Why I Want to Beat the Phins so bad this week

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

Obviously, we all want the Bills to throttle the Dolphins. But as I am getting ready for this game I've realized: I don't think there's a team left on the schedule who I so viciously want to dominate, and that puzzled me.

 

Obviously, I want to knock off the Chiefs but we proved that it can be done in the regular season last year, and if we don't manage it Week 6, there's darn good odds that we get another bite at the apple in January.

 

I want the Bills to beat the Ravens so I can have bragging rights versus a buddy of mine. I want the Bills to beat the Browns because eff those guys. But there is no one else left on the schedule that I would dread losing to. So why are the Dolphins bothering me so much?

Basically, it comes down to this: I remember back to 2020. The Bills had knocked off the Jets by a safe margin and edged out a division rival in the Dolphins (Fitz has played out of his mind) but now was the moment that the world told them they were in for a reality check. They were headed in to face the Rams, who had been to the Superbowl and had aspirations. And so the world said, "alright nice story but now it's time for a reality check". Sure, Stephon Diggs was a nice addition, and maybe they would scrap in but now they would be facing an elite team. Now, we know what happened as the end result, which is why we shouldn't get too cocky.

 

But I don't remember many "Man, this would be a statement win for the Bills" takes. I don't remember many "Josh Allen will be on the short list for MVP if this goes well" takes. I don't remember people asking if the Rams had been anointed too soon. And yet, I am hearing this level of hype for the Dolphins and it boggles my mind. I have heard legit questions of Tua being a dark horse MVP candidate after 7/8 quarters of meh play.

 

It took the Bills taking the 2nd seed and smacking the Ravens in the playoffs to be treated as legit contenders, and we still got "they're a nice underdog story". And, god forbid, if we lose, the Dolphins hold the head to head tiebreak and a 2-0 division record until we face them again...in mid-December.

 

I want this narrative to die horribly, and now. 

 

Bury 'em boys.

[Art in PNS]

0 for the 70"s , nuff said.

[billsfan1959]

My hatred of Dolphins in the 70s eclipsed my hatred of the ***Pats under Belichick and Brady (maybe because I was younger then)

 

But, ultimately: **** both of them

[jletha]

11 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

But I don't remember many "Man, this would be a statement win for the Bills" takes. I don't remember many "Josh Allen will be on the short list for MVP if this goes well" takes.

I clearly remember all of these takes at the time. Josh was well praised with some expected trepidation, as we are seeing with Tua.

[Greg S]

I live in NJ so for me its the Jets who I enjoy seeing the Bills beat the most. Many family, friends, co-workers are Jets fans. I don't know one Dolphin or Pats fan. Anyway this week Squish the Fish.

[JohnnyBuffalo]

This is what happens when hype and expectations are piled on before a single snap happens.    And now with 2 convincing wins for the Bills and a ludicrous comeback, that most should consider flukey but don’t, by the dolphins and the media is hoping for a tight game that the dolphins win so there is more to talk about and more drama.   Handle business and it all goes away.  
 

So I agree with you but hopefully the men who have to play are all business like they have been so far!

 

Go Bills!

[LeGOATski]

I guess because Miami is a big market or something the Dolphins get a ton of undeserved hype. Like you said, any sign of possible quality play and the media jumps on board. They're like the Cowboys of the AFC. 

 

Can't stand it.

[Royale with Cheese]

I do want to shut up the Tua narrative that he’s good.

[wjag]

It's the NFL and hope springs eternal for every franchise.  I have no issue with the hype being shared.  If the shoes were reversed, TBD would be sky high with hope and expectations.  The cool thing is, they get to play the game.  It will be settled on the field.  And then just like that, it will be on to the next game.  They don't call it over reaction Monday for nothing.

 

The thing I was musing about yesterday was the sheer depth of content available these days.  With the advent of YouTube, AWS, message boards, etc., you can spend as much time as you want reading and listening.  We are a long way from the 90s dearth of coverage/opinions where the only real content was the evening SportsCenter segment and the Buffalo News Sunday and Monday papers.  I can remember reading everything on Monday if they won and nothing is they lost.  Now it's all internet content, but the same rules apply.  Watch everything I can if they win and internet hibernate if they lose.

