Success

It's overreaction Sunday. Every Sunday is basically overreaction Sunday. This was the 1st game where the Bills didn't have a chance. Think about that one for a sec - it's Thanksgiving week, and this is the 1st game we didn't have a chance in w/ 2 minutes to play. So, it's not a bad team. We're really just as good as anyone, the way this season is going. We're entering a crucial stretch, and the toughest part of our schedule. I don't think anyone would argue that the Saints game HAS to be a win. If we can't pull it together for that one, it's not the team that any of us thought, or even close to it. From there, I see a split w/ the Pats, a loss to TB, and MUST wins over the Panthers, Falcons and Jets. No room for error on those last 3; we've had our share of mulligans. That, to me, would likely give us the division win, or at least a sure WC. 11-6, if my math is right. That's where we need to be, and where we CAN be if this team gets their edge back.

I feel like Beane has a blind spot. I think he's brilliant - but he miscalculated BADLY on the O-line and RB's. I can see the psychology of that. We have amazing WR's, and an MVP caliber QB (sorry - that's a true story, despite today). He probably thought that would be enough, as long as we had a competent running game & blocking. And from there, he probably talked himself into the idea that the talent in both of those units was, in fact, competent. But it's not. It's November, and every fan of this team is trying to figure out how we can go on a run and make the SB with such glaring flaws in 2 incredibly vital units.

The positives: - Beane nailed the QB decision in that draft. Josh is the best (and please don't bring up today). - Beane ended this team's drought, and in a few years, got the Bills to the AFCCG and made them a SB favorite, at least for one offseason - His drafts and offseason acquisitions are generally very good The negatives: - He KNEW going into this offseason that O-line and RB were major issues. He addressed those areas, but didn't attack them with desperation. They needed to be attacked w/ desperation. It seems like the latter was just a blind spot or something. Or too much wishful thinking about the talent we had.

I think once they made some investments in the line, they wanted to believe & stick w/ those guys. But has anyone in that unit met expectations? I'm not a good evaluator - I just know that the line as a whole is not good. We had high hopes for some of these guys, like Morse & Dawkins. Should we just scrap it and start from scratch? No answers here. The only thing that is 100% is that the O-line has to be the top priority in the offseason.

I mean, if the bolded really panned out, I'd probably seek hypnosis to remove the idea of football from my mind.

Someone is going to have to start a "road to the WC" thread. I haven't been paying attention to that race the entire season, and have no idea who we want to win or lose right now.

THIS is why the Jags game hurts so much. The team never should have lost that - too careless, too self-absorbed. They bought their own hype and took some games too casually. Now, it's almost must-win the rest of the way. Very little margin for error - during the toughest part of our schedule. I still believe they can morph into the team they were after the Hail Murray last year - but it certainly won't shock me if they don't, and if this is what we have.

I think what alarmed me today was the team giving up. There was no heart in either unit - but watching that D was a head-shaker. When the Colts had 2nd and goal on the 10, I felt like I lost track of the missed, half-hearted arm tackles. The lack of effort has rarely been so visible. That's a real issue, heading into a tough & crucial stretch. That's coaching. I love McD - but it's not a good sign when a team gives up like that.

Gotta stay away from general message boards. I can already hear the countless "order has been restored to the universe" cliches....

We'll see. We were not going to get the 1 seed regardless. Any way you slice it, we have to win 3 games. The road might actually be better, depending on Buffalo weather. I'm not so jaded that I won't have hope at this point, especially when we're still in the WC race, are a 1/2 game back of the division, and have 2 games w/ the division leader left. Let's see how it goes. We could lose the rest, or we could get healthy, sweep the Pats and roll into the playoffs.

Feels like the drought. It feels almost exactly like the drought.

That 1 year division run was awesome. I really can't believe this is happening.

Hey, thanks. Just curious: have you taken the training on message board etiquette when posting on another team's board when they're getting blown out, and your own team assumes 1st place in the division?

If we still make the playoffs, I won't care about a game like this. But I think it's very up in the air right now. This team lost its heart today. They have to find it - QUICK. The next month is brutal. We could easily miss the playoffs this year.

I'll feel better about the apocalypse if it means that NE won't win any more SB's. Silver linings.

I can't do another decade, and definitely not 2. Seriously, it would put me over the edge. Pats fans don't even care about winning anymore. They just want to make the league miserable.

I'm not losing complete faith for this season - but we seem to have some pretty insurmountable flaws. The line, man. I don't really get it. Feels like the worst we've had - even considering the drought years.

I'm already doing those mental gymnastics - "If they can just get within 10 by the 4th, then maybe get a turnover, then have the ball at the end w/ a chance to win..." It's just so drought-ish.

Don't listen to any Bill Simmons' pods.

I'm glad that ticky penalty didn't turn into anything. Still time here. Let's get it together.

We have had so many ticky tacks against us on 3rd downs this year. It feels like a record.

Let's see if we can pull the big comeback. Great teams can do stuff like that. This season has been tough. 10 years ago, if you had told me I'd be complaining when in 1st place at Thanksgiving, I would have laughed. But this team is too good, and we've waited too long for this. I'm a bit on the edge.

So, if we lose today - are we tied w/ NE, or do they have the lead outright?

SO many mistakes this season, all season. Bad penalties, turnovers, missed tackles. What is up w/ this team? They should be better than last year.

Man, what an important game. Spilled milk, but I wish we weren't in this position. Every team has "what if" games at the end of a season, but I feel like the Bills have more than their quota. I think we beat Pitt if they weren't game 1, Jax was the ultimate weird mulligan, and even TN came down to a half yard. Not much margin for error, especially w/ this stretch coming up.