[8 games in and the Bills control their own destiny to the #1 seed]

7 minutes ago, DC Tom said:

Hard to believe a 6-2 team could control their own destiny, isn't it?

 

Oh, wait...you've got more than 250 posts.  I don't have to be subtle!  You're an idiot.

 

Apologies for offending you DC Tom.

[8 games in and the Bills control their own destiny to the #1 seed]

The Bills could have theoretically ended the season at 15-1, and still only lay claim to a wild card seed following their loss to New England through when they lost to the Eagles. 

 

But now, as a result of NE's in-conference loss at Baltimore, The Buffalo Bills control of their own destiny.  Winning out would result in them beating the Ravens Week 14 thus splitting the 'common games' tie-breaker with NE, and then beating Patriot's Week 16 will result in splitting head to head tie-breaker.  This leaves Conference record tiebreaker awarding the Bills the division!

 

Now, it may not play out exactly like this in Act-2 of the 2019 NFL season.. but who wouldn't have taken 'essentially tied with NE' at the halfway point?!

 

NFL Divisional Tie-Breaking

1- Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3- Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games (games played against the same opponents).
4- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

[Week 10: Bills at Browns]

Shocked that Cleveland can be favored in this one...The only chance Browns have to win this one is if Allen turns the ball over, and they somehow all of the sudden turn into a disciplined football that doesn't make any mistakes.  Truly a mind-boggling spread.

[A possible solution for tanking? Reinvent the draft.]

Tom Brady would have lasted maximum 3 years in the league had he gone to any other team than NE.  Tanking will rarely ever work.  It worked once with Luck because Indy had zero insurance policy when Payton got hurt.  I guarantee Miami isn't going to win a superbowl or playoff game during whoever they draft 1 overall next year.

[Which of the following is good enough to be part of a championship team?]

The fact that the offense is not good and turns the ball over is a major problem.  I remember after week 1, anyone who was critical of Josh Allen was met with 'hey he's always found a way to win dating back to college'... well guess what, this is the NFL.  You won't beat good teams or even average teams if you turn the ball over.

[15 win teams aren't built overnight]

Agreed.  Although my confidence in the run-D is shaken after yesterday's loss.  That would be an Achilles heel for a team with a sub-par offense if it doesn't get corrected.

[Does McD survive this year?]

Some people need a hobby.

[The purpose behind the Patriots Pedal to the Medal approach in all situtions.]

I think they've only pedal to the metal once this year, and it was against the Jets last night because Bellichick holds grudges.  Once games are in hand, Bellichick has been known to run weird formations with the sole intention of throwing off other teams metrics and analytics.  I don't think you get the full force of the Patriots until playoffs.  This is what scares me about assuming how close the Bills actually are to NE competitively.

[Can Ledarius Mack become a decent NFL player?]

Maybe?  I guess it makes me think of the Gronkowski family, with Robb having the far and away HOF career, and next best was a serviceable full back career.

[Opposing QBs vs. Miami]

I think if you're comfortable with Allen's current performances, you should be comfortable with getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs.  Allen has still got a ways to go for this team to get where all us fans want to go.

[I guess Daniel Jones isn't the Giants savior after all?]

ESPN is so lame.  Their goal was clearly to just capture some talk and views from New York fan base regardless if they were right or wrong about Jones.  They pander to everyone who will throw them a bone, it's not sports talk, it's producers begin paid by networks telling reporters what their opinions are.  I guess we shouldn't be surprised when they do the same when it comes to China.  Steven-A gave the most disgraceful bit on justifying why Lebron shouldn't be criticized over his recent comments.

[538's Current Projections (Bills finish at 11-5)]

2 hours ago, matter2003 said:

I dont think anyone truly believes the Bills are a super bowl quality team this year. A playoff team, yes, due in part to the easiest schedule in the NFL. A super bowl team? No. At least not at this stage of the season. If they peak at the right time tho, anything can happen...

 

From watching weeks 1-7, they are not a super bowl caliber team.  Can this team improve to change that narrative by week 17?  It's very possible based on the pieces and ceiling of many of the players.  That's why we keep watching.

[QB Patrick Mahomes suffers patella dislocation (With updates)]

1 hour ago, HOUSE said:

Mahomes injury could significantly change the Bills' approach

The severity of an injury to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could change Buffalo's perspective

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/opinion/mahomes-injury-could-change-bills-approach

 

 

Details?

