CincyBillsFan

In both these cases you're assuming that the offense scores leaving no time on the clock for KC to respond. Last season, if Dawkins gets a better block on Jones and Allen hits Shakir for the TD there would have been plenty of time for the Chiefs to go down and score the winning TD. This last playoff game it's likley KC would have had some time to score and win the game. After all if 13 seconds wasn't enough then 45 seconds would feel like eternity.

Nonsense. Are you saying that MVP's make every great play that is possible? It's this completely unhinged and unrealistic expectation around what Allen can and can not do that I find frustrating.

Yes because in the crazy world of Bills fandom Allen is not only supposed to lead the Offense to the game winning TD but also to use up the rest of the clock to protect the Bills terrible playoff Defense. And he must do all this alone, against the eventual Super Bowl champ in a playoff game.

There are 10 guys around Allen on the field and a coaching staff on the sidelines. Football is different then say Basketball where an elite player can single-handedly win a game. BTW, in the KC/Bills game last season in Rich Stadium even if Dawkins had made the block and kept Jones from pushing him into Allen disrupting the likley TD throw to Shakir what's the over/under on KC going the length of the field against the Bills D to score the game winning TD in the remaining minute and a half? Then you people would be crying about how Allen should have used the rest of the time on the clock and scored the game winning TD. And Dawkins getting pushed by Jones into Allen as he released the ball had nothing to do with not making that play?

No one is saying Allen is blameless. What is being said and proven beyond a shadow of doubt is that Allen is the LEAST to blame. As for whether or not Allen had made mistakes - of course he has since NO ONE is perfect. Again, though how many of Allen's "mistakes" have cost us a playoff game.

Correct. GunnerBill had a great insight when he called out that the Bills lack the kind of play makers that can rise to the occasion at critical moments in a game. You saw this perfectly the last two playoff losses with: * Diggs dropping a huge 4th quarter pass and then Bass missing a 44 yard FG * Kincaid dropping the 4th down pass and the coaching decision to not have Cook on the field for that last drive.

"But at the end of the day, given these statistics and this analysis, it’s hard to look at the Bills and think they can “get over the hump” in the playoffs if only Allen would play better."

This is the money quote form the analysis: "But at the end of the day, given these statistics and this analysis, it’s hard to look at the Bills and think they can “get over the hump” in the playoffs if only Allen would play better."

This thought exercise goes a long way towards showing that Allen has not enjoyed the kind of superior trifecta that other elite QB's have enjoyed at different points in their careers. As an aside you could argue that for the Chiefs the trifecta of Mahomes, Kelsy & Hill or going back further Dawson, Garret & Taylor were better then Montana, Allen & Davis

Given what we've seen from Allen on the availability front through his first 7 years I suspect that he is looking more like a unicorn then a dog from a longevity standpoint. IMO 5 years would be the absolute minimum that he's at his best physically, 7 - 8 years seems more likley with a gradual fall off after that.

The point here is sound though - this is, on paper, a very favorable schedule with respect to where the Bills are playing their hardest games. In addition having 9 home games is no small thing.

Interesting that only Bishop & Davis got a couple of positive comments from the rankings. I didn't know Bishop had 10 tackles in the Championship game.

I agree. He has every right and in fact an obligation to try to get as much money as he can get. The RB position has been underpaid the last few years and 15 million per year is not crazy given his production. Now if the Bills think they can get similar production from someone else then play hardball with Cook and get someone to replace him.

I am confident Bishop will turn heads next season after a full preseason/training camp. He actually flashed against the run and unless we sign someone I see Rapp moving to FS and Bishop taking SS. Hamlin would then be a quality back up.

Because you're the Jets.