WhitewalkerInPhilly

Hey! Watch out! I am self appointed No Jinxes!!!! enforcer ... But yes, 18 players on the injury list is insane. Chubb has an ACL, he should be on IR, why are you even...

Thanks Captain Obvious (Rosenthal, not you)

That has been my single biggest gripe with Joe Brady. For all of the faults that (rightfully) had Dorsey exit, he had finally started to use Kincaid as part of the gameplan and Brady...really hasn't. Even when it would seem that the moment is perfect for it, like vs the Pats. The Dolphins are beat up on their inside LBs and Ramsey is going to be shadowing Diggs. This is the perfect time to use motion to move the Dolphins CBs and then use Kincaid to exploit mismatches. Reallllly hope we see something like that.

For any person checking this board and wondering why we are so hungry for injury updates on Hill, Waddle, Mostert and Achae, why we might almost seem bloodthirsty... Dolphins Rushing Leaders 1) Mostert - 1012 yards 2) Achae - 744 yard ... 3) Jeff Wilson Jr. - 143 yards Dolphins Receiving Leaders 1) Tyreek Hill - 1717 yards 2) Jaylen Waddle - 1014 yards ... 3) Durham Smythe - 336 yards The drop off is astounding

Agreed. I wouldn't bet on it, because backup games are flukey, but I remember Matt Barkley and backups tearing it up vs Miami in a must win game for them, and the infamous "Bills couldn't beat the Steelers backups to get into the playoffs" moment.

I have been burned (ok potentially a poor choice of words) by the Bills getting losing to backups to take a preemptive victory lap but jeeeeez that is some bad luck. Chubb and Howard being out at this point was already a foregone conclusion but I am carefully eyeing Mostert, Waddle and Achae on the injury report. After Hill (who definitely isn't 100% but is still dangerous) who else do they have as skill positions?

I agree, but I think it's absolutely necessary for the Bills to prepare this week as if it's do or die. I'll be happy if the Bills just get into the dance, but there's a big difference in matchups between playing the Colts, Texans or Steelers at home, with an eye on hosting Chiefs, Browns, AFC South winner...and needing to play Miami on the road back to back, then Baltimore on the road.

Nice to see. But as thrilled as I am, there is a pretty sizable veteran core that is aging out that is either dead cap or very hard to replace. Hyde's contract is up, and I legitmately think he might hang up his cleats. He's had neck injuries two years in a row, and just turned 33. And yet, no matter what, we are paying for him on void years. Poyer is a touch younger and we have him another year, but his play has trailed off this year. It pains me seeing them at this point, because I remember how they were new arrivals to set the tone at the start of McDermott's tenure and by all accounts have been model teammates. Von Miller might bounce back, but with his personal business his contract is looking like an albatross at the moment. Diggs is 30. Maybe he has a Larry Fitzgerald like career, but not a ton of guys hit another gear at that point...and a lot start to regress. He's on the books at least until 2025. Tre White might have just had a career ending injury, and is a possible cut candidate. I'm not saying this to be a Debbie Downer. The team has a lot to look forward to. But there is going to be some painful transition coming up.

I have a buddy who is a Ravens fan. Even in the blowout vs Miami they were down their top 4 CBs for a stretch. They will most certainly be resting players to some extent. The real question is how much.

Yeah, again, I am not complaining. I would rather my HC have terrifically boring press conferences and save the interesting stuff for the field. You know who have great press conferences? Rex Ryan. What is he doing now? Sports analyst job.

My only limitation is that my time gets crunched with children so I have to carve out time for appointment viewing. It's hard for me to drop in for a springtime game. That said, I am absolutely a fan of the league. For one, I hate that college football has essentially become the minor leagues for the NFL. Every other major sport has an onboarding program and minor league because they know that not every player has hit physical and mental prime at 22. I think it's a net positive to have a chance for players to develop just because they didn't turn out as an UDFA or are seen as perpetual camp fodder. Two, I am craving football come late March-May. I don't care about the NBA. The NHL is wrapping up to the playoffs, but the Sabres haven't been part of that mix in...over a decade now? Baseball is a looooong slog. I hope it does well.

I say yes. I have seen him pop in plays even if not in the stat sheet. Last week the worry was that he'd be a liability in the run game. This week, we need pressure on Tua and we need it fast. Give me all of the pass rushing specialists. The only way I see him not active is if he just completely dogs it in practice, in which case we just have to cut him at the start of the new year.

