Kirby Jackson

The restrictions are there because they are a crutch. What they did in 2008 is irrelevant. I believe that Matthew Slater is the ONLY player still on the roster (maybe Chung). Because they were good then doesn’t have any relation to now outside of BB, and a couple of players. You can use coaching to support your argument. Just don’t be lazy saying that other players were good when they played against other players 12 years ago. There is not correlation.

Fair enough but they did lose Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Teddy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau before the start of 2009. In a lot of ways that is feeding into my point. When they were really talented they won. This 2020 team IS NOT very talented.

100% agree. If you don’t see that it’s because you don’t want to. With that being said that schedule is difficult for the whole division. Miami is the only team that gets somewhat of a breather. The division was 34-30 last year. They won’t be this year.

If they add Cam and he is healthy I will think differently of them.

The point being they were 5 games worse when Brady was out. Everyone looks at 11-5 with Cassel as a success. Was that a success coming off of a 16-0 season? If Allen went out and the Bills were 5 games worse would we be raving about 5-11?

They were also were undefeated the year before Cassel played. I’d argue that team had WAY more talent than this team.

My point being it isn’t totally random. There is such a thing as harder or easier. Entering last year the Bills had games against some bad teams. As it turned out, those teams projected to be bad (Dolphins, Giants, Redskins, Jets, Broncos Bengals) were bad. Those teams finished with a combined record of 28-68 with none of them reaching 8 wins. We thought that they’d be bad and they were. They had some games against teams that were supposed to be good (Cowboys, Patriots, Steelers, Browns, Ravens, Eagles). Those teams finished with a combined record of 57 - 39. The Browns were the outlier in that they were the only team projected to be good that wasn’t (6-10). I didn’t include the Titans in either group because they were projected to be average. They finished 9-7 (so as projected). There is obviously some variance but it isn’t random. The Bills play a bunch of teams this year projected from average to elite. The only bad teams that they are expected to play are the teams in the division and the Raiders. We shouldn’t expect all of the teams that are supposed to be good to be bad and vice versa. There will be some people that overachieve and underachieve but most will look like they are expected to.

I agree that it changes some from year to year but it’s not totally random. The AFC East was 34-30 last year. I’d bet ANYTHING that the division has a worse record this year. The AFC West and NFC West are better than the AFC North and NFC East. SOS at this point isn’t idiot proof but it’s not irrelevant either. If you look at team numbers team you’ll see a tough road for the Bills and the AFC East. They play both Super Bowl teams. They play 2 teams that appear to have taken a big step in the offseason in Denver and Arizona. The Seahawks won a playoff game. The Rams played in the Super Bowl the year before. The Steelers get Ben back. The Titans played in the AFC Championship. That’s not interchangeable with the Bengals, Redskins, and Giants.

I agree that he was/is certainly on the decline. I do wonder though how much of that is playing with the worst group of skill players that he ever had? The only guy that he trusted was Edelman. The lack of talent around him is a part of the reason that he left IMO.

Ha ha, I’m trying to be generous so it doesn’t look like I’m pushing through an agenda. That passing attack SHOULD be horrendous.

In a down year Brady completed 61% of his passes, threw for 4,057 yards with 24 TDs and 8 INTs. If Stidham duplicates those numbers, with that lack of talent, they’ll throw a parade. I think that he will be closer to Trubisky (about 3,300 yards, 18 TDs, 11 INTs).

I don’t necessarily agree but thank you for having a reasonable explanation. Fair enough....still think the odds of ALL of that happening is unlikely

I think that you’re referring to the Bills here? If so, it makes the division title easier. It doesn’t have a massive impact on a shot at the only bye imo. The rest of the Bills schedule is too tough to get to the 12 or 13 wins likely to get there IMO. With that being said, playing a lot of good teams will serve the Bills well when they do make the playoffs. They should be hosting that first playoff game as well. Even if the Bills are like 9-7 (a low end estimation) I still think that’s enough to host a playoff game. They can have a worse record and be better positioned to win a title. Hope that rambling makes sense...

Flores still has a lot to prove but his 1st year has to be considered a massive success. That team was AWFUL and traded away 2 of their best 3 players. The other one missed most of the season with injury. The Dolphins did everything in their power to finish last and they won 5 games. They played hard, were prepared, disciplined and overachieved. They just had no players. Their coaching staff did a really nice job last year. Now that they have a lot more talent and some expectations let’s see if it continues....

