Week 18: Pats at Bills, Sunday 1/8 1pm

[Chicken Boo]

44 minutes ago, Success said:

It's been such an emotional week.  I've found that I have just started getting teary eyed once in awhile, without even thinking about anything.  I wasn't sure if I'd even care about football anymore.

 

But, today, I find that I still can't stand the Patriots. And want the Bills to win this game, big.

 

 

 

Same.  Still welling up with tears every now and again.  The moment we get definitive positive news about Damar's health I imagine I'll be looking for the box of tissues again.

 

Rooting for victory of course.  This could be a galvanizing moment, but it also wouldn't surprise me if the team comes out flat.

[UKBillFan]

44 minutes ago, buffaloboyinATL said:

I think it is that, combined with waiting to see if the game even “needs” to be played, based on this weeks results. (Ie, if we win and the Chiefs and Bengals happen to lose). 

In that scenario, the game would “need” to be played from the point of view of the Ravens. Though the Bills would probably field back ups as they’d have nothing to play for.

[Loyal BF]

4 hours ago, Success said:

 

So, if we didn't get the win against Cincy - we'd have no week off at any point, even if we made the SB.  If I'm reading that right.

 

 

What we tend to forget is that Bills played only 9 minutes on Monday night.  This is their week off.   And if they get the #1 seed, they would get “week 20” off as well.  

 

Not a prefect solution, but a lot better than just declaring the game a tie or no contest, and virtually handing the #1 seed to KC.

 

Of course, KC could do the whole league a favor and lose on Saturday vs the Raiders.  

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, Loyal BF said:

 

What we tend to forget is that Bills played only 9 minutes on Monday night.  This is their week off.   And if they get the #1 seed, they would get “week 20” off as well.  

 

Not a prefect solution, but a lot better than just declaring the game a tie or no contest, and virtually handing the #1 seed to KC.

 

Of course, KC could do the whole league a favor and lose on Saturday vs the Raiders.  

The Chiefs losing wouldn’t reduce the importance of the Bills-Bengals result. Whatever mix of results in week eighteen, there will be something riding on it.

[Loyal BF]

1 minute ago, UKBillFan said:

The Chiefs losing wouldn’t reduce the importance of the Bills-Bengals result. Whatever mix of results in week eighteen, there will be something riding on it.

 

The Chief’s losing makes declaring the Bills Bengals game a tie moot (at least for Bills fans).

 

IF KC loses vs LV, and the Bills win vs NE, they get the #1 seed.   

[UKBillFan]

4 minutes ago, Loyal BF said:

 

The Chief’s losing makes declaring the Bills Bengals game a tie moot (at least for Bills fans).

 

IF KC loses vs LV, and the Bills win vs NE, they get the #1 seed.   

For Bills fans, yes, to a degree. But not necessarily for the fans of the Bengals or the Ravens.

[T&C]

21 minutes ago, Loyal BF said:

What we tend to forget is that Bills played only 9 minutes on Monday night.  This is their week off.  

No. This is out in left field...

[WotAGuy]

14 minutes ago, T&C said:

No. This is out in left field...

Did someone call my name?

[Beck Water]

12 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

I think the unique thing in this situation is the trauma associated with watching your teammate/friend need to be resuscitated with you standing there. 
 

If Damar had been in a serious accident away from the field, players would still be grieving, but it wouldn’t be as traumatic because they didn’t witness it. First responders, military, etc. are prepared to see traumatic life or death events… football players really aren’t. 
 

At some point they will “get on with it” but right now they have a lot to work through. 

 

Ha.  Nothing prepares you for seeing traumatic life or death events.  You're told about it.  You  hear about it.  But when you encounter it for yourself, it's different.  And then once one sort of life or death event becomes something you encounter enough to know how to process it, you see something worse.

 

Still, I see your point that witnessing your teammate being resuscitated before your eyes is A Lot.  It's A Lot when someone who is trained and knows what they're going to see, sees it. 

 

The thing is, medical emergencies (in the moment) are easier for trained medical personnel to deal with because they follow their training and focus on the task at hand.  There are sayings like "get back on the horse as soon as possible" for riders and "go back up as soon as you can" for aerialist performers because the sooner you get back to doing something you're trained to do, the sooner the trauma gets pushed aside by the familiar routine and the less space there is for fear and uncertainty to grow.

 

So I think they need to get back to their routine ASAP while they're working through stuff.  Because otherwise it's just going to grow and become this Shadow Beast in the corner they have to fight.  They've all taken thousands of blows and dealt them.  They know this.  What happened to Damar is apparently very very rare overall and even rarer in football - the fact that guys who have been in the league for decades say "I've never seen anything like this" shows this.   Sometimes the best way out is Through.

 

JMO.

 

54 minutes ago, Loyal BF said:

 

What we tend to forget is that Bills played only 9 minutes on Monday night.  This is their week off. 

 

This is such a horribly bad take that it deserves to be placed on a pedestal, cryogenically preserved, and enshrined in a Hall of Fame for Bulletin Board Bad Takes somewhere.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Beck Water

[Shemp]

Any info on Josh Allen's ankle injury? Frankly I'd sit him and rest the elbow and the ankle. 

[sven233]

If the NFL is going to wait until the games are played this week before making a decision on what to do with Bills/Bengals, they should honestly hope that both the Chiefs and Bengals lose while the Bills win.  This cements the standings and the outcome of that game would mean nothing. 

 

But also knowing the league, they probably have wanted the Chiefs to be the #1 seed all season.  So, who knows.  In the end, I fully expect the Chiefs to someway, somehow benefit from all this and get the bye.  Just feels like that is the way this is all headed. 

