Game week thread - Saints at Bills

[mjt328]

1 hour ago, WNYFAN1 said:

They've also played against teams that are a combined 1-8 this year, with the 0-3 Saints coming to town. When will we have the first real test of our offense?

 

Probably not going to be many "real tests" for the Bills this year.

 

Looking at the schedule, we only face three legitimate playoff teams the rest of the season.  Chiefs, Bucs, Eagles.  I would have put the Bengals there until they lost Joe Burrow for basically the season. A couple teams are decent enough to possibly push for an upset.  Texans, Steelers.  Divisional games can be tough sometimes, so there's that.

 

My biggest worry about the Bills this year is they FINALLY get the #1 seed, but then march into the playoffs overconfident without being pushed enough during the year.  My second biggest worry is that we get the Bye and then still have to play the Chiefs or Ravens in the Divisional Round.

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

In a weird way, I dislike the saints. When we were in the drought, they would basically sign every free agent out there and kick their cap obligations way down the road. I remember feeling particularly annoyed when they signed Jairus Byrd. 
 

well, after years of financial irresponsibility, the chickens have come home to roost. I will be glad to absolutely stomp these guys.

[YattaOkasan]

22 hours ago, TheWeatherMan said:

Every year the Bills (and most other organizations) lose to a scrub team or two that on paper should have annihilated. For the Bills, the loses to the Colts, Jets, Jags, Raiders over the last 4 seasons come to mind.  Taking a team lightly, generally doesn’t pan out very well at the professional level of play.  

I would be concerned with not taking a team lightly if i was player or if we had lost to the raiders in the last 4 seasons.  Also what is the scrub colts team we lost to?  2021?  Where they beat the playoff pats a couple weeks after beating us and only missed the playoffs by blowing the final game to the Jags (still lolz).  So Jets (division rival) and Jags (this is the worst loss of the McD era imo) are the scrub teams we lost to in 4 years?  Thats hardly every year and is not concerning me with the way this team has evolved over the past year.

 

[Big Turk]

33 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Complimentary football.  This is what the media was clamoring for with Daboll and Dorsey.  Brady got the job done (along with the great OL, TE’s and RBs.

 

Which is why Allen and this offense has scored 30+ points in 13 of his last 14 regular season games and the only one he didn't they scored 24.

[fergie's ire]

Just now, mjt328 said:

 

Probably not going to be many "real tests" for the Bills this year.

 

Looking at the schedule, we only face three legitimate playoff teams the rest of the season.  Chiefs, Bucs, Eagles.  I would have put the Bengals there until they lost Joe Burrow for basically the season. A couple teams are decent enough to possibly push for an upset.  Texans, Steelers.  Divisional games can be tough sometimes, so there's that.

 

My biggest worry about the Bills this year is they FINALLY get the #1 seed, but then march into the playoffs overconfident without being pushed enough during the year.  My second biggest worry is that we get the Bye and then still have to play the Chiefs or Ravens in the Divisional Round.

 

Yeah, I'm always skeptical of easy/hard schedule talk in the NFL.  Often teams nobody expects to be good have a great season and sometimes perceived good teams fall off, often because of injury.  Cincinnati is a good example of the latter this year.  Also, some teams are good at one point of the year and not so good at another.  If we'd played LA at this time last year they would have been considered a bad team, but at the end of the year they were probably one of the four best.  However, what I find interesting this year is that, so far at least, everything is breaking our way.  I can see several teams that some people thought MIGHT be good (Bengals, Texans, Steelers, Patriots...even the Dolphins) and they all are trending worse.  Do we see any team on our schedule that is trending better than we expected?  (One game is not a trend, Carolina.)  I don't see it.  Things can change but so far the luck is on the Bills side.

[HappyDays]

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

11 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

would like to see both brown and AJE sit this one out— Brown because we need his calf to get right and AJE so we can see more of Solomon and Landon Jackson out there in real game action.

[Mat68]

55 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

 

Probably not going to be many "real tests" for the Bills this year.

 

Looking at the schedule, we only face three legitimate playoff teams the rest of the season.  Chiefs, Bucs, Eagles.  I would have put the Bengals there until they lost Joe Burrow for basically the season. A couple teams are decent enough to possibly push for an upset.  Texans, Steelers.  Divisional games can be tough sometimes, so there's that.

 

My biggest worry about the Bills this year is they FINALLY get the #1 seed, but then march into the playoffs overconfident without being pushed enough during the year.  My second biggest worry is that we get the Bye and then still have to play the Chiefs or Ravens in the Divisional Round.

 

I think the mental sharpness and business like approach is just as important as playing well vs good teams.  I think we all know Buffalo is good. Lock in a sure up areas of concern. Win on to next week.  

[Rockinon]

2 hours ago, RunTheBall said:

The only way to deter Buffalo’s running game is by loading the box. Our offensive line is too good, extra tight ends means extra gaps to defend, and then you have to account for the threat of Josh running. Teams have been very reluctant to load the box do because they fear Allen passing. Mature Josh is no longer Sugar High Josh and he’s not forcing the issue when the looks aren’t there. When teams start committing more players to the box, I hope and expect our intermediate / deep passing game will make an appearance. 

