ChasBB

I know exactly what you mean - never dreamed I'd be promoting flag football at the NFL level (the game has already gotten too soft in ordinary games). However, the Pro Bowl game is just dumb the way it's played today - it's not that much fun to watch - it just looks like a bunch of overgrown kids goofing off. It would be nice to see a competitive game - and if making it flag football does the trick, then so be it.

In all seriousness, the Pro Bowl ought to be played as Flag Football. At least that would be competitive. No one wants to see these players get hurt in a meaningless game, so why not truly make it a Flag Football game? At least then, you'd see real COMPETITION. It would be a win-win - no one gets hurt and we still get to see the best players in the game truly COMPETE. I'm not joking about this - it would be a good move for the NFL and this particular game.

It starts when one arrives at the airport. Most airports have charming and colorful murals - not Buffalo - everywhere you look, it's "cancer, cancer, cancer" - talk about depressing. I'm not against these institutions promoting themselves, but can we make the airport a bit happier of a place by leaving that out of the mix?

Nice to have 9 picks! ... 1st Rnd - 1 2nd Rnd - 1 3rd Rnd - 1 4th Rnd - 1 5th Rnd - 3 (additional picks from Cleveland & New England) 6th Rnd - 2 (additional pick from Cleveland) 7th Rnd - 0 (gave up pick to Cleveland) Can still pick up quality talent in 5th round to develop - great to have 3 picks there and/or use to trade up with.

What I find it amusing how commentators say stupid things like (paraphrasing) "It's incredible how many Bills fans made the trip" every time we fill up an away stadium with our fans, as if we all got together and chartered fifty 747's out of Buffalo. What they don't realize is that Buffalo fans are EVERYWHERE. It's probably a local drive or maybe a few hours drive for probably 80% of the Bills fans at these games. As a friend once told me "you can take the boy out of Buffalo, but you can't take Buffalo out of the boy" - hmm, not sure if that sounds good, but anyhow, you get the idea!

I'm not depressed at all. I love this team and the trajectory it is on. While Allen did unravel late, he was simply excellent at times, too. I like Allen and I like this team and they are only going to improve. What DOES get me down is reading news stories of idiotic fans saying terrible things to Cody Ford - there is no place for that. On an aside, this game mimicked "The Comeback", in ways: "The Comeback" (or "The Choke", as Houston fans call it): 35-35 Buff ties it 38-35 Buff goes ahead 38-38 Hou ties it - OT 41-38 Buff wins in OT The "Payback" (just made that up - sure someone will come up with something better): 16-16 Hou ties it 19-16 Hou goes ahead 19-19 Buff ties it - OT 22-19 Hou wins in OT The main difference is that Buffalo came back from a 32-point deficit and Houston came back from a 16-point deficit, but very similar in some ways, too. When I say "Houston", really the fanbase (obviously, a different franchise), but the "payback" represents fandom.

Yeah, Gronk took exception and chiseled it out - true story! ?

The dent was put there by the NFL ... for the ASTERISK ...

Sorry, boss, my astrologer told me it would be too risky to leave the house on Saturday and that I'd be safest in front of my television - and she's always been right. Umm, also, she was a little concerned about one day the following weekend, too, but she hasn't quite felt the vibe strong enough yet to be sure which day I need to stay home. She said that she'll have a better feel for that by Saturday evening - I'll keep you posted. Hope you understand, boss.

I guess this means you want to be the controlling partner then, eh? Ok, let's DO THIS!

I'm interested, but it looks like I'm about 2 billion dollars short ...

Now that's a backstory I never heard - maybe you're onto something there.

Sorry, disagree. If this were regular season and you were fighting for a points tie-breaker or something crazy like that - maybe, but not in the setting of an AFC Championship game. The game was completely in hand - should have punted or ran the ball on 4th down. Running up the score was plain disrespect - I can't see it any other way. I mean, sure, the 50+ points was very cool at the time, but wouldn't 48-3 while maintaining a little dignity, be just as good?

Great game! But Buffalo should never have kicked that last field goal. The game should have ended 48-3. I know a Raiders fan who has never forgotten that kick. Breaking 50 points was a real "in your face" move by Levy and the Bills and never should have happened. That field goal would have been nice to have the following game - some karma there.

Interesting - Jim Tranter's name also comes up in this article about the University of Buffalo's fight song: https://library.buffalo.edu/exhibitions/pdf/ubsongsummary.pdf Looks like another was chosen, but he had a submission, it seems.

Thanks for that - didn't realize another team had done so. I don't think he's earned quite the name recognition Ray Guy did (well, at least not for me, anyhow).

I also noticed the Patriots' center move the ball forward at least a good foot or a foot-and-a-half pre-snap. I mean, you see centers do this all the time, but it's usually just a few inches or so. This could have the effect of backing defenders up by a foot fearing an encroachment penalty even though it was the center who created the new line-of-scrimmage with the ridiculous moving of the ball by 12 inches - crazy. I don't recall what time during the game I noticed this, but it was super clear on at least that one down.

Agree, that win helped a lot as payback goes!

The Raiders were the first team (maybe only team for I can recall) to ever draft a punter in the 1st round of the NFL draft back in 1973. He was well worth the pick. His hang times were insane and he had plenty of distance, too. What a difference maker in a game of field position! If another punter like Ray Guy ever comes along, I'd have NO PROBLEM with the Bills expending a 1st round pick on him. It was because of Ray Guy that the NFL even began to track "hang time" as a punting statistic. It's kind of amazing that no one has ever really come close to being a difference maker at the punter position since Guy played.

I'm a strong believer that both the holder and the punter should have a reasonably decent arm, too - doesn't seem too much to ask.

I also recall some years ago that opponents' headsets didn't function properly at Gillette - never really heard any follow-up to that. I guess that doesn't happen anymore since I have not heard of that recently, but who knows. Hell, I'm not just concerned with Gillette. I could see them with a small wireless camera in the trees next to Bills' practice field and some guy in a car at ECC capturing it all and sending it on to Ernie & Co. Seriously, these cheaters know no limits. If I were Bills' mgmt., I'd have every inch of their facilities and surrounding areas searched for cameras, bugs, etc. - no joking here (wish I was).

Regardless of whether Bills' fans think he just had a bad game or was just a small part of an overall sloppy defensive effort, it DID seem to me that the Patriots ran Milano's way many times - as though they identified him as the weak link. I don't know - would have to re-watch to really make that analysis, but sure seemed they ran his way a lot.

Much like the 2004 Bills, the 2019 Steelers need a victory and some help in the final week to make the playoffs. And, like the 2004 Bills, who played the Steelers' 2nd & 3rd stringers in week 17 of 2004, the Steelers will be facing the Ravens' 2nd & 3rd stringers, as well, in week 17 of 2019. Buffalo got the help it needed in 2004 from the Jets losing, but couldn't defeat Pittsburgh's backups to seal the deal. I would like nothing better than for Pittsburgh to get the help it needs and then throw it all away by losing to the Ravens backups! The Steelers and their fans should have an opportunity to know exactly what that feels like, too - share the wealth! Of course, there is still a scenario whereby the Steelers lose and still make it (with a ton of help), so is not exactly the same as 2004, but close enough for me! Go Ravens' backups!!

Rest ALL starters next week - none play whatsoever the entire game. Effectively becomes our own little playoff bye week - that's what all the effort is for anyhow - the hopes of earning a bye week. Well, in an odd sort of way, we did, so let's take advantage of it and see what our 2nd & 3rd stringers can do.

"Patriots Didn't See This Locomotive Coming - Lose Physical Battle And Game To Surging Bills"