CSBill

As usual, it is never one thing but a bunch of things that could have changed the game. .... And lost in the narrative is one big thing that I think has been ignored, the missed field goal. It was very make-able, and not getting it changes the momentum, and in the end, the results.

Either way, that's a veteran move right there, Matt Barkley.

Well, I don't know Mayfield on any personal level, so I have no idea what he is like in person or in the locker room. His commercials are funny, he comes across as likeable in them. BUT, contrast his NFL experience with our Josh Allen. Allen has been in the perfect environment: Great top level leadership that was patient with him, a annoyingly level-headed Head Coach who seems to be a zen with player relationships (that is ideal for the young QB), started with a top-tier Offensive Coordinator who he had for four years (that is unheard of in today's NFL), and the strong internal culture of the entire Bills organization. For Mayfield: He started strong (yr 2). But he was also is in what proved to be one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the NFL. Four (yes, 4!!) Head Coaches in four years: Hue Jackson and Greg William his first year (that is purgatory), Freddie Kitchens (proved to be totally incompetent in every realm of Head Coaching), and Stefanski (he is showing not to be the answer), and then to Carolina, which is organizationally not much better, and his new HC is fired in the middle of the season. ..... Talk about total dysfunction and mental/emotional wear. He has had the exact opposite of what a young NFL QB needs. I'm sure some of his problems he has brought upon himself. And he does not have Allen and Mahomes level skill and he may be hard to get along with (but is that really an issue? : Exhibit A = Aaron Rodgers). But I can't imagine any young QB thriving in the circumstances he has been in. I've never been a fan of his, but I do believe in the right situation he could be a very productive NFL QB. When he was released the other day, my immediate thought is that Buffalo would be the perfect place for him to come and be a back-up QB (for him and the team). I have no doubt he could resurrect his career with year or two on the Bills.

How about back to 16 games, but 12 teams make the play-offs? Almost every team gets the extra game, four teams deservedly get relegated, the week 17 (bye week) means something, and the four Division winners get a bye--upping the value of it and competitive push for it.

Sounds like there is a teacher hero here as well. Great story.

Not always. Probably the best use of this system, and where it makes the biggest difference in good people's lives, is paying of outrageous medical bills. For example, a young family with no, or low quality, health insurance has a baby born prematurely. The baby has all kinds of physical struggles because of the early birth and needs a lot of specialized care and has to stay in the hospital month or two. We all know the ridiculous cost of medical care these days. In my example, they could easily be running up a couple million dollar bill. No way they could ever pay it off and that debt will hang over them the rest of their lives. Organizations like this one will negotiate a settlement, again, pennies on the dollar, and pay off the debt for the family. It's a great system and makes a huge difference in people's lives. And, of course, if you feel led to pay off @HOUSE's electric bill, his wife would be very grateful for the help. Send me the money, I'll negotiate with his electric company.

WTH does any of this mean?

Clever

Someone should be fired!

Getting an early start on post-game excuses. That’s good planning.

My 2 cents, current (as in, not based on past performance or future projections), and not in order, just grouped: Top Tier Allen Mahomes Burrow The Next Level Herbert Rodgers Brady Lamar Hurts Emerging (or Emerged and descending) Tagovailoa Prescott Stafford Carr Lawrence Garoppolo Who am I missing? Flame away . . .

But do you think if we ask nicely he would do it?

That is the frustration of all three Bills losses. Any one play, positive or negative (of multiple options in all three games), could have won the game for us: Miami - Fumble at the 10 yard line, the terrible defense on the long TD pass, Josh throwing the ball into the ground with a wide-open McKenzie, McKenzie not getting out of bounds, etc. Jets - Two Redzone turnovers; not getting off the field on 3rd down on the Jets long drive in the 4th; Gabe not catching a very catch-able ball at the end, etc. Minnesota - Not taking the FG; another Redzone INT and long return to add insult; one long run with terrible defense; an incredible catch that I still can't figure out how he made--actually, Lewis helped him; the fumble; a final interception; etc. Of course, we could play this game the other way as well: The Ravens passing up the FG, Mahomes' intercept at the end of that game, etc. But the point is, we are so frustratingly close in those three losses, but yet so far away--the results are what they are.

Yes, it's a combination of (1) the "magic of compound interest" (the 8th wonder of the world, according to Einstein), (2) lien-holders wanting to get out of bad loans, and (3) the philanthropic work by organizations [many large churches do this locally] like the one Josh is aligned with. Basically, the lien-holder sells the bad (uncollected) loan to the organization for pennies on the dollar--the price is negotiated and is driven by how eager lien-holder is to get the bad loan off their books. Through this transaction, the 3rd party buys and now owns the asset and the related loan. As owner, they now can do with it what they want. In this case, they forgive the loan and transfer ownership to the customer. So your investment of $10K to buy a bad $100K loan and forgive it, is a $90 investment return or gift (on the books). Done the right way, it is wonderful way to make a powerful tangible difference in the lives of people. The key is having the right vetting process and administrative system that helps to be sure the process is working the right way.

As a team that has lost four (4) games, they should be getting in extra practice. A team that good, but with 4 losses, they got some serious issues to clean up. They get no days off.

I am forecasting a wind blown snowstorm on the Fish side of the field that night (staff, get the big fans plugged in and the snowmaking machine gassed up).

Thanks for posting this Turk, consider it done. …. Gabby, keep fighting!

Did you ask just to be a prick, or were you serious? Either way, you got problems.

I think they lose their next two, at the least. And, that last game is setting up to be a "win, or go home" game for both teams.

Thanks, @Shaw66 It really was a fun day of football yesterday. I was able to watch most of the three key games (for the Bills: Fish,/49rs Jets/Vikings ending, and Bengals/Chiefs) and enjoyed being invested, but not on the emotional edge I'm usually at when watching a Bills game. And we could not have asked for better results. Its now a five game regular season. LETS GO BUFFALO!

The main thing the Bengals do against the Chiefs that most other teams somehow forget to do: They cover Kelce. Take him out of the mix and Mahomes and their offense is average.

. And this is why I failed my "Intro to Stats" class.

Concerning their Defense: I watched the entire game, and after Jimmy G went out, it seems like the Fish blitzed on almost every play thereafter. If that is there main strategy, they are digressing--and wait until they have to play a 1st string QB.

And all was right with the world again.

Well, this turned out to be a good weekend. 😝