The race for the AFC East

[Shortchaz]

13 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

Before the season I predicted the Jets would be the most improved team in the NFL.

 

Am I allowed to amend that?

 

The Patriots are the most improved team in the NFL.

 

The Jets will be the most improved team in the second half.

The jags/colts/chargers might have something to say about most improved but we’ll see.

 

i think what’s most upsetting about the loss to the pats is: before the season started we needed some players (on defense especially) to outplay their contract. I.e. we needed some dudes to come in and play like borderline pro bowlers while also having the guys that have played well in the past continue to do so. We’ve been winning despite those things happening, losing to the pats highlighted those weaknesses. Not because the defense lost the game necessarily, it was losing, itself, that made fears real. 
 

to have any chance this year we need this defense to get it together. We need some rookies and free agents to step up. Right now, everyone on defense looks mid at best. 

[Mr Info]

Pats get a break with their Bye week prior to their home game vs Bills.

[Big Blitz]

11 minutes ago, Shortchaz said:

The jags/colts/chargers might have something to say about most improved but we’ll see.

 

i think what’s most upsetting about the loss to the pats is: before the season started we needed some players (on defense especially) to outplay their contract. I.e. we needed some dudes to come in and play like borderline pro bowlers while also having the guys that have played well in the past continue to do so. We’ve been winning despite those things happening, losing to the pats highlighted those weaknesses. Not because the defense lost the game necessarily, it was losing, itself, that made fears real. 
 

to have any chance this year we need this defense to get it together. We need some rookies and free agents to step up. Right now, everyone on defense looks mid at best. 

 

I disagree.  
 

If we don’t win it’s going to be because of WR.  

 

We’re asking for too much at this point to expect the defense to “shut down” anyone as constructed and with the injuries now and those that are inevitable - let alone do so under 2025 NFL rules.  
 

WE NEED TO SCORE.  

 

I’m done hoping every freaking thing goes right and everyone stays healthy on this d for it to be great.  
 

What I can do is get my HOF QB elite weapons and outscore everyone - especially while it has an elite oline and run game.  

Edited 4 hours ago by Big Blitz

[kkim0904]

4 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Excluding some kind of miracle, it’s obvious who the front runners are of this division. The Patriots showed that they are not the same team as the past few seasons. Maye was impressive and Vrabel’s defense showed that it can slow Josh Allen down. I am still leaning heavily towards Buffalo to win it. I think the next 3 games will be very telling for each of these teams.

 

The first 3 for the Patriots should be EASY wins for a contender. If they win those 3, they will show me that can beat the teams they are supposed to beat. That is the first step of becoming an elite team. Once you can defeat the “tomato cans” with regularity, you have to start beating elite teams. The Bills win was a fluke until I see them do it again. Unfortunately, their remaining schedule is probably the easiest in the NFL.

 

The Bills next 3 games scares me a little more. The Falcons are the type of team the Bills typically fail against. The run-heavy, physical kind. Still their QB doesn’t scare me. For the Panthers, Bryce Young has flashes of brilliance once in a blue moon. Facing off against the Chiefs used to be a good gauge on how good your team is. Although, still a major accomplishment if the Bills win. 
 

I posted both remaining schedules. What do you think? 

Patriots

@ Saints  W

@ Browns W

Titans W

Falcons L

@ Bucs L

Jets W

@ Bengals W 

Giants L

BYE

Bills L

@ Ravens L

@ Jets L

Dolphins W

8 - 8

 

4 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Bills

@ Falcons W

BYE 

@ Panthers W

Chiefs L

@ Dolphins W

Bucs

@ Texans L

@ Steelers W

Bengals W

@ Patriots W

@ Browns W

Eagles L

Jets W

12-5

 

4 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

 

 

 

 

 

[Big Blitz]

 

[The Frankish Reich]

23 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

 

I don't think Maye is 'trash'. I think the Bills D made him look better than he is, though.

Maybe is definitely not trash.

I doubt he'll be Josh Allen. But he can definitely be Jared Goff or Jordan Love, and I wouldn't even rule out Justin Herbert.

[oldmanfan]

9 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

So 3 of 5 are hurt. How many IR guys can contribute to a team’s success?

[BuffaloBillyG]

4 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Excluding some kind of miracle, it’s obvious who the front runners are of this division. The Patriots showed that they are not the same team as the past few seasons. Maye was impressive and Vrabel’s defense showed that it can slow Josh Allen down. I am still leaning heavily towards Buffalo to win it. I think the next 3 games will be very telling for each of these teams.

