Richard Noggin

I like the implications of them both trying to "loose" rather than "lose"...much more entertaining

Oh snap, really? Or is this your proposal? (Realizing now this has to all be your proposal, and leaving this trail of derp behind so others may feel better about their own brains.)

Without looking anything up or providing any reliable value to this debate: I agree with the above. 2 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday sounds more likely than the inverse. Plus this gives two more teams one more night of rest.

Thanks I hate it (but probably agree)

Some people see NOT having kids as a selfish or anti-social decision, or maybe childless adults haven't yet learned empathy or how to root for someone else's success? I don't think one needs to suffer from parenthood to possess basic empathy, but I am aware that others do. Having a daughter is not why I support Allen, McDermott, and the team's decision to let him continue the streak. I support it because it's obviously important to Allen, and the rest of the org obviously supports him. Only a tone deaf coach would override that sentiment and intentionally disrupt the streak. Recipe for locker room unrest.

Come on, where did you sit? Where did you park? Where did you eat? The warm fuzzies are fine and all, but let's get down to details we can debate and disagree on and be divisive about.

Is it possible that in a draft year with questionable ELITE QB prospects, maybe the #2 pick is more easily moved or moved for similar value to what they'd get for the 1? Might not be terrible at all to have the #2 pick in 2025 draft, especially if you don't need a QB and/or are fine with trading back. Only takes one organization to fall in love with a QB prospect and want to move up aggressively to secure him, but maybe that's just not the smart play in 2025, and therefore the #1 pick becomes kind of an overvalued asset that you might as well use in the 1st round to nab an o-lineman or a pass rusher or something. Now, that #1 pick in the SECOND ROUND is pretty dang valuable these days, so that could be a movable feast...

Totally valid to celebrate Brady's effectiveness since taking over last year. Offense has been humming almost every week in 2024. However, some of the hyperbole about Brady doing an historic and all-time great job need to be tempered with the continual reminder that he has a TRULY historic and all-time QB in his absolute prime right now. Some credit to Brady for Allen's level of performance is likely deserved, but the Bills roll out the best QB and one of the best OLs week after week, and have serious talent elsewhere (especially since acquisition of Cooper and flashes of Coleman) throughout the skill positions. Kudos to both McDermott and definitely Brady for a serious emphasis on true offensive balance; McDermott has always wanted this kind of physicality and versatility. He let Daboll cook for a couple seasons and get away from that vision, and it nearly worked, but in general this has been the goal. Love the way (I assume) Brady must be collaborating closely with Kromer. I see his imprint on this offense as well, among other experienced offensive coaches (some of whom are former coordinators).

Do it. Next year will be bittersweet on game days, not knowing what the vibes (and the logistics, honestly) will be in 2026. Hopefully we're coming off a championship campaign and just celebrating the start of a new era in Orchard Park (in 2025, to be clear).

One can see them losing to the Dolphins, firing Mayo, then hiring an offensive guru like Ben Johnson to develop Maye whilst having mucho draft capital and cap space with which to load up the depth chart.

Is that possible?

That's all just further indictment, though, of Cowherd and noisy content like his. I guess good for him for making money at it. But he doesn't offer much in the way of quality analysis most of the time, and knows less about each specific situation than many. So the original post stands: listening to him doesn't make us smarter, at least.

Very fair.

That's a conservative number...

But then the Bills play on a short week for the WC round, of course. After securing the 2nd best seed in the AFC. And the Ravens get an extra day of rest for their 3rd seeded WC game. It's a disadvantage for the Bills no matter what, I guess. (Really not super invested in this line of argument, other than the fact that it's "technically/pedantically correct.)

I'll say congrats on your Bills game pilgrimage today! As for your post, maybe the "novel" (that I'm here for) should be written tomorrow.

But not equal rest for the following week, when the Ravens travel to Orchard Park with an extra day to recoup. (I understand this is not what the week 18 TBD broadcast schedule makers are focused on. But it IS a disadvantage that technically should not exist for the higher seed.)

/thread ?

More about downstream rest advantage, which is the exaggerated advantage the #1 seed gets? So the #3 seed is potentially gaining a rest advantage OVER the #2 seed in the playoffs, when that's contrary to seeding advantage.

This would give them an extra day of rest when they travel to Orchard Park the following week, though, innit?

The criticism over the extra day of rest for the #3 seed (vs the #2 seed) is legit. But that unfortunately just isn't the focus for the Week 18 broadcast schedule/map.

The Super Bowl hype was always bonkers to me. They subtly lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball (1st and 3rd level mostly) that no one wanted to talk about, and of course had who they have at QB. Tyrod Taylor could have better galvanized that team to be in the hunt, in my opinion. He would have been able to utilize Mike Williams without alienating him, and the running game would have been more effective with him bootlegging and running the RPOs.

Morality and ethics don't make convincing arguments in the face of these insane corporate broadcast contracts, unfortunately. The money talks. And the money demands a premier matchup Saturday night. Will accept a less meaningful, but same division, matchup at 4:30. So there we have it.

Not to mention, it's an AFC NORTH rivalry game in the final week of the season with playoff implications for BOTH teams. Difficult to imagine a somewhat middling Pittsburgh squad led by Mike Tomlin letting their collective foot off the gas.

I know there has been an effort in recent years to have mutually meaningful games played in the same slot to prevent an early result from influencing another team's lineup/load management. But maybe the money on Saturday's bid came with certain flex stipulations?