Game week thread - Bills at Falcons MNF

[Sierra Foothills]

20 hours ago, boater said:

Yeah, that. Along those lines, can't the Superbowl be on Saturday?

 

That is a pipe dream for sure.

 

19 hours ago, CNYfan said:

I think you may get your wish.  The Bills were a prime time favorite because they had a fun offense with Josh Allen throwing the ball all over the field.  The Bills offense is currently fairly sedate with James Cook and underneath passes.  

The Bills will have fewer primetime games next year.  

 

When it comes to prime time appearances I think the strength of the team is a bigger factor than the style of the team.

 

12 hours ago, BlueRed said:

Does anyone regularly stalk the Bills travel pictures? I just happened to look through them today and it seems they bring the entire practice squad with them - is that normal for an away game? Tyler Bass and Hairston were in the pics too, maybe they are both close to a return. 

 

To the bolded, I say to the Bills why de-stabilize a stable situation?

 

Prater is 10/11 and 15/15.

 

Unless Prater were to slump, going back to Bass would be foolish.

 

Hopefully it's all about team building.

 

10 hours ago, RunTheBall said:

I hate all things Patriots so much that I’d sacrifice my left nut if they never made the playoffs in my remaining years. But, having some pressure on our guys isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Feeling a little heat will keep them from complacency. I think McD has done a good job over the years keeping them focused but having a team that already beat you breathing down your neck can be a motivator in itself.

 

F the Pats*, F their bandwagon fans, F Vrabel and his douchebag face. Run the ball against Atlanta’s light front and Go Bills!

 

1) I hate them too but apparently you hate them even more.

2) Judging from your photo, you should be good with just one.

3) Why the left one versus the right one?

 

9 hours ago, Saratoga Fan said:

No dome tomorrow.  Retractable roof will be open.

 

I'm not contesting your information but how do you know this?

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Sierra Foothills

[boater]

11 hours ago, RunTheBall said:

...

F the Pats*, F their bandwagon fans, F Vrabel and his douchebag face. Run the ball against Atlanta’s light front and Go Bills!

 

His face really is punchable. 

 

That is the extent of my pre-game day analysis today.

[stevewin]

10 hours ago, CincyBillsFan said:

A must game win for the Bills?  Are people insane? A little history will help:

 

2021:  the Bills are 7 - 6 and 2.5 games out of 1st place in the east.

 

2022:  the Bills are 6 - 3 and in 3rd place in the AFC East.

 

2023:  the Bills are 6 - 6 and 3 games behind Miami in the East.

 

2024:  the Bills are 3 - 2 after 5 games.

 

So in what alternate universe is 4 - 2 season over for a team with the above track record?

 

 

 

 

 

In the one where everyone thinks the NE Maye/Meatheads are suddenly an unstoppable force

[Fan in Chicago]

Chiefs played very well last night against a good team. Pats also played well and have beaten us. We need to take care of business this evening and hopefully in decisive fashion. 

We can pooh pooh the Pats but better not to get complacent about it. 

A comprehensive win tonight will get us Bills fans off pins and needles and also put a damper on the exuberant celebrations of the fans of those teams

 

[finn]

9 hours ago, Shortchaz said:

I’m halfway there, still holding hope. There’s an outside chance the defense figures it out.

Yeah, it's not clear yet how good this team is. The 4-2 record might be masking a truly rotten defensive substructure that a one-dimensional offense can't bail out in the long term. OR it could be that the reinforcements will turn around the defense, while Brady will make better use of Kincaid, Cook, Shakir, and Coleman (??) so his HOF quarterback isn't forced to be a Trent Edwards clone. 

 

I think the writing is on the wall: Unless Beane does something now, this team WILL (not might) lose again in the playoffs. He gave up a first-round pick and more for Diggs, so we know he has it in him. He can't afford both a CB and a WR, but he probably can swing one and would have to cross his fingers on the other.

 

I'm not optimistic. I think he'll give up a fifth for a meh CB and hold pat on offense. But at least he'll have his top picks for more defensive lineman next year!

 

 

[BlueRed]

It’ll be interesting to see what the Bills do today regarding their 2 open roster spots, plus 2 practice squad elevations. 
 

I think there is a rumor that poyer is being activated but idk that they need that with Hancock, and Cam in the reserve safety roles. 

[Low Positive]

13 minutes ago, finn said:

Yeah, it's not clear yet how good this team is. The 4-2 record might be masking a truly rotten defensive substructure that a one-dimensional offense can't bail out in the long term. OR it could be that the reinforcements will turn around the defense, while Brady will make better use of Kincaid, Cook, Shakir, and Coleman (??) so his HOF quarterback isn't forced to be a Trent Edwards clone. 

 

I think the writing is on the wall: Unless Beane does something now, this team WILL (not might) lose again in the playoffs. He gave up a first-round pick and more for Diggs, so we know he has it in him. He can't afford both a CB and a WR, but he probably can swing one and would have to cross his fingers on the other.

