Last night’s game was the quintessential example of how close NFL teams are…

[billsfan89]

1 hour ago, Kornfed said:

Remember during the drought when we would loose a close game? Not because we were as talented but we had played a good game. .. It’s the opposite side of the coin. We are now the team winning those games. .. Not always by a lot but WINNING 

 

Jaruon was the expert at the moral victory. The 2006 Bills for example were 7-9 that year and 6 out of the 9 losses were by one score (3 wins out of 7 were also by one score). The Jauron era Bills were also masters at winning games towards the middle end of the season to crawl at or close to .500 and on the fringes of the playoffs to only lose the last two weeks of the season or something to just not even make it interesting in the last week of the season even as a long shot. 

 

McD for all the Jauron comparisons had a very different pre-Josh 2017 season. The Bills that year if they lost tended to lose big. They lost 7 games in the regular season that year. Of those 7 losses on 2 were by a single score (and 4 out of those 5 multi-score losses with 3 possession losses). Of the Bills 9 wins only 3 were by 2 score margins. So they either won close games or lost by blowout. Whereas Jauron's teams usually had less blowout losses and more blowout victories for some weird reason. 

 

Just weird how the NFL works, hard to win in it...

34 minutes ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

Another reason getting the 1 seed is so important.  Aside from injuries and lack of home field, having to play the extra game is that one additional chance of getting knocked out of the playoffs early if your team has an off-day or the opponent is on fire.

 

The 1 seed is such a tremendous advantage. I would also argue having nothing to play for in week 18 if you aren't getting a bye is a big advantage too. The Bills in 2024 had the two seed locked week 18 and got to rest everyone. Whereas the 2023 Bills had to play down to the wire to get the 2 seed. The 2023 team seemed to be a lot less healthy and more gassed by the divisional round. KC on the other hand was locked into the 3 seed so they rested in week 18 in 2023.

[folz]

2 hours ago, eball said:

 

The difference between success and failure in this league is a hair’s breadth, which is why Bills fans sound like lunatics and entitled A-holes when complaining about how many style points the Bills have amassed during their first four wins of the season.

 

Ask the coaches and players around the league if they care how much they win by or whether their team beat the spread.

 

 

 

And just to note:

 

The Bills are currently 2nd in points scored

The Bills are currently 15th in points against

The Bills are currently 3rd best in point differential at +43 points (1 point behind 2nd place Seattle, and 6 points behind 1st place Detroit).

 

So, only two teams have outscored their opponents by more points than the Bills have thus far this year. So, even though our games have been closer than some would like, we are still winning by more than most teams. Granted it's only 4 games, but I don't see the Bills not remaining near the top in point differential because they were 3rd in 2024, 4th in 2023, 2nd in 2022, 1st in 2021 and 5th in 2020.

 

So the idea of us not winning by enough or having enough style points doesn't really seem to be an issue when you compare the Bills to the rest of the NFL (over more than 5+ years now). They are generally winning their games by more points than 85-100% of the other teams (depending on the year---currently, this year, they are winning their games by more points than 93.75% of the other teams).

[GunnerBill]

33 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

It’s MIKE Shanahan’s offense. Both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay are part of his tree and run their own versions of his offense. Many others do as well. It’s not some exclusive club where these two are the only members. NFL coaches know what their schemes are about and some do well defending them. They do have a healthy rivalry and beating the other does seem personal.

 

I highly recommend Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic’s podcast series on them and the other “piss boys” (aka Mike Shanahan disciples of their time). It’s called “The Playcallers” and is free.

 

I think Kyle knows that offense better than anyone. And it has developed somewhat from the Mike version. McVay is a derivative of the Kyle Shanahan offense. And his record of shutting the Rams down is pretty good.

[JP51]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

There will be be some around here that will complain that the Bill’s Lombardi is not shiny enough.

Dear sweet Baby Jesus please let him be proven right! 

[BarleyNY]

42 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think Kyle knows that offense better than anyone. And it has developed somewhat from the Mike version. McVay is a derivative of the Kyle Shanahan offense. And his record of shutting the Rams down is pretty good.

 

Both have developed their own versions of the Mike Shanahan offense. At least that’s what they both said in the podcast series I mentioned. 

