Richard Noggin

Campbell is different from McD in that he is dripping with authenticity, and it feels like his players really respond to that. Of course in the playoffs he could again, authentically, repeatedly attempt ill-advised 4th downs and 2-pt conversions, but it just feels like his guys love the aggressive, full-speed approach. Helps them play free in crunch time, perhaps. I'd say the Lions are closer than the Bills to a SB victory except for the limitation that their QB doesn't move well and their defense is SO injured. (Trading for Z Smith was really effing smart to plug at least one high profile hole.) I do suspect they will HANDLE the Bills this Sunday in Detroit. Hopefully the Bills make me look stupid and prevent a 2nd two-game skid. But Bills defensive issues have a habit of lingering for a couple games at a time. And the Lions are built to shred our defense, like if the Rams had a much better offensive line and more dynamic running backs.

Had our "stadium experience" appointment today, which of course is just an extended sales pitch. Was pleasantly surprised by how gentle the guy with the glove was. But seriously, we're in section 137 now (Bills side, left endzone goalline, row 28) and we got even better seats in the new stadium for just over $2k per ticket and $6k per PSL: section 113 Row 23 at the new stadium (right around the 20 yard line) for like a 25% increase in seat cost plus the PSL. I expected much worse. And while I despise and resent covering Pegula's overages on the stadium construction (they are WAY over budget) with these PSLs, we're not ever going to get billionaires to eat any costs that they can just as easily pass along to us pleebs. Doubt the energy in our 2026 section 113 will come anywhere close to the immaculate vibes of section 137 the last couple seasons, but we shall see. Anyone who I've brought to the games or given my tickets to has loved the loud, standing energy (without too much drunken hooliganism).

Just ask Keith Carradine, Michael Hutchence, etc.

Imagine that: aggressive/disguised pressure package that attempts not to even let the QB get off a decent hail mary. Kudos to that call.

Bernard and Milano have each flashed serious ability rushing the passer, albeit very sparingly. There is some aptitude there. And I suspect Douglas and Bernard could do a little something downhill as well. But I do agree that the Bills are not designed to be a heavy pressure team. I think we all clearly wish they'd be more aggressive at the LOS against receivers more often. Those clean releases and off coverages get eaten alive by the top offenses (especially when combined with a lack of pressure).

About 10 years ago my uncle (who moved his family there to work in the auto industry back in the early 80s) took us on a driving tour of Detroit's socio-economic disparity: we passed from affluent Grosse Pointe and immediately into the same kind of squalor we see on Buffalo's east side, except in Detroit many of the zombie houses have in fact been removed. But the craziest/saddest part was when we got to The Heidelberg Project, a sparse and impoverished and beautiful neighborhood where many of the homes have been turned into art installations, TWO of the houses were actively ON FIRE as we idled past. That was some layered social commentary in real time. This was mostly my point; that I'd be a dumbass about it. Although CTE seems potentially worse, long term.

See, you're approaching it all wrong. You gotta pick a shoulder/forearm to lead with, that way you ALSO fracture an ulna and/or collarbone, and probably dislocate that shoulder and/or maybe shred one of those complex joints. Duh.

Your 2nd line does seem to happen every year in the playoffs, at least to an extent. It's not an anomaly against the best NFL offenses. McD's Bend-don't-break relies on the offense jumping out to a lead and the defense pressuring the QB in obvious passing situations. Start over Hamlin? That's possible. Hamlin is already limited athletically, and tends to be the deeper safety. I see Hyde as more of a Dime sub-package guy, maybe taking over half-field (or single-high, in rare pressure looks) DEEP responsibilities when we add a 6th DB. But Lewis has shown some chops as the season has progressed, so we'll see. Wonder if both Lewis and Hyde could see playing time over Hamlin? Doubt it, but wouldn't mind some tinkering.

Been to a bunch of Lions games over the years, plus all the Bills games that have been played in or moved to Detroit in the last 10 seasons. We have close family outside Detroit, where we go for Thanksgiving each year. Saw the Bills against Barry Sanders in the Silverdome. Definitely my #2/NFC team. And my current favorite offensive coordinator in Ben Johnson.

This is a really bad take. Take a look at the splits of 1st half vs 2nd half offense and defense and scoring just this season, and come back here and repeat this claim. Ridiculous. If anything, McD and his staff are outcoached in the first half pretty consistently. But in the second half, they tend to dominate. They usually make excellent in-game adjustments.

I'll be ready lol

Ever had two two-game losing streaks under McD? I don't think so. Usually it's just the one streak. But this year could produce a second pretty easily.

Detroit's offense could curb stomp the Bills defense next week. Two-week McDermott swoons are nothing new. Usually it involves a defense unable to stop the run. Let's see if they make miraculous adjustments to their otherwise predictable defensive approach.

Love Shakir a lot. Love his personality, his off-field training with Eric Moulds, his on-field blocking, his catch percentage, and his pinball run-after-catch balance. Just depends on what he's looking for in an extension versus on the open market. Would he come in under the $18M+ AAV market value that's out there now? Hate to ever lose a guy like him.

Perfectly played, universe

Wut

OBVIOUSLY Allen was awesomely productive today. But also he was out of sync with his receivers far too often and missed too many throws to win. Fully willing to recognize what an absolute beast Allen is and was. Just needed him to hit like ONE more play (given the rest of the game's circumstances).

Where I was watching, we thought we saw Milano torpedo a couple plays consecutively (unsure when this was in the game) right as we were openly wondering about him. Like he is predictably still not always trusting his reads and triggering downhill the way we've seen in the past, and of course that one play Corum absolutely abused him in the hole. But I think he's already flashing, and we can look forward to increased impact as we near the playoffs. The entire 2nd level got abused today, with Taron Johnson especially being targeted early and often.

McD's defensive coverages are predictable when an offense employs enough motion pre- and post-snap while also holding onto the threat of the run. His defenses can be forced into backing off just enough by simple motions that out-leverage them. They can be made to be vanilla by teams dedicated to balance and disguise.

Can't spend premium picks on more than 1 or 2 of those defensive positions. Gotta replenish and restock on the offensive side as well. Give Allen more trustworthy protectors and targets, always. The offensive line must remain a strength (injuries haven't pressed the issue this season, but we're built to absorb o-line injuries and should remain that way if possible). And we need more receiving talent in the pipeline after Cooper leaves and Samuel gets closer to his FA year and Shakir reaches contract time.

The standard needed to be better today with the Rams offense absolutely executing at an elite level. Not saying the Bills offense wasn't super productive overall. I AM saying that the margin for error was miniscule, and they faltered JUST enough to fall short. (It ain't fair, no doubt.) Stats do NOT capture the complexities and nuances of a complete NFL game. Allen was monstrously productive today. Such an elite stat line. But he also missed some glaring plays that could have changed the outcome. Simple and cruel evaluation.

Stafford and Nacua executed to perfection. That's the standard when playing against a team that can keep up. Edit: obviously Allen and his guys made enough plays to score over 40. But they left a couple big-time plays out there, mostly with Allen being a little unsettled and rushing (that Mack Hollins deep ball took Allen a while to find him, and so Allen then rushed his delivery and underthrew a rainbow when a missile would have been perfecto. Gave Hollins a chance, I guess, but it was a bad miss).

And the Bills were simply NOT really good often enough. It's true that the Rams made so many plays, and the Bills just missed on too many plays.

Agreed on a macro level, but on a micro level, Josh Allen was jumpy and rushing his mechanics at times during the first half. He missed some HUGE plays throughout. Gotta have those. Doesn't help that our running game was total dog crap.