Logic

All great points. Thanks for this perspective. Aside from the fact that McDermott seems to be in harmony with his current coordinators (which I agree with) and seems freed up to be more of a CEO rather than having to micro-manage (which also helps the team in a big way), I also think there's definitely something to the "scars"/fresh start argument. That is: Having all these new/young players on the team -- and having six "heart and soul" captains gone -- has removed a lot of the scar tissue that had built up on this team and, with it, a lot of the "tightness" and weight. The last time we saw the team look this good and the vibes around the team be this good was 2020, which incidentally was the last time this team played free and had fun without the crushing weight of expectation. From 2021 onward, the expectations became greater, the painful losses in big moments mounted, and the collective weight on everyone's shoulders just increased exponentially. It culminated in the 2023 season, where Joe Brady had to actually TELL the players "hey...I want you to celebrate and smile and have some fun out there" once he was hired as OC. He had to try to COACH them into enjoying themselves. Now, that "version" of the Bills is gone. A lot of the players that went through those experiences are gone. And along with the exodus of those veterans, expectations were comparatively low for the Bills coming into this season. In starting a new chapter, in having a fresh start, in playing free, and being free of the weight of the world, I think this team is once again having fun and bonding, and building their own identity and legacy, somewhat separate from those of the teams that preceded them. One of the reasons I argued for McDermott to be fired last year was that I felt a fresh psychological start was needed, and I thought that hiring a new head man was the only way to accomplish that. Thankfully, it appears that was not necessary. A few new coordinators and position coaches, a turning of the page and infusion of youth on the roster, and a bunch of preseason "this'll be the worst year of the Josh Allen era" prognostications from the talking heads, and here we are: the team is having fun, playing loose, exceeding expectations, and building something NEW. You love to see it.

If CMC didn't win MVP last year, it's hard to imagine Barkley winning it this year. A running back hasn't won MVP since 2012. It would absolutely be Allen's luck for the MVP voters to somehow, for some reason, decide that THIS was the year to break that streak. All of that said...I don't think it'll happen. I think it's Josh's year. Beating the Chiefs and having an "MVP moment" on 4th and 2, then coming back in the VERY NEXT GAME and having ANOTHER "MVP moment" with the NFL Play of the Year...I think it's Josh's award to lose right now. So long as he keeps generally playing well and the Bills wind up the one, two or three seed (and the Steelers have a tough schedule to close out the year, so I think it'll more than likely be the one or the two), it is indeed Josh's award to lose right now.

Agreed. Josh said in the pre-game show on NBC last night that he's been trying to get Sean to loosen up this year. That he pranks him, cracks jokes to him, etc. I think their relationship is in a good place right now, and that they're good for each other. Josh is getting coach to loosen up (which he needs). Coach is challenging Josh to be the leader the Bills need and to be (I know it's corny) "the best version of himself". I don't know that their relationship has always been in as good a place as this. But this year -- with all they've been through together, with where the team is at right now -- things are clicking. They're complementing each other well.

I'm late to this thread, and I don't know if anyone's still reading it, but...here are my thoughts. - Fun. Fun fun fun. That game was FUN to watch. The stakes, the atmosphere, the aesthetics, the way our team played, all of it. FUN! - It looked like the Bills players were having fun, too. As someone on Twitter said: in snow games, the team that looks like its having the most fun usually wins. - Josh Allen. JOSH ALLEN! What can be said that hasn't already been said? Best football player on planet earth. Best Buffalo Bills player of all time. 1 of 1. - Josh has been trailing plays and looking for the pitch for years now. He finally got one! Atta boy, Coop. - Speaking of Coop...his steely facade is starting to crack a little bit, too. He's starting to smile. He's starting to have FUN. Reminds me of the next guy... - James Cook! Remember when this guy never used to smile? He was ALL SMILES after the game, and rightly so. What a game from him! - Mack Hollins. Excellent WR4. Glue guy. Character. Clutch in key moments. Career high in TD receptions this year. Fun player. - Matt Milano seemed to only come off the field in dime formation. So much for "slowly working him back into the lineup"! - Don't look now, but Taylor Rapp has turned into a pretty damn good safety. - Call me crazy if you want, but for what our offense is right now, I think Dawson Knox is more effective than Dalton Kincaid. - 30+ points in six straight games, seven straight wins, five straight division titles, undefeated after the bye week under McDermott. Nice numbers, these. - McDermott's post-game locker room speech was beautiful. I loved it. Remember these moments. Soak them up. The years go by so fast... - Allen and McDermott making snow angels is a moment I'll always remember. Awesome stuff. How can you not love this team and these players? After seeing the Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, and Ravens lose, the Bills proceeded to dominate their opponent on national TV, in the snow, stay healthy doing so, and clinch the division. And I have to admit: even though all this was happening, I was -- on a petty level -- irritated that the snow game meant Josh likely wouldn't have the opportunity to add to his case for MVP. BOY WAS I WRONG! 4 TDs -- including the play of the year in the NFL. THAT's how you storm into first place in the MVP race. Fun, memorable, awesome game. Loved every minute of it. And like McDermott said: remember these moments. Treasure them. The years go by so fast. Go Bills!

