Dan

I think expectations being too high and the complete lack of patience are an albatross on this team in too many fan's eyes. We pretty much completely overhauled the defense. Brought in 2new DEs, new rookie CB, new DC with new scheme, and dumped veteran leaders - which is proving more damaging than I think anyone is considering. And everyone expects instant success. Granted... it would be nice to see at least some basic level of competence; even the most pessimistic of us didn't see record breaking futility. However, people forget that change of this magnitude does not often relate to immediate success. Rookies almost always take 2-3 yrs minimum to produce consistently. New FAs take time to adjust as well to their new surroundings. I expected a slow start. Again, this level of craptastic play is inexcusable, but you certainly don't trash it all after 5 games as quite a few are suggesting. A long way to say... I agree. Mario will almost certainly play better. If not for any other reason than it's almost inconceivable that he could play worse.

And that is exactly why the mood around this team is so horrendous. In the last 2 games, there has been absolutely nothing to base some hope on. Not even a good play. Will this defense gel a little? Will the players lose all confidence and suck it out. Quite honestly, I have no clue. But, after the last two weeks, its certainly hard to have any hope that they will improve.

How can the Dolphins be in complete rebuild mode, and still look better than the Bills? Its astounding how bad this Bills team can continue to look irregardless of what improvements they appear to make.

I really don't completely disagree with you, entirely. But, there's more than one way to build a winner. And I will contend that getting a monster WR when we have a mediocre QB isn't the way to do it. So, I'm glad they built the line up, first, given the proposed alternative.

I think people are frustrated with the team and defense, entirely justified, after the last 2 games. However, calling out 1 player for 1 comment made immediately in the aftermath of a brutal loss, especially when that player has been one of the bright spots on this team through the first 19 games of his career, is just misplacing that frustration. Dareus is going through a rough time due to the death of his brother. And, acknowledging that fact following with immediate dismissal of that fact along with the dismissal of all his previous efforts, is just disrespectful and neglectful of reality. And, yes, it is just a game. It's just a business. The fact that he makes millions means little. I wonder does everyone posting on this board during work hours take their job as serious as they expect some of these players. ..that is to put it above all else in their lives?

Facts totally get in the way of a good rant sometimes. I really hate that.

:-) I wouldn't blame anyone for giving up on this team. You're right, and I stand corrected on that portion of my post. But, taking a WR at #3 when you have no offensive or defensive line and a mediocre QB is still not the wa to build a team, IMO.

While I can agree with much of your opinion, this is complete nuts. First of all, prior to his brother getting killed, coinciding with the ENTIRE defense falling apart, Dareus has been an excellent and in some games dominating player. Now after 2 bad to below average games and you're ready to call him a bust? This kneejerk type reaction is also one of the things this organization needs to get over as well. Secondly, hindsight is a hell of a thing. No one was calling for AJ Green to be selected in the top 5, let alone be a Fitzgerald clone when he was drafted. Sure, he looks great now. But, to take that leap of faith, and that's exactly what it would have been, and make him the #3 overall pick would have been horrendously bold. Not to mention it almost certainly would have failed. Afterall, it's hard to catch the ball when your QB is throwing the ball 10yds over your head or 5yds short on a duck pattern. So, yes, this team needs a WR to help score points. But, to prioritize that position and reaching wildly to do so at a time when there was no team around him would have been continuing a longer Bills' pattern of getting flashy players that are destined to fail on a weak team. edit: I just recalled Green was picked first by the Bengals not Dalton, which my mind had reversed. So, some of my arguement is mistaken. However, I still contend that it would have been a huge leap of faith and poor decision for the Bills to draft him that high. Our team was, and is completely different than the Bengals. Most, notably, I believe their defense was pretty solid while we had a horrendous DLine at the time.

ya know... there's any number of other teams you can follow? why are you even still here?

The Bills need to match the intensity of the 49'ers D. If they come out soft and playing reseved, they'll get blown off the ball, punched in the mouht and the game will be over in the 1st quarter. Just come out mad, punch back and get some redemption.

Fit it up like fitty cent says. Holla.

The Bills haven't had the level of intensity displayed by either of tonight's teams in over a decade. Its fun watching defenses play like they did tonight, unfortunately that type of D just isn't played in Buffalo. We prefer a more passive aggressive defense that trys not to get too excited over any one game.

And yet, Gronk still had 100 yds worth of receptions. So they shift into a defense to stop the pass to Gronk and failed while failing to stop the running game. The entire defensive game plan was entirely one big fail. And they did nothing to change it once the Patriots stated rolling. Ptoblem is they played right into the Patriots hands as though they've never seen them play before. They played soft, they played passive, and they played afraid. They played the ole.. ya can't blitz Brady game cause he's too good. So lets flood the field with these cover guys and not give him any targets. Well guess what.. defenses having been getting burned by that approach for years and for the life of me I can't figure out why coaches don't see it. It was a piss poor game plan, that the Patriots ate up and spit out. And when it was obvious to the entire free world, rather than switch to a more agressive plan.. they folded their tents and quit playing. Jboyst hit it right on the head.

The problem is everyone forgets that few, very few, FAs come in and immediately make an impact on their team. Very few. Its the prime reason why teams that make tons of big FA off season moves never do well the following year, despite all the hype. Football is a team game. It takes the team to win, not just one guy. Period. Getting a new DC, 2 new DEs, a rookie CB, switching schemes, cutting other players... anyone with any knowledge of the game had to know that this year's success on the defensive side would be determined by how fast all those new pieces come together and by how healthy they stay. And anyone that thougt all the pieces would be gelled in week 1 was delusional. So far they've been reasonable healthy. Unfortunately, we're a quarter of the way in and they still have alot of congealing to do.

