Einstein's Dog

I think there is a quiet, unspoken incentive throughout the team to get Josh the MVP. This could be a fun, loose, "let her rip" type of offensive outburst that puts up some eye-opening stats to help the cause. That's my optimistic viewpoint and I'm sticking with it.

Or maybe Hyde is a very good safety and they are looking for a starter over Hamlin! The FO is upgrading its weakest link on Defense. This Defense is going to be awesome. I anticipate Hyde starting the last 3 games - NE/NYJ/NE and the D will be going to town.

I can see your point. But the offset to that is the adage that at this point in time they say all players are dealing with some type of injury. Not so with Hyde, he comes in injury free. Secondly. Hyde is a multi-year veteran so the getting into "football shape" should take a little less time.

Yes to Hyde. And the bringing him back is done with the intention to work him into the starting lineup for the playoffs! Apparently people aren't seeing the same thing as I am from the game action. Hamlin is the weakest link. Much like the "WRs quietly got better" theory, we now have to go through the excuse factory of people working themselves into believing having Hamlin out there isn't a liability. Hamlin is being hidden in a good defense much the same way as G Davis was hidden last year in our decent offense.

I don't understand the idea that this move would be against everything McDermott stands for. McDermott's top priority is to make this team the best it can be, and if that means bringing Hyde in, you do it. They brought in A Cooper even though Hollins had played every game. Hamlin is not supposed to be some pity move, that's insulting.

Kind of crazy for it to be Hamlin IMO. But I will say, Hamlin got screwed out of an INT yesterday. They showed the replay and the announcers kind of went silent, there was no foul of any kind to see in their replay.

Agree, the Raiders failure was more than a botched snap. Prior to that sequence when the guy went around the end and made it to near the 32, his not going out of bounds was baffling. Even with the clock running tI didn't think needed to spike the ball, just run a play, they still had over 20 seconds. A quick hitter over the middle, then move up quick and spike the ball and then attempt the FG to win the game. Early unnecessary usage of TOs came back to haunt them.

No, IMO, they should have stayed strong and implemented the Bills blueprint right from the start. That plan involves taking a shot at a franchise QB. Much like Tyrod got the Bills a fluke playoff game, D Jones got the Giants a fluke. Also they should have moved Barkley via trade. DaBoll/Shoen came from a no-pay RB philosophy. Franchising Barkley was another mistake, and not from the Bills handbook.

I would prefer Groot, Bernard, Benford, Shakir and Cooper. Also, I think for Cook, early in the game he would catch the screen and take a stutter step to gather himself and look up field before going. This slight delay allowed the defender to get to him and there were several no gains because of it.

What are you talking about with "half the list was hurt"? Most were traded - D Adams. A Cooper, and DHop in particular. And even if they are hurt, why can't you trade for them? What secret eligibility requirement are you creating in your mind? You have no idea what the market would be if Cleveland wasn't a mess. Some other team could have taken their place. Also, there is no way to know what the bidding would have been, but we do have a pretty good idea Beane would have set a limit on what he would be willing to pay.

Bringing up a few exceptions does not invalidate the overall statement that relying on the draft is not a solid plan to fill the A Cooper position. Many, many more fail to produce. It's not the odds on way to do it. And while the mid-season trade route seems like a good move this year as an overall repeated strategy it is too risky. The Bills were very fortunate to be 4-2 before pulling the trigger.

A rookie doesn't do it. The dreaft is generallhy for the future. For next year drafting for a WR will not fill the void of A Cooper. No, they didn't get lucky, they just avoided bad luck. The odds of one of Tenn (DHop), the Raiders (D Adams), Tampa (Godwin), Denver (Jeudy), Seattle (DK Metcalf). Rams (C Kupp), or Cleveland (A Cooper) to be out of it by the deadline were heavily in Beane's favor. Of course this could have been the plan, it is what happened!

I agree it is tough to get value on WRs. The contracts seem to be getting over the top - J Jeff/St Brown/T Hill getting into the $50M range seems too much. But I also believe the Bills O really goes up a level with a top tier WR. Having an A Cooper that defenses need to account for opens up the hands crew underneath, Shakir/Kincaid/Cook.