So, I’ve been posting this in numerous threads for a few months. I know there are some people with me on it and some that think it’s crazy. The Pats are a bad team. They will win 6 games (and that’s with the greatest coach ever). Someone please make a case as to why they are a threat in the division? Please don’t use some lame reason like, “because they are king’s until they are not” or “because they are always good.” Give FOOTBALL reasoning as to why they are good!! My reasoning as to why they are bad is that they have no talent on offense. Their OL is pretty good but lost their legendary coach. They have, at best, a massive question mark at QB. At worst, they have the worst QB situation in the league. The Pats likely have the worst set of skill players in the NFL as well. Some people are saying that they are going to run the ball and play defense. Their backs aren’t good and they will be forced to run against loaded boxes because no one fears their passing game. How does this team generate offense?!? Please, someone, tell me... The secondary is really good. The pass rush isn’t. They lost Collins and Van Noy this offseason as well as Danny Shelton. That’s 3 starters in their front 7. That defense is no longer elite (although it could still be a top 10ish unit). Add that to, statistically, the hardest schedule in the NFL and explain to me what I’m missing? Again, no “because they always are” responses. This team has different players and coaches. I’m asking why THIS team is still a threat? https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NE I’m hoping that this thread inspires some thoughtful conversation. I suspect that the trauma of 20 years of being the nail has people living in fear for no reason. They will hide behind “because Belichick” because that’s the ONLY thing to stand behind. I’m not sure how many games, against that schedule, a great coach is good for? I think that they win 6 because of Belichick. That’s a 4 win team otherwise IMO. I’d love to hear a real football argument those as to why they can win?

They’re actually not. I just bet it last week after the draft. The Bills were +130. The Patriots were +145. Unless things have changed since Thursday the Bills are the favorite.

Last year, the Bills played, statistically the 24th hardest schedule in the NFL entering the year. Their opponents had a combined .480 winning percentage in 2018. This ended up even easier in that Big Ben missed 2019. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/nfl/news/toughest-nfl-schedule-2019-strength-of-schedule/uul8u61c5vx715vm8xynhn7ci This year it is, statistically tied for the 5th hardest. The Patriots have the hardest, the Jets 2nd hardest, & Dolphins 3rd. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2020-nfl-strength-of-schedule-cowboys-ravens-and-steelers-have-it-easiest-patriots-face-roughest-ride/ People don’t just say random things on the schedule going into each year. There are numbers that support having an easy or hard schedule. It’s not just an opinion. Obviously, the situation can change but all schedules aren’t created equally. The Bills had an easy road last year (as did the whole AFC East) and the Bills have a hard road this year (as does the whole AFC East).

They did until you really dig into the schedule. Their last 10 games: - Jags (L) - Dolphins (L) - Giants (W) - Redskins (W) - Raiders (W) - Bengals (L) - Dolphins (W) - Ravens (L) - Steelers (W) vs. Mason Rudolph - Bills (W) vs. the backups There isn’t a good win in the bunch. Their schedule, like everyone in the division, is much harder this year. The Jets OL should be better but that’s better than awful. Their skill players stink and Gase is terrible. I like Darnold and think he’s going to be pretty good. The Jets look like a 6 or 7 win team to me. They play: Bills (2), Pats (2), Miami (2), 49ers, Cards, Seahawks, Rams, Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos, Chargers, Colts, & Browns. I’m just not seeing many wins there.

The secondaries in the AFC East are really good. Both 1st team all-pro corners and both 1st team all-pro safeties started the year in the AFC East. Fitzpatrick was traded to Pittsburgh. That’s pretty insane though. The top 4 DBs in football all started the year in the division.

Yeah, the Bills could have the same record as last year and be way better. The AFC East was 34-30 last year. I’m VERY confident that the division will be worse than that this year.

This feels about right to me Scott

Oh I’m not projecting them to win 9 games. I’m just saying they can. I don’t see how the Jets or Pats can. The Jets play the Browns & Colts in their crossover games and the Pats play the Texans and Ravens. I think that the AFC East goes 0-4 in those games. We also play the AFC and NFC west. Those divisions are strong. There just aren’t a lot of wins with the lack of talent and the schedule. With last year’s schedule it could have been different. The Bills are clearly the class of the division imo. They absolutely have the best roster.

I’m going to die on this hill. We are so traumatized by the last 20 years we’ve lost all reason. That team stinks. If you put lions uniforms on that roster we’d think that they were in the Lawrence race. They will win 6 BECAUSE of Belichick. That is one of the worst few rosters in the league. Stop thinking about who they were and look at this depth chart. What is it that you like about this team? Where are they good? I’m not picking on you specifically either so I’m sorry if it comes across like that. I’m asking everyone here to look at this. What about this talent do people like? https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NE Their OL is pretty good but lost their legendary coach. Their skill players are AWFUL. The secondary is good but their pass rush isn’t. This is a bad football team with the greatest coach of all-time. Someone explain to me HOW this team scores points?

I just look at the division and don’t see it. Miami’s advantage is that their crossover games are Bengals and Jags. They are better than both of them. That puts them a leg up on the Jets and Pats imo. The Jets and Pats have no weapons. One team has a pretty good young QB but Adam Gase as the coach. The other has, at this point, the worst weapons in the league, the worst QB situation in the league and arguably the hardest schedule in the league. The Pats are a 6 win team. The Jets are in that general area too I believe. The Dolphins have some real strengths (specifically the secondary). They have a rebuilt OL, a solid vet QB and potentially a young franchise guy. They are well coached too. They may be a year away. They too may be a 6 win team. They are however, the only other team in the division that I can see a path to 8 or even 9 wins.

Ha ha, it’s like a bizzaro world. I hate to jinx it but with the Bills luck they’ll lose 3 games on special teams and we will all hate life. lol