Thoughts after watching the Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Patriots, Lions, Eagles, Rams and 49ers

[Ray Stonada]

Well, our game on Thursday was pretty depressing. But it gave us the chance to watch some relatively stress-free games on Sunday and Monday night. 

 

And I have to say... I came away feeling a little better. There is NO dominant team in the NFL this year, no team that I feel we couldn't beat on our day.

 

Every contender who played showed major limitations or looked vulnerable, with one exception--the Rams. But if we play the Rams it means we made it to the Super Bowl.

 

If we get some guys back (Kincaid, Oliver, Brown) by January, we could go on a run.

 

I would love for the Pats to get the number one seed and then get knocked off immediately by us or the Chiefs. Watching them struggle against Flacco and the Bengals sure didn't scare me. And they're getting banged up, too.

 

Now, of course, the Bills would have to improve a lot to make a run this year, for sure... but if they can put it together there's no team that it looks impossible for them to beat.

[Big Turk]

It's irritating to me because I feel many of the Bills issues are within their control and of their own making AS THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED and don't need outside help to fix (although outside help could make them BETTER).

Edited 20 minutes ago by Big Turk

[Kirby Jackson]

I think that if we are looking for a “silver lining” it’s that the NFC looks tougher than the AFC for the first time in a long time. The Bills obviously have underachieved to this point. They have not played well. If they get hot though and go on a run, they can win at NE, Den, Indy, etc… This might be a year, like the Rams last title, where someone got hot at the right time.

[Low Positive]

You'll be lonely in this take. TBD went into a full-on meltdown on Sunday afternoon after the Chiefs and Pats won and George Pickins made play after play. We even had a thread that wanted to make Beane and McDermott stand in the corner and really think about how they have disappointed all of us. 

[Big Turk]

9 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I think that if we are looking for a “silver lining” it’s that the NFC looks tougher than the AFC for the first time in a long time. The Bills obviously have underachieved to this point. They have not played well. If they get hot though and go on a run, they can win at NE, Den, Indy, etc… This might be a year, like the Rams last title, where someone got hot at the right time.

 

This team far too often this year has acted like they are distracted, think they don't have to put in the work from Monday-Saturday for Sunday and can just walk into places and win without their best stuff.  Used to work when the D was competent and generating tons of turnovers. Not so much when the O is the one generating the turnovers and the D isn't getting them.

Edited 2 hours ago by Big Turk

[BillsPride12]

Doesn't make me feel that much better because by year 9 in the McBeane program the Bills should be built right now to be a legitimate dominant contender and should be sticking out as the cream of the crop during a year where there's not a ton of legitimate competition 

[RochesterLifer]

15 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

You'll be lonely in this take. TBD went into a full-on meltdown on Sunday afternoon after the Chiefs and Pats won and George Pickins made play after play. We even had a thread that wanted to make Beane and McDermott stand in the corner and really think about how they have disappointed all of us. 

That hyperbolic negativism has pushed me away from TBD. It was once an everyday part of my morning reading. Now, just a couple of times a week until I hit frustration overload.

 

We have six weeks left with a track record of season-ending excellence. This Bills chapter has not yet been written.

[The Cincinnati Kid]

Every team has their issues. Bills are no exception. Get to the Tournament. Survive and Advance.

[Simon]

Just now, RochesterLifer said:

That hyperbolic negativism has pushed me away from TBD. It was once an everyday part of my morning reading. Now, just a couple of times a week until I hit frustration overload.

 

It almost seems like just another reflection of our over-entitled culture.

It's gotten really bad and I have no idea how to address it. 

[Allen2Moulds]

AFC is a toss up, but the way we are playing right now, especially with no pass rush, the Rams would steam roll us.

[Disgusted ills fan]

Someone stated it in another thread, but I feel it's applicable here.  This team was built to beat the Chiefs, although it hasn't worked in the post season.  My ultimate Bills' team, which would be comprised of any player from any team currently in the league, would include Josh Allen as the only Bills' player.  Maybe Jackson Hawes as 3rd TE, Ty Johnson as 3rd RB, and Deone Walker as 3rd DT. 

