MTBill

If you look around the AFC, the Bills are not the only team struggling right now. Teams which were all supposed to be shoe-ins for the playoffs have been faltering. This team does not have the talent right now to take advantage of it. I think we still could get 2-3 (Ind, Mia, maybe mia) wins the rest of the way if they pull themselves together, but that won't cut it. This is turning out to be the worst November ever in Bills history. 3 straight blowouts and a team seemingly in a tailspin, a few hundred feet from the side of a mountain. I guess the light in the tunnel right now is the Giants were able to beat KC - so it is perhaps possible if they reverse course. Or maybe we won't get blown out - a 9-7 loss right now would feel better than these prior 3 debacles.

'Call me crazy. I stand by saying it was a good move. The result was horrific. The come to Jesus moment here is it is virtually impossible to "fairly" split decisions between Win now & win in the future. Every independent personnel choice is weighted for one side of that, not a 50/50 split. This staff, if they are truly in it for the long haul, has to commit to playing for the long game. They probably won't say it, because it would affect revenues as well as personnel demoralization. In fact - I believe that is what this move was signaling. We do not have the personnel on the team to win now - they have proven that in 3 weeks of futility. If that was not why they made the move, the only other legit reason I can think of is they really thought NP would excel. Who knows what happens if we had our full complement of receivers for the game - Benjamin went down and Matthews was inactive. I'm not trying to make an excuse - but the receiver's suck this season and only tier 1 QBs could have any sort of success imho. I would like to think Benjamin is very good and Zay is going to improve with time. The leading receiver this season is not a WR or even a TE. Has there even been a game where a WR was the lead receiver? Probably at least 1.... but you aren't going to win many games when the lead catcher is a special teams RB who has been on your team all of 2 weeks. No excuses. What I want to see now is progress for the future. Don't get anyone injured, but figure out what you have for next year. I expect they will not trade up for a QB (I hope they do not unless there is a truly special player available.) Use those picks to fill in all of the gaps, and build a serious depth chart. The main problem this roster has had for years is that we have some special talent and a lot of scrubs behind them (or beside them). An injury happens and there is no adequate replacement. Injuries are a huge part of the game - seems more so today than before. Peace.

Sunday can't get here fast enough... this has been the longest week ever.

I can remember when bold news like this would take down the forums...

One snap can put Nate on the sidelines and Tyrod back in. So don't forget about him - or get all jacked up. I think this is a bold move - and this team needs a spark. I am very curious about the locker room atmosphere. From what I've seen of TT, I bet he's being very positive about it. I think it's the right move and the right time - This is one of the softer games left on the schedule - and he won't have the added pressure of playing in front of the home team. Go Bills.

I probably missed a discussion somewhere - sorry if this is a duplicate thread. I'm not a Vlad D fan, and it seems like the offense has regressed in the weeks JM has been a healthy scratch. Am I missing something?

Thanks for the synopsis. I always liked WP, and hated how he got run out. I agree that if he was DC during the SB run we probably would have won at least one.

I think it's too early to tell. We are now heading into the tough stretch of the schedule. I fully expect McBean & staff are doing their evaluations now - and if they want someone, they are going to burn up the cap space we have this year to extend players they want. But if we're laying more eggs, I do not expect to see a whole lot of extensions... This season has seemed to me like a waiting to get to this point. With all the injuries and still acclimating to the offense, now it's time for some of these players to show off I withhold judgement on the roster moves now. I think we'll see extensions by the end of the year for players they want now and into the future. Why else would they clear some cap space by jettisoning Dareus? If the team/offense is performing - I would expect to see TT/Matthews/Benjamin extended/reworked. I also expect we'll see movement with other positions. I don't know about Shady's deal at all - so don't know if his contract would also be looked at.

Sorry - I did not notice this thread and started my own yesterday... I think 10-6. In theory, 9-7 could make the playoffs - just have to beat the right teams. I sort of expect (hope for) 2-2 or 3-1 in the final 4 division games... If they can do that, I think they get 2 wins out of NO/LAC/Indy and a loss in KC. Not knowing the end result - it is hard to say which loss meant the "most" to missing the playoffs. although it is certainly NOT the loss to the Panthers. The TNF debacle is certainly disappointing - and the margin for error is small in the NFL, just not that small.

Thanks! I could not for the life of me remember Hogboy and Ice - I remembered 'them', but not their usernames.... I miss those days. Being so far away from Buffalo, I never met anyone here except through the site. Someday I'll make it there. I did see the loss in Seattle last year... Your list of names above made me reflect on how many people who aren't here now. Here - just for kicks I went to the Wayback machine.... This was '98... when Wade took the reins... They don't seem to have the stadium wall archived - or I'm just missing it. Edit - Found it! (And when I click on the member profiles, I can see myself... Yay) TSW from '01 - earliest in the wayback machine.

If I missed this being posted here, sorry. This is the site I like looking at for playoff chances and analytics - it extends well beyond the NFL

Bring back old posters - less negativity... same old beefs others have. The drought has caused an erosion of good cheer around here. I think it really started with the division created by Flutie vs. RJ... Though I recall complaints about Jimbo back in the day too.

