Dan

It just amazes me how a 3rd string RB gets 100yds and a game manager like Smith suddenly is throwing the ball downfield on the defense. And defense is supposed to be the team's strength??

I really hate agreeing with you. Normally, I try to see the positive and give this organization the benefit of the doubt. But, here we are again just treading water. And it's hard to argue against the record... The team and organization isn't making progress.

The only move they need to make this offseason is one of the Pegula's needs to get on the NFL competition committee. Its the only way I can ever see us buying refs.

I'm not shocked or stunned.... And that's the problem.

If fantasy points counted, I'd be all behind this. But the fact is, we just lost. In part because the offense couldn't score when it needed it. So, yeah, he had a great statistical game while our season began to evaporate again. Woo hoo

Yeah, this is another of many soon to be "the Bills suck" threads. But, can anyone argue that this team is any better or any different from every team we've fielded for 15 years? Penalties, injuries, inexperience...excuses. The bottom line is as a team, they came up small when the game and the season was on the line. Pretty much just like every season this century. So, who's in the draft?

Tyrod has most definitely shown the ability to make throws over the middle. However, I do agree with the notion that he needs to do it more. Whether its him or the game plan, our offense all too often is run within 10yds of the LOS, with a couple long balls thrown in. That's one of the reasons we lead the league in 3 and outs. But, I don't think its due to Tyrod's inabilities, perhaps just his tendencies (or Roman's). Completely agree every week seems like a must win, statement type game. But for me, this is that game. The same old Bills lose this game. If Rex and this team are different, they find a way to win. It doesn't mean we make or don't make the playoffs based on this game, but a win shows this team is moving forward. It's able to put losses behind it and win tough games it has to win. No excuses, they need to prove to themselves and all of us here, that they're a better team than last year.

The number of bad calls in this game was absolutely mind boggling. We all knew we'd lose, ultimately because the refs would screw us. But, damn, the number of calls/non calls are almost too numerous to count. The 3 in this article are perhaps 3 of the worst. Watkins clearly rolled out of bounds untouched. We had 2 seconds left. Also, I was screaming... Chandler (I didn't know it was him at the time) was clearly substituting or trying or on the field. That's either a penalty or a stoppage long enough to let the defense substitute. We got neither. The whistle blew early, before the catch, not after. That's a replay of down. The one thing in regard to this play I'd like to point out... They did not in any way take away a TD. The Bills defender clearly let up and stopped playing when he heard the whistle. He didn't even attempt a tackle. That's the only reason the WR was running down a wide open field. What's most horrendous about all this...? These are all simple, basic calls! This isn't open to interpretation, was his hand going forward kinda crap. These calls are straightforward, easy to see, with well established penalties and procedures in place. Even casual fans know this stuff. How can the NFL allow officiating like this to continue? They're either completely incompetent or on the take. There's no other way around it.

Of course they probably go for it on that 4th down. But, even if by some miracle they make it? No way they stop the hold off a last minute FG and lose the game. I've seen that game at least dozen times. The bigger issue there was they got a good play, its 1st down on the 15 with time running out in the game, needing 2 scores. Yet, they call plays like its the 1st quarter and they're at the 50yd line. Not a single play for the endzone. At some point, you have to realize the situation you're in and go for it.

Exactly. I keep seeing posters upset saying McKelvin lost us the game. I just don't get how people can watch the game and completely ignore the most important aspects of the game. His fumbles led to 3pts on the board. Big deal. The biggest killer in this game was going prevent and giving up a touchdown in the final minute, literally, of the first half. That was the the difference in the game right there. Throw in a nice helping of Roman's short, conservative game plan falling right into Bellidicks defensive plan. The offense looked bad. And couldn't move the ball most of the nighg, especially when we needed it the most.

So we have to get the top 2 targets more involved, so that the two most targeted guys on the team are targeted more than they were when they were the two players with the most targets?

Absolutely! You have to get in Brady's face and knock him down. Every time he's ever faced constant pressure, he gets rattled. Sure he'll make plenty of great throws and they'll score. He already knows exactly what the defensive call is and where to throw every time so you can never completely shut him down, but if you hit him snd knock him around... Even late, you can force him to rush and be off target. Sitting back in any sort of zone and giving him time to throw will never confuse him and will never slow them down. You can't confuse someone that already knows the defensive call.. .you can only hope to pressure him into making a bad throw.

Honestly, after everything that has come out about that team... I would absolutely sweep the locker room and hotel, and sideline for bugs. I'd also use code on the headsets, the likelihood that they they tap into the opposing team's feed is almost guaranteed. That team is entirely too good at always getting the right offensive/defensive call and matching the other team. They cheat and we all know it... Just prepare for it.

That's my biggest problem with this marketing ploy.... They say it honors the history of the franchise, blah, blah. ..but Buffalo doesn't have a history of red? When I think of Buffalo colors its... Blue. Not red. Stupid people at nike didn't even research the team enough to figure this out. Unless... Of course the red jerseys are meant to represent the pain and anger of being a Bills fan, then maybe it's spot on.

