Richard Noggin

My immediate reaction is that I'd rather see them kicking FGs than going for it on 4th downs with the chance at TDs and more time of possession. Same, initially (Residual Battered Bills Fan Syndrome). Was able to shake it off (lol) and see the objective truth that this obviously is not a positive development for their season. ARE the Bills a top 4th and short defense? Can definitely recall a couple stops, but have no clue where they stand overall.

Okay, I agree with a lot of this, except sometimes if a pass falls JUST beyond a receiver's hands, it can also mean that despite the target's accurate and full speed tracking, the ball was still thrown just a little too hot and/or trajectory a little too flat, or released too early, or just plain slightly overthrown. Maybe a faster WR makes an overthrown pass look more catchable.

Update: tickets are spoken for. (Not sure how to edit thread title.) Hope everyone gets to the game and no one ever sells to visiting fans!

Hey gang. DM me if interested. Don't want to sell to any KC slobs.

My immediate thought here was of course that in his limited time, Elam HAS shown a knack for getting his hands on the football. Twice against Mahomes somehow innit? Appreciate that you recognize Elam's "solash [sic] plays." Agree that it's likely consistency and reliability (to physically hit those run fits, too; it's not just about coverage responsibilities) keeping him staunchly behind the starters. Was nice to see him get the nod against Miami. Would be such a bonus at this point to get meaningful snaps out of him moving forward.

Wasn't it first Gaines, and then Johnson (and maybe even later, Josh Norman) who platooned at the #2 boundary CB spot opposite Tre White for 3ish seasons? Levi Wallace and then Dane Jackson later entered this fray. That #2 job has been somewhat fluid over the years.

Problem is, the Bills defensive gameplan is usually the polar OPPOSITE of Flores' blitz-happy Vikings attack. Flacco can still hurt you if he has time in the pocket. Free rushers (especially on the interior) can demonstrably shut him down. I've heard so many positive reports of the vibes at KC games. Wild to me that they're so kind generally to visiting Bills fans. Even before the current dynasty was winning 'ships. Miami was gross back in the aughts. Worst fans I've been around on every level. Plus this is pre-canopy so sitting in that stadium for an afternoon game was a keyhole glimpse of hell. Detroit's stadium is cool and those fans are enthusiastic. They're not always so accommodating, however. Cleveland was cool back in the day.

Separately, we should probably wait to see what the Jets look like the next couple weeks. I hate them so very much, from top to bottom, but you can't deny the gnawing sense that they could in fact capitalize on renewed belief, a weak schedule, their QB's penchant for drama (and quackery), and the league's love of comebacks and large market viewership. The Bills in week 17 might need to end the Jets season a second time in one...season.

It's okay, you don't have to rationalize it. You do you.

Forget Ronnie Lott, someone's gonna actually lose a whole hand at this rate.

Lot of extreme and entrenched positions in this thread, headlined by yours shared here. You're usually able to acknowledge more nuance. I like your posting, so this repeated oversimplification seems odd. It's awesome that Benford has become such a beast, and really helps that draft haul become somewhat "transformative" which I think another thread is devoted to. Elam's retrospective 1st round value is 100% independent of whatever the guys behind him do. Benford is all bonus. Elam has not lived up to the draft value spent on him, although his on-field performances have been better (minus Jax last year) than most want to acknowledge. No need to conflate the two things. Benford would absolutely start on MOST (if not all) teams. Douglas is a decent #2 option for at least half the league, I'd guess. Both are at the very least "starting caliber" NFL boundary CBs. Douglas could be getting to the end of that level of play, but he is still a physical and tenacious presence out there. Why are some posters so hyperbolic in this thread? Lot of feels over this most recent defensive performance. Lot of trauma.

It has been suggested a few times in this thread that Jefferson IS in fact a direct Smoot replacement. And it has been understood for a long time that Phillips, despite his absolutely massive frame, is actually much better suited to play 3TDT. He is a penetrator all the way. He has spent time at 1T for sure, but it's not his natural position.

