Success

Big plays have killed us. Blocked punt against Pitt, late INT against the Jags, 1 big run by the Pats. I can't remember a season that was so lopsided for close games, even during the drought. The hope is that it "evens out" over the last month. I hate to use the cliche - but we're the team no one wants to play in January. Just get in.

I'd love that, but the more I think about it, the more I think that hitting the road for the playoffs may not be such a bad thing. It's been talked about at length here, but we're just not a bad weather team. Not that we couldn't get bad weather in Baltimore, KC, NE or anywhere - but it's much more likely that we'll get it in Buffalo. Last year's Ravens game was hard to watch at points because of the wind, and our O only scored 1 TD. Same w/ the Pats game last week. Maybe this is all playing out exactly as it needs to for a Bills SB run. Or maybe I'm just rationalizing.

It's pretty sickening. I don't think it's a "fix," but I think it is subconscious w/ officials. Maybe if Allen & the Bills start winning SB's, they'll get more favorable treatment. It would take years before I feel like things are "even."

If you had told me when I started watching sports the extent to which 2 guys would torment my enjoyment of said sports, I'm not sure I would have signed up. I agree w/ some who have said that it would have been cool to beat him in the last one - but ultimately, what's the difference? Brady owned this team, as much as ownership is possible in any team sport. Maybe I'll appreciate him someday. It's doubtful, though.

There is zero doubt that some fans protect themselves from disappointment. Zero.

I don't think the OP qualifies as optimism, necessarily. It's a positive viewpoint, but it's based on observation - not just a wing & a prayer. It's pretty obvious that there is a subset of fans - here and everywhere, in every sport - who purposefully think pessimistically, just to protect themselves from disappointment. Which is fine - but it's just not how I roll.

They've put over a decade into this. I can't imagine how it must feel for them while they're waiting to see if it all goes as planned - I'm nervous, and I'm not even involved. It will greatly expand our knowledge of the cosmos if all goes well. I'm stoked.

Belichick is the best who ever coached in the league - but sometimes the mythology is too much. Are we really to believe that he'll prepare more intensely for a game that likely decides the division because McD made a comment? That he was going to take it a little lightly, but with that comment, he'll now go all out?

All 7 points are spot on. I especially agree on Allen - I'd follow that guy through the gates of hell at this point. I think it was he & no one else who inspired the rest of the team to that 2nd half comeback. If you're a player on a team, and you see that kind of effort, it lifts you up. He's a true leader. I love Phillips play over the past few weeks - as well as Davis. And I think Jackson is playing really well. He's physical and seems to read the field well. I'd add Brown. I didn't focus on him, but he was hard to miss on Allen's long TD run. Somehow, he outran Allen to the goal-line for the last block he needed after that long run. And the play before, he pushed the defender right off his feet. I wish I could be like you on the losses. I've been a fan for 50 years, and the last 2 weeks ripped my heart out. But, being the Bills fan that I am, I am already looking ahead & still believing that it's all there for the taking for this team.

Surprising take from you.

Oh, I know - just being goofy. My kids aren't happy about how the season has gone & are in that "who cares if we even make the playoffs now" mode. After the drought, I'll never be like that. Just get in.

Feels just like the old days w/ all of this "if this team beats that team, and we win these games, then...." So nostalgic.

I still want it all. The win over NE, the division title, the Super Bowl. Not that it matters who we root for, but you have to want the Colts to win this week. If we get swept by a Pats team w/ a rookie game manager QB, we don't deserve anything. And it's all still there for the Bills. Sending out good vibes for Allen's health.

The last 2 weeks were as gut-wrenching as anything I've experienced as a Bills fan, except for the SB's (obviously). And that's saying something. We're like the gut-wrench capitol of the sports world. I appreciate these observations and the overall sentiment, and mostly agree. The O-line IS playing somewhat better. Did anyone notice Brown yesterday? He looked amazing on a few plays. He somehow made it all the way downfield to make the last block near the goal-line on Allen's run, and bowled a defender over on the play prior to that. And for sure, I've been saying "this was their wake-up call!" all season. The nature of the last 2 losses will either send this team into a spiral, or bring out the best in them. They seem to have real character these past few seasons, so I'm opting for the latter.

Well, I'd certainly be excited if that happened. The season has been a bit cruel thus far. Winning out & taking the division would erase a lot of the pain & disappointment to this point. Actually, it would erase it completely.

You got suspended for 3 days for saying that? That doesn't seem possible. I've been to patsfans - it's as homer as anyplace, but I've seen worse than that where maybe other posters got upset, but it didn't cause bans. I have a hard time believing that you were the only fan who remarked about Allen's good play on that board.

We coasted into the division title and a high seed in the playoffs last year. Maybe that wasn't such a good thing. There is something to be said for having to fight to the finish. We have 3 of 4 at home - and I like our chances against NE.

He's doing a great job so far. He's physical, and seems to have very good field awareness.

It's been said a lot - but they are way too reliant on Allen right now. The way he played yesterday was as gutsy as anything I've seen in sports - but it's not sustainable. It's time to protect that guy & get him a legit running game.

I'd still be shocked if we don't make the playoffs. All of the teams in the WC race have tough schedules coming up, and they all basically play each other multiple times. The game I'm most interested in is Colts/Pats. That's a win-win for the Bills. Either NE puts a 7th loss on Indy, or Indy sets it up so we still have a shot at the division the following week (if we take care of business against the Panthers). Pats fans online were pretty universal in celebrating their big division win yesterday. I don't think they were doing the math.

It's really hard to deal w/ all of it today. When a team fights that hard, and then the refs just pull the rug out - I mean, do officials have to go back the next day and look at these games? I know in baseball, the home plate up gets a grade based on the # of strikes he missed.

If everyone played as hard as Allen, I don't think we'd ever lose again. The team needs to match his effort and competitiveness. I think they did rise to that in the 2nd half. We need that every game.

I'm so excited about Allen. It was captivating watching him play today, and last week - he just puts the whole team on his back at times. He's fearless. We need our Bruce Smith, though. I like some of the guys on the line, but we don't have a true disruptor there.

I'd like to agree - but after next week, we face the #1 seed in the AFC, and a coach that has won many, many games.

Thanks, Doc. That really IS calming to think about. After 20+ years of searching, it's very cool to think he'll be a Bill for many years to come.