 

Regardless, with everything that has gone on, and will continue to be going on all week or even longer, I am honestly not sure how we as a team prepare the way we need to in order to win a football game this week.  As bad a team as the Pats* are most of the time, it is a fine line in the NFL in who wins games.  In a normal week, I wouldn't think twice about winning this game.  But this week, I honestly have no idea what is going to happen.  We could come out on fire and win by 30 or we could come out completely disinterested and lose by double digits.  What I fear most, though, are more injuries.  This game is violent enough when playing 100% focused.  I can't imagine trying to play the game with so many thoughts elsewhere.  It's a real tough spot for us for sure.

[WotAGuy]

17 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Ha.  Nothing prepares you for seeing traumatic life or death events.  You're told about it.  You  hear about it.  But when you encounter it for yourself, it's different.  And then once one sort of life or death event becomes something you encounter enough to know how to process it, you see something worse.

 

Still, I see your point that witnessing your teammate being resuscitated before your eyes is A Lot.  It's A Lot when someone who is trained and knows what they're going to see, sees it. 

 

The thing is, medical emergencies (in the moment) are easier for trained medical personnel to deal with because they follow their training and focus on the task at hand.  There are sayings like "get back on the horse as soon as possible" for riders and "go back up as soon as you can" for aerialist performers because the sooner you get back to doing something you're trained to do, the sooner the trauma gets pushed aside by the familiar routine and the less space there is for fear and uncertainty to grow.

 

So I think they need to get back to their routine ASAP while they're working through stuff.  Because otherwise it's just going to grow and become this Shadow Beast in the corner they have to fight.  They've all taken thousands of blows and dealt them.  They know this.  What happened to Damar is apparently very very rare overall and even rarer in football - the fact that guys who have been in the league for decades say "I've never seen anything like this" shows this.   Sometimes the best way out is Through.

 

JMO.

 

 Very well said and it aligns with the perspective by many here that the Bills “need” to move on.  But you said it with empathy and compassion. 

[UKBillFan]

5 minutes ago, sven233 said:

If the NFL is going to wait until the games are played this week before making a decision on what to do with Bills/Bengals, they should honestly hope that both the Chiefs and Bengals lose while the Bills win.  This cements the standings and the outcome of that game would mean nothing. 

 

But also knowing the league, they probably have wanted the Chiefs to be the #1 seed all season.  So, who knows.  In the end, I fully expect the Chiefs to someway, somehow benefit from all this and get the bye.  Just feels like that is the way this is all headed. 

 

Regardless, with everything that has gone on, and will continue to be going on all week or even longer, I am honestly not sure how we as a team prepare the way we need to in order to win a football game this week.  As bad a team as the Pats* are most of the time, it is a fine line in the NFL in who wins games.  In a normal week, I wouldn't think twice about winning this game.  But this week, I honestly have no idea what is going to happen.  We could come out on fire and win by 30 or we could come out completely disinterested and lose by double digits.  What I fear most, though, are more injuries.  This game is violent enough when playing 100% focused.  I can't imagine trying to play the game with so many thoughts elsewhere.  It's a real tough spot for us for sure.

The Chiefs and Bengals losing with the Bills winning does not cement the standings - the Ravens would then have a shot at three, if we play and beat the Bengals.

[Beck Water]

6 hours ago, KDIGGZ said:

Cam Lewis is the 3rd safety apparently. Marlowe hasn't even dressed for a game since getting traded for as far as I know 

 

Dressed for Cleveland and for Detroit games.

 

Played on ST

[Since1981]

47 minutes ago, T&C said:

What we tend to forget is that Bills played only 9 minutes on Monday night.  This is their week off.

From a physical state, maybe? We did add another FS out. Mental standpoint, sh#t these guys have been thru gauntlet past 6 wks. 

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, Since1981 said:

From a physical state, maybe? We did add another FS out. Mental standpoint, sh#t these guys have been thru gauntlet past 6 wks. 

Plus the Bills still trained for the game and went through the usual processes. It wasn’t treated as a bye week.

[T&C]

4 minutes ago, Since1981 said:

From a physical state, maybe? We did add another FS out. Mental standpoint, sh#t these guys have been thru gauntlet past 6 wks. 

You misquoted... I didn't say what you replied to.

[Reks Ryan]

1 hour ago, Loyal BF said:

 

What we tend to forget is that Bills played only 9 minutes on Monday night.  This is their week off.   And if they get the #1 seed, they would get “week 20” off as well.  

 

Not a prefect solution, but a lot better than just declaring the game a tie or no contest, and virtually handing the #1 seed to KC.

 

Of course, KC could do the whole league a favor and lose on Saturday vs the Raiders.  

Hardly a  week off. From a football standpoint, they   Lost 2 defensive starters and Allen got rolled up on by the Hendrickson dirty play.

And of course that doesn’t even take into account, Hamlin’s critical condition

[John from Riverside]

34 minutes ago, T&C said:

You misquoted... I didn't say what you replied to.

I agree with you. I don’t know how you could possibly called us a week off for the bills

 

What happened was so mentally draining. I’m actually a little bit worried about the next game they play

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

4 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

I agree with you. I don’t know how you could possibly called us a week off for the bills

 

What happened was so mentally draining. I’m actually a little bit worried about the next game they play

 

 I agree. Monday night was far more draining than any other big game they've played. On top of that, it wasn't a home game, they traveled. Albeit a relatively short distance.