[BFLO]

29 minutes ago, Ray Stonada said:

Well, our game on Thursday was pretty depressing. But it gave us the chance to watch some relatively stress-free games on Sunday and Monday night. 

 

And I have to say... I came away feeling a little better. There is NO dominant team in the NFL this year, no team that I feel we couldn't beat on our day.

 

Every contender who played showed major limitations or looked vulnerable, with one exception--the Rams. But if we play the Rams it means we made it to the Super Bowl.

 

If we get some guys back (Kincaid, Oliver, Brown) by January, we could go on a run.

 

I would love for the Pats to get the number one seed and then get knocked off immediately by us or the Chiefs. Watching them struggle against Flacco and the Bengals sure didn't scare me. And they're getting banged up, too.

 

Now, of course, the Bills would have to improve a lot to make a run this year, for sure... but if they can put it together there's no team that it looks impossible for them to beat.

The flaw is the going on a run part. I think we all agree the Bills can beat anyone on any given day. 

 

But can they actually win 4 in a row? Not with the way they've been playing

 

What about 4 in a row against playoff teams of escalating difficulty? Laughable

[Simon]

1 minute ago, BFLO said:

But can they actually win 4 in a row?

 

They've already won 4 in a row earlier in the year.

Going to be tougher now when missing too many bodies.

[Fleezoid]

11 minutes ago, The Cincinnati Kid said:

Every team has their issues. Bills are no exception. Get to the Tournament. Survive and Advance.

 

Everything you say here is true. Everything but the last word. The Bills just can't figure out that last word. 

[Low Positive]

21 minutes ago, RochesterLifer said:

That hyperbolic negativism has pushed me away from TBD. It was once an everyday part of my morning reading. Now, just a couple of times a week until I hit frustration overload.

 

We have six weeks left with a track record of season-ending excellence. This Bills chapter has not yet been written.

Years and years of unmet expectations will do that to people. 

[Ray Stonada]

 

4 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

Years and years of unmet expectations will do that to people. 

 

Yes, but since we got expectations in 2020, there are only three teams (Chiefs, Rams, Eagles) whose fans got to be happy. 

 

And you could make the same point about theb Chiefs, that they should be a better more discplined team after this many years under Reid. 

[Low Positive]

Just now, Ray Stonada said:

 

 

Yes, but since we got expectations in 2020, there are only three teams (Chiefs, Rams, Eagles) whose fans got to be happy. 

 

And you could make the same point about theb Chiefs, that they should be a better more discplined team after this many years under Reid. 

I could argue that both the Chiefs and Bills look like teams that are burnt out from playing with high expectations for so many years. Both are also facing young and hungry teams in their division that have caught them. The problem is that the Bills never won a Super Bowl along the way to ease the blow for the fans. 

 

BTW, you forgot about the 2020-2021 Bucs. The Bills took out KCs starting OL in the AFC Championship Game, easing Tom Brady's path to another Super Bowl ring. 

[Ray Stonada]

Just now, Low Positive said:

I could argue that both the Chiefs and Bills look like teams that are burnt out from playing with high expectations for so many years. Both are also facing young and hungry teams in their division that have caught them. The problem is that the Bills never won a Super Bowl along the way to ease the blow for the fans. 

 

BTW, you forgot about the 2020-2021 Bucs. The Bills took out KCs starting OL in the AFC Championship Game, easing Tom Brady's path to another Super Bowl ring. 

 

True on both counts. But we could still go on a run!

[boyst]

58 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I think that if we are looking for a “silver lining” it’s that the NFC looks tougher than the AFC for the first time in a long time. The Bills obviously have underachieved to this point. They have not played well. If they get hot though and go on a run, they can win at NE, Den, Indy, etc… This might be a year, like the Rams last title, where someone got hot at the right time.

and if we follow TwoBillsDrive logic the Bills losing to NFC teams is better for the playoffs so if we lose to an NFC team in the playoffs we will be poised for a better chance at winning in the playofs?

[Low Positive]

Just now, Ray Stonada said:

 

True on both counts. But we could still go on a run!

Absolutely. But it's got to start on Sunday against a Steelers team playing for their season at home. That 2020 Bucs team is also important because it's the last team to win the Super Bowl as a wildcard. They are also the last team to make the Super Bowl as a wildcard.