Let's hope that's the spark that kicks us into high gear before the playoffs.

I think they have to pay him. They are in the same boat as the Bills in terms of salary cap, but with even more long term vets likely on the chopping block. One of the easiest ways for them to make cap space is to sign him to a long term deal and kick the can down the road on the cap hit (like we do with Josh). And ultimately, what are their options? Do they wait for the unicorn of a better QB hitting free agency? Do they trade for a guy...like the Brown and Broncos (who were supposed to be stacked outside of QB and see how that has worked out)? With Tua they are good enough that they will need to pick outside of the top 10 for a while unless they start stockpiling picks like the Bills did and even then the draft is always a crap shoot. I will call the Dolphins frauds like I call the Cowboys frauds, and there is a reason why the 'Boys have been spinning their wheels: they have a bit above average QB, but who demands to be paid as if he is a top 5. I predict the Dolphins will overpay on Tua and then run into a wall in a few years when they realize that it's hard to pay Tua AND Hill AND Waddle

I am and don't call me surely.

Thanks, this is the point I wanted to circle to. To answer the OPs question: Yes, the front 7 of the Patriots is much better at stopping the run than the Patriots. For one, the Patriots now know the pain or turning out a strong D while being hamstrung by a QB. They lost a trio of terrible games where the defense held the opposition to 10 or fewer points. They have the single best rushing YPC D in the league this year. Two, the way the Cowboys are built defensively is based on the idea that they are going to be a top #5 offense every year. They are set up to run up leads, and then send in elite pass rushers and play light boxes to neutralize the pass game. No one is supposed to be crazy enough to load up 6 OL, 1 TE, 2 RB formations and smash them in the face. The defense stopping Dak early snowballed and Quinn never adjusted. Getting those crazy run yards on Dallas is not something I expect we are going to see again anytime soon because few teams (especially in the AFC playoffs) run schemes so light. But saying that the O-line fell apart because of Sunday just doesn't make sense to me.

Anyone have a line of the weather forecast? I know we are a ways out.

I was honestly worried at the start of the year. I thought that he might be the weakest link in the defense, and I am happily surprised and relieved to see him play at such a high level. Now I'm thinking about what it would look like to go back to a 4-3 base when you have a Dodson-Bernard-Milano group I am not an Edmunds hater (I was hoping to sign him back at the time), but it's hard NOT to compare a new starter to the person he is taking over. Not here to drag Edmunds, but Bernard has been playing at easily Pro Bowl level, arguably All Pro and is doing so on a draft contract as a 3rd round pick.

I would argue that Brady is running a very similar offense to what Dorsey did. When it came to analytics, the Bills had crazy good numbers for offense. Where I'd argue Brady has been better is situational awareness. I have been seeing fewer runs on second and long and shotgun QB draws. I am seeing a willingness to attack a defenses' weaknesses. I don't think it's been perfect, and I certainly have my quibbles (more play action, where the hell is Kincaid, what was up with Josh last game). But, in general, I will have few complaints about a handoff to Murray on 3rd and 1, even it doesn't work out.

We have that guy. His name is Dalton Kincaid.

I'm going to say that on paper, I think this should be a decent bet for a win: the injuries that Miami has sustained are particularly of importance vs the style of the Bills play. The Bills defense, when playing the way it wants to, is about limiting big plays with zone coverage while getting pressure with 4 rushers. Their O-line is in bad shape with injuries and if Waddle is still out the Bills don't need to worry about Waddle taking the top off the defense while we try to contain Hill. My biggest worry is about the offense. What the heck is going on? The Chargers game I could chalk up to flukey turnovers, but Josh was just bad vs the Pats. I am just hoping that was his one bad game for a month and he turns it back on soon. I will be eyeing the Dolphins injury report with great interest.

He's been playing out of this world. I hope we keep him long term. I think support was generally positive for the move at the time. But the Packers certainly didn't think he'd hit this form. They certainly could use him right now.

So...like our game vs the Phins

If anyone wants to complain about how the Bills look nowhere near top form I recommend you look at the Dolphins last four games

I have no idea what's going to happen, but I think some "Death or Glory" mentality in the run up won't hurt. Sure, in theory the Bills could be in the playoffs by game time but I want them prepping as if the season is on the line. Because it could be