FLFan

I am sure they were reluctant to expose Lewis with planned runs given he was injured in the last game. The guy was gutting it out as it was Gilmore is playing great given the situation. Dareus had a great game, as did Mario. They needed the defense to win this game and they did. Stats do to matter. The defense dominated when it counted

It does not matter how many he wins. He is not the future of this team. I do not care if EJ loses every game. He needs to start. How else will you know? Thad Lewis has an upside of 2nd string but more likely third string. I can't believe people are seriously debating this

You can be sure that, win or lose, the board will be filled with opinions that have no basis in any objective reality. Some people just like to whine and complain. Personally, I am thrilled they were able to win starting a scrub QB and with their top running backs both playing on one leg. Character win. Huge.

Wow. That ball hit just inside the ten and there was a Bills player right there (Easley) who could have downed it any time. It was a perfect kick. On the last one, he had great hang time, and distance, and there were two Bills defenders right there who both failed to make the tackle. Oh, and two separate blocking infractions were not called.

That was a terrible call - almost beyond belief. I have never seen that before. One of many bad calls and non-calls in the game.

The real problem were the calls on second and third downs. Those were the times to be more agressive. At that point, they should have kicked the field goal, which ended up being the difference in the game. Mike Smith of the Falcons made the same boneheaded mistake against the Jets and it cost him that game. I have seen him do it repeatedly, so clearly he is incapable of learning. Hopefully, Marrone is not.

Have respecf for you Bill, and as usual, this will probably be the last intelligent thread of the week, but you are way off base on Gilmore. I think just about anyone given the situation would not put much stock in today's performance. I also think you are being a bit short sighted on Marrone although I was very upset with that sequence at the goal line in the first half. Very mike smith like. I do Not want to see that again. The bottom line is that the defense let the the bills down today. I thought Lewis was great. Obviously, they should have won this game.

You are right - have to disagree. We have no idea how Lewis will perform based on one meaningless end of season game and some preseason. Losing Manuel is a blow to the Bills however you look at it, especially in terms of continuing development. There is no comparison in skills sets, leadership, or big game experience. Hopefully Lewis can perform well enough to keep the Bills alive until the real QB gets back.

I like the Bills chances in this game and am certainly not expecting a Bengals romp as the odds makers and talking heads have it. I think the Bills D, especially with the players they get back this week, can contain the Bengals O. Lewis is a wild card, but he is mobile, can throw on the run, and has enough experience that I am not worried about a choke job like Tuel pulled last week. If the Bills can grab a couple of turnovers and not give it away with turnovers and stupid penalties, this could actually be a big win. Bills 27 - Bengals 17.

Great interview. I really want this guy to be successful.

Because Dixon just got here, has been out of football since last season ended, and will certainly take some time to get up to speed.

While true, that has nothing to do with the fact that Johnson has been struggling all year.

All this sudden love of Geno Smith because he played one good game is hilarious. He was second in the NFL in turnovers going into last night's game with 11. He looked good against a very weak Atlanta defense. Some of the worst tackling I have ever seen. To top it off, Atlanta may well have won had their idiot coach not blown the end of half sequence. Like all rookies at the position his game will be up and down. It certainly helps that his team has a great defense. Despite the talking heads on ESPN praising him like he is the second coming, its only one game. I am still confident the Bills made the right choice, but we will certainly not know the final answer after 5 games, or 16.

I don't think that was his primary point, but carry on.

Adding Matt Flynn would not add an NFL QB. Seriously people - Seattle and now Oakland payed this guy to go elsewhere. He sucks.

Yeah, but only had a day or two of practice as well. Very decisive on the read option plays. We shall see. If he is able to play smart and not turn the ball over I will be happy. He is probably not going to set any NFL accuracy records. Hey - he did get Andrew Luck right.

Yes, by all means, be objective.

If Byrd is worth what he thinks he is, then anything short of a 1st round pick would be highway robbery. They are not going to get that now so it would be foolish to trade him. He is not going anywhere right now. Perhaps after they franchise him again next year.

That would not upset me.

Are you sure he is not eligible? Can't say I am an expert on the rules, but he has only had one season and I am not if he was even active for all of it. Just curious.

It sounds like the Kicker situation comes to a head this week.

+1

And since? Maybe the last couple of years have been an aberration and he can be salvaged, and maybe all this stuff in Tampa is all Schiano, but where there is smoke there is often fire. I wish him well, but poor fit for the Bills in this situation.

Freeman was not the right fit for the Bills in this situation. EJ will start when he get back, and Freeman would just be a distraction. No long term future for him in Buffalo, so why trade a 7th round pick (which there is no evidence would have been accepted) and pay him $8 m plus to be a back up for a few weeks. Would have made no sense.

But Jason LaConfora said he would so it must be true.