I'm right there with you hoping the FO values top tier WRs. As for A Cooper, I think his personality is fine and he looks like a fit. Need to see more on the field. Hope those excellent KC plays are a regular addition. Plus a little more overall activity once fully healthy. Alpha had mentioned A Cooper had problems with drops, so I hope that doesn't happen. But cost matters. If A Cooper is going for over $20M, the FO might be better served to look at giving a 5th and $25M/per for DK Metcalf. Or maybe DHop for $8M. The point is that as the cost rises there is a need to look at the alternatives. I will say the future is looking bright with A Cooper and I hope they work it out.

I don't think the FO would bring Gabe back. I think they like the hands of the group. The core of Shakir/Kincaid/even Cook -just don't drop easy passes. And Hollins hasn't either. I can't think of any, what I would call an easy pass, that was dropped by this group. IMO, it's made a huge difference. The easy drops from G Davis, McKenzie, Singletary and even Knox at times were just hard to get around.

The argument/problem can be the money. Baldo above mentioned a $20M AAV, I think that would be out of the FO's price range. You mention DHop and the Titans, he went there for $13M, that would work, but sounds low for what A Cooper may want (that's Gabe Davis money). The second piece would be the alternatives. Once again DHop would be on the market. A little older, yes, but a consideration. Or maybe a DK Metcalf, what's his cost? I hope the FO is sold on having a top tier WR, but should understand there are cost limitations.

The personality of A Cooper is different, so low key. One good aspect seems to be he can accept the target share given to him. Most top tier WRs are divas and it could be a problem. Looks like A Cooper should fit in well here. But like you say, it will come down to money. I think if the remainder of the year goes well, the Bills will probably make a good offer for Cooper. I think/hope the plan all along has been to have a decently paid top tier WR on the team for 2025. We're seeing the trial period for A Cooper. He is passing the cultural fit piece (by suiting up for the big game, this fluff piece means little). He can use a little more in the way of production but that should happen with healing. My odds now put A Cooper in the lead over DHop and DK Metcalf for 2025 but the situation is very fluid.

Just about. If the beast is killed there is no more hunt. Another thing for people to complain about along with missing the high draft positions, the inconvience of the late national games, and now we don't get to analyze all the possiblitiies to see how we can sneak into the playoffs. When will it end?

I don't know where you are getting these but KC lost to Denver 24-9 last year (October 29, 2023).

Seems like McDermott has gotten more aggressive. McD seems to be getting to Dan Campbell territory.

I agree and liked the gutsy decision. But it wasn't done by analytics. McD did it with your thoughts in mind, it was Mahomes and KC and he didn't want that situation. But most of the time you take the 5 point lead and make the other team score a TD.

What numbers? Whose numbers? Can we look at the data they used? Because no, generally the move would be to go up 5 with under 2 minutes to go. So the general analytics with mass data would suggest kicking the FG. But this situation was looked at differently because of who they were playing and the QB they had. Adjusting your decision to account for the specifics of the situation is kind of the opposite of doing what the numbers said.

Don't forget Lamar won it last year over Josh in large part because of the team record (Josh had the better stats). So having Josh get it this year with the same reasoning would be just. Also, this year Lamar's team has D Henry on it, that makes a QB's life a lot easier.

The trust issues with Bass were a huge sub-plot to coaching in this game IMO. The XP miss (and I'm with those thinking they should have the tech at this point for a much better way to view it) went a long way to strategy throughout the game. Affected the decision not to try a 53 yarder. Affected the decision to go for it on 4th and 2. It changed the odds of whether it was a gimme. We're not hearing a lot from the anti-McD crowd but that certainly wouldn't be the case if that 4th and two failed and KC got a winning FG.

I thought it was Beane's plan all along. He just had to wait to get the top tier WR at a price they could afford after Diggs left. As for the others, Shakir + Kincaid were improving great hands, the rookie WR was a good bet to be ascend by seasons end to be better than Gabe. Just thought they would have put pulled the trigger a little earlier, after the Tre money came in. Was risky though, they easily could have lost to the Jets and been 3-3. But now with all the pieces coming into place, the end of the season should be excellent!