Rocky Landing

I guess the Bills are trying to win this game. I'm cool with that, I suppose...

MVS having a decent game with the Aints.

When you say "the Pats*," are you referring to the players?

Of course they do. Players will never play to lose, and the coaching staff will never instruct them to lose. And I'm not sure an owner would have an easy time getting an OC to intentionally throw a game via play-calling, either. Certainly nobody's going to feel good about it, especially against a division opponent. Everybody in NE knows what's at stake here-- not just the '25 draft, but jobs, resumes, stats, and quite a few futures beyond playing for the crappy '24-'25 Patriots*. Personnel decisions are probably the most reliable means to that end, and GM Eliot Wolf is probably going to be the one the most on board with the tank, whether he has a future in NE, or not.

Just semantics, but I don't like that phrasing, "extra picks." The Bills are getting two additional picks.

I don't know enough about this year's upcoming draft to know what's going to be available to teams, but it seems like every year, there are a handful (or less) of players who merit a high investment right out of the gate. The QBs taken in those high rounds are often over-valued. But other skill positions (Marvin Harrison Jr., e.g.) are often easier to assess. And even if the Patriots* do trade down for more draft picks, that increases their chances of them finding the developmental prospect that pans out. I'm still on the fence regarding the Bills getting a W on Sunday. Watching that arrogant organization get beaten through four quarters of garbage time has its allure. But, it's pretty hard to find a post on a Pats* fan forum that wants to see them win. And watching that arrogant fanbase bury their collective faces in their hands one more Sunday has its allure, too. Plus, anything to keep that dreadful franchise in purgatory is worthy, IMO.

I'm remembering that we saw a little bit of Codrington in at CB in garbage time last week. I hope we don't see more of that experiment this week. He wasn't terrible, IMO-- seemed like he stayed with his man, step for step from what I saw. But, he's the best K/PR we've had since Hines, and Andre Roberts before that. It's a nice luxury to have a specialist like that. Keep him healthy! GO BILLS!

I'm trying to remember another time when Pats* fans were rooting for the Bills to win, and Bills fans were rooting for the Pats* to win?

Do we even want to win this game, and hand the #1 draft pick to the Patriots*? If the Pats* win this game, it could push them as far down as pick five, I think. Beating them with a bunch of second, and third stringers sounds fun, tho. I'm on the fence.

That would be cool.

On offense, I'm looking forward to see how the second string O-line plays, especially Van Pran Granger. And it'd be fun to watch Gore Jr. if he gets the call-up. On defense, I'd like to see how Cine looks, assuming he gets the call-up.

I was hoping they're include his words towards the official who threw the flag on his phantom hold that called back a brilliant Coleman catch.

I agree on Cine. He was elevated on Sunday vs. the Jets, but inactive. But I'd love to see him on the field. I'm kinda disappointed he hasn't been worked in as of yet. Seemed like he might have potential.

There are times (including yesterday vs. the Jets) when Allen will throw a laser with such a quick, and short release, that it seems to defy physics.

In the same way that @Simon combined any thread about outside punditry drivel, called "Random talking head says something about the Bills," I wish he would do the same thing for threads like this. Maybe call it "Random TBW poster has crap take."

A few thoughts I had watching the replay this morning: Coleman is becoming an important part of this offense. That highpoint on his TD was bananas, but the catch that was called back because of Brown's holding call was great also. But he still needs to get better separation. Speaking of Brown's utterly phantom hold-- I don't blame him for being pissed. In a close game, that could have been a real difference-maker. But, I can kinda understand how the ref saw that as a hold from his angle. Because most tackles in the league could not have had their arm in that position without having a handful of the defender's clothing. Spencer Brown is so freaking strong, he can have his arm in there and not budge. I wonder what that guy can curl? I know it was in complete garbage time, but Shavers' TD run is worth a second look. It's hard to predict what the WR room will look like next year, but at 6'4", and visibly bulked up from when he was drafted, that dude was fast. And McD handing him a game ball, on the strength of a meaningless, garbage-time TD speaks volumes. If Shavers can/has fixed his drop issues (his biggest knock) he could be a boundary receiver who can get separation. It's hard to fault the defense in a game that was a shut-out up until garbage time, but I still feel like they have some work, and healing to do for the playoffs. That being said, it was nice to see the interior D-line playing to the level they did.

I don't agree. It was a punk question by the reporter, and it was the reporter who brought up Rodgers' four MVP seasons. Rodgers' response: "... he's having a great season, so pick one of those four," is a deeper response than that question really deserves, and shows respect to Allen. I believe Rodgers considers Allen to be a friend of his-- he has stated as much in the past.

They had their bus idling outside the stadium-- didn't want to burn too much diesel.

Samuel's questionable. But Shavers' value was supposed to be his special teams ability, when he was originally picked up as a UDFA.

Lewis Cine! I've been waiting for him to make an appearance. Let's hope he makes the most of an opportunity!

I'm almost hoping that vs. the Jets, the Bills rest a bunch of players, lose a close game, and come out completely healthy. Then they go to Foxboro, and beat the Pats*. If they beat the Jets, the Ravens have nothing to play for week 18, and I think they're the toughest matchup for the Bills in the playoffs. If the Bills beat the Jets, week 18 is meaningless for the Bills, and Ravens. Practically a bye. If the games are meaningful, the Bills are going to have a much easier time vs the Patriots* than the Ravens would vs. the Browns. The Browns D plays mean. Almost, but not quite. Beat the Jets. GO BILLS!

Has this been a problem since TC, though?

That was the biggest knock on him last season, and in TC. He's a fierce tackler, to be sure. But, it's a lot better to have a player that you have to coach down, rather than coach up.

I said during the offseason that Rapp was one of the most underrated players on the team, and I think he still is. Getting a healthy Rapp back on the field, along with a healthy Douglas, is critical for the playoffs, IMO.

Joking aside, it's an educational methodology acronym that stands for: Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable. Probably why Hyde is back on the team...