Professor Worthington

Funny, I was just watching the end of this game yesterday and I agree with you 100% TNM. The 2024 Bills’ offense was far and away the strength of the team. They were 2nd in the league in ppg. They had the NFL MVP under center. Remember when the playoff rules were changed because Josh and Co. never got an opportunity with the ball after the Chiefs scored in OT? Well guess what, that opportunity presented itself to the offense in regulation time and they couldn’t deliver. They had the ball at their own 42 with more than 2 minutes left. Just 20 more yards or so gives Bass a decent shot. But let’s face it, the Bills needed a back- breaking TD drive to close the game out. That’s what the offense and the MVP needed to do and honestly, are EXPECTED to do. This was the moment we fans were all hoping for, and they failed miserably. Also, not for nothing, but on the 4th and 5 play Shakir runs right pre-snap, then does a 180 out to the left flat, and although I didn’t look at the all-22, the video from the TV broadcast suggests he may be wide open with a lot of green in front of him. I know Josh was pressured but isn’t that what outlets are for? To blame an above-average defense (and that’s being generous) minus some key starters is asinine.

I agree with you 100%.

That’s exactly right. Almost without exception, you need 3 or at the very least 2 superstars on an NFL squad to win it all, and that includes the coach. Chiefs have 4—Reid, Mahomes, Jones and Kelce. Pats had BB, TB and Gronk. There has to be at least one other person on the Bills who routinely makes game-changing plays when it counts. Which, by the way, always leaves me stunned that the 90’s Bills, with at least 4 superstars, (Jimbo, Thurm, Bruce and Andre) couldn’t bring home a Lombardi.

Where did I write “either-or”? You’re making incorrect assumptions. I’m all for Josh coaching up players and setting high expectations. That doesn’t change the fact that someone other than 17 needs to be on the team who plays at an elite level.

Yes but again, if Josh improves with all else being the same, I do not think that alone will get us there. In other words, if we were to rate performance on a 100 point scale, and JA goes from a 95 to a 98-99, the Bills will still need at least one other player or head coach to take it to the same elite level. So rather than pin our hopes on Josh’s incremental improvements, we should be looking for current or future players and coaches who can excel in the biggest moments. Another poster mentioned Mahomes as an example of one man putting a team on his back but I don’t buy that at all. He has arguably the best TE in NFL history and a HOF coach who is recognized as an offensive genius. The most dominant championship teams have at least 2 and usually 3 superstars as a player or coach. The KC example is noted above. The Pats had the GOAT, Belichik, and Gronk. The 9O’s Bills had multiple HOFs (except I don’t buy Marv, but that’s another thread!) and went to 4 straight championships, which is why lack of a ring remains both maddening and mind-boggling.

Can you understand the difference between a figure of speech and an authoritarian decree? Since you’re deferring to me for guidance, I guess that means you consider me an authority, and I’m flattered.

Spending time picking apart Josh’s flaws is like doing the same for Steph Curry and not scrutinizing how Draymond, Klay Thompson, Steve Kerr, etc are playing/coaching to their potentials. It’s not where the spotlight should shine. The only way the Bills win it all is by improving JA’s supporting cast. If all else is the same and we see incremental improvements in Josh, there is no Lombardi. One man alone, no matter how talented, cannot win a championship. I think we’ve proven that.

Any criticism of Josh Allen or acknowledgement of such has got to stop. Those who do it look uninformed and clownish, or they are desperate for attention and clicks. He is an elite QB with generational talent who will be enshrined in Canton one day. Can he improve? Sure, we all have opportunities to improve, but his performances are not behind the Bills’ failure to reach the SB. Against the Texans we had a special teams TD reversed and a defensive meltdown in OT. 13 seconds is on the defense and coaching. This year, thank you Tyler Bass and Stefon Diggs. 17 isn’t the problem. It’s the 54 other players and coaches that deserve the criticism.

This sentence about Josh Allen says it all, and because we as fans see what he does every week and become accustomed to it, I think it can go unrecognized. Absolutely no one looks forward to tackling a trucking Allen when he’s got a head of steam. And the best coverage guys in the league just have to shake their heads in despair when a JA laser gets delivered into the tightest window in a blink of an eye. For God’s sake, Fangio installed a prevent defense in the Red Zone to try and stop him. JA gets into players and coaches heads. He’s a gridiron demon. Perhaps Rich Eisen said it best: “Josh Allen is coming for your souls.” GO BILLS

Renaldo Nehemia is only 6 ft 1 but ran the 40 in 4.1 secs. I think the fastest man to ever play football. As a track athlete ran the 100m in 10.24 secs.

I like the comparison and I liked the play. Rapp was trying to avoid a full on brutal collision but his impact was certainly felt. I love the aggressiveness, physicality and the attitude. Like I said after the play, if you don’t want to get hit Dak don’t tuck the ball and run…it’s simple. Just one play out of many that intimidated the hell out of the pretender Cowboys and had them thinking about getting on the warm dry plane back home by the second quarter. GO BILLS!

Pardon me while I run thru a *****in wall! Great post that got me incredibly jacked. “Assassin’s mentality”—I love it!

This. I don’t know what happened after the bye but this was a different team starting with the 2nd half vs Green Bay. That’s when Josh started throwing head-scratching picks, which continued into the Jets’ game. Before the elbow injury. In the second half of the season, obviously the injury didn’t help things but something else was going on: mental, game plan, who knows?

Here’s another thing my son noticed: sometimes Gabe tries to catch the ball like a RB would receive the ball from the QB-with one hand under and one hand over. I can’t believe a receiver’s coach allows him to do this. It’s an awful way to attempt catching a football

Yup, it’s been a theme all season. Opposing teams making highlight catches and Bills’ receivers dropping mildly contested catches. Really pisses me off.

I guess you missed the part where I wrote there’s “no other QB I would rather have.” My concern is that we’re not seeing MVP caliber play, which he clearly was on track for before the 2nd half of Packers game, and I’m asking the fans why. Many have given thoughtful responses. You two, not so much.

Good answer. I just can’t wrap my head around the elbow being the thing. How do you throw a 70 yd pass at end of Jets game and the pass to Diggs today and say “it’s the elbow.” Any orthopedic surgeons or sports medicine specialists, please weigh in!

I will waffle here and say it’s a combination of all 3, just not sure what is contributing the most. I don’t think the elbow has anything to do with it. He’s not barreling down the field trucking defenders with a sore anything. Still no other QB I would rather have. Clearly from a fan’s perspective my frustration comes from the dominating promise of the first 7 games to the current scratching and clawing for a W vs inferior teams. What do you all think is the most important thing to get right?

The Great Dane!

In Orchard Park. Revenge is sweet.

Now that’s a data-driven response! Great work hemma!

Word.

Tremaine Edmunds is a joker. Gabe is a smoker. Spencer Brown is a midnight (and beyond) toker.

I wanted to smack Tannehill after this celebration. I think the Bills will exact revenge. https://youtu.be/D7iiZAw0VGU

The butt whoopings commence. Coincidence? Or is this one of the best get off the mat Bills’ teams we’ve ever seen?