**and allows the Chiefs RT specifically to obviously false start on all high leverage passing downs, like for years

Indeed. I'm always willing to recognize that this passive defensive gameplan/performance was only one game, against a specific, talented, divisional opponent, and of course THEY WON. But it doesn't inspire confidence moving forward for what games against dangerous passing offenses might look like. **The Bills remind me a little of the Peyton Manning Colts, in that their defense can effectively compliment a high scoring offense. They don't get bullied or exposed when opposing offenses abandon the run. But otherwise, their absolute reliance on nickel personnel without much beef at the 2nd level (Bernard/Spector, Milano/Williams, Johnson/Lewis), who play behind a DL that doesn't consistently disrupt, and who play in front of deep safeties...this setup can result in cumulative run defense failures. Which can allow an offense to exploit a fast flowing front-7's tendencies with misdirection and play-action and screens. Get the defense on skates.

I think the primary concern among reasonable fans is that the Bills defensive style seems to be too conservative against the best offenses, which gets exposed in the playoffs each season. This Dolphins gameplan felt a lot like that. The front four consistently failed to disrupt the Dolphins. And they didn't even get their hands up effectively like they have in the past against Tua. Just really passive/reactive overall.

Plus Brady's actual New Orleans Saints and Sean Payton connection, of course. Passing on the Falcons actually is an interesting case to revisit. Not a bad situation at QB (and offensive skill overall tbh) in the short or long term, unless I guess you don't think Penix Jr is a viable prospect. Gotta see how 2nd half of season goes for his offense. Agree with you conceptually that Kingsbury is an intriguing OC candidate, but each year his offenses seemed to get figured out down the stretch. This was consistently the case, if I'm not mistaken. So we're getting elite RB1 receiving production out of the position still? Or did those RB1s above have RB2s who added enough supplemental production to create a gap? Love this

My experience with Detroit games is that those fans are DEVOTED, and the cheap(er) seats are filled with a rough crowd. They are not a brilliant lot. But they are enthusiastic. Also, I think either that venue was designed by an impressive team of sound engineers and/or they pump in artificial fan noise when the Lions are on defense. Never heard fans get so loud so quickly, on demand. Like a machine. They're definitely a passionate fanbase, but damn it is so rapid and unified on each meaningful defensive snap. For contrast, when the Bills hosted the Jets there, the noise wasn't even remotely similar (smaller and less unified crowd on short notice for sure, to be clear). No stadium I've been to has ever gotten that loud, that quickly, so automatically on defensive snaps. All this to say that Detroit is an energetic venue where fans will give you a rough ride especially if you're a little higher up (very vertical venue). I dig that energy, but it's an old school vibe unless you're in a more expensive section.

13 seconds references are NOT out of bounds whenver KC gets the ball at the end of a half. It's very relevant tbh. KC is good at it. We provided the bad defense to show how an offense COULD actually make it happen. Our bad. Grow up.

No. Probably not. By any measure.

I don't pop into GameDay threads much. The swift-kelce noise is pretty annoying innit

Well I'm offended by people who get offended about people getting offended. There.

Maybe there is some confusion here, but the three plays you're asking us to critique go as follows for Hamlin: First play after suggested 1:42 mark: Hamlin buzzes flat to defense's left but play goes to D's right; Hamlin hustles and makes solo tackle on in-breaking RB before he gets a serious chunk. Second play: Hamlin drops as deep safety, and is mostly off-screen due to assignment. Third play: again running play away from Hamlin that he admittedly doesn't sell out to chase down on far sideline, but also he isn't responsible for Hall getting the edge or getting a chunk. Only play of the three where criticism is merited, despite fairly minimal impact.

Also isn't KC's front office built on the NE model by Scott Pioli et al? Coaching trees are a thing, but so are front office trees.

Lexington, a block west of Elmwood.

We are not sending our best to call WGR. It's ALWAYS bizarro world with those callers.