GASabresIUFan

Remember when the media told us that the Bills would miss the playoffs because we didn't have a go to receiver.

and this is where you are completely wrong. McConkey is the same size if not bigger than Diggs. He is also faster. He is a great route runner and excellent at finding holes in the defense. He has excellent hands (which Diggs didn't), can break tackles and out run defenders. According to their combine stats, McConkey is also a better pure athlete than Diggs. So tell me, what skill is he lacking to be a boundary player? Your premise that WRs are slot or boundary only is completely flawed. This isn't 1990s football. OCs move their best players around to get the matchups they want. Just because Samuel has failed and Shakir can't get deep, doesn't mean McConkey wouldn't here. In fact, it's more likely than not that McConkey would be doing for Josh what he is doing for Herbert. I have zero against Coleman and like the pick, but McConkey is the better player and he is also a better player than Shakir. He would thrive in our offense.

You are getting to hung up on calling someone a "slot" receiver. Yes the Bolts primarily use Ladd in the slot to start plays, but at GA Ladd lined up all over the field and has done so with the Bolts. Also starting in the slot doesn't mean you aren't running deep or boundary patterns. Unlike Shakir, Ladd is a deep threat. He easily could have been drafted by the Bills and utilized just like Diggs was with probably better results. 2024 McConkey - 69 rec, 960 yards, 13.9 yards/rec, 9.2 ybc/rec, 4.7 YAC/rec (15 games) 2023 Diggs - 107 Rec, 1183 yards, 11.1 yards/rec, 7.3 YBC/rec, 3.7 YAC/rec (17 games)

Actually it's not. Shakir is a possession receiver catching short throws over the middle. McConkey is bigger, faster, is better at getting open down the field and has just as good of hands. McConkey is more of the Nacua and St Brown type "slot" receiver. Compare (through 15 games) Note: YBC (yards before catch) St Brown 101 rec, 1126 yards, 11.1 yards/rec, 7.4 YBC/Rec, 3.8 YAC/rec McConkey 69 rec, 960 yards, 13.9 yards/rec, 9.2 ybc/rec, 4.7 YAC/rec Shakir 73 rec, 796 yards, 10.9 yards/rec, 3.0 YBC/rec, 7.9 YAC/rec

Didn't we already sign Hingle McCringleberry?

35 - 24 Bills - Josh cements his lead in the MVP race with a 4 TD day.

QB: Josh Allen RB: OJ Simpson RB2: Thurmon Thomas WR: Andre Reed WR2: Jerry Butler WR3: Diggs TE: Pete Metzelaars OT: Wolford, Dawkins G: Joe DeLamielleure, Billy Shaw C : Kent Hull DE: Bruce Smith DE2: Aaron Schobel DT: Fred Smerlas, Kyle Williams OLB: Biscuit MLB: Talley CB: Nate Odomes FS/SS: Hyde & Poyer P: Marv Bateman K - Steve Christie Special Teams: Tasker KR: McGee Head Coach: McDermott

Cap space will dictate what Beane can and cannot do. With only 9 mill in projected cap space and only 40 players under contract, Beane has his work cut for him. I’m sure he’d love to get some of the young core locked up, but without cap space that’s hard to do. Also the players have to want to extend. The 2nd contract is where the guys make their money. They may not want to re-sign now in order to maximize their next deal.

Oh look another our defense is terrible thread. Snooze. The Bills are 11th in points allowed. The Bills are second in points scored and 2nd in differential. KC and Det are 27-1 against the rest of the NFL and 0-2 against the Bills. The Bills, when healthy on D, have kept 5 teams to 10 points. The Houston D was brought up earlier and they have allowed only 4 less points than the Bills. The Bills D will be healthy for the playoffs and I suspect the result will be significantly better than the last few weeks. Relax people. One other note, the Bills have blitzed more than ever in recent weeks and had some very positive results from it against Det and NE. They also have utilized more 3 LB sets since Milano returned. These facts show that McD and Babich are more willing than ever to change things up and give a different look. You might say McD is reinventing his D scheme right before our eyes.