Miami was putting 4 defensive tackles on the field at once and still couldn't stop the run. The offense simply changed blocking, sprinkled a jet sweep and some play action. Miami still refused to bring a safety down in the box though. Until a defense does that, it's going to be more of the same.

[uninja]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

 

Which is why Allen and this offense has scored 30+ points in 13 of his last 14 regular season games and the only one he didn't they scored 24.

 

And I love how boring and workman-like it looks. Just 4 yards here, 6 yards there, 10 yard run, 8 yard pass. The explosive plays and 'omg did you see that' aren't a requirement for the offense to work anymore and it's honestly for the better. 

[BigAl2526]

44 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

would like to see both brown and AJE sit this one out— Brown because we need his calf to get right and AJE so we can see more of Solomon and Landon Jackson out there in real game action.

The Bills could probably rest Brown without a problem.  In all honesty, Epenesa doesn't matter all that much.  If he plays and gets hurt, well the Bills have Landon Jackson in the wings, who could come in next week.  Hoecht is getting closer to the end of his suspension.  Epenesa has never been a difference maker and is in a contract year.  I'll be a bit surprise if he's a Bill next season.  If the Bills do rest him, it might give us the first regular season look at Landon Jackson.  The bottom line is, I don't care whether Epenesa plays or not.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Just now, BigAl2526 said:

The Bills could probably rest Brown without a problem.  In all honesty, Epenesa doesn't matter all that much.  If he plays and gets hurt, well the Bills have Landon Jackson in the wings, who could come in next week.  Hoecht is getting closer to the end of his suspension.  Epenesa has never been a difference maker and is in a contract year.  I'll be a bit surprise if he's a Bill next season.  If the Bills do rest him, it might give us the first regular season look at Landon Jackson.  The bottom line is, I don't care whether Epenesa plays or not.

sadly, I agree. 

[balln]

10 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

sadly, I agree. 

His best play is the tipped wide screen pass 

[JP51]

1 hour ago, fergie's ire said:

Yeah, I'm always skeptical of easy/hard schedule talk in the NFL.  Often teams nobody expects to be good have a great season and sometimes perceived good teams fall off, often because of injury.  Cincinnati is a good example of the latter this year.  Also, some teams are good at one point of the year and not so good at another.  If we'd played LA at this time last year they would have been considered a bad team, but at the end of the year they were probably one of the four best.  However, what I find interesting this year is that, so far at least, everything is breaking our way.  I can see several teams that some people thought MIGHT be good (Bengals, Texans, Steelers, Patriots...even the Dolphins) and they all are trending worse.  Do we see any team on our schedule that is trending better than we expected?  (One game is not a trend, Carolina.)  I don't see it.  Things can change but so far the luck is on the Bills side.

I agree for the most part... I think from my perspective... beat the Saints... thats all that matters... the rest will be what it will be... so for the stuff we cannot control has been good to us... maybe that will continue, maybe that wont... so I am left with Beat the Saints.. thats it. 

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

would like to see both brown and AJE sit this one out— Brown because we need his calf to get right and AJE so we can see more of Solomon and Landon Jackson out there in real game action.

Honestly, you got what you get in Epinessa, I dont think you will be seeing the 2nd coming of Jerry Hughes out of him...  he is an average DE that is very inconsistent.. you can count on him for several big splash plays a season with breaks of not even being noticed...  I would love to see if someone else has a higher ceiling. 

[mannc]

2 hours ago, mjt328 said:

 

Probably not going to be many "real tests" for the Bills this year.

 

Looking at the schedule, we only face three legitimate playoff teams the rest of the season.  Chiefs, Bucs, Eagles.  I would have put the Bengals there until they lost Joe Burrow for basically the season. A couple teams are decent enough to possibly push for an upset.  Texans, Steelers.  Divisional games can be tough sometimes, so there's that.

 

My biggest worry about the Bills this year is they FINALLY get the #1 seed, but then march into the playoffs overconfident without being pushed enough during the year.  My second biggest worry is that we get the Bye and then still have to play the Chiefs or Ravens in the Divisional Round.

 

And the Eagles game, taking place on the next to last week of the season, might not mean much to either team, so it’s possible we only have two more meaningful games vs legit playoff teams. And I’m not even sure Tampa is good…

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

12 minutes ago, balln said:

His best play is the tipped wide screen pass 

pretty much the only play I associate with him!

[BillsfaninSB]

Really not liking Oliver missing another game.  Need him back for NE.  Do not want to continue tempting fate. 

[RiotAct]

35 minutes ago, mannc said:

And the Eagles game, taking place on the next to last week of the season, might not mean much to either team, so it’s possible we only have two more meaningful games vs legit playoff teams. And I’m not even sure Tampa is good…

did you mean to say “KC” instead of “Tampa”?  lol

[Toledo Bill]

38 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

pretty much the only play I associate with him!

That,  and losing containment 

[Low Positive]

I'm surprised that no one has posted this yet, but Chase Young is still not practicing, so it looks like he won't play on Sunday.