RJ (not THAT RJ)

I can completely understand that reasoned analysis. I would also like to see better efficiency and consistency--the middle of the DET and MIN games was terrible. If anything, third Qs seem to be this team's problem on offense more than any generalized scoring issue. But I also think that as a season progresses, each game is its own ecosystem of opportunities and coincidences, and I also think that even the best teams do go three and out and even turn the ball over. In the end, everyone here wants to see the Bills win, so I hope we all end up happy.

I clicked this thread because I am fascinated by how the discussion about "should points" has degenerated into medieval-style scholasticism. We are now arguing over a 4-point gap between what the Bills should have scored and what they did, which is rather different from the "we should be up 48-0!!111!!!!11!!!!!" comments that came from so many on this page during the game. We are now reduced to counting the number of theoretical angel TDs that can dance on the head of a pin, and yet the intensity is undiminished. The specificity of the modeling is even more amusing because I am sure that even if the Bills had gotten the "one 15-yard play" on the first two post-INT drives and kicked field goals, many of those same ranters would STILL be complaining that the offense didn't score touchdowns. It's an imperfect, fallen world, full of disappointment, terror, and ultimately death. The other team is also allowed to play defense. You don't always score when you wish you would. But hey, they won on Sunday. Hallelujah! Why exactly would I, or you, or anyone else expect anything? It was early in the game, the Jets D was considered stout. Maybe they strapped it on and came to play. It happens.

The first TO drive started at the 48 after the Bradham penalty.

Ha! I didn't know that. Makes it all the more amusing....

It was the first pick, actually.

The comments are hilarious too... such as the person who notes that when Graham saw the play had blown up he ran downfield "to get open."

...and one that should be called off when the kick sails 9 yards deep into the end zone. Ye Gods, but it was boneheaded! Oh man, this board was LOADED with complaints that Crossman sucked, was a Marrone crony, proof of how cheap Jeff Littman was, and responsible for the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, SuperStorm Sandy, and Home Run Throwback. He would never get better ever because he had failed elsewhere, and any mention of the quality of the players was OBD propaganda filtered through homer glasses. Now I think those people have just done global search and replace... Crossman out, Hackett in.

The team was in the red zone six times on Sunday. Not once did they "come up empty." Twice, in the third quarter, they kicked field goals. Those seem to be the only times people remember. Four other times, they scored touchdowns, if you count the first TD, in which they scored right after a sack took them out to the 22. It's still worth asking what's up with Mike Williams, but it does not appear that his lack of targets in the red zone was that big an issue.

That's not a bad idea. I wonder why they don't rely on more local knowledge, but I suppose it becomes an issue of balance (not to mention of who pays whom for what), so the networks stick with the idea that a broadly but thinly informed crew that works together regularly no matter the location is the best of all possible alternatives for them.

Surrender Dorothy!

The biggest problem on TV is that no national announcing crew, no matter how hard they try, is going to know as much about the Bills as most posters on this board. They come in with a few scripted talking points, and then hammer away at them. They also tend to be front-runners, praising the team in the lead, until the producers tell them to back off so as to keep the audience watching. Serious fans notice this and it drives them crazy. I'm sure that hard-core fans of every team feel the same way. It can be a bit better if the same crew calls a team's games a few times (like back when Marv Alpert or Don Criqui seemed to get the Bills weekly), but it is a weakness. The national games on Sunday and Monday and Thursday are even worse, of course, because not only do the crews only know the big national stories, but the whole broadcast is aimed at maintaining the interest of the casual fan. Local radio teams are entertaining, but are usually homers of one kind or another. Some are better than others. Murph and Kelso are middle of the pack compared to the homerrific stylings of the Washington or Pitts or NY teams.

I can only speak for myself, but even thought I admit that the offense could have been better, I tend to focus on these three elements: 1. The Offense drove to a TD on its first possession. Aided by a penalty, yes, but still based on some very nice KO throws and determined play by Woods. The first time they have done that all year. 2. When the game was 14-7 and seemed precarious, with the Bills inside their own 15, KO had the confidence, and SW had the skill, to hook up for an 84 yard pass on third down that led to a TD. Mugwumps will focus on Sammy's showboating, but I have to ask: How often in the past have Bills quarterbacks or offenses been willing or able to convert on a play like that? And note that while the high character posters in the shout box were wringing their hands, the Bills calmly ran two running plays up the middle to score that TD. 3. After those two lackluster FG "drives" in the third quarter the O drove the dagger home not only with the TD to Chandler (also on third down, let it be noted) but also with the great slant pass to Sammy (also on third down). Do they need to get better? Sure. Will they always play teams as bad as the Jets turned out to be? Of course not. But there is plenty in the glass this week. Well, at least until I raise it and empty it in honor of a satisfying road victory.

Realists understand that the simple accumulation of more points in any one game is not the true measure of a team's success. They know how to dig deeper and appreciate that there are always reasons to be grumpy and dissatisfied, unlike all those homers who think that scoring more points than the other teams each week is something to celebrate.

Scoring 43 points will get one into the playoffs more often than not. As will going plus-6 in takeaways. I say this knowing that there were less attractive aspects of the Bills' performance, as a corrective to the dogmatism of the Legion of Gloom.

TDs are counted as first downs.

The Bills were leading at halftime, weren't they?

I was referring to the second time, which people had been carping about above. Keep up, young man.

This is the problem with Bills fans. They don't act like winners, they act like losers who are not used to having success and have to look for reasons to be gloomy......

If I may offer some historical perspective, I would note that the number of times in their history that the Bills have scored 43 or more points can be counted on the fingers of two hands. However it is done, it's pretty unusual.

He was yards away from everyone as he did that, crossing the goal line. Cut the kid some slack.

Everyone also knew the Jets' pass rush was very good. There were several articles about it on the front page of TBD this week. So they decided to try to run first. It happens.

Heck, the Bills were just repeating the move they made to pluck Jack Kemp from the Chargers waiver wire in 1962....

For all those folks (not saying that it includes you, dhg) who have been calling for cheap Ralph to monetize the stadium by selling naming rights and ads, this is what you get.....

Come on Philly.... don't go with the SeaHags and the Kitties....

So was the later call a make-up call? Capriciouser and capriciouser...