 

I'm not optimistic. I think he'll give up a fifth for a meh CB and hold pat on offense. But at least he'll have his top picks for more defensive lineman next year!

 

 

The record is 4-1. In your extreme negativity, you gave them an extra loss. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Low Positive

[BuffaloRebound]

4 minutes ago, finn said:

Yeah, it's not clear yet how good this team is. The 4-2 record might be masking a truly rotten defensive substructure that a one-dimensional offense can't bail out in the long term. OR it could be that the reinforcements will turn around the defense, while Brady will make better use of Kincaid, Cook, Shakir, and Coleman (??) so his HOF quarterback isn't forced to be a Trent Edwards clone. 

 

I think the writing is on the wall: Unless Beane does something now, this team WILL (not might) lose again in the playoffs. He gave up a first-round pick and more for Diggs, so we know he has it in him. He can't afford both a CB and a WR, but he probably can swing one and would have to cross his fingers on the other.

 

I'm not optimistic. I think he'll give up a fifth for a meh CB and hold pat on offense. But at least he'll have his top picks for more defensive lineman next year!

 

 

This is where I’m at too.  Kinda feels like McBeane is where Franklin was at Penn State.  Good results but never gonna take the next step and then before you blink the bottom falls out.  An awful lot riding on the return of a rookie CB and the roid guys on defense.  On offense not seeing where the explosive plays come in the passing game.  I’d take a swing for a young WR like Olave but that feels like desperation and more of a play for next year.  

[Bills!Win!]

Perfect year to make the 1 seed and yet again we will let it slip away 

[aristocrat]

Hairston better come back after the buy and be the next coming of Revis island. 

[finn]

12 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

The record is 4-1. In your extreme negativity, you gave them an extra loss. 

Sorry about that. 

 

So you think it's "extremely negative" to predict a playoff loss if Beane does nothing about CB or WR? You're fine with Tre White starting for the rest of the season? 

[gordong]

12 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

Hairston better come back after the buy and be the next coming of Revis island. 

no pressure there. he missed half training camp and the entire season so far... think you should rethink your expectations or just call him a bust and be done with it now.  save yourself the grief! At this point any major contribution will be next year IMHO. 

Edited 6 hours ago by gordong

[Saratoga Fan]

1 hour ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

I'm not contesting your information but how do you know this?

 

I am in Atlanta. It was announced to ticket holders last Friday or Saturday. 

[boyst]

14 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

Hairston better come back after the buy and be the next coming of Revis island. 

What's for sale?

[fergie's ire]

19 minutes ago, boyst said:

What's for sale?

In the immortal words of NSYNC: bye bye bye

[ToGoGo]

45 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

The record is 4-1. In your extreme negativity, you gave them an extra loss. 

Thats why everyone is panicking. In their mind the team is already 4-2 and in 2nd place in the AFC East. Makes sense now. 

[Coach Tuesday]

How about just four consecutive quarters of good football on both sides of the ball?  

[BuffaloBillyG]

11 minutes ago, ToGoGo said:

Thats why everyone is panicking. In their mind the team is already 4-2 and in 2nd place in the AFC East. Makes sense now. 

To play a bit of devil's advocate here. And let me start by saying I hope the Bills win tonight...but a loss tonight might spark Beane to move some draft picks for reinforcements. 

 

Could heading into the bye on a 2 game skid and dropping to second place in the division create a sense of urgency? Maybe. But my major complaint on Beane over the years is that they "run it back" way too often because they feel they were close. New England being actual competition for the division may make him rethink his approach.

[CincyBillsFan]

4 hours ago, harryS said:

 

I think people are thinking in terms of the 1-seed and playoff bye instead of just making the playoffs or winning the division.

 

When you're aiming for 14+ wins, there are more "must wins" along the way than if you're aiming to make the playoffs.

My post was in response to those claiming the season was over or the Bills were in deep crisis if they lost to Atlanta.  I think we can all safely say that it won't be over with a loss.  And while the #1 seed would be great it is not necessary to win a Super Bowl.  The Bills came pretty damn close to advancing to a Super Bowl in 2021, 2023 & 2024 all without the #1 seed.

 

 

[ToGoGo]

23 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

To play a bit of devil's advocate here. And let me start by saying I hope the Bills win tonight...but a loss tonight might spark Beane to move some draft picks for reinforcements. 

 

Could heading into the bye on a 2 game skid and dropping to second place in the division create a sense of urgency? Maybe. But my major complaint on Beane over the years is that they "run it back" way too often because they feel they were close. New England being actual competition for the division may make him rethink his approach.

These guys are so mentally solid. Why would you think we need a sense of urgency? How many more years do they need to prove it? 
 

Our final test is the Chiefs in the playoffs. All this week 6 drama is water under the bridge by January.