Edited September 22, 2022 by wjag

[Greg S]

15 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

I guess because Miami is a big market or something the Dolphins get a ton of undeserved hype. Like you said, any sign of possible quality play and the media jumps on board. They're like the Cowboys of the AFC. 

 

Can't stand it.

 

I thought the Raiders were the Cowboys of the AFC?

[LeGOATski]

2 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

I thought the Raiders were the Cowboys of the AFC?

Yeah, could be. Similar dynamic.

[Last Guy on the Bench]

7 minutes ago, wjag said:

It's the NFL and hope springs eternal for every franchise.  I have no issue with the hype being shared.  If the shoes were reversed, TBD would be sky high with hope and expectations.  The cool thing is, they get to play the game.  It will be settled on the field.  And then just like that, it will be on to the next game.  They don't call it over reaction Monday for nothing.

 

The thing I was musing about yesterday was the share depth of content available these days.  With the advent of YouTube, AWS, etc, you can spend as much time as you want reading and listening.  We are a long way from the 90s dearth of coverage/opinions where the only real content was the evening SportsCenter segment and the Buffalo News Sunday and Monday papers.  I can remember reading everything on Monday if they won and nothing is they lost.  Now it's all internet content, but the same rules apply.  Watch everything I can if they win and internet hibernate if they lose.

Don't forget "Shout" - the day that came out (Thursday?) was the most exciting day of the week. I especially loved the training camp notes you could get there. It's crazy how thin those were compared to what our many resident dedicated posters give us, not to mention all the media types observing practices. But it was gold back then. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I want them to beat Miami, because I'd sooner root for al-Quaeda than Miami

 

Miami is of the devil, bobby boucher

 

[GunnerBill]

Some guys in this thread are old. 

[LeGOATski]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

Some guys in this thread are old. 

I've learned today that the posters from the 70s are not the best, to put it nicely.

[Greg S]

Just now, Joe in Winslow said:

I want them to beat Miami, because I'd sooner root for al-Quaeda than Miami

 

Miami is of the devil, bobby boucher

 

 

The Pats with Bill are the true evil. Miami is starting to get good now but for the longest time they have been "meh". You have to go back to the Kelly-Marino days since these teams played a game of real importance.

[wjag]

3 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Some guys in this thread are old. 

 

I resemble that remark.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, Greg S said:

 

The Pats with Bill are the true evil. Miami is starting to get good now but for the longest time they have been "meh". You have to go back to the Kelly-Marino days since these teams played a game of real importance.

 

False. There is no other team I despise more than Miami. Patriettes are johhny-come-latelies.

 

 

[Greg S]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Some guys in this thread are old. 

 

[dorquemada]

48 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

I want the Bills to beat the Browns because eff those guys.

 

This might be my favorite thing i've read here

[wjag]

2 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

The Pats with Bill are the true evil. Miami is starting to get good now but for the longest time they have been "meh". You have to go back to the Kelly-Marino days since these teams played a game of real importance.

 

For currency, yes.  True dat.  And I will admit that my Miami hate was dormant during the Brady-era.  It's only now bubbling back up since Beelzebub is in Tampa and Tyreek (this should be a thing) Hill went to Miami. 

[Haslett_Stomp]

23 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I do want to shut up the Tua narrative that he’s good.

 

Agreed.  It reminds me of the Mac Jones hype last season.

[Greg S]

1 minute ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

False. There is no other team I despise more than Miami. Patriettes are johhny-come-latelies.

 

 

 

For me its the Jets but the 20 game losing streak in the 70's was painful. One of the best regular season wins in Bills history is 17-7 in 1980. With that sad what the Pats have done during the Bill-Tom era was just as painful. As of today the Pats are more hated then the Dolphins IMHO.

[Don Otreply]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Some guys in this thread are old. 

Some? 😂

[scuba guy]

I don't know why every week whom ever the game announcers are if we run the ball it is for 2 yards we actual got 3 1/2 half and if we pass the ball like Diggs catch against tenn o it's not a first down he only got 9 yards.

 

Then you watch the other team the announcers say that was a great run he got 6 yards well it was 4.

 

This is the reason why we need to stop the national bs about Miami and there hipe train.

