags game defines our season is not only ridiculous, but absolutely undeniably false logic.  

Edited November 9, 2021 by Alphadawg7

[Teddy KGB]

1 minute ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

How about this...why dont you go look at the regular season of every past SB winner for the last 25 years and tell us all if they had any losses during the regular season.  Then let us know how many were upsets losses.

 

I can save you some time and tell you that plenty of them experienced losses in the regular season they should have won in upsets.  

 

It happens. Your insistence that the Jags game defines our system is not only ridiculous, but absolutely undeniably false logic.  

5-3, take the crown off.    
 

 

[Alphadawg7]

53 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

 

"Take away the penalties" is doing some pretty heavy lifting for you.

 

The Bills OL had zero answer for the Stunt.  I don't care what the 'key metrics' say.  Games aren't won on a PFF scorecard.

 

 

 

No, you don't understand, our O & D Rankings and my mommy said we are the best team in teh league!

 

 

All I can say is watch the games more closely.  Because if you did pay attention you would see our 3 losses were close games where we left MULTIPLE scores EACH game on the field thanks to drive killing penalties.  

 

Every time our team gets momentum, we shoot ourselves in the foot.  Yes the OL is also a problem with its protection, no doubt.  But we have the personnel we have at this stage of the game.  Getting our 2 starters back will help a lot, but even after we do, the frequency at which they make critical mental mistakes with false starts and holding calls has to drop.  If it does, we will be much better as an offense.  

 

No one said the OL didn't struggle.  I said, despite the OL struggles, we are undefeated right now literally if we eliminated the drive killing penalties that left a lot of points on the field during all 3 of our close losses.  

 

Does it mean we suddenly blow out the Jags or Titans if we just correct the untimely penalties plaguing our team?  Nope.  But it means we win the game.  Scoreboard is what matters.  Josh Allen is so athletic he can make things happen with the OL breaking down enough times to keep us in games and win games.  But he can't over come both the OL struggles and the penalties that kill our drives and scoring chances.  

Eliminate the penalties and we are the only undefeated team in the NFL today.  Part of that is also on utterly terrible calls by refs in what might the single worst season I have ever seen for refs across the entire league.  I don't know what is up this year, but overall the refs have been a total mess this season league wide.  

Edited November 9, 2021 by Alphadawg7

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Odd how not many mentioned the RAMS getting blown out or the Cowboys or 49ers oh wait scratch the last one 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 hours ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

You are shocked because you had a meltdown over one game, choosing to define a front office, coaching staff, and players on a one time performance rather than evaluating an entire body of work...

Cmon man. Its not one game. The body of work suggests the oline and RB situation is a mess.  

[Success]

Honestly, we felt about the same as we do today after losing to KC & TN last year.  The whole "maybe we're not that good" and "this team is too flawed" conversation.  And then it felt like the Hail Murray was the gut punch that might lead to a slide.

 

But then the team showed us that they aren't the "same ol' Bills," and went on a tear that was as enjoyable as anything I've enjoyed in decades as a sports fan.

 

And this team and coaching staff ARE different.  They don't get derailed, or lose confidence.  The Hail Murray motivated them and made them better, and I fully expect this circumstance to lead to similar results.

 

[Greg S]

4 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

Odd how not many mentioned the RAMS getting blown out or the Cowboys or 49ers oh wait scratch the last one 

 

 

The Titans are a good team so there is no shame in losing to them. I agree with you on the Cowboys. Horrible loss at home to Denver. If I remember correctly they were losing 30-0 at one point.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

5 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

 

All I can say is watch the games more closely.  Because if you did pay attention you would see our 3 losses were close games where we left MULTIPLE scores EACH game on the field thanks to drive killing penalties.  

 

Every time our team gets momentum, we shoot ourselves in the foot.  Yes the OL is also a problem with its protection, no doubt.  But we have the personnel we have at this stage of the game.  Getting our 2 starters back will help a lot, but even after we do, the frequency at which they make critical mental mistakes with false starts and holding calls has to drop.  If it does, we will be much better as an offense.  

 

No one said the OL didn't struggle.  I said, despite the OL struggles, we are undefeated right now literally if we eliminated the drive killing penalties that left a lot of points on the field during all 3 of our close losses.  

 

Does it mean we suddenly blow out the Jags or Titans if we just correct the untimely penalties plaguing our team?  Nope.  But it means we win the game.  Scoreboard is what matters.  Josh Allen is so athletic he can make things happen with the OL breaking down enough times to keep us in games and win games.  But he can't over come both the OL struggles and the penalties that kill our drives and scoring chances.  

