Utah John

Look past his rant against the Bills. Wright is correct that that the Bills didn't blow out an opponent they were expected to. Cowherd's defense of the Bills v Chargers is exactly right. The Bills had a short week, lost a day due to travel, played a Chargers team that had 10 days rest, neutralized Khalil Mack, and WON. They WON an NFL game against an NFL opponent. While the Bills have been up and down, Wright is right (haha) that the Eagles have looked bad for the last month. The Bills had them beat, and would have put the game away in the first half were it not for Shawn Hochuli and his Eagles love (and the Bills could have won if McD had gone for it on fourth down after Allen and Davis didn't connect). Other than that win in OT, the Eagles have sucked bad. The only team that doesn't seem to have trouble playing well every game is Baltimore. Counting on the Ravens to have a fish fry next week, to keep the #1 seed, and put the Dolphins at risk of losing the AFCE.

The weather could be a factor. The long-range forecast (caveat: usually not expected to be accurate this far out) is 36F, 24% chance of precipitation, and a mild breeze. If it's just a little colder than 36F, and if Sunday is the one day out of four when a 24% chance of precipitation means it does occur, we're looking at a heavy snowfall. 34F and snowing usually means very heavy snowfall, and if it's been below freezing the night before, heavy accumulation. Maybe all-white uniforms would be best, to help the players hide from the Patriots.

Thanks, but I think this means that the Bills and Chiefs will both need to finish at the same position in their respective divisions, in order to play each other in the future years. So if the Dolphins beat out the Bills for #1 in the AFCE and the Chiefs get #1 in the AFCW, then the Dolphins (and not the Bills) host the Chiefs in 2024. Right? Not to worry, though. The Ravens will have a fish fry next week, the Bills will beat NE in Orchard Park, and the Bills will wrap up the #2 seed in the AFC with a win in Miami. Yeah that's right. We could have a Bills agony countdown. 13 seconds against the Chiefs 12 men on the field against the Broncos 11 men on the left side of the field vs the Titans in the Music City Miracle heist -- feel free to fill in the rest

If the Ravens beat the Dolphins and the Bills beat the Pats next week, the Bills can take the 2 seed in the AFC by beating Miami. I would say that's worth going all out for the win. I'm not doubting you, but could you please clarify why this is? I know there is a series of explanations why the Bills have played KC every year almost forever, and why almost all the games have been in KC, but I don't know what the reasons are. So this isn't a big rant, it's just a question. Thanks in advance.

This team can't be the 1 seed anymore, but the 2 seed is still within reach thanks to the Chiefs losing today. All we need is for the Dolphins to lose to the Ravens in Baltimore next weekend (and Buffalo beating NE) and then for the Bills to beat Miami in week 18. The Ravens winning will depend on how hard they're trying to win, and the Miami game will apparently depend on the phase of the moon or something.

OK, just for a second, yeah, but then I realized that the Bills had not abandoned that side of the field like the did in the Titans playoff game. Then I just relaxed and realized everything was all right.

The Lions and Bills both drafted the guy that fit their needs. Both players are good players and good fits for their respective teams. Both of them are making plays that the other guy couldn't, and that's fine.

Allen has a bad game every now and then. When he has one and the Bills still win, take it and enjoy the outcome. He missed several wide open receivers in the first half, and his INT came on a play when he had Diggs open and underthrew him. I don't know if he has a problem going back to the Cowboys game when he made a few good throws but Cook's running was the star. He hasn't been really great since the KC game.

There's a myth that evidence must be clear and convincing to overturn the call on the field. What they do now is take their best guess about what happened, Maybe that's better actually but it's not the story that they tell us.

Well that was NOT FUN.

25 for the Steelers, Rowe, has not even tried to make tackles on two key receptions by the Bengals. The long one to Boyd had Boyd bounce right off him. Why can't these DBs wrap up?

Kincaid. I think the Chargers saw what happened to the Cowboys, and fill the box to try to stop Cook. They'll double Diggs and ignore Davis, but the LBs in the box leave 15-20 yards downfield open for DK2 (maybe DK1 too). Need Diggs going deep a lot to force the Chargers out of their planned scheme, and get DKx 5 catches in the first quarter. That will be that.

Hey, I wanted $15M per in my last job, too. Didn't get it.

Well, the situation is really complicated. Have faith that if the Bills win out, they're in. Hopefully as the 3 or even 2 seed, so they get a home game, but if they keep playing like they have it doesn't matter. As for which games to root for, just sit back and watch. Someone told me, not sure I believe them, that what we do while watching has no effect on the game.

Even going 11-6 doesn't guarantee winning the AFCE, since Miami has only 4 losses now. We need them to lose one other game.