 

We get no

 

 

RESPECT 

[Marvin]

48 minutes ago, jletha said:

I clearly remember all of these takes at the time. Josh was well praised with some expected trepidation, as we are seeing with Tua.

There is trepidation with Tua?  I certainly have not heard it on national broadcasts.

 

I expect Dol-fans to he charged up and optimistic.  Other pundits?  Not so much.  But it's like everyone said "Tua's going to be great," so anything positive is presumed to be incontrovertible proof rather than potential confirmation bias.

Edited September 22, 2022 by Marvin

[H2o]

I want us to beat the Dolphins because of how the sports media slobs Tua, McDaniel, and that team right now. I don't care about his, Tua's, stats from last week. I don't care that they are 2-0. I don't care about McDaniel's offense or his socially awkward interviews or responses. I don't care about their defense or what they have supposedly accomplished these first two weeks of the season. I want us to walk into Miami, get more sacks as a defense than we had against the Rams, hit Tua 20-25 times in total, have him back there seeing ghosts, and tossing wobblers all game long. I want Edmunds or Milano to absolutely plant Tyreek Hill into the ground on one of those quick slants or screens that noodle arm will be tossing out there. 15 yard flag or no 15 yard flag, idc. Bury that guy. I want us to dominate them in every single phase of the game and leave not even the slightest doubt as to whom is running the AFCE. On their home field, in front of their "rejuvenated" fan base, beat the brakes off them just so we can hear all of the excuses. 

 

[Marv's Neighbor]

1 hour ago, Art in PNS said:

0 for the 70"s , nuff said.

Of course you're right but Don Shula was on the NFL "rules" committee for most of that run.  All those games were NOT blow outs, but most of the close calls went his way.

[Greg S]

9 minutes ago, scuba guy said:

I don't know why every week whom ever the game announcers are if we run the ball it is for 2 yards we actual got 3 1/2 half and if we pass the ball like Diggs catch against tenn o it's not a first down he only got 9 yards.

 

Then you watch the other team the announcers say that was a great run he got 6 yards well it was 4.

 

This is the reason why we need to stop the national bs about Miami and there hipe train.

 

We get no

 

 

RESPECT 

 

The Bills have been getting a ton of respect from everyone. Opened the season with back to back primetime games and have 5 overall. Allen is regarded as one of the best if not the best QB in the league. So many "experts" have predicted the Bills to win the Super Bowl. Beane and McDermott get praised for changing the culture of the organization as we now have one of the best front offices in all of football. While the Bills have been good for a few years now I think that Bills-Chiefs playoff game opened everyone's eyes on how good Allen is. Also how the Bills have become one of the most exciting teams to watch play.

[gjv]

Certainly not relevant today but, I can remember when a 2-14 season would have been considered a successful season, as long as the two wins were against the Dolphins. 

[HereComesTheReignAgain]

I actually heard some commentators this week discussing the hardships that Tua has faced.  Let's look back at this rough road to Sunday.  Grew up on the mean streets of Hawaii and went to a very good football high school.  Was a 4 star recruit and went to Alabama.  Obviously had the best coaching, facilities, trainers and surrounding cast possible for his college career.  Was drafted and did not display the leadership qualities necessary to hold down the starting job consistently.  The dolphins have surrounded him with Hill, Waddle, and Gesicki as his main targets.  Other than an injury in college, this guy has led about as charmed a football life as possible.  

[HOUSE]

Tua is impressing, we are screwd 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

33 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

 

This might be my favorite thing i've read here

Look, I used to like Cleveland. I felt kinship over being smaller market rust belt teams. It didn't drive me bonkers when Manziel got the hype, though I loved watching him get flattened. It minorly bothered me when people tried to edge Baker Mayfield over Josh Allen, but so far that seemed like normal fan vs fan stuff.

 

Their defense, and now their fans defense of first Kareem Hunt and now Desean Watson are inexcusable.

[muppy]

I would like our Bills to dismantle the fish because it will show just which team is the Boss of the AFC-E.

 

I want the Bills to pound senor tua into the turf repeatedly.

 

I want Josh Allen to be his dominant elite self. Each game we are witnessing true greatness at his position.

 

SQUISH THE FISH and I hope it is a Blowout. But as Ive previously posted one loss is not a ruined season make. So at some point the bills may lose a game this  season. Im not gonna grip all that hard. just sayin.