Eliminate the penalties and we are the only undefeated team in the NFL today.  Part of that is also on utterly terrible calls by refs in what might the single worst season I have ever seen for refs across the entire league.  I don't know what is up this year, but overall the refs have been a total mess this season league wide.  

Good post.

While I think a couple other teams would be favored to beat the Bills, I also believe the Bills have the talent to beat anyone. Home field advantage would help but that may not be a possibility now with three AFC losses. 

Allen can be the difference maker against any team - positively or negatively. If he plays smart clean football, Bills can beat anyone.

[billsfan1959]

7 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Cmon man. Its not one game. The body of work suggests the oline and RB situation is a mess.  

 

My apologies, what I wrote was not called for.

 

The Bills Oline on Sunday was a mess. Completely healthy with Brown back in the lineup - not great - but not a mess.

Edited November 9, 2021 by billsfan1959

[buffblue]

32 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

How exactly is it an easy schedule? The Bills have 5 toss-up games remaining: IND, @NO, NE, @TB, @NE. Even ATL doesn't look like a gimme either. Yes, we should beat CAR and NYJ (twice), but who would be shocked if we split the other six? That's 11-6, nowhere near the record of a 1 seed or a Super Bowl favorite.

 

And you can't assume wins against NYJ or CAR. They're both better than the Jaguars.

 

The Bills are in trouble right now.

I won't go so far as to say the Bills are in trouble just yet, but generally I agree with this. It unfortunately looks like the best upside in terms of seeding we can hope for is #2, and we all know how well that worked out last year.

 

Having to play 2 games at home and then the potential Championship game on the road is such a massive difference from locking down that top spot.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

10 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

The Titans are a good team so there is no shame in losing to them. I agree with you on the Cowboys. Horrible loss at home to Denver. If I remember correctly they were losing 30-0 at one point.

The Rams we’re considered the best NFC team by anyone not a Cowboys fan  

 

On Any Given Sunday 

any team can win. 

Edited November 9, 2021 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[Big Turk]

2 hours ago, Teddy KGB said:

lmao, you should watch the jags game.  
 

they were the worst front 4 in the league, and whooped these softies.   
 

i think one dude, doubled his career sack numbers vs these outclassed bums. 

 

Not hard when 3 OLineman block one player leaving another completely unblocked

27 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Good post.

While I think a couple other teams would be favored to beat the Bills, I also believe the Bills have the talent to beat anyone. Home field advantage would help but that may not be a possibility now with three AFC losses. 

Allen can be the difference maker against any team - positively or negatively. If he plays smart clean football, Bills can beat anyone.

 

I think if the Bills play their A game on any given day there are few teams that realistically have a chance to beat them. Most lose by double digits.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Big Turk

[ProcessTruster]

long way to go boys.  keep your pants on

[FilthyBeast]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

 

Not hard when 3 OLineman block one player leaving another completely unblocked

 

I think if the Bills play their A game on any given day there are few teams that realistically have a chance to beat them. Most lose by double digits.

 

What is the Bills 'A game' exactly and when are they going to show it?

 

The early season stretch against the Dolphins/Redskins/Texans was merely a mirage especially since all three of those games were against backup QBs.

[Greg S]

2 minutes ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

What is the Bills 'A game' exactly and when are they going to show it?

 

The early season stretch against the Dolphins/Redskins/Texans was merely a mirage especially since all three of those games were against backup QBs.

 

Hopefully this week and not just to get over the bad loss to the Jags. Beating the Jets means 3-0 in the division as well as it gives the Bills a conference win.  We need as many of those as possible for any potential tiebreaker scenario.

[SoCal Deek]

Simply responding to the thread title. As the offense is currently constructed and performing, there is zero chance this team is going to the Super Bowl. Yes, things could change, but not as currently constructed. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

What is the Bills 'A game' exactly and when are they going to show it?

 

The early season stretch against the Dolphins/Redskins/Texans was merely a mirage especially since all three of those games were against backup QBs.

 

Thought we have 5 wins. 

[njbuff]

7 hours ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

You are shocked because you had a meltdown over one game, choosing to define a front office, coaching staff, and players on a one time performance rather than evaluating an entire body of work...

 

It's not just one game.

 

We all saw the weaknesses of the OL before this last game.

 

The loss to Jacksonville simply magnified the weakness of the OL, which, in turn, will derail any season if you can't block anyone.

 

Like I said, can the OL turn it around? Sure, but I ain't betting on it.