Rocky Landing

It's a nice article, and Beane deserves it. I don't generally spend a lot on paywalls, but if you want actual journalism, it's not dead, it's just usually behind a paywall. IMO, The Athletic is really one of the best quality sports news sources on the interwebs. I was glad to see that article mention Rousseau's interception in the Chiefs game. JJ Watt made a similar play a few years ago, and it was all over the news for days. Groot intercepts Patrick Mahomes from about five yards away, and the media barely mentions it.

I looked at the comment as a comparison to the Browns situation. Say they just release him, and he gets picked up by a division rival-- especially in such a competitive division? Browns are still a playoff contender, and OBJ is still a talented receiver. Having failed to make a trade, it's safer just benching him.

Allen’s there cheering them on. Love it!

I'd rather see Josh Allen hurdle Josh Allen.

I don't think this is entirely true. I think there has been some incremental improvements in run blocking, and I also think that Spencer Brown has an aptitude for it. There have been multiple plays where Brown has been responsible for Motor, of Moss (I'll say, especially Moss, who has had more of the power back role) getting an additional three yards, or so. Not to say that our run game is anything above middling, but last season, defenses could effective ignore the run, and still end up stuffing our RBs, on the off chance that Allen actually handed it off.

Ok, I guess I’ll just stop discussing football.

That is certainly true. But the Phins did have a certain amount of success in the first half rushing five, with the FS often putting Allen on the move. As dangerous as Allen is outside the pocket-- leave him flat-footed in the pocket and his receivers will get open, and he will carve the defense up. Remember last season when pundits were saying "keep Allen in the pocket?" I don't think anyone is saying that anymore, and for good reason. But, you're right. The game is "won in the trenches," as they say. Our O-line is not terrible, but they do have their weaknesses. Consistency seems to be an issue. There were a few too many plays where the interior seemed to just open up, and in ran Holland, or Wilkins, or some fifth defender. I think also they may struggle a bit against a base 3-4 D in general. And I don't think it's any one linesman. I know a lot of people on here have been bashing Mongo lately, but I'm not sure it isn't a question of scheme. Even Mitch Morse looked out of position at times in the first half. Boettger, too. Is it harder for them to manage a 3-4 in their zone blocking? I don't really know any of this-- I'm just spitballing.

I was thinking along these lines myself, although one might prefer they rack the score up first, and then start with the developmental plays.

As they put Beasley back into this offense, it will open up Diggs, as well. Diggs has been double-covered all season. But I think teams have also figured out that "Keep Allen in the Pocket" is not a game-winning strategy, and we're going to see more blitzes against Allen. I also feel like McD/Daboll have been working to develop the run game this season, and naturally it's come at the expense of the receivers. But the more teams blitz, the more McD/Daboll are going to need to open up the short-yardage crossing routes-- Beasley's wheelhouse. And the more teams have to respect that, the more opportunities will also open up for Diggs/Sanders/Davis. I do hope They continue to develop the Bills run game-- it seems to me there has been some incremental improvement from last season. (And, I think we really missed Spencer Brown in that regard) I think we're starting to reach the appropriate balance for this team. (But if I see any more of the old, Dick Jauron-style RRPP offense (run, run, pass, punt) like we did in the first quarter, I might start to lose my hair.

Please let this be he last one of these I do... Five picks in one half Might make some folks laugh But for Bills fans, it made us irate. He was weak in the spleen And not to be mean But let this be the end of Late Nate Peterman

He's always been a decent WR, but not quite as elite as the media hyped him up to be. I've never seen a player getter hyped up so such a degree, literally because of one catch. And, as if anybody needs to be reminded-- that one catch was from Eli Manning back in 2015.

It's really so simple. It was third down with 1:16 remaining, and Bills up by 9. No team in the NFL takes a knee at that moment. You go for an easy passing play, and throw the ball away if nothing is there. If you don't score, you kick a field goal to make it a two TD game, and the Dolphins get the ball back with very little time left on the clock. At that point, the Dolphins go for the whole Hail Mary, then onside kick thing. But, it didn't work out that way. On third down, the Dolphins gave Allen an easy run in for a TD. The two point conversion would have made it a three-score game, and it's over. Smart football.

I don't obsess over NE*. I just want every team they play to curb-stomp them into oblivion, and for their fanbase to go skulking back to their crappy basement apartments, and drink themselves to death. I want Belichick* to be humiliated at every one of his grim-toned pressers. I want Mac & Cheese to rue the day the Patriots* drafted him, and I want them to experience an unslakable drought with nothing but misery and Monday morning hangovers on the horizon. But, I don't obsess over them.

If you're going to hang your offense on one star player, running back would have to be the riskiest. As tough as Henry is, it was just a matter of time.

If the Bills can sweep them (which will be tough), we could very well knock them out of wildcard contention. And, that would be sweet.

From a team standpoint, the two point conversion was practice. Real game-time experience is invaluable. The TD was slamming the door in the Phin's face. There is no use in giving them the ball back at any point, and even if it was a two score game, don't give them the impetus to go all hail mary and then the onside kick, and all that nonsense. Just slam the door. It's the offense's job to score points. It's the defenses job to stop them. Period. The Bills are a high-character team. We all know that-- that is the way McD/Beane have built the culture. If the Dolphins' feelings are hurt, then they are not of high character.

Is Stephon Diggs on this team?

Sorry, I don't approve. The Bills' fanbase already has an amusingly low-brow reputation, what with all the table-diving. I don't think we need to sully it any further with the F-bomb. Come up with something classier.

I'm not one of those conspiracy guys-- never have been-- who thinks that the refs are trying to throw the game one way, or the other. It would literally be a felony, with interstate commerce implications. But... watching that game, it really did seem at times that the Packers were playing against the Cardinals and the refs.

The BiLLLLs.

The New England Asterisks

You're close.

I had never noticed that both the Buffalo, and the Dolphin are smoking a pipe.

So, if McD only gets us to the AFCCG a couple more times, he should be fired? Is that what you're saying?