Week 17: Bills at Bengals on MNF

[Greg S]

7 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Good morning 

Happy GameDay my brothers and sisters! Go Bills!!!

 

Feeling very optimistic about this huge game.

 

This is going to be a tough game. Both teams will have a ton of big plays. I just hope the Bills make more. Bills 31 Bengals 28. Let's Go Buffalo.

[SCBills]

Not sure what to read into the comments before this game, but contrast the Bengals players chirping and feeling “disrespected” or whatever their problem is with what we hear coming out of Buffalo….

 

Nothing. 
 

They’ve just gone about their business this week.  
 

Only comment I saw get any buzz was Allen saying he’s getting sick of AFC East Division Champ hats and that there is much more ahead of them. (Paraphrasing)

[JerseyBills]

Just now, Greg S said:

 

This is going to be a tough game. Both teams will have a ton of big plays. I just hope the Bills make more. Bills 31 Bengals 28. Let's Go Buffalo.

I'll take it! Next week won't get any easier either. 

[Boatdrinks]

1 minute ago, JerseyBills said:

I'll take it! Next week won't get any easier either. 

Next week is a cakewalk compared to tonight’s matchup. Not concerned about that game at all. 

[Greg S]

4 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Next week is a cakewalk compared to tonight’s matchup. Not concerned about that game at all. 

 

If the Bills win tonight, then they aren't losing to NE at home with a chance to get the #1 seed. I am assuming the Chiefs will beat the Raiders. If the Bills lose tonight, then I could see them resting starters if the Chiefs beat the Raiders as the #1 seed is no longer an option for them. In that scenario NE might win at Buffalo

[JerseyBills]

26 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Next week is a cakewalk compared to tonight’s matchup. Not concerned about that game at all. 

Cakewalk is a bit over the top. We still play a Divisional opponent fighting for their playoff lives. We split with both the Jests and Fish

 

Ya we'll be home and a big favorite but it's not easy to win in December/Jan vs anyone.  I'll be expecting a W but still be nervous, cautiously optimistic 

Edited January 2, 2023 by JerseyBills

[Shortchaz]

More important: staying healthy this game OR winning this game? 

[78thealltimegreat]

12 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Based on tonight's game so far, I sure hope not!! 

UPL BABY!! 

Ottawa 3 Sabres 1 keep the expectations down 

[Slippery Rubber Mats]

11 minutes ago, Shortchaz said:

More important: staying healthy this game OR winning this game? 

 

it isn't one or the other

[YattaOkasan]

1 hour ago, FrenchConnection said:

That’s what I meant. If they win they get hats and t-shirts because they win the division.

Yeah sorta wanted Bal to win so it want hat and t shirt. But cinci doesn’t seem to care. They seem to keep talking about the 1 seed and being the top dog. I get it I guess but I would be laser focused on the division as that’s a must have. The 1 seed is much more a nice to have. If cinci doesn’t win tonight then next week is against Bal is for the division.  Hope the focus on the 1 seed bites Cinci and they lose the division. 

Edited January 2, 2023 by YattaOkasan

[entropyrules]

16 minutes ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

Ottawa 3 Sabres 1 keep the expectations down 

Sabres loss almost guarantees a Bills win tonite - any time the Sabres win just before a Bills game the Bills seem to s**t the bed....of course with both teams on a roll those stats are probably going the way of the dodo 

[SoCal Deek]

7 minutes ago, YattaOkasan said:

Yeah sorta wanted Bal to win so it want hat and t shirt. But cinci doesn’t seem to care. They seem to keep talking about the 1 seed and being the top dog. I get it I guess but I would be laser focused on the division as that’s a must have. The 1 seed is much more a nice to have. If cinci doesn’t win tonight then next week is against Bal is for the division.  Hope the focus on the 1 seed bites Cinci and they lose the division. 

To be honest, this all seems like a bunch of hype for a game that doesn’t need any more hype. I can’t imagine that either the Bills or Bengals don’t know how important this game is regardless of anything other than THIS game.

Edited January 2, 2023 by SoCal Deek

[SCBills]

7 minutes ago, YattaOkasan said:

Yeah sorta wanted Bal to win so it want hat and t shirt. But cinci doesn’t seem to care. They seem to keep talking about the 1 seed and being the top dog. I get it I guess but I would be laser focused on the division as that’s a must have. The 1 seed is much more a nice to have. If cinci doesn’t win tonight then next week is against Bal is for the division.  Hope the focus on the 1 seed bites Cinci and they lose the division. 

Need the Bills to win so I can post the “I don’t think about you at all” meme…

 

…Because that’s kind of how this feels with the player clips from both sides going into this game. 