[Low Positive]

1 hour ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I love it when fans tell other fans how they're supposed to act in supporting their team.  Everyone is wired different and that's a good thing. Last I checked the whole point of playing any sport is to strive to win a championship. To those that just want to be entertained and enjoy a stress free ride thru Bills regular season Wonderland,  thats perfectly fine....knock yourselves out. You aren't being judged for that approach.

 

Let some of us critique in our own way. It's part of the whole gambit of the sports fan experience. But lose the whole A- hole, lunatics attitude. It makes you come off as "holier than thou". 

Just this Tuesday, you told us all that we’re bad fans because we’re making excuses. Here’s the quote:

Quote

 I've never seen ateams fan base make more excuses to where we're at.

 

[LABILLBACKER]

19 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

Just this Tuesday, you told us all that we’re bad fans because we’re making excuses. Here’s the quote:

 

Where did I use the term "we're bad fans"....I'll wait for you to dig up that quote. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

4 hours ago, eball said:

…and why no team should EVER take another team for granted.

 

The 49ers were missing their starting QB, top 3 WRs, star TE, and all-pro edge rusher.  That’s SIX out of 22 starters (27%).  They were facing a stacked Rams team that was basically healthy.

 

The difference between success and failure in this league is a hair’s breadth, which is why Bills fans sound like lunatics and entitled A-holes when complaining about how many style points the Bills have amassed during their first four wins of the season.

 

Ask the coaches and players around the league if they care how much they win by or whether their team beat the spread.

 

This is also why I and several others on this forum have chosen to appreciate and enjoy what we have the privilege to witness right now in Buffalo, rather than starting insane thread after thread about WRs or that Babich/McD can’t coach.  I’ve said it before — if you tie your enjoyment of Bills football solely to whether or not they hoist a Lombardi Trophy, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

 

Go Bills!!!

 

 

I tend to agree. This isn't Alabama versus Middle Western South Tennessee St.

 

[QCity]

I thought it was the quintessential example of how turnovers dictate the outcome. The Rams racked up like 475 yards of offense.

[BuffaloMatt]

4 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

Brock Purdy is so overrated. 

 

[Mikie2times]

2 hours ago, boater said:

How very true.

 

I'd bet there is a correlation between someone's tenure as a fan and their appreciation for the team today. 

 

Plot: X axis=fan tenure in years, Y axis=how much they appreciate the team as it is today.

 

Thesis:

1. the "Super Bowl or Bust" types, or the "Fire McDermott" types are younger fans who know only the good years and don't appreciate the entertainment provided by the current team.
2. the more patient and appreciative fans are older ones who lived through 4 Super Bowls, and/or the drought.

Somehow thinking Josh Allen should have at least participated in one Super Bowl the first decade of his career is impatient? Not acknowledging literal history being made with playoff appearances and regular season success without playing in a Super Bowl?  Perhaps fans that saw all 4 Super Bowls understand that this franchise can't possibly accomplish more than it already has without winning a Super Bowl. 

 

It also doesn't mean we can't enjoy what is happening right now like the 90's were really enjoyable. But that doesn't mean we should worship McD or not call out concerns with the team or direction just because we are great regular season team. 

[frostbitmic]

The Rams ran out of bullets after shooting themselves in the feet so many times.

 

RB loses fumble near the goal line

RB botches taking a hand off, turnover

Numerous dropped passes

A missed FG

A blocked FG

And an unsuccessful 4th and 1 to end the game in OT.

 

That's a lot of bad going on there.

[TFBillsfan]

As I was watching last night games, I kept thinking could the Bills win against LA if they were in the same situation as San Fran with so many starters out. Saleh struggled as the HC of the Jets but has typically had a strong Defense. San Fran DL was disruptive and it’s something I keep hoping to see from our DL. I want to see our DL or D for that matter feast against inferior teams. I was surprised by how they kept the Rams offense in check for the most part. 
 

Big win for the Niners.

[Mark Vader]

4 hours ago, Mango said:

 

This AM I was just thinking what a get Baker Mayfield would have been for Shanahan. He is CHEAP and was available at one point. Certainly an upgrade from Mac Jones and Brock Purdy. 

Were you surprised that the Rams didn't keep Mayfield, when he was a Ram for a brief moment?