[Running QBs Injury Likelihood]

34 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

He has only 41 runs total so far.  How many were planned runs?  I bet not more than 2-3 a game.   He scrambles a lot and doesn't look for long before he just takes off.

 

My criticism of Allen so far this year isn't that he takes off too quickly, but it seems like he goes through his progressions with a sense of greed..by passing up easy dump offs, so by the time he finds his deeper routes to be covered he looks lost and indecisive of whether to run or not.  It felt like last year he was much 'safer' when running the ball, because the designed runs as well as his improvised runs had intention.

[Running QBs Injury Likelihood]

16 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

I’ll just come out and say it. I hate the designed runs for Allen. I think Daboll calls them too much.

 

Agreed, definitely too frequent.  I think 1-2 well designed run-plays per game makes sense, but the goal of the mid-game sneaks play needs to be better defined.. like do we need Allen to pick up 20 yards, or are just trying to keep the defense off balance, make it clear to Allen so he's not getting pounded.

[McDermott on "keeping rookies hungry and humble"]

I think in general, the outside world 'us' are always stoked about rookie draft picks and want too much too soon.  But for the organization, it's basically another new hire.. It makes sense to not want to gush about some guy that hasn't even been in the building for a full year.

[Opponents other than the Pats are 18-39]

52 minutes ago, NC Book said:

League may be a bit watered down this year.

 

AFC is definitely watered down.  But still, you figure someone's gotta get the win when two teams play.  Crazy to see such a favorable strength of schedule.

[NE will actually serve a purpose for us going forward!]

4 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

WC for the Bills with the second best record in the AFC would absolutely not suck. Sounds like a damn good season to me and a chance to make serious noise in the playoffs. 

 

Going 12-4 and traveling for a road playoff game against the 9-7 Ravens would suck IMO.  Regardless, future is bright, and hopefully we can best NE in Foxboro week 16.

[NE will actually serve a purpose for us going forward!]

I know it's obvious, but it's just gonna suck if we end up a wild card team with the 2nd best record in the AFC

[Idle thought...successful challenges should be free?]

It makes you only challenge significant calls.  I'm not sure the number, but it is VERY rare to ever get 2 challenges changed in your favor so I'm fine with this.

[I can only conclude that the lack of PI challenges succeeding is a revolt by the officials]

8 minutes ago, BuffaninSarasota said:

I am convinced college football officiating is better (.....and the game is easier to watch) compared to the NFL.

 

Idk, it's wayy too often that I see a play get challenged in a college game, very clearly know myself what the call should be, and at the same time I also assume that the college ref will get it wrong... and they often do.

[I can only conclude that the lack of PI challenges succeeding is a revolt by the officials]

Just now, Southern Bills Fan said:

They only put the rule in to pacify a whining fan base (Saints). They never had any intention of enforcing it. 

 

Saints fans are the biggest bunch of babies complaining about that call. Completely ignored all the awful calls that went their way that game.

[I can only conclude that the lack of PI challenges succeeding is a revolt by the officials]

The NFL is way too accepting of rule changes off a whim.  Majority of the new rule changes just make the game more difficult to watch.

Side note, maybe related, but are refs still not full time employees/are they pissed about this?

[Which AFC Team Is The Biggest Challenge To Threaten Buffalo for a Playoff Spot?]

4 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Actually, it’s not. One could say that about virtually any team and end the discussion. It’s a troll answer and this poster should not be encouraged on the board. 

 

The Bills control their own destiny in what appears to be the weakest that the AFC conference has ever been of recent memory.  Several posters have also said "Bills".  It's not a troll answer, it makes more sense than any of the teams listed.  Hell, why don't you go after the OP for including KC or NE?

[Poyer / Hyde Article from ESPN]

On 10/11/2019 at 10:54 PM, IgotBILLStopay said:

We kinda diminished Sammy's trade value by not picking up the option. The option was 1 year for 11 million  and he ended up signing a 3 yr 48 million deal. I am not unhappy with the Sammy trade - I think we got fair value given he was bound for a year less. That being said, a small part of me would have liked to have seen  Sammy instead of a hobbled Matthews on that team. We made the playoffs with the latter 2 plus Kelvin Benjamin who was acquired for a 3rd rounder. 

 

McD and Beane always had a dismantle the previous team and stockpile picks to land a franchise QB plan. However, they themselves were surprised by how competitive the 2017 team turned out to be (hence the mid season trade for KB). I think Beane has been on record saying McD spoiled all his plans by making the playoffs - necessitating the use of all that draft capital to move up for Allen and Edmunds.

good assessment, thx