[Greg S]

21 minutes ago, Shortchaz said:

More important: staying healthy this game OR winning this game? 

 

Win the game. I don't want injuries either and that goes for all teams. I want that #1 seed. I don't want the Bills to have to play at CIN or KC in the playoffs. The Bills more than any other team really use homefield to their advantage. For once in his life let Mahomes play a playoff game in a hostile environment. I don't think he has played one playoff game on the road in his career not counting the SB. Bills are 0-4 on the road in the playoffs with McDermott but 3-0 at home.

[SydneyBillsFan]

This one is for all the marbles. 

 

Win this and I believe we are going all the way.

 

Lose and it becomes infinitely more difficult.

 

It's a lunchtime kick-off here, the beers will be cold - GO BILLS!!

[Shortchaz]

24 minutes ago, Tom Donahoe, GM said:

 

it isn't one or the other

Thanks for engaging 

[oldmanfan]

Watching and reading different pundits it looks like they are all about the Bengals and think we have no chance tonight.  Makes no sense.

[BuffaloBaumer]

This is going to be one stressful night

[balln]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

This is going to be one stressful night

Troy is going to make it so much worse

 

i think buck will calm me down

[Beck Water]

2 hours ago, SMAKCruiser said:

Weather doesn't look so great tonight

 

I think it's looking better than we've had for like, a month.

[Greg S]

6 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

This is going to be one stressful night

 

Every Bills fan between 8:30 and 11:30/midnight tonight.

 

 

[Beck Water]

8 hours ago, Big C said:

Yeah sheesh. Almost every national media outlet is picking the Bengals. I just read an article on the Athletic the other day about the 1 seed and the question they asked the panel about the #1 seed was only Chiefs & Bengals discussion. I know Coach is gonna get these guys motivated to make a statement tomorrow night. 

 

Yeah, seemed as though the after-game shows started out proclaiming the Chiefs the #1 seed.  Then someone must have poked them and they started saying "if the Bills do win in Cinncinnati, they become the #1 seed again"  I thought it was kind of reluctant.

 

1 hour ago, FrenchConnection said:

Actually, because the Ravens lost last night this is a hat and t-shirt game for the Bengals. 

 

Some people say it's hard to beat a team on hat-and-t-shirt night

 

For conspiracy, NFL-is-rigged theorists, though:

-on the one hand, my sense is that the NFL really wants to see the Chiefs #1

-on the other hand, if the Bengals lose, they will be playing the Ravens next week, in Cinncinnati, for the division title.  And I'm pretty sure the NFL wants as many meaningful Week 18 games as possible.

 

So maybe we'll get a fairly called game.

[BeavercreekBillsFan]

Huge ramifications on this game. Win and you’re the 1 seed and get to rest up. Lose and you’re the 3 and setting yourself up to play the ravens round 1 and then having to win back to back road games at Cincinnati and KC to get to the SB. Tough task to ask of Josh to do all that so tonight is massive. Early thoughts on the game: 

 

Josh is going to have to be Superman as usual. Bengals have the best WRs in the league and they’re REALLY GOOD at 50/50 balls. We are not good at those especially Dane Jackson. Josh has to play lights out to keep up. 
 

Bills have to feed Diggs. Bengals DBs are pretty suspect at times so gotta find Diggs and keep up with Burrow. 
 

Bills have run the ball well lately but this is not the week to focus on it. Reader is the best DT against the run in the league. Sprinkle it in some to stay honest but it can’t be a focus of this team. Can’t consistently be in 2nd or 3rd and long because we tried to force the run. 
 

Bengals RT being out should be advantage Bills. Rousseau has to take advantage. This can’t be stated enough. With the massive disadvantage we are at trying to cover Chase/Higgins/Boyd, the pass rush has to get home some. Man, I miss Von. 
 

What adjustments will Big Lou (bengals d coord) come up with? He’s been incredible slowing down KC and Mahomes. What does he have planned for josh? Guessing they plan to only rush 3 and double Diggs and force josh to figure out how to use everyone else. Who else can step up at times?
 

That said, Spencer Brown can not continue getting josh killed. A turnover from a strip sack or something and this game could get ugly. Gotta man up. 

Lastly, I hope frazier doesn’t just scheme up his normal lazy defense. You gotta speed burrow up and get him to mane mistakes. He’s probably the most accurate QB in the league but can make mistakes when sped up.  He will pick us apart all night if given time to just stand back there. 
 