When the Pats* started scoring in the second half, I didn't make any adjustments to my cap or seating situation. I just stuck with my original plan to stay on the couch and keep the hat on forward. I'll have to learn from this game try to correct my mistakes. Tomorrow I'll forget all about it and move on. Its still a long season.

The defense yesterday was horrible! And, as I've said elsewhere, it amazes me that it seems so obvious to the everyone BUT the Bills' coaching staff. Teams, for years, have been saying you have to cover the receivers because NE is a passing team. So, they drop all these guys into coverage and Brady stands tall and eats them alive. It happens time and time again. The only teams that have ever had success against them are the ones willing to pressure Brady. Everyone sees it, but few do it. I have no idea why? There was so much wrong with the game plan yesterday (and the one against the Jets) from the formations to the attitude and intensity of the players that it makes a fan wonder... do the coaches have any clue at all how to play in this division? Its like every other team in the division uses previous game tape and steps up their level of play, while the Bills just treat it as though its any other game and completely forget all the past beat downs we've received. It's really quite sickening at times to be a fan of such a clueless and heartless team.

This notion that they held back to somehow surprise them or some other team at a later point in time is patently absurd. Its just not done and posters, here, that keep bringing it up are just rationalizing pisspoor preparation and crappy play. This was a game that they could have taken sole possession of first place in the division, put the Pats* in a big hole, and served notice to the league. Do you really think they sandbagged it so no one would know how good they are??? After the Ravens and Cardinals showed them how to beat the Pats* ..a game plan they completely ignored. What makes anyone think they watch any film on any opponent and use that to help draw up winning game plans? What absolutely amazes me is how damn near every fan on their couch can see what's wrong and no one in the organization seems to have a clue. Nor do they seem to care. They get their asses handed to them and its like no big deal ...we'll just have to forget about it and move on. Maybe that's their problem. They forget how badly they get blown out and think they somehow don't embarass themselves, the city and all us fans with their completely incompetent effort.

That really does pretty much sum it up. We thought we could get pressure with our front 4. We didn't. And then they did absolutely nothing to adjust. It's almost like this coaching staff has a pre-game mindset - when we see this, we do this. And they stick with it all game long even if its not working. There's no flexibility, no adjusting, no back up plan. Another thing... there's no fire, no intensity when they play divisional games. It's like the Jets and Pats* come out all fired up, hitting hard playing tough and the Bills come out like no big deal its just another game. But its not just another game! And we continue to come out with a loss and multiple players injured. Chan and company are really starting to show their sucktitude.

One team made adjustments and took advantage of what they were seeing. The other is clueless on what it takes to win in today's NFL.

This loss is squarely on the coaching staff. They were abused in every phase of the game. Its just unthinkable that we play the Pats* twice every year and the coaching staff still cannot grasp a few simple facts. Pressure Brady up the middle and cover Welker and Gronk at all times. And don't get in a shootout with Brady! The game plan was what.... ? Let Fitz throw 40 times and only rush Brady with 4 down linemen. That's a recipe for a loss every time. All they did was put the players in a position to fail and they executed it to perfection. Complete fail by this team. No energy, no intensity, no adjustments, no nothing but go out and hope we catch a few breaks. Pretty pathetic really.

Hell crayonz could do a better job if this is all Wanny has.

There is absolutely no excuse for the piss poor game plan. Yes, it would be nice to get pressure with our fromt 4, but when its clear you're not ... you have to blitz! How is it the Bills' coaches still don't know how to play the Pats*??? Its just beyond excusable.

Exactly. I see a relatively small number of formations and player substitutions, but the complexity comes from what they do just prior to and after the snap. And that's as it should be. Several years back, you could just see what players came on the field and know it was run or pass. Or you see Josh Reed go in motion to the left and you knew it was a run off the the left tackle. The offense was a predictable as anything I've ever seen. Contrast that with the current offense and for the majority of snaps its hard to tell if its run or pass based on the formation and personnel. Add in different WRs are the primary target based on the coverage, then there's screens and draw plays added in, and it all really keeps defenses on their toes. The one thing they really don't do enough of is go deep. The biggest problem I see is that most defenses play within 20yds of the LOS because we rarely throw the long ball. If Fitz Could go long 3 or 4 times per game with some success, I think it would open the offense up even more. Also, they have a tendancy to be a little predictable with down and distance situations.

2 TDs and 0 ints looks good on any day. If you expect your QB to throw 3 or more TDs and no picks each week, you really need to get a grasp on reality. I agree, Fitz needs to improve his play. Also, there will certainly be weeks when he will have to win the game more than just manage it. However, I think its important to keep in mind that no QB wins every week or hits every 3rd down pass or makes zero mistakes. It happens. The issue is does he do more good than bad? And in week 2, I would say Fitz did far more good than bad. If he has 3 bad throws out of 20ish attempts each week, I would take that all season long. Now, will he continue that? Will he improve? Well... that's why they play the games and its what I'll be looking for. But, I won't be looking for perfection which is what far too many people seem to expect - perfection and pro bowl players at every position.

Yes, the real Fitz is the one with 3ints, no way it could be the one with 0ints and 2 TDs. Brilliant analysis! Fitz, does appear to be struggling this year to this point. However, people forget or neglect the fact that all QBs (and other players) struggle from time to time. Every QB throws interceptions, bad passes, or just plain makes a bad decision during a game. Every one. To expect perfection in every game and on every series is absurd. And that's precisely what too many people expect. Is Fitz a top 5 QB in the league? No. But, that's ok. If he can play as well as he did on Sunday and continue to improve, we'll be fine with him.