Einstein's Dog

Correct, it is not. It should have been though. And now the league will be making up some kind of rule. The ideas of some type of stand alone game are so flawed that I find it hard for people to even consider them.

With win percentage. Which should have already been on the books as a rule. The NFL just went through Covid and was lucky the last week wasn't hit hard before. They should have thought of it then and put it into the books. You can make games up early on, but at the end it just doesn't work.

He means making up a rule after the results are in. You shouldn't do that, and certainly not an enterprise with as much money at stake as the NFL.

The Bills are scheduled to play on Sunday. It is only up in the air by some posters on this board, the game is scheduled and will be played. The Chiefs play on Saturday and this can affect how the Bills approach the game. If the Chiefs win it is entirely possible our starters will not play, or not play very long. It will be our pseudo bye week because the 1 seed will no longer be considered a viable option.

If things unravel now no one will be attributing it to 13 seconds. The 13 seconds debacle was dealt with, starting with the Rams and continuing with beating KC. The Bills showed they were SB contenders and went 12-3. If things unravel from here it would clearly be attributed to this latest development - Hamlin. I don't see that happening. And their response to 13 seconds is part of the reason. This is a resilient group. Sure, the NE game is in jeopardy. But by the time playoffs start, in two weeks, the mood can be dramatically different.

Good point. No need to help out the league in that case. I don't mind the Tie/win percentage route. Kind of hurts Cincy in a little and helps KC some, because if KC/Cincy/Bills win, then the order would be KC/Bills/Cincy. Still seems like a cleaner/better move than all these complex extra game scenarios.

I agree that the game was by no means over. But that was a secondary reason to forfeit. McDermott should take the forfeit for the benefit of the league. He can say he wasn't bringing his team back out after what happened (and I believe he will be speaking the truth). It was the Bills that weren't going to resume playing- regardless of what the league said. So while the Bills appreciate the league actions the Bills will accept the consequences and forfeit the game.

I think along your lines. The Bills may come out with a statement that they will forfeit. Say the league offered them a chance to replay and they declined. It just helps the league out of a tricky situation with the Bills taking the hit. The Bills were behind and it was a Bills player that went down. Plus there were rumors that McD wasn't bringing the team back out no matter what the league said. While the Superbowl odds may decrease, the overall Bills brand will shine. And there will be an undercurrent of support Nationwide.

This is one of the reasons it was a bad idea to put the KC game on Saturday. Now if the Bills forfeit (or if they lost) and KC wins Saturday, then the Bills have little to gain against the Pats - would need Cincy to lose for any change in seeding.

So if/when the Bills win tonight they might have the 1 seed locked up before they play week 18 if KC loses. Several thoughts from there. First wouldn't Miami and Pitt be pretty upset? Second would the Bills put in Case Keenum? It would be a long layoff- they would have the bye plus nothing on the line week 18. I thought the league was trying to avoid these scenarios. Seems like the league made this schedule thinking Cincy is going to win.

You continually devalue the worth of an excellent Defensive Line. The FO has done a stellar job, and just like this OP, you try to find a negative aspect. You fail to see the forest from the trees. This particular DL when healthy was in the discussion of all time Bills best. On Monday one of the biggest advantages in this game is the Bills defensive line winning the battle in the trenches. It seems reasonable that Cincy will have to adjust their game plan to account for the mismatch with Groot. And that forced adjustment alone is worth a lot. And while it seems understandable people can bemoan the Boogie over Creed pick. I don't think very many would be willing to trade Groot for Creed.

Well you did say that it was a troubling stance that Beane is on record saying that he is always looking to add to the defensive line. To me, that statement is not troubling at all, it's what I like to hear. I disagree with your finding issue with that statement. This is on top of the OP concentrating on one small aspect of what would have been arguably the best defensive line the Bills have ever had if Von had stayed healthy.

Quality, what about Von?. Now Groot is borderline elite. They bought one and drafted one. This method is sustainable as long as you can keep drafting one every couple of years. And the quantity you talk about is above average. Settle, Jones, Lawson, are all Beane tinkering and adjusting. Epenesa and Boogie are draft attempts that at least occupy previously expensive roster spots. As for sustainability, you need to keep the process going. First try and keep these guys together. And second you need to keep taking DL if they are BPA every couple of years.