How many of these players are starters? How many were out in training camp? Also this guy can’t count. Rapp, Douglas, Hamlin and Milano are 4 players not 3. Also all are starters (35% of the defense). Tht doesn’t include Samuel who was inactive do to injury and Grable, also inactive, after just returning from IR. Just saying a team is the “healthiest,” is meaningless without proper context.

FYI Vonn Miller 2025 Cap hit $23.874 with a dead cap of 15.417. He is a prime candidate for restructure or release. Matt Milano 2025 Cap hit $16.122 with a dead cap if 17.253. Releasing him actually hurts our cap situation unless it's a June 1 waiver. Beane would be better off restructuring his deal and maybe adding a 2nd void year to bring his cap number down. Odds favor this kind of move and him playing at least another year with the Bills.

I know people are concerned about the defense and if we go into the playoffs without Douglas, Hamlin and Rapp, there is every reason to be concerned. However, I believe all will be back in the lineup come playoff time. When this defense is healthy it's a solid squad. Remember they have held 5 opponents this season to 10 points. I also like the Babich and McD have been more flexible in how they play defense this season. We have seen more blitzes and more big packages with 3 LBs than in recent years. This, IMHO, is a huge positive change. Some of the willingness to change up the defense has been to cover for injuries, but it has yielded positive results and is hopefully a positive sign to come that McD will be more open minded on defense come the playoffs. Ultimately health of Milano or Williams, plus the DBs & S is vital to playoff success. I know this isn't a popular opinion on this thread, but so be it. I know we want to 1 seed, but no way KC losses both of it's final games. I expect them to beat Pitt on Christmas and if that happens, I hope Houston finds a way to beat the Ravens. This would clinch the 2nd seed and give the injured players 3 weeks of rest and therapy to get them ready when really needed for the playoffs. I also think, with our strong running game, we can beat the NYJ and NE with Trubisky at QB.

I'd love to lock up all the young studs on rookie deals, but I don't think it's feasible this off-season without some major restructuring of nearly all the highest paid players deals. Pegula has already talked about restructuring Josh's deal to give him a raise.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_total They expect a cap of 273.3 with a rollover of 975K bring the Bills cap to 274.2.

I'm not sure where he gets the 61 million from. According to Spotrac our cap space for next year with 40 players under contract is 9.329 million with the cap expected to be about 273 million. Our 40 players currently cost 264 million

Some very suspect officiating the last couple of games. There were a couple phantom calls in both games that kept opponents in the game and no they don't do that to KC.

and they still won.

You do realize that all these guys are under contract for next year, and don't forget Bernard as well. McGovern is under contract for next season for 9.385 and would be the 9th highest paid Bill according to Spotrac. I can see him being extended for a year or two to actually bring down his cap hit next year. Groot's deal has him at 13.387. Again like McGovern can be extended and reduce his cap hit next year. The other 3 plus Bernard, I can see Beane not extending them until after the next season. Cook's 2025 cap hit is 1.856, Bernard is 1.633, Benford is 1.148 and Shakir is 1.186. With limited cap space, it doesn't make to much sense to extend them and increase their 2025 cap hits.

Next week we may not see Josh against the Jets. He hurt his right hand and had a right shoulder injury heading into the game. If KC beats Pittsburgh on Christmas, the battle for the No. 1 seed is over. If the Texans can beat the Ravens on Christmas as well, then the battle for the 2nd seed is over as well as all 3 teams chasing the Bills (Pitt, Hou and Balt) will be 10-6 and the Bills worst possible record would be 12-5. This would lock up the 2nd seed and there would be no reason to play Josh.

They should never ever wear the red jerseys again. Burn them.

Well that was closer than it had to be. Great job by the D (except Elam) after the 1st qtr.

G-d Cook sucks, we should trade him.

Can they change into the blue jerseys?

Another piece for Superman Josh and his legend. Not only is he the best player in football, but he is still the best player despite playing through an injury that would sideline most mortals. Don’t tug on Superman’s cape, ….

How? He was drafted well before our pick. Ladd McConkey is arguably the one who got away. Any argument that we could have moved up to get him assumes that another team was willing to trade down. Jax, who took Thomas at 23 had already traded down from 17 and the picks 18-22 were made by their original teams.