2003Contenders

Actually, col_forbin, our recent Sunday nights have been something to forget about. Maybe that's why you don't recall Week 3 at Miami and Week 8 at KC last season. Hopefully, we can force the worm to turn this time around. I have a feeling that we may be catching the banged up Pats at the right time. Hollywodd Donahoe is right. Our MO this year is to struggle when we are behind and to take over when we lead (aside from the last-minute implodes against the Jags and Jets). If we can get ahead early, that means putting the ball in WM's hands, and forcing the Pats into more obvious situations.

It's hard to guess what Travis would fetch in a trade. Bear in mind that it was a foregone conclusion that the Bengals HAD to trade Dillon. That may not be the case with Travis. In fact, if TD doesn't at least get a Day 1 draft pick for him, my guess is that he will still be here next year. With that said, there is still plenty of this season to be played -- and Travis could do something between now and then to appreciably hurt -- or help -- his cause.

Stranger things have happened. Itall starts this week with the Jets. We may catch a break next week in facing a banged up Pats team without Ty Law. After that... the schedule looks much easier with games against the likes of the 49ers, Dolphins, Browns, and Bengals. We also get the Rams at home, which is winnable. So, if we can win the next two games, then I could see us potentially favored in five of the remaining games. That gets us to 9 wins right there. Also, we get the Steelers at home in week 17, when they may not have much to play for. Bottom line, if the team gets on a roll and wins it one game at a time (starting this Sunday), then they do have a chance with an easier (on paper) road ahead.

I also think that yesterday's game was the best all-around coached game we've see, since... well, since Marv retired. I also think that MM put just enough wrinkles out there to keep the Jets and Pats on their toes. (Sam as eligible tackle, Bannon in on "obvious" running plays, the fake reverse on kickoffs...)

Uh, from the injury reports I've seen, Boldin is still listed as OUT this week.

I wouldn't be quite so hard on them. We did beat these very same Dolphins last week, did we not? I have a hard time ranking the Bills -- as bad as they've been -- behind such teams as Miami, Cinci (pending outcome of tonight's game), Chicago, Carolina, and San Francisco. I'd put them at about 27 or 28.

I was in section 153. Great seats! I got some nice pictures of the players during pre-game warm ups. You're right, most of the fans were fine. In fact, I didn't have any problems in the stands -- just on the walk back to my car afterwards. I realize that it comes with the territory. And I just happened to be wearing the jersey of the guy that played the biggest role in the loss, which is what compounded the taunting. And, believe me, I'm not dissing Drew. I think he's a class guy. But I do get annoyed when coaches and athletes are dismissive of fans, who have a great deal emotionally, financially, and (in this case) physically invested in them, if you know what I mean. Next time I go to an away game, I'm wearing either my old #12 or #34 jersey -- or a generic Bills sweatshirt! LOL

I can't stand Sullivan. He's one of these people that takes a stand -- and always HAS to be right about it. He takes glee in being "right", rather than hoping for the best. His stance for the last year+ is that Donahoe needs to go. Maybe he is right, but his megalomania clouds the issue of his commentaries. No, he doesn't call it likes he sees it. He calls it the way that will best support his hypothesis. In that way, he has an agenda -- which is not a good thing for a columnist.

My wife and I went to the game yesterday fully decked out in our Bledose jerseys. Of course, after the game, she and I had to deal with all the jeers and taunting of the many classless Ravens fans all the way to our car. One little punk in particular just wouldn't shut up. This testimonial isn't to the etiquette of drunk and stupid (stupid, that is, for getting drunk off a plethora of $7 beers) loudmouths. Rather, it is that athletes like Drew probably don't fully realize what an awkward situation they put their fans in when they under-perform in the manner that he has. I for one have been quite vocal in my support for Drew. But, alas, on Sunday I was made to pay for such blind loyalty. That isn't to say that I am going to hop off the bandwagon or stop supporting him -- but maybe he should be aware that my loyalty to him and the team very nearly placed both myself and my wife in harm's way. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. I was smart (and sober) enough not to sink to the level of this clown. Still, it is a shame that my wife and I had both literally unwittingly placed ourselves in harm's way, just for wearing a certain jersey. Maybe that's why I personally found DB's what-me-worry attitude during the game -- and his arrogant attitude in the press conference afterward so disheartening.

Hmmm. TD, Maybe you should consider that if your 32-year-old QB (in his 12th season in the league) hadn't turned the ball over FIVE times, the team could very well have won yesterday! "Rookie" HC? So now that's the excuse, huh? Now you know why so many of us were hoping that you would hire a HC with experience, TD. Now you are asking us for patience? I think we've been VERY patient for the past 4 years! Let's hope that Ralph's patience is wearing thin as well.

Let's cut CVB some slack. I understand what he is saying. Actually, aside from the TKO INT return, the TEAM as a whole played horribly in the first half. Offense AND Defense. Fortunately, something clicked in the second half, and the Bills offense AND defense came alive. In fact, I would call their goal line stand at the end of the 3rd quarter the turning point in the game. After that, they played lights out offense AND defense. Let's hope that we can look back and say that that goal line stand was the turning point of the season as well.

The bomb to Evans also came on a rollout.

Am I the only one who thought that MM should have challenged that 1 yd run? From one angle, it looked to me like Henry stretched the ball out to the goal line, when he was still clearly on his feet in the pile-up.

I'm not a Bledsoe aologist, since I've made my own criticisms of him. But what would all of the bashers be saying now if we had recovered that on sides kick and Drew had led us to a game winning TD?

Also credit Del Rio for working over the officiating crew in the first half on a similar play, when the receiver CLEARLY came down out of bounds. You knew he was going to get the benefit of the doubt on a close call. Hopefully, MM was taking notes.

In most leagues Holmes and LT are 1 and 2. With the Chiefs' superior offense, Holmes' track record and his goal to set the all time rushing record this year, I see Holmes as the clear cut #1.

This site has some nice player rankings. Also, if you sign up for their premium membership, they also provide tailor made cheatsheets for your league based on your league's rules.