Troubling stance? You're insane. Having a dominant defensive line should be a top priority. Above, dare I say, even the offensive line. With Von we had a dominant defensive line, the best since Bruce was here. We still have a very good defensive line and that is due to Beane realizing how important it is, adding and adjusting to it. Boogie was an attempt at the additions/adjustments. People here don't talk about this improved defensive line much because it doesn't fit the vocal minority's anti-Beane view. Instead you see threads isolating one particular aspect to fit their mindset.

They picked Boogie because they wanted a stellar defensive line at a cost they could afford. Neither Groot nor Boogie was a lock (nor is anyone at the 20+ range in the draft). But they were going to be groomed and hope to have a chance. These picks replaced the Murphy/Addison/Butlers of $8M-$12M range. These figures are more than it costs for a starting Olinemen.

I would love the 11 game win streak. I almost prefer it over KC losing to Denver and then the Bills (who of course will beat Cincy) would then be in the position of debating whether to keep the star players out. Right now everything is possible- SB winners, 11 game win streak, undisputed best team of 22-23, Josh MVP. That happens and the Bills will be the front runners for a 2023 repeat.

I agree, even if they are resting their starters in a somewhat meaningless game - seems like Willis would need the work. It will be interesting to see if D Henry plays - or how much.

Continuing on this pipe dream, if the Bills won and the Chiefs lost, the one seed would be locked. Would the Bills and then play backups? Would they care on the scenario on who they sent into the playoffs? Like it might be a win and in scenario for NE and if they lost Miami might get in. IMO (and probably most) Miami would be a stronger threat to KC than NE. Would be interesting to see.

Me too. I expected a little more from both Beas and Smoke. Maybe they are being treated like the rookies, have to come in and prove themselves (all over again). IMO, McKenzie did not secure the job against Chicago so the opportunity for change still exists. As House mentioned above, getting another weapon for the playoffs would be nice. But this Cincy game has a mini-playoff feel to it.

I'm hoping they have plays devised for both that 3 man front they put on KC is accounted for. Also need to be ready to counter this spy on Josh stuff. Thats where I hope the kinks of when Josh goes to one side and pulls the spy with him, a swing pass to Cook on the other side could really pay off.

They Tried!!! It hasn't worked - the swing passes to Singletary and Cook along with the crossers to McKenzie all are off. From Josh putting too much air under it, to changing and putting it right on them - only to have them drop it. They came in with the plan to incorporate this into the offense (from trying for McKissic to drafting Cook) and it hasn't materialized the way we hoped. Now in the stretch run I think they are considering converting back. When the 5 yards is needed there will be more lasers to Beas than there will be 3 yd crossers to McKenzie.

Miami looks terrible in this. But to me it looks like Tua is doing some self promoting at the expense of Miami. With the first concussion against the Bills Tua came in and won the game - no self reporting. And both Tua and Miami paid a hefty price when the followup blast against Cincy put him out for a while. This time when they lose the game and the timing of the potential concussion can explain away a terrible performance- Tua self reports. Does make for questions of if Tua would have self reported if the results had been different. Terrible optics for Miami. Tua looks pretty self-serving too though, and the franchise can't be happy with him. I can't complain though.

Daboll has done well overall with the talent he has. But my earlier thoughts have not changed - this early success may shorten Dabolls stay in NY. By overperforming early the Giants were unable to move Barkley for draft capital - which IMO is what Daboll would have wanted to do. It may be backing the Giants into the unfortunate situation of one of the teams that give big expensive contracts to RBs. The Giants will also be in poor position to do any radical moves for a QB. One of the boldest moves of the McBeane era was to retool the Bills after making the playoffs. I don't know if Daboll will be given the luxury of the time needed for attempting something that radical now.

Obviously not the best tandem - Chubb/Hunt, Elliot/Pollard, etc. J Cook is going to take on a larger role in the future- that's what good team management does for its higher draft picks. Develop and use the cheap talent you drafted. There is a need next year for a Thunder RB to complement Cook. That RB should be 95% good on 3rd and 1s and good in pass protection. IMO AJ Dillon would be a better fit if the price is right.

I think the plan will be to have J Cook increase at the work load to around 10-15 touches a game. Buying an expensive RB1 for full time duty would limit the opportunity for your second round pick to flourish - bad use of resources. So no Barkley/Hunt/Pollard. AJ Dillon would be a great fit for the role of Thunder - a veteran who could get the short yardage and would know about pass protection. It's about cost though. When the market dries up after the above RBs then Dillon or Singletary might be able to be had at a reasonable rate.