corta765

Well having the POTUS come out with the comments he did kinda forced the issue to occur. I would think if there was the ability to have picked a weekend they wouldve done another.

Agreed. Our LB core is OK at best and I see him doing exactly what you said.

Historically Brady is very good against zone. They will have to mix man coverage in if they play on having a real shot to mess up their patterns.

It is a very flawed unit. Advanced stat people actually have found going back 13 weeks to last season that the Pats defense is far less then what it appears. The loss of Nikovich to retirement and lack of edge rushers is hurting them. Their secondary is solid and Donta Hightower is a great player, but you can only cover so long before a guy gets open if your not getting pressure. Now they are buoyed by a offense the generally has the lead early so its easier to pressure when you have that advantage. But I have in general thought the Pats are closer to an 11-5/12-4 unit, then the 16-0/15-1 group people spoke all season about. Still a very good team but beatable even with #12.

I love Jim and everything he has done for the franchise and after. But he really needs to go back from the light a bit and in general the 90s Bills need to be pushed back a bit in terms of attention. I get its a pretty bad sign that we have to keep going back to them because we've been awful for so long, but its starting to feel forced to always keep doing things for them/giving them the spotlight.

I guess I will input a few thoughts. The NFL is a business first and sport second. That has been proven with how they have monetizied anything they can and managed to make football a 365 news cycle despite only having a season from late August to the end of Jan. The NFL can pat itself on the back for figuring out that fans care about stuff as simple as the NFL combine. The demarcation point to me is the lack of understanding the fans vibe/leagues best interest and that fall on the commissioner. Paul Tagliabue managed the NFL during its greatest growth and expansion where it went from being a popular sport to the dominant America past time. Tagliabue however was very good at what was in the leagues best intentions. Remember even when Cleveland & Houston moved he managed the storm by keeping teams there and knew LA was not the market it seemed. Tagliabue was also excellent at managing the news headlines and keep stuff like the Elliot suspension out of the lime light. To a lesser extent the passing of owners like Ralph & Al Davis who were football fans hurt in keeping an eye on managing markets. Once Goodell took over that has changed and he has become a pawn for solely the owners interest at the time with no vision to the future. I do believe the Rams will gain a market and be OK given how they were received last year and overall it just seems like LA is fine with them. But Goodell failed to fine a better solution for San Diego/Oakland. He missed that at some point you can lose your fans and despite how strong a TV contract is, having stadiums half empty is a mess for any sports league. Goodell missed that while the owners maximized their revenue you still had to appease your fan base along the way. The league would've been stronger with a team still in San Diego & Oakland where fans truely carred. Moving teams only crystallizes that money is all that matters and fans have seen this. It's impossible not to be jaded because of it. At this point the probable best case scenario for the Chargers is the team flounders in LA, is sold by Spanos, and a new commissioner helps to bring them back with a new owner to San Diego. I just cannot see it working in LA even with a new stadium. Oakland will succeed in Vegas just because as a Bills fan I would go there to see them and want to.

The Steelers D is decent but I wish people used perspective. They beat a young growing Browns team and Vikings team missing their QB. Beat some true competition and sure I will say they are that good, but the Steelers are one of those teams people want to anoint as great the moment they have any success.

Agreed. One thing I always liked with Stevie Johnson was the fact he was entertaining. Regardless of my opinion on trading Sammy (I was in favor) his leaving was one more less exciting player to watch. This offense feels basically like the 2010 year all over where we are waiting for Tyrod to get replaced, except Shady is a legit HR dominate back unlike CJ who was a rookie. Watching that offense that year was painful a lot and I keep harking back to that season when I see our guys out there. Most of this offense will be different next year so we have a very stale placeholder.

Them or the even Brees with the Saints would be a lot of fun. But very unlikely, Bills haven't hosted MNF since 2008 and apparently the stadiums age/infrastructure makes it very difficult to do night games with all the wiring etc.. from what reporters have said. Maybe since renovations things are better, but I think that the only home night games we will see are on Thursday for the time being unless the team starts winning.