True. People over over zealous on both sides of the spectrum, in support or criticism. And since when does spending money equate to wins? If that's all it took the Redskins would have how many Super Bowl titles now? Given that we haven't made the playoffs this century, given that last year was our first winning record in a decade, given that this franchise has been a losing franchise in all phases for longer than any of us care to admit... Yeah, I have the bar pretty low (or realistic). I want to see this team win more games than it loses, every year. Then I'll expect the playoffs, every year. Then I'll expect to contend for the Super Bowl, every year. But to think we can go from the mess we have been stuck in for as long as we've been here to a playoff/super bowl team in one or even two years, is diluted. So, yeah, for now... i just want to see this team win more than it loses. Hell, this season we haven't even been able to win 2 consecutive games!

I would very much agree. This off season was out of character for the way Whaley has always said he wanted to build the team. And that was very likely a direct result of Rex and the new ownership. But I see it as a point of strength that he got behind what the HC wanted and worked to make it happen. That's what ..should.. happen when a FO is working together. The problem I have with posters is they tend to place all the bad decisions at Whaley's feet, and give others credit for the good. Was he involved in the decision to draft EJ, yes. But, he was also involved in the decision to sign Tyrod. Bottomline for me, is the team more talented now than we were? Are we building a team as opposed to making moves just to make moves? Are we winning more than we're losing? So far, I think it's a definite yes on the first 2 and we have 8 more weeks to see how question 3 turns out.

Rex didn't bring any players in. Rex may have said... "Hey, I like this guy. Let's bring him in." But, it's Whaley's job to actually get them in, unless I'm mistaken. And isn't that another positive for Whaley? He listens to his HC and tried to get the type of talent he needs/wants for his schemes. Even if we give Rex all the credit for those signings, he still missed on one of them. So he's not perfect on every choice either. I think the point was that you're devaluing the fact that those teams have fewer wins, directly because of the Bills' wins. So it seems you're placing value on their losses, without giving the Bills wins over them any value.

Yes it does, given the small sample size. A number 1 pick that has 6 good games is just continuing what he's done to warrant his high draft position. A guy like Tyrod, essentially coming out of no where, has to prove he can do it consistently for a significant stretch before you consider him the guy. There have been too many players that have a couple of good games in an otherwise below average career to expect anything else.

Awesome post! Thanks. I've never seen a game at the Ralph. It's one thing in my life... I need to do.

One of the best things about him is he leads the receivers perfectly. It allows for a lot YAC and gives the playmakers plenty of opportunity to make the plays. He also throws a really good long ball, again almost always putting it right where it needs to be. I'm not saying he's our guy yet. But, he's looking like a true diamond in the rough and has tons of upside.

He needs to work the intermediate routes. He threw 2 deep passes, today. Granted both were completed, but that's only 2 attempts all game at something longer than 15yds down field (as I recall). We've all seen that before, when the entire offense is run plays and short passes, defenses start to take the short stuff away and force you to be perfect on the deep throws. Today, Tyrod was; but that's not a game plan that makes me feel comfortable. Yes it did. And Tyrod executed with with near perfection. The guy is good. One of the best things about his game is he just doesn't make many mistakes. It's refreshing to see that! Again, I hope no one thinks I'm saying Tyrod didn't do well. I'm just saying, he needs to work the intermediate routes more to back the defenders off the line of scrimmage.

I'm not pissed or disappointed or demanding more of Taylor. He had a near flawless game. However, he has room to imporve. This isn't a bad thing, nor is it unexpected. I'm just stating what I think is the area of his game ..or perhaps the offensive philosophy.. that i think needs the most improvement.

Good point... Where was Dareus? Was he on the field? Seriously. Regarding point 9... I like Taylor. He did plenty good and he needs to be our starter. I'm not questioning that... But. But, he really needs to look downfield more. Too much of the offense is played within 10yds of the line. It seems he's either throwing short or long bombs, with very little in between. I'd like to see more mid range passes in that 20 yd type range. I think that would loosen the defenses up even more. Our Defense still needs work. Plain and simple. They looked confused on most every snap. I don't know what they're doing, but they definitely need more time to figure it all out. With those 2 caveats, this was a pretty darn good, complete win. We needed it and we got it! We're still in the hunt... Now lets take down the Jets!

Not every player on the team can be, or even needs to be, a pro bowl caliber superstar. You need good, consistent, dependable role players. Woods is exactly that. Letting him walk, just means you have to find a consistent and dependable WR to fill the void. It's the definition of treading water. You don't break the bank to keep him, but you also don't let him walk if you can help it. We need this coaching staff and players to play together and get better. We started the season with Taylor throwing to Watkins, Harvin and Woods. If Woods walks, our QB only has one of those guys returning next year. That's not how you build consistency and confidence in an offensive system. So, yeah, sign the guy and keep moving forward.

Yep, Kyle Williams has always been a favorite of mine because of his attitude every bit as much as his play. And I like the way Shady plays as well. He's definitely worth the moves they made to bring him in. But, outside of that... Its a whole lotta meh. When things go well... all is great. But when things get tough, the excuses start. The great teams have great players. They don't talk trash. They don't make excuses. They just simply hate to lose and play every game and every series like it matters. And when they see team mates not caring... They call them out, they motivate them, they refuse to let them be losers either. We need that. We need players that have a passion for winning and an unwillingness to accept anything less.