 

The first 3 for the Patriots should be EASY wins for a contender. If they win those 3, they will show me that can beat the teams they are supposed to beat. That is the first step of becoming an elite team. Once you can defeat the “tomato cans” with regularity, you have to start beating elite teams. The Bills win was a fluke until I see them do it again. Unfortunately, their remaining schedule is probably the easiest in the NFL.

 

The Bills next 3 games scares me a little more. The Falcons are the type of team the Bills typically fail against. The run-heavy, physical kind. Still their QB doesn’t scare me. For the Panthers, Bryce Young has flashes of brilliance once in a blue moon. Facing off against the Chiefs used to be a good gauge on how good your team is. Although, still a major accomplishment if the Bills win. 
 

I posted both remaining schedules. What do you think? 

Patriots

@ Saints

@ Browns

Titans

Falcons

@ Bucs

Jets 

@ Bengals 

Giants

BYE

Bills

@ Ravens

@ Jets

Dolphins

 

Bills

@ Falcons

BYE 

@ Panthers 

Chiefs

@ Dolphins

Bucs

@ Texans 

@ Steelers 

Bengals

@ Patriots

@ Browns

Eagles

Jets 

 

 

 

 

I understand the instant take because the Pats came in and beat us. But they are far from contenders. 

 

The next 3 weeks, Buffalo should go 2-0. And I don't think the Patriots have it as easy as some think with the Saints and Browns. As we saw in our game against them, the Saints are a scrappy team. They could very well win. And I don't think the Pats beat Cleveland. Their defense is too tough. Sure, they should stomp the Titans in what will be a Vrabel revenge game. But I see them going 1-2 over the next three weeks. 

[BillytheKid]

The Pats are going to have their hands full with the Saints this weekend. Spread is Pats -3.5.

 

Saints should cover the spread and have a decent chance of winning outright. 
 

Pats just won a big game on a Sunday night now go on the road against a Saints team who isn’t that bad. Outside of a bunch of special teams blunders and turnovers in the Seattle game they have been in every other game. I think the Saints have a great shot to beat them. Should be a close game either way. 

[Billsfanatic8989]

Patriots are still in a rebuilding phase. Maybe by 2027 they can compete for the division. 

 

I think they 1-2 the next three games. Only win being Tennessee.

 

 

[Cray51]

5 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

It’s not panic. It’s being realistic. The Bills are only a game ahead. I think it’s a valid conversation to have. 

Thankfully they should have Lamar back by then. 

McDermott was not outcoached when his MVP QB decides to throw into double coverage and check into a TE sweep where Knox drops the handoff.

 

mcd actually did a decent job with timeouts and personnel.  Unfortunately, his offense played their worst game of the year, and the turnovers killed them

1 hour ago, Big Blitz said:

 

False - I’ve done a deep analysis before that I posted on this board - the bills are an above average drafting team.

 

you can’t simply say “a couple picks in 22” when they amount to a top end CB, and top end RB, a starting MLB (and team captain) and a top 15 slot receiver.

 

That’s an amazing result that doesn’t get to be diminished to “a couple of picks”

 

people talk out of their ass on this stuff

Edited 2 hours ago by Cray51

[Big Blitz]

37 minutes ago, Cray51 said:

McDermott was not outcoached when his MVP QB decides to throw into double coverage and check into a TE sweep where Knox drops the handoff.

 

mcd actually did a decent job with timeouts and personnel.  Unfortunately, his offense played their worst game of the year, and the turnovers killed them

False - I’ve done a deep analysis before that I posted on this board - the bills are an above average drafting team.

 

you can’t simply say “a couple picks in 22” when they amount to a top end CB, and top end RB, a starting MLB (and team captain) and a top 15 slot receiver.

 

That’s an amazing result that doesn’t get to be diminished to “a couple of picks”

 

people talk out of their ass on this stuff

 

Ok fine - Benford, Cook, Shakir, Bernard.  We know.  That’s not their point.  
 

 

Are they getting “lapped” by the rest of the league since the 2022 draft?

 

The answer is freaking yes.  

Edited 2 hours ago by Big Blitz

[Cray51]

3 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

Ok fine - Benford, Cook, Shakir, Bernard.  We know.  That’s not their point.  
 

 

Are they getting “lapped” by the rest of the league since the 2022 draft?

 

The answer is freaking yes.  