Already said but because for Den or Oak even the time difference is significant. Granted the last time OAK came here the game was at 1pm, but now that they are better I doubt they do that audience wise. Few other things: -Bills played at 4pm in 2015 when we went to Miami, NYJ in 2013, and it is not a 100% uncommon especially on the road early in the season for a late game. -The NFL does not care about your dinner, they will put the game on at 4pm if it can be a strong draw for TV and the 4pm slot is typically for hyped games. When Bills Jets played week 3 in 2013 at 4 it was partially due to EJ vs Geno and I even remember the broadcast saying this could be the first of many games between these two young stars lol -Typically the Bills request all home games minus MNF or TNF to be at 1pm for out of Buffalo fans in Southern tier, Rochester and Canada. They also usually prefer more games early in season for this reason and this has been stated numerous times by Russ Brandon. That said IF (when?) the Bills do get good again they will play at 4 pm a little more often because typically the top teams are put in that spot for TV draw reasons. It's why DAL, NE, GB, & PIT feel like they always play at 4, favored TV matchups by networks. -I am not sure if you are predicting AFCE 2 games to start and finish or saying it will happen, but especially to start the season BUF usually gets 1 AFCE game and then non division. First 2 to Start season 2016- BAL-NYJ, 2015 IND-NE, 2014 CHI-MIA, 2013 NE-CAR, 2012 NYJ-KC, 2011 KC-OAK, 2010 MIA-GB. Last 2 to finish season 2016: MIA-NYJ, 2015 DAL-NYJ, 2014 OAK-NE, 2013 MIA-NE, 2012 MIA-NYJ, 2011 DEN-NE, 2010 NE-NYJ. So I would be stunned if BUF opens with 2 straight division foes, but its a 50/50 chance they finish with two.You can also see why I have us hosting NE to finish and @MIA to start just given neither has happened in a bit. I should note some people are roster guru's, other's QB or cap space, mine just happens to be schedule. I know majority of rules, trends, and a little on the formula to an unhealthy level. But I love looking at the schedule once it comes out and basically plan my Fall off of it.

Yea I would be stunned if that isn't opener. Honestly though I think it is kinda BS though that the losing team opens on the road. It's tough enough with everything you just went through and just feel it should be a different game later in year. Plus in this years DEN CAR game it felt like the DEN D was intentionally trying to hit Newton out with head shots.

Colts game is home. It didnt copy right But don't be completely surprised if something like that happens. In 2015 Buffalo was on the road 5 of 6 weeks weeks 10-15.

This is always a sticky situation. OJ is one of the top players in NFL history, he was the face of the Bills and city until the Superbowl Bills, and his accomplishments have stood the test of time. He also probably (he was acquitted) killed two people and the stories before that of him as wife beater etc.. are beyond awful. I think the Bills have approached this correctly so far. You cannot erase his impact regardless of his fouls after. If the Bills put out a press release quietly on the day each year he hit over 2000 yds saying it happened I have zero problem. It happened and is an accomplishment. It doesn't need much fan fare either for it but it does recognize the accomplishment occuring. I read a piece on espn about RBs and their decreased value and how coaches are legitimately afraid to even say or compare a guy to OJ as the standard of what you'd want if you draft a RB #1 or pay him etc.. So it kinda hurts their ability to even compare RBs when one of the best is taboo to basically mention anyway.

The Buffalo Bills every year do a schedule challenge and in the past it was pretty cool where you literally picked every week who they played. Well this year thats not there which is no fun, it's just a question type thing. So for anyone who felt like doing it anyway here is a forum to do it for fun. Here is my prediction 1 Away @ Miami Dolphins Sunday 1pm 2 Home Denver Broncos Sunday 4pm (only because Denver is west coast team and early in season Bills do get a 4pm game sometimes with west coast teams) 3 Away @ New York Jets Sunday 1pm 4 Home New Orleans Saints Sunday 1pm 5 Home Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday 1pm 6 Away @ Cincinnati Bengals Thursday 8:30pm 7 BYE WEEK 8 Home Miami Dolphins Sunday 1pm 9 Away @ Atlanta Falcons Sunday 1pm 10 Home Indianapolis Colts Sunday 1pm 11 Away @ New England Patriots Sunday 1pm 12 Away @ Los Angeles Chargers Sunday 4pm 13 Home Oakland Raiders (Vegas? lol) Sunday 1pm 14 Away @ Carolina Panthers Sunday 1pm 15 Away @ Kansas City Chiefs Sunday 4pm 16 Home New York Jets Sunday 1pm 17 Home New England Patriots Sunday 1pm I think the Bills will only get one night game this year with it being TNF in Cincy. On a previous forum I listed my reasons and rankings for TNF and why I think Cincy but with Rex gone and another 7-9 season I just don't see another night game. The Bills haven't played the Dolphins week 1 since 2010 and during that time we have played the Jets and Patriots so I think we finally see Miami again and because we hosted in 2010 we go there this season. Same for the Patriots at home to end the season. We haven't hosted NE at home in years to end the season but have gone there and finished with other division rivals so I see that. The only prediction I would make on the season would be the first 6 games I could see the Bills start 4-2. From there pure hell and don't be surprised if we do get some hellacious middle part with away games, that tends to happen in previous season.

