Richard Noggin

Hasn't Goff in 2024 shown over multiple games a historically-rare efficiency (TDs ≥ incompletions) while also continually pushing the ball downfield? He did have that 5 INT debacle against Cincinnati that the Lions WON, but otherwise, has been like peak Kirk Cousins on steroids. (While also having an incredibly productive and diverse and physical running attack, like Hurts has often had, but WITHOUT ANY RUSHING THREAT from the QB himself.) Hurts is undoubtedly more talented overall, and plays SO well and risk averse in the framework of his system. I just think Goff this year is transcending a bit, given that he is NOT mobile at all, and is stringing together games full of crazy dumb reads and throws. Like Tua and Kirk Cousins but TURBO.

Can't imagine a scenario where this one gets moved. The main concern for gameday logistics is travel/road conditions on game day, I guess, but moreover it's how many parking spots are taken up by snow removal and storage?! The snowfall projections don't seem to be too extreme, all things considered. On the other hand, that divisional round playoff game last year (Chiefs 1/21) resulted in unprecedented parking chaos. Traffic was extreme, even from the easy western/rt 5 approach. Many lots had reduced capacity due to NOWHERE TO PUT THE EFFING SNOW, and filled early or shut down completely. The private lots that could fit more cars were charging triple digit prices (though there isn't a great real-time resource for Bills game private parking availability, that I'm aware of, so inbound traffic was exhibiting herd behavior and bottlenecking badly as they approached Abbot from either direction without an observable plan). I dropped off my old-ass mom near the Lot 4 entrance (all lots on Southwestern were closed/full AF based on the signs) and flipped a U-turn to find ANYthing. Ended up being an early part of the final rush (of dozens or hundreds) of people to fill up the unauthorized strip mall parking lots on corner of McKinley Pkwy and Southwestern. The only "spaces" left were behind the buildings, near the dumpsters, and otherwise not at all valid parking spaces. I remember a Picasso's employee opening the back door behind my car, slapping his forehead, and calling a coworker back to look. We all just had to hope that "they can't tow us all" and "they shouldn't tow any of us tbh" given the lack of actionable logistic resources available to us, the (high) paying guests. SO much brisk walking in snow boots LOL to not miss kickoff. Damn, like an idiot I chased a funnel cloud once in SW Florida on my way to a summer college course in Venice. Very exciting. I should have spent my graduate credit hours on something like that.

If I declare my appreciation for recent Bills defensive success, do I get to emphasize Babich's impact on them prior to the 49ers matchup? He must have novel approaches in mind. We must have unique gameplans available to us. We allow for major changes, as necessary.

Eff that guy and his diminished skill set.

Binky. Got it now. "personality of an ironing board" OOO-EEY that's spicy **pantomimes burning finger tip on invisible surface (probably an ironing board)

Purdy being NFC Tua mostly works for me as a comp, except I'd rather have Purdy 10 times out of 10 IRL. His weapons have been oft-injured, he's an underrated runner (and thrower tbh) and he plays in the same system for the most part as Tua, who happens to also have absolute game breakers at nearly every skill position around him in Miami (minus O-line sometimes)... Hill Waddle OBJ Washington (pipeline) (ELITE top-end WR room and not many 3+ WR looks) Smith is at least an OKAY TE (lack of TE depth could matter for threat of frequent multiple-TE packages--maybe Ingold gets reps there?) Achane Mostert Wright Wilson Jr (ELITE RB room)

So the Bills are being praised for their aggressive defensive gameplan and, at least after the fact, for their aggressive game management. Yet, you're identifying a super conservative offensive approach to 1st down play calling, and I appreciate the somewhat cynical (smart/careful) rationale you offer: avoiding negative plays on 1st down, against THIS OPPONENT, was foundational to their game management strategy. Also: drives will tend to take longer if you're using all three downs all the way down the field. Time of possession = time Mahomes is on sideline, so... Can we also admit that any gameday thread for any team will be inherently kinda awful because that's just internet behavior? What else would you expect from online people watching (either alone, or, even worse, watching with others but still contributing to an online forum thread) something that causes them stress? Or are just persons interacting online in real time while stressed out or excited. Sometimes I think people who overvalue online interaction with strangers develop a hint of schizophrenia with all the imagined reactions and replies to their every thought.

Huge distinction here with Brady's "conservative" play-calling/sequencing compared to Daboll's. Even "predictable" runs and/or ineffective runs limit the ability of defensive players to time up the snap and tee off on offensive linemen....Daboll was often loathe to run the ball against physical defensive fronts, which could put his own o-linemen at an increasing disadvantage throughout the game. Brady's version of the offense protects the quarterback and protects the ball overall better than anything we've seen prior, so there is something to celebrate despite the lack of 1st down dynamism.

