Can the Bills win out?

[Trogdor]

IMO this was not a get right game. James Cook running all over a collapsing team isn't moving the needle for me. The passing offense is still putrid and there was no adaptation to the play calling. He had some guys chip on the line, but they still went run, screen, long third on most drives.  123yds passing against the late season Steelers is criminal and Brady/Beane/McD need to be shown the door. 

[H2o]

Can they win out? Sure, they could go on a run. The Bills do typically perform well in December. Still, we don't have a soft schedule the rest of the way like NE does. Cincy always makes me nervous because of their offense. Right after that, we're at New England with them coming off their bye week. Next up is a tough Cleveland defense with Myles Garrett. Then Philly comes to town with Hurts, Saquon, AJ Brown, and Devonte Smith. We close out with the Jets, which should be a relatively easy victory. I think the more likely scenario is we end up 11-6, which should land us a WC spot. This team is just too bipolar. One week we look like world beaters, then the next we can't beat our way out of a wet paper bag.  

Edited 39 minutes ago by H2o

[Mikie2times]

8 minutes ago, steven50 said:

You need to make up your mind. When I said what did you consider a "championship team" this year you said:

 

 

Then you said I was right when I said we  have the better QB, RB, and TE.

 

When I questioned you on what made the patsy's a "championship team" the only thing you could point to was ONE Wide receiver. 

 

This is the reality. The patriots are a game and a half ahead of the bills.  They are that way because of the schedule they played and the bills crapping the bed when they played them. That happens every season with every team, not just the Bills.

 

The Chiefs probably wont even make the playoffs this year, that doesn't mean the Patriots are a better team, that means the Chiefs had a murderers row of a schedule (like the Bills) and the patriots did not.

 

At this point in the season there are 5 teams so bad they are eliminated from playoff contention already, of those 5 teams the patriots lost to one (the raiders  2-10) and they beat two ( saints 2-10 and Titans 1-11) they also beat the Joe Burrow Less Bengal's, the 3-9 Browns and lost to the same Steelers team we beat today. They get to play another one (Giants) this week.

 

They did not and will not play the chiefs, Ravens, Eagles, or Bengals with Joe Burrow.  The bills did or will.

 

That is not a "championship team" Its a middle of the road team with a weak schedule. I know that this week they get to beat up on the 2-10 NY giants which will probably further solidify in your mind that they are a "champion team".

 

Sure thing buddy.

 

 

Maye is playing better than Allen right now. He might not BE better, but he is playing better. They have a more dynamic offense as whole, as far as the WR group, and McDaniels calling plays. They have a better defense. Specifically a better run defense. They clearly have an edge with attitude and confidence. 
 

I believe they’re overrated, in fact, I believe they’re the worst 10-2 team from a DVOA perspective since the late 70’s. But they’re also young, and while they have benefited from the schedule they’re also learning how to win as they go thru it. It was very similar to the Patriots first year with Brady. They were likely overrated for most of that year, until eventually they were a pretty good team. Not to say they’re anything like that Pats iteration as far as upside potential, but just because they have had an easy schedule and are overrated relative to the record, it doesn’t mean that is the only narrative that can exist. 
 

Meanwhile, we really don’t have a lot of room to talk about other teams being overrated. Our marquee win is what, Carolina? The Chiefs and Ravens games aren’t exactly aging  well. While I know YOU just dismiss it all to SOS, eventually you do need to win games to be considered good. Something the Ravens and the Chiefs just aren’t doing and something we have struggled with at times vs far worse teams. 
 

It’s Intersting that people here are making an argument that the AFC is just paper tigers when it’s pretty obvious the Bills are as well. Virtually no quality wins (unless you use quality based on past years) inconsistent play all over the place. Sure, it’s always any given Sunday, but we have a long way to go to string together multiple wins in a row against teams that have been able to close out games and win multiple ways, regardless of those wins have been against flawed teams (as the Bills wins have as well).

[Matt_In_NH]

They can, yes but it seems unlikely with their turnover rate.  One game at a time.  The Bills have had no answers vs Burrow, that needs to change this week. 

[oldmanfan]

Possible but unlikely.

[GunnerBill]

Can they? Yes. Will they? I don't think so. Still too many holes/weaknesses on the roster. Defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, currently offensive tackle and most obviously wide receiver. 

 

I seem them following what I am going to call the McDermott seesaw:

 

2020 - 13 wins

2021 - 11 wins

2022 - 13 wins

2023 - 11 wins

2024 - 13 wins

2025 - (pending) 11 wins

[machine gun kelly]

4 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

My thoughts are the same as they've always been. The same as they were when I responded to you after the Bucs game. This is not a Championship team. The win was fun, as was the Bucs game.

 

But it's the same story as it's always been all season. The same story I said after the Bucs game. If we can overcome teams keying in on trying to stop James Cook and through sheer will and skill force it to work regardless of that - we're in good shape. As we were today, as we were against teams like Tampa Bay and Carolina. 

 

But when we can't do that - we're f-cked. It's over. Doesn't matter who the team is. It could be the Falcons, Dolphins, or Jets. Stop the run and it's game over. And against the best teams, the Eagles and Patriots of the world - it's unlikely we're going to be able to do what we did today. 

 

So, no, I do not think we can win out. Enjoyed the win today, as I do any win. But that doesn't mean we're going 5-0 and can win a title.

Agreed, we need to find a way to win through the air.  The ground game is great, but if there isn’t an air threat, opponents will load the box.  What I saw was positive was the Hawes dump off pass, but it wasn’t in the backfield.  It was about 8 yards plus you try and take that Mac truck down.  The one catch I can remember from Cooks was. Nice and need a lot more.  They tried to get more out of Davis, and that has to increase.

 

The ground game was so impressive, but will be even more impressive if we get more air yards down the field.  It wasn’t in nice to see the defense really step up.  As far as the Pats, I believe we can, but doesn’t mean we will.  Lastly, the Eagles do not look that impressive all year on offense.  Their defense is impressive, so we’ll see.  The Bengals obviously looked better with Burrow back, but their defense is still horrible.  I can see us 12-5.