Here ya go, to get you in the mood for Bills-49ers week.

I mean...I think they're at least COMPARABLE in looks and personality, hence the question being a reasonable one. You and Turk's response tell me that maybe I'm way off base.

I take it you're firmly a Milano guy, then?

I think you know.

Gun to yer head: Josh Allen or Matt Milano?

The only correct uniform rankings (not including the drought era or 90s sets): 1. All-White throwbacks 2. All-white away 3. Blue-on-white 4. Blue-on-white throwbacks (not used since 2010) 5. White-on-blue 6. All-blues 7. All-reds

This was the most aesthetically pleasing possible choice when going against the 49ers white-on-gold. I will note that it's interesting they've pivoted to more blue-on-white and white-on-blue this year after seeming to prefer the all-blues and all-whites last year. I wonder what changed.

I'm curious what hard hitting questions you would have preferred. Genuinely: If given press credentials in advance of the Bills' matchup with the 49ers, what question(s) would you have asked?

Now that we have the practice report (and granted it's only Wednesday), If I had to guess: Coleman and Brown will play. Milano will play. Kincaid will miss this week and next week. Carter will be active. Grable will be a gameday inactive.

If he was, you'd have to assume the ghost of Ralph Wilson would find a way to pull Flutie from the gig and insert Rob instead.

ME. I care. Seriously, I do. I'm sick and goddamn tired of Josh Allen not getting the credit he deserves as the best (or at the very worst, second best) football player on planet earth. He is an all-time great, a future Hall of Famer, and a player the likes of which we will probably not see again in our lifetimes. Give me one Josh Allen MVP and one Lombardi and I can die a happy man.

OMGGGGGG. BILLS BY A TRILLION!!!!!

Your source must've been pulling your leg. It's more like trying to find a cashew in a crow's nest.

Ugghhhh this just reminded me that I have to listen to Chris Collinsworth this week. I'm setting the over/under on the amount of times he says the name "Mahomes" at 4.5.

You could actually take a panel off the top and put the action figures inside at the little chess table. And you could open the cockpit and put two figures in there as well. Receiving this toy was the peak of life. All downhill from there.

100% The Pro Bowl is a joke. All Pro is all that matters. The problem is that the Pro Bowl doesn't specifically designate separate spots for slot receivers or nickel corners. It should, but it doesn't. It's positional allocation is antiquated. If there were slot and nickel allocations specifically, Shakir and Johnson would both merit consideration. But there aren't.

Not in my opinion. Ja'Marr Chase Zay Flowers George Pickens Garrett Wilson Brian Thomas Jr Are all ahead of Shakir in yardage and touchdowns, and all would get my vote for an AFC playoff spot over Shakir. I like Khalil Shakir. I also like James Cook. But if you want to give a spot to either of those guys, you have to tell me who you're taking out to make room for them, and I see lots of more deserving players ahead of both at their respective positions.

Raiders fans are definitely the biggest exceptions to my west coast vs east coast generalization. In my experience, most Raiders fans I've met are fiercely loyal, proud, are NOT fairweather fans, and proudly display their team's colors all year round. I'd tend to attribute it to the fact that the Raiders spent most of their existence in Oakland, a city which has a very blue collar east coast kind of feel to it. Then again, I know plenty of Raiders fans aren't from Oakland and have never been there. Being a Raiders fan is an identity unto itself, going back to the 1960s. Tough, hard nosed, fierce, rule-breaking, outlaw football. "The autumn wind is a raider", and all that jazz. Anyway...It's interesting being an east coast Bills diehard living in mellow, west coast, soccer fan country. People think I'm crazy. That's okay -- I probably am.