Dan

I'm a little surprised Stevie is inactive. But, with his back problems and traveling back home with a death in his family, he hasn't practiced all week. So, I guess it makes sense.

I'm not Lori, But, here's a shot at a some pregame info to get us ready. I hope to do this everyweek, if people like it and I have the ability. Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 1:00pm TV Network: CBS (TV Map) Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Solomon Wilcots, and Boomer Esiason DirecTV: 709 Bills Radio: On the call: John Murphy (play by play), Mark Kelso (analyst), Joe Buscaglia (sideline) Flagship: Buffalo – WGR550 (550AM); Toronto - Sportsnet 590 The Fan; Rochester - WCMF (96.5) and WROC (950AM); Syracuse - WTKW (99.5/WTKV 105.5) Sirius: 110 ================================================================= Game Preview: After holding Super Bowl champion quarterbacks in check in their three wins this year, the Cincinnati Bengals face a signal-caller making his second NFL start Sunday when they visit Thad Lewis and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have won six in a row at home against the Bengals but had a 10-game winning streak in the series snapped in the last meeting, falling 23-20 at Cincinnati on Oct. 2, 2011. Dalton threw for 298 yards, including 118 to Green. Read more at ESPN game preview... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scouting Report: Week 6 (from Buffalo Bills.com Chris Brown) Bills' Focus: Coach Marrone Bengals Preview NFL.com Video Preview NFL.com Game Center Teams Stats: Bills Bengals Total Yds/Game.... 348.6 330.2 Total Rush.............152.6 99.4 Total Pass.............196.0 230.8 Points/Game.......... 22.4 18.8 Time of Poss.......... 27.7 31.1 ---------------------------------------------- Yds/Gm Allowed... 377.4 316.8 Rush Yards........... 116.0 95.6 Pass Yards........... 261.4 221.2 Points Allowed........ 26.0 17.4 Source: NFL.com Injury Report: Buffalo Bills NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Brooks, Ron DB Foot LP LP DNP Out Byrd, Jairus S Foot FP FP FP Probable Easley, Marcus WR Ribs LP LP LP Probable Gilmore, Stephon DB Wrist LP LP LP Questionable Goodwin, Marquise WR Hand LP LP LP Probable Hopkins, Dustin K Groin DNP DNP DNP Out Johnson, Stevie WR Back DNP DNP DNP Questionable Manuel, EJ QB Knee DNP DNP DNP Out Spiller, C.J. RB Ankle LP LP LP Questionable Williams, Kyle DL Achilles LP FP FP Probable Source: BuffaloBills.com Cincinnati Bengals NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Boley, Michael LB Hamstring LP LP FP Questionable Ghee, Brandon CB Thigh DNP LP FP Questionable Hall, Leon CB Hamstring LP LP FP Questionable Johnson, Michael DE Concussion DNP DNP FP Questionable Pollak, Mike G Knee LP FP FP Probable Smith, Andre T Shoulder LP FP FP Probable Source: Bengals.com Practice Status DNP = Did not participate in practice LP = Limited Participation in Practice - Less than 100% of a player's normal repetitions FP = Full Participation - 100% of a player's normal repetitions Out = Player will not play (-) = Not Listed = No practice status available Game Status Out = Player will not play Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play Questionable = 50% chance a player will play Probable = 75% chance a player will play (-) = Not Listed - No game status available The Odds: Line: Bengals -7 Over/Under: 42 Source: The Linemakers More... if you're in Vegas. My Take on the Matchup: How can a Practice Squad QB get activated and beat a pretty good team that just shut down Tom Brady? By all accounts, this game should be an easy win for the Bengals. So, why even watch? Well, for starters... 1. The Bills defense should get most of the starters back this week. With the reinforcements showing up just in the nick of time, we get our first look at Byrd in 2013. Add in Gilmore and Leo and the backfield might finally be able to stop someone on 3rd and 10 or more. Its worth watching just to see how much playing time they all get, and how much rust they have on them. 2. Kiko, enough said. 8. Brian Moorman to punt! 4. Thad the Impaler. For me, he's a complete mystery. On one hand, from the brief game film I've seen he looks raw, inaccurate downfield, and too quick to go with his first read. On the other hand, it can be argued that I just described EJ's performance through the first month of the season. So, will the offense be that much different? To offset these concerns, it would seem logical to have Spiller and Freddie and Choice run and run some more. But, how many times have we seen Bills Coaches out smart themselves? However, if Hackett can draw up a good game plan and our secondary can keep Dalton from looking like a first ballot HOFer, we stand a good chance to upset the Bengals with a practice squad QB. The defense has yet to shut an opponent down and there's little reason to believe they'll start this week. As for the Bengals defense, they will almost certainly play the run and dare Thad to beat them. So, as I see it, there's only one key to this game, as far as the Bills are concerned... the offensive success and most likely the game, boils down to how well Thad handles the pressure coupled with his ability to be more accurate with downfield passes. And that's why I'll be watching; hoping for Thad to shine and the renewed secondary to finally get off the field on 3rd and forever with some consistency. Go Bills!!

Good points. I'm no writer/press/smart guy, but I may try my hand at a pregame summary for the pregame thread, in an effort to add substantive content for discussion to the board. I'll see what I can come up with tonight, at least.