Not sure if Shakir is the BEST slot WR in the NFL (Detroit has a dude who's effectively their WR1 from the slot, mostly), and DEF don't think Cook is a priority re-sign, despite how dang special he is at beating angles and stealing yards. Only Milano and Bernard have been truly special in this system. Much higher drafted dudes have failed to approach their impact (when healthy, of course). Edmunds, for example. I agree that Babich and Co. are elite developmental coaches, but Bernard is kinda special. Wouldn't fit as well into a 3-4/odd-man front scheme, but he's a playmaker and a leader already. His skills are transferrable. LOVE this compelling counterargument to the general consensus of Re-Sign At All Costs. Feels like McBeane will be less patient and cold than what you've proposed, as these players are pivotal, drafted and developed examples of everything McD values, but it's a smart call to more sober, calculated cap management.

Yes, please

That's such a superficial, internet perspective. WHO CARES about the "right to talk smack" LOL

I recall recent-ish offseason reports of Reid spending time embedded with different college programs, wherein he'd be mining for novel twists and trends in play design... Can't find evidence in a quick google search, but without question I remember hearing about Reid's offseason obsession with studying and learning under different influences...

I think McBeane has shown they're FINE with paying a drafted-and-developed #1 CB top dollar if necessary. In 2024, by contrast (due to and in part because of INSANE dead cap totals over 70 million), they aren't paying ANY DB more than an 8ish million cap hit (Taron Johnson), and the 2nd highest cap hit is effing Elam at just under 4 million. Rapp and Johnson (and Bishop) are obvious locks for 2025 on their current deals, and it's VERY possible that Benford is here long term with a big time extension. Whether you like it or not, I'm afraid, they'll probably pay him. Ingram and Lewis are still under contract in 2025 for depth. Elam is of course also under contract, but clearly is not in the pipeline for an early extension or the club's 5th year option. So who knows there. Best case is he earns the opportunity to showcase himself as the de facto #2 boundary CB next year. Still need more dudes in the pipeline at CB and S tbh.

The gameday thread is an internet space. So it is not grounded in rational and authentic human interaction, but rather some amplified version of short-sighted, self-involved, and paranoid Ids gone awry. gameday "threat" yes this is not specifically about Bills fans and their trauma, but about what internet discourse invites. look at other teams' forums for evidence of this

Thank you for this deeper dive. If that's the case, then I'd rather the color analysts don't get any inside access to gameplans during the week. I still want to listen to an NFLer break down what they're seeing and anticipating to help me understand how we should all "see" the game from an Xs and Os standpoint. The human interest narratives and talking points are completely irrelevant to the game on the field anyways. Does nothing for me, personally. Give me analysis instead. Just stick with the plays currently happening. Stop with the bigger picture commentary.

I don't like the Lions matchup at all for the Bills. A team that can run the ball with physicality and explosiveness, and also throw with timing and aggression...tough matchup for the Bills D. Optimism would hope their (Lions') mounting defensive injuries allow Allen and Co to put up mucho points and thereby force that potent Lions offense to be more one dimensional.

EXACTLY what these former player, color analysts SHOULD be doing: explain to us in real time what you're supposed to be seeing and thinking pre-snap, based on down-and-distance, formation, personnel, team tendencies and player strengths/weaknesses. Let's geek out on the Xs and Os please. Why I watch the Manning MNF broadcast when I can. The extended Belichick appearances especially result in some cool glimpses behind the curtain of NFL play calling, design, and diagnosis.

I'm one of the only remote employees left at my NYC startup (recently got acquired by a much larger, well-funded startup), and I'm like an intriguing gimmick to them with my Buffalo shtick. I would feel comfortable logging in a little later tomorrow if I needed to (they don't need to know I sold my tickets to a friend). But I put my 2nd grade daughter on the bus each morning either way, so might as well get to work early and show all the youngins I work with how it's done.

Rousseau was really impactful as well. Nice to see the two 1st rounders showing up at the same time.

This feels super premature. A lot can change in just a couple weeks, much less 7 more weeks.

Davis Webb didn't organize the workouts this past offseason. Why are you bringing him up at all? And the line about friendly fire is really far afield. Features aren't typically strictly expository at all. They are infused with persuasion, or else they would just be bios for reference, like wikipedia, rather than headline pieces for purchase. Weird stuff here. (And I'm one who is often disappointed with WaPo writing.)

I think friends of mine parked there for last home game. Kind of like how the Twin Oaks Motel no longer stands (on Southwestern), yet the gameday lot is booming.

Amazing what "modern sports medicine" can do. Milano appears to be no stranger to "advanced supplements" and intense weight room dedication. Looks like an 80s body builder in person/street clothes. (I have nothing beyond personal observations and conjecture to support any salacious interpretations of my use of quotation marks.)

If this "play" goes unpunished even with the gift of hindsight, then it becomes that much harder to fight off concerns about subjectivity and favoritism in NFL officiating, and in the machinations of the league at large.

Same. Last week was brilliant for that, minus the disaster franchise from New Jersey. Only games I want ANY AFCE team to lose for the rest of the season are the two times the Bills play the Patriots. I know they'll have to play each other a couple more times, and I think I'd prefer those matchups end in ties tbh. But like, who cares what anyone SAYS? What HAPPENS is what actually matters. Win a SB by any means necessary. If other teams help out along the way, great. If luck lines up to favor the Bills, great. Circumstances be damned. Just win 3-4 games in a row when it matters most.