This game is too tough to call hence the 1 point spread. My early guess is Bengals 34 Bills 30 but I could see it getting ugly like 37-20 with a couple bad josh moments and us unable to stop chase too. Hoping Josh does josh things though and Bass hits a FG to win it! 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

5 minutes ago, BeavercreekBillsFan said:

Huge ramifications on this game. Win and you’re the 1 seed and get to rest up. Lose and you’re the 3 and setting yourself up to play the ravens round 1 and then having to win back to back road games at Cincinnati and KC to get to the SB. Tough task to ask of Josh to do all that so tonight is massive. Early thoughts on the game: 

 

Josh is going to have to be Superman as usual. Bengals have the best WRs in the league and they’re REALLY GOOD at 50/50 balls. We are not good at those especially Dane Jackson. Josh has to play lights out to keep up. 
 

Bills have to feed Diggs. Bengals DBs are pretty suspect at times so gotta find Diggs and keep up with Burrow. 
 

Bills have run the ball well lately but this is not the week to focus on it. Reader is the best DT against the run in the league. Sprinkle it in some to stay honest but it can’t be a focus of this team. Can’t consistently be in 2nd or 3rd and long because we tried to force the run. 
 

Bengals RT being out should be advantage Bills. Rousseau has to take advantage. This can’t be stated enough. With the massive disadvantage we are at trying to cover Chase/Higgins/Boyd, the pass rush has to get home some. Man, I miss Von. 
 

What adjustments will Big Lou (bengals d coord) come up with? He’s been incredible slowing down KC and Mahomes. What does he have planned for josh? Guessing they plan to only rush 3 and double Diggs and force josh to figure out how to use everyone else. Who else can step up at times?
 

That said, Spencer Brown can not continue getting josh killed. A turnover from a strip sack or something and this game could get ugly. Gotta man up. 

Lastly, I hope frazier doesn’t just scheme up his normal lazy defense. You gotta speed burrow up and get him to mane mistakes. He’s probably the most accurate QB in the league but can make mistakes when sped up.  He will pick us apart all night if given time to just stand back there. 
 

This game is too tough to call hence the 1 point spread. My early guess is Bengals 34 Bills 30 but I could see it getting ugly like 37-20 with a couple bad josh moments and us unable to stop chase too. Hoping Josh does josh things though and Bass hits a FG to win it! 

Your first paragraph is wrong. Win and you STILL have to win next week to guarantee #1

[atlbillsfan1975]

16 minutes ago, balln said:

Troy is going to make it so much worse

 

i think buck will calm me down

I will never forget how much Troy thought the Bills had selected the wrong Josh and how Allen would not be able to learn how to be accurate. I’m sure Troy will be looking for anything he can point out tonight to show he was right about Allen. 

[Warcodered]

8 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

For conspiracy, NFL-is-rigged theorists, though:

-on the one hand, my sense is that the NFL really wants to see the Chiefs #1

-on the other hand, if the Bengals lose, they will be playing the Ravens next week, in Cinncinnati, for the division title.  And I'm pretty sure the NFL wants as many meaningful Week 18 games as possible.

 

So maybe we'll get a fairly called game.

And who knows maybe even Lamar will be back for it, you know you want it NFL.

 

Point still stands though just ***** win.

[BuffaninSarasota]

4 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Your first paragraph is wrong. Win and you STILL have to win next week to guarantee #1

Correct

[muppy]

1 minute ago, Beck Water said:

 

 

For conspiracy, NFL-is-rigged theorists, though:

-on the one hand, my sense is that the NFL really wants to see the Chiefs #1

-on the other hand, if the Bengals lose, they will be playing the Ravens next week, in Cinncinnati, for the division title.  And I'm pretty sure the NFL wants as many meaningful Week 18 games as possible.

 

So maybe we'll get a fairly called game.

Good morning 2bd 

 

The officiating question/situation in the NFL produces debacles and outrage in games weekly in the NFL. Excuse my french but **** the zebras. They are on my last nerve after what we saw in the KC game for starters.

 

All we can hope for is consistency. Either let the players play and keep the flags put away. Or call strictly and by the book. THAT my fellow Bills fans, is the rub. One referees flagrant foul is another ones Meh. And that's going by the book. Factor in favoritism and straight up brutal calls, the phantom penalties. the what are they thinking fouls 

 

I Give UP. Please, just please, is it too much to ask for bad officiating not to effect our game today. PLEASE. 

 

/vent 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

26 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

This is going to be one stressful night

You spelled fun wrong Go Bills

[Dr. Who]

Just now, The Firebaugh Kid said:

You spelled fun wrong Go Bills

I'm too old for fun. Stress is my version of fun.