Honestly that game is just a blip on the radar to me. They decided to fire Rex and once that happened the last game especially became meaningless and the sideshow that developed happens for most teams once a coach is gone and week 17 is a lame duck situation. That said the TD kickoff was pretty dam pathetic and it felt like a waste watching. But grand scheme eh I could care less and happy we got a higher pick.

Agreed. The moment a player start looking to potentially get a pay raise for a decent year when he is FA the knives get thrown by fans even though all of us in our own jobs would take more money if we had the option. Honestly if the Bills and Z Brown can find a contract that works for both then great. It plugs a hole for a year or two with decent LB play. If he goes that's fine but I hope that his production and play can be replaced. Since the early 2000s I think the one year I'd say our LB core was good was probably 2014. I would prefer to see that someday not to always be a liability as its shaping up to be again and with Brown leaving the odds.

1. Steelers (most obnoxious self worshiping fanbase that I hope never sees a SB win again) 2. Jets (went to school at SUNY Oswego and Jet fans will tell you every year how great they are) 3. Chiefs (Heartbreaking losses recently, team that is boring to watch, and fanbase that won't admit their jealous of OAK or DEN) 4. Patriots (enough said, but their winning recently is at the point of impressive now so its hard to be mad)

Agreed which is why I put as of now given we still haven't had the draft. I was more referring to as a fan that I would see they overachieved if they win more then 7 given the holes they have on roster and the caliber of QBs they face this season.

Here is my thinking on the 2016 opponents: Game I expect to win: NYJ, @NYJ, TB, MIA Games I wouldn't be surprised to see a Win or a Loss: IND, MIA, @Cincy, @LA Chargers Games where I wouldn't think odds are for us much: NO, DEN, @KC, NE Games where I would be utterly stunned if they win: @NE, OAK, @CAR, @ATL I understand some would say the Pats home game should be probably in the stunned catagory, but I have two reasons it isn't 1.The Bills haven't beat NE at home since 2011, so just off the odds they actually due at some point here. 2. Pre-Rex the Bills were typically more competitive at home against NE compared to the sloshings we had the last 2 years. Anyhoo based off how I feel looking at the schedule I really think anymore then 7 wins would actually be a decent season by coach and team given the current roster and schedule as of today (Schedule could end up easier and roster will look different after draft).

Schedule is always hard to tell what it really is. We have had years we expected a tough schedule and it was easy and vise versa. I remember in 2015 thinking the Eagles and Skins would be cake walk games ..and both beat us with the Skins winning the division. The QBs on the schedule do concern me and the defense not rebounding last year makes it hard to believe that is a strength of the team. That said you really don't know much about the schedule until halfway through the year if at all..

I mean technically we all are 0-0 right now so dam right we are contending

Agreed. Loudest I've heard the Ralph (28 so not a ton of great memories) and that strip sack the place went insane. I remember fans were celebrating for a good hour in the parking lot after before even considering leaving it was pretty special. I remember thinking it was the launch pad for the Bills to get back into the playoffs and matter a little...whoops haha

BB & the Pats I really believed would've won at least a SB. Bledsoe was still decent enough as a QB and BB's defense hit its peak during the 01-07 period where they were typically a Top 5 unit that shut down a ton of teams. As for Brady yea who knows. I really believe there is virtually no QB who is not at least some product of his team and environment. Given how San Diego doesn't spend and isn't respected by players I wonder if Peyton would've won as much out there. Polian found him enough tools on offense and had a quality coach with Dungy.

Thanks I honestly just did it for fun because there literally is zilch right now on the football side, it was never meant to be taken with much seriousness that this is even remotely close to what happens. Probably the only takeaway from this is that the Bills still would've stunk a bunch just because organizationally they were (still are? haha) so disjointed in the mid to late 2000s. Brady and the Pats probably did stop a playoff apperaence or two, but the team drafted so awful and lost so many impact players on defense during the 2000s because they didn't pay up. It was interesting though looking back on some seasons to see what the rest of the AFC East was. I honestly forgot Miami went from 1-15 to 11-5 in 2008.

I personally think he would regardless of where he went. His ability to read the field is virtually unmatched other then Peyton which is his greatest strength IMO. At the same point the first 3 Pats SB's were driven a lot by BB defense which is why even with Bledsoe who they signed to a 100 million extension I think you see some good seasons and still a really tough NE team. Eh I was bored at lunch seemed like fun.