FLFan

Nice write up and I agree with your conclusions after having watched the replay. The Pats were putrid up front on both side of the ball. Some of the worst tackling I have seen on the part of the Pats D. Wolfork looks every bit the fat, slow, old player he is. The Miami rush rattled Brady in the second half and his receivers were not exactly helping him out. The Bills are better up front on both sides of the ball than Miami, particularly their Defensive Front 7, but I think also on the OL. They have better WRs and a better running game. The Bills also have the DBs to match up very well with Miami's wideouts who are not in the same class as Marshall and Jeffries. Tannehill can be rattled into turnovers, if the Bills stop Moreno. They will need another solid performance from EJ, and another solid game plan from Hackett, but this is a game the Bills should win, bringing the Fish back to reality.

Good luck to them on taking over the Ralph this Sunday.

Fortunately, the "experts" are no better at picking these games than the average fan. Probably even less effective when it comes to the fans of a specific team in a given week. I think this is a game the Bills should win. I like the Bills front seven vs. Miami's OL and running game, and like their chances of pressuring Tannehill into mistakes. Can the Bills find ways to neutralize Cameron Wake and keep the Miami Defense off balance? Can EJ repeat last week's solid performance and potentially improve on it? I see this as possibly a 19-16 squeaker, but also possibly a bigger win like 27-13, depending on the Bills offensive execution. I really like their chances of running away with it though in a very emotional home opener.

Exactly. I would not write them off yet, but there run defense was putrid. They could not tackle anyone. Fat Boy in the middle looked old and slow. LBs sucked. On the other side, their OL was also terrible. Miami played well, but the Bills defense is better than the Pats. He usually does once you knock him around a bit.

I watched the rewind. Miami turned it over 3 times in the first half and New England scored 20 points. In the second half, Moreno ran wild on the Patriots who could not tackle anyone. With a strong running game and little pass rush, Tannehill was able to complete passes. Miami's D Line, particularly Wake, dominated a lost looking Patriots O Line. Once Brady got hammered a few times, he could not hit the broad side of a barn. No running game. It was a solid win by Miami, and an impressive comeback after trying to give the game away in the first half, but they are no world beaters. Miami's success had as much to do with a putrid performance by the Patriots as anything. I think they will find the Bills much more stout on both sides of the ball. Buffalo's front seven is much better than the Pats, who surely could have used Brandon Spikes against the Dolphins. If the Bills can stop Moreno, I do not see Tannehill beating them. Quite the opposite. I also think the Bills will be able to run on Miami who have trouble at LB themselves.

This would be a great move. Much better developmental prospect than Tuel for the Bills. I hope it works out.

I am continuing my personal ban on listening to Bon Jovi, initiated at the beginning of his career.

Didn't notice that. Thanks

Not sure thats true - just not part of the game plan yesterday. They obviously did not want a shootout with Chicago. My guess is you will see more of it against Miami to try and create mismatches and slow down their rush. Just a guess. That was a truly GREAT play by Kyle Williams. Many people might see that as a some kind of fluke, like "he threw the ball right to him, and look what I found" but he read the play and put himself in position to make the INT. Great play by the Bills MVP. He had a quiet day otherwise, but gave his team the opportunity to win right there. What an outstanding player.

Ah, yes - the old "eyeball test" argument. The most recent favorite of the armchair QB experts who can't back up their conclusion that EJ sucks and will always suck with any actual facts. This and the old standby "the it factor" are favorite arguments around here.

This board is slow. I am so done with this team! Seriously, i can't help you technically but certainly OK with anything you need to do to handle performance. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all.

Chicago has an elite offense and there was no way they were going to be contained entirely. Great game plan. As another poster pointed out, it was ugly to watch at times, but overall effective because they made big plays when they had to. That is what it takes to win. They held the Bears to 20 points - I could not care less how many yards or how many sacks they they had. They had enough pressure and enough coverage to make Cutler look like Cutler in the end. Pettine's D gave up 30 points to the Steelers and they lost by 3. How many times did we see that last year?

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Thanks Bill. I am looking forward to another season of reading your weekly thoughts after the game. Always the first, and often the only post I read after a game. Your thread seems to draw out actual thoughtful football conversation on a regular basis, which I am sure has a great deal to do with the fact that you always present your posts in a reasoned and respectful manner and do not disparage others or hold yourself above when they disagree. An example for all of us. Go Bills!

I have a difficult time imagining the alternate universe in which I care one bit about anything Mike Florio has to say. I am sorry I can't provide individuals but there were a fair number of people advocating starting Lewis over EJ, particularly after the Pitts burgher game.

Anytime. My mama always taught me to give credit where credit is due.

I agree. I think it is far more likely that Cutler throws three interceptions than he throws three touchdowns against the Bills Defenses. Bills fans should be more optimistic about this game.

Proving once again that any thread on any topic can be turned into a Bash EJ thread. Well done.

The assumption should be he is the guy for the full season. However, in the event he struggles game to game, or shows no additional growth or consistency, by mid year a change may be warranted. For me it is all about showing progress. This is still a learning year, but one in which I, and I assume the team, expect to see evidence of improvement. He will have bad games, bad quarters, bad series, etc, but does the overall body of work indicate a guy that is growing, getting it, or not. It could certainly go either way, but I expect this is precisely what he will show. Despite the farmers with pitchforks around here assuming he will fail, or waiting for him to fail, the Bills will give him every opportunity. There will be no quick hook, nor should there be. Until half time the first game, huh? You need to adjust your expectations.

Jones is a buffoon. As everyone knows, all decisions are his. Any attempt to deflect this decision on someone else is outright dishonesty. You would be hard pressed to find a more despicable human being than Jerry Jones. Perhaps Donald Trump.

I am the opposite. Thrilled he's back. Too bad it was not to replace Sullivan.

Welcome back. You have been missed

You see Rocks, no matter how hard you try you can't beat out Bills fans in dreary outlook.

McKelvin has never been a kick returner. Punt returns are much different. These are very often different people.

I am in the middle of Ravens and Deadskins country - about evenly split I would say. I loath the Skins. I am more apathetic to the Ravens. At least they have real fans and Baltimore is a great NFL city. I would NEVER flip the switch though. Bills fan for life. If they were to move or cease to exist (does not look at all likely) I would just be done with the NFL.