[BeavercreekBillsFan]

10 minutes ago, BuffaninSarasota said:

Correct

If they win tonight they’re not losing to NE

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

34 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

This is going to be one stressful night

why, again, do we do this to ourselves? 

[Steptide]

38 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

This is going to be one stressful night

As fans we want the one seed so bad, we're stressing ourselves out. I've been trying to accept the fact that it's very possible we don't get the one seed. Obviously I want the bills to win tonight, but I'm trying to prepare myself for a possible loss. Sometimes I wish I could watch the bills the way I watch other NFL games. Stress free and just sit and enjoy them

[Logic]

**Disclaimer, I know no one cares about other people's fantasy teams, so please scroll on if you wish**

As if tonight's game weren't big enough, I'm neck and neck with my opponent in my fantasy league championship match for a decent size pot of money.

He has Burrow, Mixon, Knox, McPherson left to play.

 

I have Allen, Higgins, Bass left to play.

 

1 seed. Fantasy trophy. Pile of money. It's all there!

GO BILLS!!! (and Higgins)

Edited January 2, 2023 by Logic

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

8 minutes ago, Steptide said:

As fans we want the one seed so bad, we're stressing ourselves out. I've been trying to accept the fact that it's very possible we don't get the one seed. Obviously I want the bills to win tonight, but I'm trying to prepare myself for a possible loss. Sometimes I wish I could watch the bills the way I watch other NFL games. Stress free and just sit and enjoy them

As pitiful as this sounds, I started to wear my heart monitor during the playoff games and force myself to calm down. My normal resting heart rate is like 50. During the 2020 playoffs, it would be like 100. What is sad is that this enjoyable experience is the one that produces the most stress of anything for me. 
 

I tried to be better last year and make watching the games a social experience with friends. Now, I am back to pacing around alone and watching with great anxiety. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

13 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

As pitiful as this sounds, I started to wear my heart monitor during the playoff games and force myself to calm down. My normal resting heart rate is like 50. During the 2020 playoffs, it would be like 100. What is sad is that this enjoyable experience is the one that produces the most stress of anything for me. 
 

I tried to be better last year and make watching the games a social experience with friends. Now, I am back to pacing around alone and watching with great anxiety. 

Get yourself some edibles.

 

[CincyBillsFan]

5 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Since the new playoff format started the one seed has been knocked out once in the divisional round, twice in the conference championship, and once in the Super Bowl.  If it wasn't for the most inept 13 seconds of coaching I've ever seen we would've hosted the AFC Championship game as a 3rd seed.  The two teams who've won the Super Bowl were a 5th seed and a 4th seed.

 

Does not getting the one seed make it much more difficult to reach and win the Super Bowl?  Yes.  Is the Bengals game a must win?  No.

Great post.  This isn't speculation but the hard cold facts of the last couple of years.  IMO this game is not as important as the late season game last year at New England or the game two weeks ago against Miami - in both those games the division was at stake.

 

 

[BADOLBILZ]

26 minutes ago, Logic said:

**Disclaimer, I know no one cares about other people's fantasy teams, so please scroll on if you wish**

As if tonight's game weren't big enough, I'm neck and neck with my opponent in my fantasy league championship match for a decent size pot of money.

He has Burrow, Mixon, Knox, McPherson left to play.

 

I have Allen, Higgins, Bass left to play.

 

1 seed. Fantasy trophy. Pile of money. It's all there!

GO BILLS!!! (and Higgins)

 

 

I suppose that it could be said that at least THIS TIME you didn't start an entirely new thread to specifically talk about your imaginary sports team........under the guise of your interest in others teams, of course.    

 

Of course, it is the REAL gameday thread so you probably figured it would get more looks this way.  

 

[strive_for_five_guy]

6 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Since the new playoff format started the one seed has been knocked out once in the divisional round, twice in the conference championship, and once in the Super Bowl.  If it wasn't for the most inept 13 seconds of coaching I've ever seen we would've hosted the AFC Championship game as a 3rd seed.  The two teams who've won the Super Bowl were a 5th seed and a 4th seed.

 

Does not getting the one seed make it much more difficult to reach and win the Super Bowl?  Yes.  Is the Bengals game a must win?  No.

One of my favorites was when Marv Levy was asked whether a certain game was a must-win.  To which he replied, “This is not a must-win.  World War II was a must-win”.

[Nextmanup]

I haven't heard a lot of talk about weather this week.

 

Right now it looks like gray sky and upper 50s at kickoff...with some rain maybe getting into the mix and then maybe even turning into some more serious thunderstorms before the game is over.

 

Fairly decent weather overall, especially if that rain stays away.