 

Bills.................................38

fish..................................13

Edited September 22, 2022 by muppy

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

10 minutes ago, HereComesTheReignAgain said:

I actually heard some commentators this week discussing the hardships that Tua has faced.  Let's look back at this rough road to Sunday.  Grew up on the mean streets of Hawaii and went to a very good football high school.  Was a 4 star recruit and went to Alabama.  Obviously had the best coaching, facilities, trainers and surrounding cast possible for his college career.  Was drafted and did not display the leadership qualities necessary to hold down the starting job consistently.  The dolphins have surrounded him with Hill, Waddle, and Gesicki as his main targets.  Other than an injury in college, this guy has led about as charmed a football life as possible.  

Yeah, there was a moment where "Tank for Tua" was a thing. The injury was supposed to be the only thing holding him back.

 

I can remember Flores switching between Fitz and Tua and wondering what the hell was happening. While it's unfortunately common for teams to ruin excellent prospects, he's already had chances. It's not like he was throwing to trash last year either. Waddle was there last year, and they had DeVante Parker. Is Hill a step up? Absolutely. But you would think that he was like the Bills in 2018

 

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

2 minutes ago, muppy said:

I would like our Bills to dismantle the fish because it will show just which team is the Boss of the AFC-E.

 

I want the Bills to pound senor tua into the turf repeatedly.

 

I want Josh Allen to be his dominant elite self. Each game we are witnessing true greatness at his position.

 

SQUISH THE FISH and I hope it is a Blowout. But as Ive previously posted one loss is not a ruined season make. So at some point the bills may lose a game this  season. Im not gonna grip all that hard. just sayin.

 

Bills.................................38

fish..................................13

 

I would also like to bury them and squash the narrative.  Part of me is whatever though - its the NFL... nothing is a given. You can walk up and down the schedule and say win and loss - but stuff happens out of your control.  Weather destroys a gameplan, same with an injury.  The twitter-verse won't shut up if Miami wins, and all the haters will come out again to say "See, buffalo is overrated" - but legit it doesn't matter 🙂

What I'm trying to say is - take it a game at a time and try not to get too high or low.  We lost to the Jags last year, KC was 3-4 at one point, LAR lost 3 straight in the middle of last year.  Miami beating buffalo doesn't mean they'll clean up - they could drop a game to detroit, or chicago, or whomever.  When you're a young team with a young QB stuff happens.

 

Buffalo is a playoff team, they will be there at the end.  Also if we lose this game i'd wager a guess to say buffalo smokes them in round 2 - so tiebreakers don't mean a thing.  

[Freddie's Dead]

The best Bills win over the Fish, "The Don Shula Retirement Game":

 

 

[dorquemada]

14 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Look, I used to like Cleveland. I felt kinship over being smaller market rust belt teams. It didn't drive me bonkers when Manziel got the hype, though I loved watching him get flattened. It minorly bothered me when people tried to edge Baker Mayfield over Josh Allen, but so far that seemed like normal fan vs fan stuff.

 

Their defense, and now their fans defense of first Kareem Hunt and now Desean Watson are inexcusable.

 

I like the City, i have friends there, but agreed, the Browns have become unlikable in a way I didnt think possible, like a Heel in old school wrestling

[Mr. WEO]

The "Tua MVP" talk began as every news outlet reported on his sportsbook odds improved slightly as an MVP winner.  Draft Kings has him at +2500 (#10 on their list), Fanduel at +1800.  For reference Josh is +425 and the slight favorite over Mahomes.

 

Hardly a groundswell of "MVP talk"....just oddsmakers licking their chops for suckers who got a chubby for Tua after Sunday.

[Marvin]

I just want to bury all potential competition as early as possible.

 

23 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Look, I used to like Cleveland. I felt kinship over being smaller market rust belt teams. It didn't drive me bonkers when Manziel got the hype, though I loved watching him get flattened. It minorly bothered me when people tried to edge Baker Mayfield over Josh Allen, but so far that seemed like normal fan vs fan stuff.

 

Their defense, and now their fans defense of first Kareem Hunt and now Desean Watson are inexcusable.

 

I hate disliking the Brownies.  Their local fans, like Green Bay's or a few others, reminded me of Bills fans.