Great look, the best unis not to include the blue jersey. Although I'm one of those who'd like to see the standing bison. On a related note, I don't think the game is going to sell out in LA. I just checked Stubhub and there are a lot of tickets available for $32 or $34. Looks like Peacock might be getting a few dozen new subscribers in LA, you know, all the people there who care about the Chargers.

That's always been a problem for the Bills, particularly playing late in the season. Also it's a short week to begin with, not counting losing almost a full day with the flight. I remain confident about this game but I do have nagging worries that those problems will start to bite. It's so important that the offense gets some first downs early in the game, and if possible scores early, to keep the Chargers from any real hope of an upset.

He was outside for over three hours in a cold rain, which for me is the worst condition. I would much prefer 10 degrees and sunny, or 20 degrees and snowy. The rain just soaks in and chills you to the bone. I'd be surprised if a lot of guys didn't get something affecting their health. There was a lot of talk about Peacock offering a free 7 day trial but if you go to their website there's nothing there about it. Has anyone tried to sign up for it in the last couple of days?

Josh Allen's contract is really not the issue. He's quite far from the highest paid QB. It's Von Miller's contract that really upset the applecart. That was a bet Beane made last year, and it was working out great until it wasn't. Now those dollars allotted to a (currently) mediocre player look like a huge mistake and burden going forward. But who knows. The Bills have been saying since Miller was activated that they really were hoping he'd be close to 100% by the end of the year, and if you noticed he's been getting much closer to sacks lately. He could be a force next year if he keeps rehabbing over the offseason. All that said, the salary cap will be an issue. I think Gabe Davis is a goner. We need a good WR2 in the draft, and also a center and a safety or two, to have on the game rosters and getting experience when the opportunity arises. Morse is a very good center but is getting up there. Same thinking for Poyer and Hyde. I don't think Rapp is the long-term answer. Surprisingly I think we're in good shape at CB even if Tre White doesn't return. LB will also be a solid position when Milano returns, and the DL should be strong again. I don't know about the world, but I am!! I think the Cowboys tried to adjust to stop the run, but short of everyone on defense putting on 20 pounds of muscle during halftime, there wasn't much they could do. Their D is built for speed to stop opposing passing which they assume will happen because their own offense usually scores so much. We're already got our versions of Chris Jones. Their names are Ed Oliver and DaQuon Jones.

I kinda doubt the Seahawks win affects the Cowboys one way or the other. They were always going to be motivated to get the best possible playoff seeding. And now they're dealing with being embarrassed on national TV. So the Dolphins can't beat anyone with a winning record, and the Cowboys can't beat anyone while playing on the road. Are we looking at a tie?

It's the principle of the matter. We already have to pay for games through one service or another.

Cook runs differently than any other great Bills back I can remember. Obviously not the same as Cookie. Not as big or elusive as OJ but nearly as fast, but I don't recall OJ slipping through cracks in the line like Cook. Shiftier than Thurman but maybe not as strong. Not as powerful as Travis Henry. Not as shifty as Shady, but still quite good. Much quicker than Singletary but maybe not quite as powerful. The closest comparison I can make is to Max Anderson, aka mini-Max, who was the guy before OJ showed up, but Cook overall is generally better than Anderson ever was. I was concerned that Cook wasn't big or strong enough to run between the tackles but he's shown he can do that well. The area needing improvement the most is in pass protection, and I think he just needs to be coached up and to work on that. Beane seems to be a throw-mud-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks drafter. He kept drafting DEs until he got a couple who can play (Rousseau, sometimes Epenesa). After picking Moss and Singletary pretty high, he hit a homer with Cook. I hope it doesn't take that many swings and misses to find new WR2, center, and safety since these will be positions of need going forward.

And they got Harty because Hines got hurt in the jet ski accident. Assuming Hines returns in 2024 and is as capable as he was last season, does that mean Harty will depart? Irv, I have to ask why your photo is of Clip Smith and not Irv Weinstein.

Based on subsequent posts, I have to withdraw my comment about McK's take on McD. The point remains however that McK is a talented player in a league full of talented players. He always seemed like a loudmouth, not reading from the same script as other players (see: Allen, Josh; Dawkins, Dion; Morse, Mitch) That's fun for sportswriters who must get bored writing the same crap over and over, but it breaks the harmony inside the building.

With the likelihood that McKenzie was a source for the hit article on McDermott, the chances of the Bills giving McK a PS slot seem slim. He's a talented guy in a league full of talented guys that don't rock the boat. Only the true superstars get to be jerks and still keep playing, until they fade into being merely really good, at which point they're expendable too.