[Alphadawg7]

3 hours ago, Mango said:

 

I think Purdy is a good QB and a great fit for his situation. I just think Baker is very very good, and easily a top 10 QB in the league with a very friendly contract for his production. More props to Mayfield than shade at Purdy.  

Mac Jones is getting the benefit of being a new QB in a new system with a good coach. I think he/SF will run into issues the more he plays. Purdy is a better QB than Jones. 

 

Well that is fair, and I am a big Baker supporter, been a fan since college.  So I agree, I think Baker is firmly in the top 10 QB category right now and if I had to pick one I would take Baker over Purdy.  That being said, I do think Purdy gets short changed a lot by others, and the way your post read I thought that was more your take on it too, so thanks for clarifying.  

 

Yeah, I agree with you on Mac.  A backup comes in and wins a game, especially one they weren't expected to, and they get the attention and buzz.  But to be fair to Mac, guys like Geno, Baker, and Darnold are all having success later in their careers too after being premium draft picks but faltering in the earlier stops in the NFL as they got better or into better situations.  So who knows, maybe Mac can find a rebirth somewhere too.  But I still agree with you and think that Purdy is the better QB and the guy I would trust more as my starter, at least right now.  

[MikePJ76]

There was a football game last night ?  
 

you people are Un American !  Yankees Red Sox must win game in the Bronx and your watching Mac jones !  
 

 

[Low Positive]

1 minute ago, MikePJ76 said:

There was a football game last night ?  
 

you people are Un American !  Yankees Red Sox must win game in the Bronx and your watching Mac jones !  
 

 

Sorry that I didn't watch 4 hours of a bunch of grown men standing around spitting and scratching themselves. I kid, I kid. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

10 hours ago, eball said:

…and why no team should EVER take another team for granted.

 

The 49ers were missing their starting QB, top 3 WRs, star TE, and all-pro edge rusher.  That’s SIX out of 22 starters (27%).  They were facing a stacked Rams team that was basically healthy.

 

The difference between success and failure in this league is a hair’s breadth, which is why Bills fans sound like lunatics and entitled A-holes when complaining about how many style points the Bills have amassed during their first four wins of the season.

 

Ask the coaches and players around the league if they care how much they win by or whether their team beat the spread.

 

This is also why I and several others on this forum have chosen to appreciate and enjoy what we have the privilege to witness right now in Buffalo, rather than starting insane thread after thread about WRs or that Babich/McD can’t coach.  I’ve said it before — if you tie your enjoyment of Bills football solely to whether or not they hoist a Lombardi Trophy, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

 

Go Bills!!!

 

 

The fact that the 49ers were missing all of those players makes Mac Jones performance even more impressive. I hope they give him a serious chance to grab the starting role. The best man should win, but I have a feeling Brock’s massive contract is going to play a role ala Rob Johnson. 

9 hours ago, eball said:

 

And they didn’t really stop them, either.  Those two RB fumbles were killers.

 

Forcing fumbles is most definitely a skill set, not luck. 

[ganesh]

9 hours ago, eball said:

I’m sure this is coming so I’ll address it now:  this thread is NOT a suggestion that fans shouldn’t discuss the team’s weaknesses and opine regarding ways to fix them.  I both expect and welcome that sort of discussion.  If people are truly reflective they understand the difference between doing that, and a lot of what is happening on this forum currently for a friggin’ 4-0 football team.

 

 

It would be good to list down what people are screaming about vs providing opinions on how to improve this team.  That gives a quantitative thought to the discussion.  Go Bills !!!

[Avisan]

5 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

Somehow thinking Josh Allen should have at least participated in one Super Bowl the first decade of his career is impatient? Not acknowledging literal history being made with playoff appearances and regular season success without playing in a Super Bowl?  Perhaps fans that saw all 4 Super Bowls understand that this franchise can't possibly accomplish more than it already has without winning a Super Bowl. 

 

It also doesn't mean we can't enjoy what is happening right now like the 90's were really enjoyable. But that doesn't mean we should worship McD or not call out concerns with the team or direction just because we are great regular season team. 

Brother, this is Allen's 8th year, it hasn't been a decade yet.  The Bills are unfortunate enough to have ascended at the same time AFC dynasty #2 was getting rolling with the Chiefs.  During the Patriots dynasty, other elite QBs had a way harder time making the Superbowl, too.  It's frustrating and unfortunate, but them's the breaks.