GunnerBill

Friday morning reflections: - Is it just me or does this feel like the reality of the NFL this year when two above average to good teams play? Offenses start slow, defenses seem to be on top and then as the games goes on offenses work things out and it becomes a track meet. This felt similar to Bills - Dolphins last weekend in that regard and a number of other games I have seen this year. - This game was a real example to those people who luicrously hold on to the narrative that Lamar Jackson has never improved as a passer. He didn't have a perfect night and of course he still ultimately did it with his legs for one of the biggest plays in the game to get the Ravens down to the 1 for their second TD but ther were two throws in particular that Lamar threw with anticipation 2nd half that even the year he won his first MVP he just never makes. One to Andrews and one to Batemen. People can think whatever they like about the legitimacy of his MVP year last year, but he is definitely legitimately a leading contender in 2024. - I know he had a bad penalty on the Bengals final drive but other Marlon Humphrey had himself a game. This has been a week that has made think back to that 2017 corner class again. My top 3 corners that year were Lattimore, Humphrey and White. They have all had periods of elite play in the league but Humphrey in the long run may have sustained it the best. His punch out for the fumble was a critical moment in this game. - For Cincy I think we are seeing Chase Brown develop into a bit of a star. He had to wait his turn behind Joe Mixon and then, laughably, Zack Moss but the last two weeks he has broken out and both in run and pass game is an important peice for them. - Which is needed especially because what we see at the moment is a vision of the future. Burrow and Chase are great but with Higgins out currently and gone after the season they need a legit second option to step up. Iosivas has shown flashes at times but he struggled in this game, they haven't got what I'd have expected from Gesicki (who I thought would be a good fit there) and while Tanner Hudson picked up some slack in this game he is a 29 year old journeyman blocking tight end who in 6 years in the league only went over 600 receiving yards in this game. I imagine the Bengals will draft a receiver early in April. - Does it leave the Bengals out of it? No, not quite, but the next two weeks vs wildcard rivals the Chargers and the division leading Pittsburgh Steelers are vital. They will need to win both games vs Pittsburgh to have a shot IMO.

Ah yea. Thought it was a jump by the Dolphins inside that threw the timing off.

I agree, they are fundamentally flawed - their lines are both poor. But people are scared because they know Burrow can just get hot with those receivers.

7th team to let him go in 5 years. Reason? He is a low effort liability if you ask him to do anything other than just pin his ears back every play. Hideously overrated.

Currently being seen in an AFC North stadium near you.

Being able to win downfield is about a lot more than being fast. Samuel has never really been a big downfield guy.

The only sack the Dolphins had was late. Chop had it but first play of the final drive. And he was going against Dion and got a bull rush but Dion held him off and the sack was a result of Josh trying to step up and stepping right into it.

Watched the All22 now and Dawkins and Brown were indeed excellent. As was David Edwards. Was a really good day for the Oline.

Elam's problem has never been the solash plays. It's been the ordinary plays. He played well last week. I'm just not buying that he has done enough at this stage to earn more time on the field over the two guys infront of him.

I think you are still being blinded by the 1st round price tag. After 3 years in the league I'm judging you by what you have done for me as a pro.

It takes more than talent in the NFL. You have to have the right culture too and the Jets culture sucks. As MIA they already lost a LOT of talent from last year, they are gonna lose a lot more after this year, and do I think they'd be close if Tua was healthy? Sure. But they are 1-3 with Tua and that 1 was extremely fortunate. I think they were always going to regress this year. I said before the season that 9 wins was their ceiling.

I'd be shocked if MIA or NYJ won the division next year.

Especially here. McD had a little well humoured dig at the media on that post game on Sunday with regards to the rookies getting time and making an impact in the game. "I will play rookies but they have to earn it. I will always put the players who earn it on the field because if I don't the rest of the team sees that" or words to that effect.

Yep. A tradition like no other. Beane saying "the DL is my priority," Beane spending lots of resources on the DL, Bills fans rationalising what he really means is more offensive skill guys. Rinse and repeat.

Jefferson replaces Smoot as a flex option who can play bigger end on run downs or inside on pass downs I imagine. With AJE, Solomon and Von as three edge options that was a need IMO. But it is a ton of resources tied up at DL. We shouldn't be surprised. Beane tells us every single spring it is the first priority position group for him. Then he makes moves to back up his words and we are all surprised. Year after year.

Problem there is money. They don't pay for coaches. He will be leaving a ton of money on the table if he takes that job. It looks more and more to me like he really messed up not taking Washington. I was seceptical but the new ownership and front office there seem to have really got that building together and obviously looks like they nailed the QB which is always the most important piece. If the open jobs end up being: Jets, Saints, Jags, Bears, Cowboys and Giants.... I don't think it is beyond credibility that Johnson puts again and stays put. I think of those jobs I might like the Bears situation the most except their division is tough as well as obviously whether he wants to go against Detroit.

I think Philly if Sirianni gets fired (and I still think that is very possible). As for the Jets: awful ownership, a ton of dead money you are going to have to eat over the next two years of gutting the roster of Rodgers' guys and Saleh's guys. Sauce and Wilson are excellent players. But they are end of year 3. You are about to be paying them like elite players rather than getting them at a discount and you have no Quarterback. Plus an impatient fan base. No proper home stadium. I just don't know what there is to attract you to the job other than they have three elite level talents in Williams, Sauce and Wilson.

Beane loves him. He just can't quit him.

He is clearly waiting for a situation that is perfect. The worry for him is you wait so get gun shy and nowhere is ever perfect enough. But I agree there is NOTHING attractive about that Jets job.

I don't think so. Worth a try I'd say.

Agree with all that. I expected more from the Jets but the Dolphins is a badly constructed roster with a serious lack of leadership at HC IMO. I said so pre-season and I stick by it. Peolple will say "ah but Tua was injured" and that is fair but they were beyond useless with the various back ups. Like couldn't move the ball at all bad. And they are 1-3 in games Tua has played. Sure two of those were the Bills but the one win was the narrow opening day win Jacksonville that but for an Etienne fumble inside the 5 they almost certainly lose. So while I agree they are better than 2-6 if they don't lose Tua, at the same time they are not a LOT better IMO. They are a flawed team mortgaged to the hilt. At the very least they will fire the GM I think and despite the deal he signed pre-season McDaniel needs a strong finish to keep his job too. I'd be inclined to give him another shot but I'm not sold on him as a Head Coach despite his obvious skill as an OC. I expected better of the Jets but there was always a chance that Rodgers was more of a hinderence than a help and so it has turned out. He is his worst enemy and has been for a while. They were an "all in" team this year and there is some blowing up to be done there at the season's end. Totally new regime I think and a year of gutting the roster of all the high pricer vets ARod insisted on taking as much of the pain as you can in one year. The worry is they have wasted two cheap years of Wilson and Sauce and they will both need mega deals soon. They could rebound if they draft the right QB imo... but they have to get a lot right. The Pats are an unknown but if Maye can legit play they will contend sooner than later. Maybe not 2025 for the division but possibly beyond that. The problem for all three is that this was the weakest point in the Bills cycle. And they competitors missed it. Might be 3 or 4 years before the roster is this week again.

No but he decided to cut him. That was the decision I was wrong and he was right about.

So the narrative shifts from "we don't win close games" to "we win too many close games"?

He has played both for the Bills in fairness. He is/was better at as a 3T. His big year in 19 was as the rotational 3T.

Where Beano and JPhil are involved little makes sense.