cwater10

Week 14? It’s actually week 13…

All part of the abuse...

Sudden rush of gratitude for justified margins...

When I moved several years ago, I just left mine behind in the old house. The deal still closed...

Stacking wins!

Improvisation encouraged.

Should I start by declaring that this is not a Patriots topic? Anyway, a recurring theme that has been jumping off the screen lately, and particularly since the Bills have hit a few bumps in the road, is how there seems to be considerable diversity in the different lenses that we all look at The Bills through. No doubt, this is shaped by age, location, family and any number of different variables. So I figured I'd take a stab at a poll to learn more about our collective relationships with The Bills. So, take the poll. Who are you? Put me down for an original "Shotgun Newlywed that evolved into "One Before We All Die". Hmmm... maybe I should have included a choice for Stockholm Syndrome. Had a back procedure this morning, so still foggy enough that this could all be a verced or propofol induced delirium. They refused to tell me which one they used. Or maybe they did and I forgot? Either way, they won.

Convince me they've been there.

Any chance we can neutralize the weather by sitting in silence?

Why is your post shaped like a short chubby Minnesota? What's really going on here?

How about formerly known as Patty? Or does this go in the Tonia thread now?

Thank you Beerball. And Jordan if you're out there reading, Thank You for sharing your story. I know at least one man that really needed to see this today. Keep coming back big guy!

Well, there was a certain playoff game he was unable to finish?

Baker’s ceiling is an unlovable Ryan Fitzpatrick.

So if I am following (and I'm not sure that I am), you've renounced worship in favor of fatalism? And for some extra kick, you are plucking a "Look at the charming old Brady guy win" vibe going around here? I'm pretty confused at what you are saying, to whom and why. No big deal, I get confused a lot and even like it sometimes... makes for some awesome surprises... Don't get me wrong. I detest Brady as much as the next guy. I mean "think less of friends with children who live in Boston and like it" level of scorn. No its not rational, so maybe we can find some common ground on this. But I still default to not cutting off my nose to spite my face. And today, a Bucs win is what benefits the Bills. We don't know where this season goes from here. The Colts are 1 loss behind us with head to head tie breaker and a demonstrated look of kryptonite against us. Rooting against Brady is some great catnip. But I've gotta resist today.

You Baaaastahd! That is hard to counter.

Would you accept Tampa with a couple of defensive scores to overcome Brady's continuing deterioration?

Do you not think that a split with NE is a very plausible outcome? Also, the past is Buffalo winning the AFC East in 2020. Are we not willing to objectively be over that past and recognize that we were sitting in 2nd place just a few days ago and could be there once again in just a few hours? First things first...

There is an additional consideration that merits discussion. The considerations go beyond just playoff berths and division titles, but should also consider playoff success. My preference is for NE to be drummed right out of the postseason. The most likely path to this is to sweep them and have them lose a couple more games. A loss for them today is a nice step. I would rather face Tennessee in January than tempt fates with Belichick for a 3rd time. He is who he is. And he is a gigantic A H*** who habitually has his teams primed for playoff runs with what appear to be less talented, but efficient teams. I want them gone sooner than later. That would be to Buffalo's benefit. For today, Go Titans!

I like your thinking. Still, past history tells us that if there is one thing reliable in the NFL, it is the media ball washing of NE and anyone connected to that organization. We will see that ad nauseam no matter the outcome of their game with Tennessee today. So give me the NE loss to push our own interests. Let the washing begin (continue).

Thank you Shaw66. This is a perfect, non cynical yet grounded insight into where The Bills stand at this moment in the season. My bread crumbs back to Bills fan sanity has often been the reminder that this is a continuing story, one in which nobody, even the lead characters knows the plot until it unfolds. It's reality TV that doesn't suck! In a season with an excess of highs and lows just 11 games in, what a great look you've offered at where this team stands. The Tre White plot twist is the unexpected turn that we were not ready to take in. But the Bills themselves... well they have to to be ready and they have to act. You captured the situation perfectly in calling out the staff's need to reshape and respond. I think this has been an ongoing theme for much of this year anyway. They have had adjust on the fly to a host of challenges for much of the year. Welcome to life as a contender, welcome to the NFL BMOC club. Nothing is going to be easy in that club. When I think of the most successful Bills teams over the years, one common theme has been the ability to take a step forward just when disappointment begins to set in, right at that point when I've started to think "meh... this bunch is more ordinary than special". It happened subtly last year when they broke out of a bit of a funk and blasted Seattle. And then again after the Arizona spirit crusher. In the past, of note, it happened far more slowly, but on a far more permanent basis for the Super Bowl teams. It was around this point in the season in 1989, after a surprise run the AFCCG in 1988 that The Bills were becoming a big disappointment. The stifling defense was suddenly showing flashes of inability to stop anyone. Kelly and the offense seemed frustrated and angry. High expectations were slipping away and the popular narrative was changing from Super Bowl bound to "same old Bills" and of course, "Bickering Bills". Anyone here seeing shades of those ghosts lately? I'm raising my own hand shyly, slowly and maybe with a little Bills shame in the back of my Bills addled brain. The road back from that funk wasn't quick. Ironically The Super Bowl era Bills reshaped themselves and then gradually found what would become an iconic identity in a couple of painful losses. The first being the playoff loss in Cleveland that ended their season in '89. It was in that game, on the wrong side of the scoreboard in the 4th quarter, that they had no choice but to go full time no huddle. That game still ended in disappointment, but the incredible no-huddle, K-Gun magic was found in that moment. And then early on in 1990, they took an absolute beating in an early season game in Miami which prompted Marv Levy to pull the starters with plenty of time remaining. Levy found a way to challenge that team to look in the mirror and to a man, dig down deeper than they had before. Over the next few weeks, a few miracle games in which they pulled out unlikely comebacks against Denver and LA Raiders started to forge the resilience and the character needed and they began to steamroll from midseason to become a truly dominant, complete team. None of us yet know if we are in a 1989/1990 type of plot twist or maybe something more temporary similar to last season. Or it could be something completely new. I don't think we are at a 2008 type of storyline. Given the state of the roster, there is just too much talent here for that. This feels a bit more like 1989 to me. I think some fine tuning here and a few additions here AND there, and good things will be seen down the road. How far down that road? I'll keep tuning it to find out. Go Bills!

More faith is great. So is more effective blocking... and I'll always need more cowbell. But seriously, the blocking from the OL last night was a step in the right direction against a decent defense. If we can find a way heal the sick between now and next Monday, my faith will not be shaken! Or at least be shaken a little less.

Yeah put that stuff away now. Marcellus Wallace says that's just way too far off into medieval territory for regular season. I'm working on acquiring a box of old phones for the Pats* game(s). Win or lose, they get thrown at the wall postgame.

Yeah, it is a no bu** s*** name, but can he block?