I actually like the thread per quarter idea. As someone that travels and can't always watch the game, I enjoy reading the game thread just to see the range of emotions and reactions. But, it's often hard to figure what's being discussed because it all gets jumbled. Breaking it down, per half or per quarter, might make perusing the game day thread much more coherent and easy. Also are the threads started by a moderator? It seems they always started earlier and earlier because people wanted the prestige of starting the threads. Maybe whoever starts the pregame thread could start with quick summary of broadcast info, injury status for both teams, a few links, things like that? So, we could get some real info before the posts to cut everyone start. My other thought, as a lowly board member... is a pregame thread opened just 30mins prior to kickoff enough time? How much info can actually be posted and discussed in 30mins? I'd ask that the Mods in their infinite wisdom consider an hour (or hour and a half) pregame thread.

Exactly, its all about money and more money. At some point, you reach a point of diminishing returns however. No business, no nothing grows and continues to increase forever. Trying to grasp at every last dollar is unsustainable. Yeah, they may gain viewership and fans over there, but they'll lose over here. I know no one that wants to watch that London game. Its lousy TV, with an apathetic crowd and over-sized stadium. They're watering down everything that has made the league what it is. Between the favoring of big market teams, to the highly subjective rules enforced at random, to the time stoppages every 2 minutes to allow the refs to confer with the rule book, the league is becoming a parody of itself.

For whatever little reason there was to watch the Pro Bowl before (I actually used to enjoy it for the fun game that it was), there's absolutely no reason to tune into this thing now. It's absolutely abyssmal what they've done to this thing.

This is what I don't get either. When was the last time anyone heard of a guy being promoted from the practice squad and starting over the #2 like this? Its just bizarre.

I got no problem with a trade. I wouldn't even let him back in the building given his attitude and respect he's shown for this team and team mates. He's the best safety in the game and in the prime of his career. His agent should easily be able to find someone willing to offer a 1st rounder and later, 4th/5th round, pick as well.

excellent!

no. :-)

I can see how you and others and the refs called that a noncatch. But, for me, that's exactly what I saw. He shifted the ball from his right to his left to avoid the DB knocking it out. But, he never bobbled it. He never didn't have control. In fact, being able to repostion the ball from one hand to the other would seem to indicate he had control of it. Did the ball move? Yes. But, because ...he moved it. I just don't see how you can catch a ball and move it away from a defender without the ball moving and without having control of it. On the Leonard play... I thought the call was because it was a head to head hit? Am I thinking of a different play? Granted, I think its a BS call that gets called all the time. The defender can't control if the guy lowers his head to brace for a hit and that causes thieirnheads to hit. But that's the NFL we live with now, unfortunately.

Good point.

That's my gripe with that play... tackles will get beat and sacks be had. But, EJ has twice had the ball stripped like that because he's carelss holding the ball back there. He's got to improve on that. And I'm sure he will.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Why not just run once or twice? I guess the kneel downs were the safe way out, but it got a little dicey.

Cheer up. The Bils won today!

His play fake, where he literally walked back after faking the handoff, then threw a great pass to the TE for the score was a thing of absolute beauty. ...until the TE tripped on the turf and fell.

I thought they said he "forearmed" his head as he fell on the dude. I didn't see it, but that's all I got.

I'll defend him. He had a bad game... so what. All players have bad games. BTW... The Bills won.

From all I've heard, Byrd is sitting out because he wants to be payed as the #1 Safety in the league. Do you think he's the best safety in the league? I don't. He's good... top 5 maybe. But, not the best. And now... he has a chronic injury keeping him from playing through the first quarter of the season. That is not the way the most valuable safety in the league plays. Honestly, I don't get it. What's the chance another team pays him $9million a year after this drama? In all likelihood, he goes elsewhere and gets a very similar contract to what the Bills offered him. My conclusion, he just doesn't want to play for the Bills. So, sit him, IR him, I don't really care. But move on with him no longer in the locker room.

Well... I saw a lot of what I wanted to see. By no means was it perfect, but a noticeable improvement in the game plan, use of the play clock, and a pumped up looking team. There were still plenty of mistakes. Lots of room to get better. But, it was positive to see. Next week.... lets just see more of the same!

wow! This London game crap is pathetic. Please, for the love of all things holy and pure, end it!!

The team needs to call Byrd out, IMO. Bench him and have Marrone just call it like it is when asked about his progress... "Byrd is out. And right now I'm trying to get the players that have a heart and want to play ready to play. The others, well I don't have time for." If true about Carrington, his agent could have just cost him a lot of money.

Exactly! There have been some things about the coaching hires, but overall I'm seeing a coaching staff that looks every bit like they're learning to coach, just as the rookies are learning to play. And as the game footage piles up, they're looking even more out classed each week.

I don't think I am. I don't expect a win. I expect to see NFL level competence from a coaching staff. If the players don't execute, that's one thing.. they're young and all. But, leaving Rogers one on one? Calling a 3rd and 1play that has guards and tackles pulling. That's putting your players in a position to lose.

For me, its the same thing I've been wanting to see for years... Play with some attitude and fire in their bellies, hitting hard for the entire game. Add to that, improved game day coaching. Better clock management and adjustments in the game plan. If you try a play and it's not working; they need to stop trying it! Don't leave inexperienced corners on an island with the other teams #1 WR. Find some way to get pressure on the QB. FInd some way to limit the pressure on ours. In other words, it would be nice to see the coaching staff show a level of comptence in and understanding of the game that's being played. I really don't want to sit on my couch in Idaho and feel like I know more about the game than our coaching staff.