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

[DrBob806]

2 hours 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 sadness. This Bills chapter has not yet been written.

Ouch

[st pete gogolak]

I’m not sure if it’s such a mystery that the Bills and Chiefs are struggling somewhat this season. I remember after the four year Super Bowl run people were pointing out that the Bills played close to a full extra season in those playoffs and it took a toll.  Chiefs and Bills have played a lot of extra games over the last several seasons. Maybe it’s taking a toll.  Why weren’t the Patriots impacted the same way you might ask. Well, they almost always had a bye and almost always were at home.  Plus, they were ruthless in turning over veteran players and bringing in younger, cheaper players.

[Bills!Win!]

No one expected the giants to win the 2007 Super Bowl as a wildcard. Stranger things have happened. Although we don’t have the giants dominant D we do have a QB who can get us there if his Superman cape can last long enough 

[Big Blitz]

Our front 6 - 7 😏 is currently the worst in the NFL of the playoff contenders - largely due to the injuries to Oliver, Hoecht, whatever it is with Bernard, Milano, and now Bosa.  
 

Our 2nd round DT has done almost nothing and I think Walker has hit a rookie wall.   
 

And Taron has lost a step.  
 

 

This is why I can’t fathom we will do anything in January.  If we even get there.  
 

Someone convince me we can win with that group without saying Josh can go on a heater.  

 

 

The good news is the Secondary could be on to something with a core of Benford, Max, Bishop, Hancock.   
 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Big Blitz

[Buffalo Boy]

3 hours 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 Rams?

The team who won the SB after “ 13 seconds” game. Then did their own version of a rebuild and look to be back up to snuff and on their way to another one possibly. 
Those Rams?

Thank goodness we didn’t start over ourselves after that. 
Getting to the SB and getting our butts handed to us does not sound like a consolation to me.

[Nihilarian]

Despite the injuries, I know I would have a lot more faith in this team if the current OC didn't have brainfarts every other game.

 

EIGHT SACKS is unacceptable with no extra O linemen in there to block and calling for deep pass plays against a fierce pass rush...next time someone slap him upside the head HARD! 

[Rubes]

Our best chance is to win out the rest of the regular season. Can they? Possibly, but the chances are not great.

 

But they need to, since McD's record in the post-season, on the road, is not so good. Can anyone imagine McD winning 3 post-season road games as a WC to get to the Super Bowl?

 

[mjt328]

3 hours 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.

 

Watching other teams has given me the opposite thought.  To me, this entire season is a HUGE missed opportunity.  

 

Seeing teams like the Indianapolis Colts (with Daniel Jones of all people) and the New England Patriots (with two former WRs on our team) feature passing offenses that are WAY more consistent than ours (with MVP Josh Allen)... it's just sad and depressing.

 

For the last 5 years, we've been struggling to get past the other elite QBs of the AFC.  Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow.  And now that injuries/age have finally taken down our top competition in the conference, we completely fell off as well.  Not only are we not going to get the #1 seed, but we will be lucky to get a Wild Card spot.  

 

I keep hearing that we still have a team capable of going on a run, since no other teams are dominant.  But I'm just not seeing it.  The Bills aren't flawed in one area.  They have probably the worst rushing defense in the entire NFL, and a below average secondary.  Their passing game has been an absolute mess most of the season, and even Josh Allen looks like a deer in the headlights.  And none of their coaches have the ability to outsmart the guy on the other sideline.  In fact, the only part of the team we can usually count on is the run game. 

 

[GoBills808]

2 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

 

Watching other teams has given me the opposite thought.  To me, this entire season is a HUGE missed opportunity.  

 

Seeing teams like the Indianapolis Colts (with Daniel Jones of all people) and the New England Patriots (with two former WRs on our team) feature passing offenses that are WAY more consistent than ours (with MVP Josh Allen)... it's just sad and depressing.

 

For the last 5 years, we've been struggling to get past the other elite QBs of the AFC.  Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow.  And now that injuries/age have finally taken down our top competition in the conference, we completely fell off as well.  Not only are we not going to get the #1 seed, but we will be lucky to get a Wild Card spot.  

 

I keep hearing that we still have a team capable of going on a run, since no other teams are dominant.  But I'm just not seeing it.  The Bills aren't flawed in one area.  They have probably the worst rushing defense in the entire NFL, and a below average secondary.  Their passing game has been an absolute mess most of the season, and even Josh Allen looks like a deer in the headlights.  And none of their coaches have the ability to outsmart the guy on the other sideline.  In fact, the only part of the team we can usually count on is the run game. 

 

passing offense is top 10 in epa/play and 2nd overall

[dayman]

3 hours ago, Simon said:

 

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. 

It’s the NFL. I wouldn’t address it at all if I were you.

 

 

In terms of the topic, I agree. IF we can find some type of flow in the next 6 weeks and be decent we certainly could beat anyone in the AFC. It is very disappointing that we’ll have to go on the road given our offense seems to be horrible on the road but then again that’s part of finding a flow.

We need Kincaid healthy, we need the OL healthy, we need Josh running and creating dual threat, we need Brady to have better game plans.

 

On defense I’m not really sure what we can do other than hope to god we get a little healthier and create some turnovers. The top teams don’t have amazing QBs. Hopefully matchups help the D.

All is not lost we just need to change our perspective as fans from SB bound to happy to have a chance.

Edited 1 hour ago by dayman

[Success]

23 minutes ago, Rubes said:

Our best chance is to win out the rest of the regular season. Can they? Possibly, but the chances are not great.

 

But they need to, since McD's record in the post-season, on the road, is not so good. Can anyone imagine McD winning 3 post-season road games as a WC to get to the Super Bowl?

 

 

I agree & McD's road record is clear.  But Super Bowl runs come in all shapes & sizes.