2023 draft has Kincaid who is a starting TE.  Torrence who is a top 30 guard in the league, and rotational LB in Dorian

 

they didn’t have a pick in the 4th, and had a 5th and 2 7ths.

 

The ten picks after Kincaid, only guy I’d consider a better pick is Laporta

 

20 picks after Torrence, only guy I’d consider taking over him is Byron young

 

williams is the best selection from 91-111.  Next guy is Chamari Connors.

 

bills getting two legit starters is better than 50% of the league  given their draft slot

 

are teams drafting better?  Sure, there are some.  But to make the cutoff after the 2022 draft produced one of the best results for the Bills in their franchise history and saying the last two drafts have been bad is stupid

[GoBills808]

Bills should still take AFCE but Patriots definitely look to be on the upswing

 

I mean the division wasn't going to be terrible forever

[Big Blitz]

5 minutes ago, Cray51 said:

2023 draft has Kincaid who is a starting TE.  Torrence who is a top 30 guard in the league, and rotational LB in Dorian

 

they didn’t have a pick in the 4th, and had a 5th and 2 7ths.

 

The ten picks after Kincaid, only guy I’d consider a better pick is Laporta

 

20 picks after Torrence, only guy I’d consider taking over him is Byron young

 

williams is the best selection from 91-111.  Next guy is Chamari Connors.

 

bills getting two legit starters is better than 50% of the league  given their draft slot

 

are teams drafting better?  Sure, there are some.  But to make the cutoff after the 2022 draft produced one of the best results for the Bills in their franchise history and saying the last two drafts have been bad is stupid

 

I’m including it.  And while Benford is a hit the missed opportunity on the first pick - and really the first round picks since are not helping enough.  
 

 

But the answer is still no.  We have no cap room.  We have to hit on the first 2-3 rounds OR ——- TRADE the picks. 
 

It’s the stuff we don’t know that makes it tough to fully judge we can only compare them to what other teams are doing.  
 

Despite spending to the cap and winning a SB the Rams have hit on their picks and traded for Adams.  
 

 

And I guess this is my point because I’m a fan of everything the Rams did to get to that Super Bowl.  Trading assets trading first round picks.  
 

By October 30 when we see we won’t be picking in the top 15 bc we’re a playoff team that pick should be on the table.  
 

The Jags traded their 2026 first at the draft which is a big risk considering the degree of difficulty to make the playoffs in the AFC. 

 

That move looks to be working out.  

[Low Positive]

Can we make one thread for "Beane is the worst drafter in NFL history" so that this discussion doesn't take over everything else?

[Cray51]

47 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

I’m including it.  And while Benford is a hit the missed opportunity on the first pick - and really the first round picks since are not helping enough.  
 

 

But the answer is still no.  We have no cap room.  We have to hit on the first 2-3 rounds OR ——- TRADE the picks. 
 

It’s the stuff we don’t know that makes it tough to fully judge we can only compare them to what other teams are doing.  
 

Despite spending to the cap and winning a SB the Rams have hit on their picks and traded for Adams.  
 

 

And I guess this is my point because I’m a fan of everything the Rams did to get to that Super Bowl.  Trading assets trading first round picks.  
 

By October 30 when we see we won’t be picking in the top 15 bc we’re a playoff team that pick should be on the table.  
 

The Jags traded their 2026 first at the draft which is a big risk considering the degree of difficulty to make the playoffs in the AFC. 

 

That move looks to be working out.  

If we want to say the Bills should be more aggressive at filling holes in their roster by trading for players to go “all in”, I’m in agreement with you for this season.  They are primed for a big move to bring in a pro bowl talent to this team on either side of the ball.

 

if you want to say the Bills are “being lapped” by teams in the drafts from 23 and 24, that’s an awful take and rightfully needs to be pushed back on.

 

the bills are one of the most consistent teams when it comes to finding NFL 53 man roster talents via the draft.  They struggle at finding those top end stars, but it is difficult given their draft spots each year.

 

i was just talking with someone last night about the need to trade for a pro bowl safety or linebacker this year, but that doesn’t mean the bills are a terrible drafting team

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

6 hours ago, BuffaloMatt said:

Looks like wild card to me. 

Finally a reply about the actual topic 

6 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Pats are going to drop their next two against the saints and browns. Just have a feeling based on how those teams have been playing, and they are both road games for the Pats.

Absolutely no way. I don’t even think they lose one of those games. 

[Coffeesforclosers]

Is this another panic thread? I can't tell.

Edited 21 minutes ago by Coffeesforclosers