 

Maybe being a WC team & underdog will actually help.  I'd bet that every game we play is close, and down to the 4th quarter - if we get a bounce or 2, this could still be the year.

 

[GoBills808]

Just now, Success said:

 

I agree & McD's road record is clear.  But Super Bowl runs come in all shapes & sizes.

 

Maybe being a WC team & underdog will actually help.  I'd bet that every game we play is close, and down to the 4th quarter - if we get a bounce or 2, this could still be the year.

 

said this already but last yr was the season of fortunate bounces and it still didn't happen

[Success]

3 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

said this already but last yr was the season of fortunate bounces and it still didn't happen

 

I didn't see us having fortunate bounces in the playoffs - particularly that KC game.

 

[Nihilarian]

11 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

 

Watching other teams has given me the opposite thought.  To me, this entire season is a HUGE missed opportunity.  

 

Seeing teams like the Indianapolis Colts (with Daniel Jones of all people) and the New England Patriots (with two former WRs on our team) feature passing offenses that are WAY more consistent than ours (with MVP Josh Allen)... it's just sad and depressing.

 

For the last 5 years, we've been struggling to get past the other elite QBs of the AFC.  Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow.  And now that injuries/age have finally taken down our top competition in the conference, we completely fell off as well.  Not only are we not going to get the #1 seed, but we will be lucky to get a Wild Card spot.  

 

I keep hearing that we still have a team capable of going on a run, since no other teams are dominant.  But I'm just not seeing it.  The Bills aren't flawed in one area.  They have probably the worst rushing defense in the entire NFL, and a below average secondary.  Their passing game has been an absolute mess most of the season, and even Josh Allen looks like a deer in the headlights.  And none of their coaches have the ability to outsmart the guy on the other sideline.  In fact, the only part of the team we can usually count on is the run game. 

 

Sad, but alas, the reality of this season's situation.

 

The thing is, you never know, and even when you think you know, you never know.  The Bills OC could pull his head out of his arse... the injury bug could go away, and players could return to help this team at just the right time. Lady Luck could return and stop the Bills from committing turnovers, and the defense starts getting them like they did last season.

 

So many "IFs" but hey, anything can happen as Buffalo is still in it. 

[GoBills808]

3 minutes ago, Success said:

 

I didn't see us having fortunate bounces in the playoffs - particularly that KC game.

 

Are you serious

 

Iirc there were 5 fumbles in that game and we recovered every single one

[Success]

2 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

Are you serious

 

Iirc there were 5 fumbles in that game and we recovered every single one

 

Only 1 from KC.

 

I guess we differ on "fortunate."  I'm not sure I consider it too lucky when we're coughing the ball up a lot, but happen to recover.

 

[Puckman5]

3 hours 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.

I don't disagree, but I think many have grown tired of seeing the same issues come up again and again.  It feels like there's no learning from last week or last year.  In a relative sense they're still a decent team with a great QB, but it's leadership struggles to adapt or change.  The team has played let's than inspired football for a significant portion of this season.  That may be the most difficult pill to swallow.  I like what McDermott has brought to the organization in terms of leadership and stability, but he's in a high pressure role where yesterday matters little.    

[GoBills808]

6 minutes ago, Success said:

 

Only 1 from KC.

 

I guess we differ on "fortunate."  I'm not sure I consider it too lucky when we're coughing the ball up a lot, but happen to recover.

 

I gave you eye roll but changing to laugh lol

 

It's 1/32 chance

[Big Turk]

4 hours ago, Allen2Moulds said:

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

 

Key word is "right now".

 

In 2021 we witnessed the worst offensive outing of the Allen era in a 9-6 clunker to the lowly Jags in early November, then what would have been this past weekend, got steamrolled at home by the Colts 41-15.

 

Then won again and lost 2 more in a row including the Patriot wind game and the Bucs game in Tampa against Brady where we were down huge and Allen forced OT with a massive 2nd half.

 

Then went on a bit of a run, even tho it wasn't pretty a lot of the times(Falcons home game, 2nd to last game of the year).

 

Then went on to have the best 2 game performance any QB ever had in the history of the playoffs.

 

So, my point is "right now" is meaningless.

Edited 1 hour ago by Big Turk

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Here is where I am at:  Consider me "Blake" (Alec Baldwin) in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross - every one is fired in my mind as of now and they have one shot to win their jobs back and that is find a way to win the Super Bowl this year.  (Link Below to one of the best openings in movie history and one of the best on screen speeches in movie history if you are not familiar with it).  

 

Rams won the SB when they were not really the best team in the NFL.  Any team can get hot in the post season, have some things go their way, and get the job done.  

McD and Beane have done some great things for this franchise, and I still think McD is a good football coach and Beane is still a good GM.  But at some point a change is needed, you can't keep doing the same things and expecting different results.  My bigger concern is watching Josh Allen regress this year.  Is it a sign that some of his super hero traits are slowing down after such a physical career?  Or is it more a function of the team/coaching around him this year?  We don't really know, he could have 1-2 years of elite play left or 6-8...but what I do know is now is that I am not willing to gamble whatever elite years he has left on a system and regime that hasn't been able to get over the hump yet with maybe the most gifted QB to ever play. 

As Alec Baldwin says here - "The good news is you are all fired.  The bad news is you all have 1 week to earn your jobs back starting with tonights sit."  This is where I am at right now - mentally they are all fired with one chance to win their jobs back and that is win the SB this season.  Scene link below - highly recommend watching it whether you have seen it not just because its really just an all time great movie scene.  

 

 

 

Follow up bonus - For those that love that scene or just watched it for the first time and liked it - here is a hilarious Christmas recreation of it on SNL with Alec Baldwin.