My OLD profile had a few more than 26.... But it's 'history'. I've been here since the days it was tied to the D&C.... I just don't log in all that often any more.

With what we know about this team (and our opponents) from the first 8 games.... What do you expect the results are from the final 8? New Orleans - I expect this to be the first home loss of the season. We won't be able to contain them. I'd say 24-17 Saints. @ LA Chargers - I expect this to be a road win - not an easy one, but a road win. 28-24 Bills @ Kansas City - I can't envision the Bills winning in Kansas City, always a tough road game and the Chiefs are real. 35-27 Chiefs New England - I think this is a winnable game. Patriots are not what they used to be and we get them at home. 28-24 Bills Indianapolis - The easiest game left on the schedule. Is it a trap game after NE and before Miami? 31-17 Bills Miami - This should be a win for Buffalo. I expect it will be close, but the Defense will come up big. 24-21 Bills @ New England - I do not see us winning in New England. Patriots win 35-27. @ Miami - This will all come down to what the playoffs look like. I think it is a winnable road game, but always difficult. I'll say Bills win 31-24 because we'll be playing for a wildcard. That would be 10-6 and I think we'd get a wildcard. 5-3 in the first half and 5-3 in the second half of the season. Right now, the Bills control their own playoff destiny - and I would like to think they will the rest of the season.

Some of us "guests" are just too lazy to log in every time... Just sayin'.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-move-30-off-the-roster-to-reach-53/ad4c9c3a-e0f8-425a-b9fb-5be1060cbf88 Official List

Can't say I'm too disappointed. He would have been an addition, no doubt. The wildcard is Watkins, is he going to stay healthy or not? If he stays healthy and has a great year, no one remembers this, but if he suffers another injury, it'll be all about how they didn't offer enough to Maclin. We invested in the draft with Jones, Maclin seems like a play for the very short term. Maclin almost seemed counteractive to the approach the front office/coaches are going for, solid teambuilding. The guy I feel worst for is McCoy. He lobbied for a GM, not even interviewed. He lobbied for Maclin, signed elsewhere. At some point I think he starts resenting the club, and we know how that goes (Chip Kelly). Just sayin'. Had to get a post in this monster thread though.

While I think there are plenty of talented players on this team, there seem to be a lot of holes and question marks. I expect to see 'improvement', but that word does not mean I expect more wins. It looks like a tough schedule right now. It is an entirely new coaching staff/philosophy (again). I do think that this group has the right idea. Do not try to be flashy, rather build a disciplined consistent foundation. I also think Pegs is not going to put the pressure on to win now or your fired. I was disappointed when Marrone flew the coop - and even moreso when we were stuck with Rex. The lesson finally learned was that Whaley was the wrong person for the way that job was playing out. He didn't get along with Marrone or Rex and was unlikely to work with McD. I don't know Whaley was horrible - but he was handcuffed and dealt with that badly.

Whaley didn't get along with Rex either. Note: he didn't seem to have had input there either. I suspect he was resentful of the fact he couldn't hire 'his' guy - and that made it tough. I feel a little bad for the guy - I don't do well being micromanaged, and this is more than micromanagement. He handled it poorly though and that is a problem. My biggest issue with the whole thing is timing. I think he should have been out the door with Rex - especially after his going to the media whining that he wasn't in the loop on it. That's a slap in your bosses face. Insubordination, buh bye now. All that said, I really think we are going to be better off moving forward, and that we will get someone in here who shares McD's philosophy. Gone are the days when the GM is the true 'architect' of the team who builds a roster and selects a coach 'his way'. How many teams are run that way today? Whaley wanted to be the GM from a bygone era. Coaches are wielding the power now, for better or worse. We can't be behind that curve and have a bickering organization hold us back. The next GM is going to be the "GM" - but in a different manner than the traditional GM who holds all the cards. From that article - parse the words that McD said about one voice. There is one voice, his. Pegs gave him that power until such time he proves incapable of the task. Right now we don't know how much time he has, but I suspect it is longer than 3 years and we'll see improvement. Just my .02

I am glad they finally did it. I'm disappointed in the timing. The next guy is lined up for a fail if they want them to be a "typical" GM. Coach is in place, roster is pretty much stocked... how do you hire for that? Whaley should have been out the door with Rex - then this would have been much better. I'm happy with the roster right now (given where we started at the end of last year) - and I'm happy with the coaching staff... but rebuilding the Top of that is just different at this point of the season. Pegs should just hire a non-traditional GM who is going to fill in the gaps with McD - not try to hire a 'true' GM/Architect who now has 3/4 of the building in place. It just weakens their position tremendously - when we're trying to buy in to a long term coaching staff.

It was a close game, there were some *interesting* penalties. Based on the release of baby Gronk to re-sign Felton, and the 3 failed 3rd down conversions with <2 yards (and sacks)... Blocking needed to be better and they know it. I wonder if this was a $ move all along. I would not be surprised to see Gronk on the practice squad. I'm looking for a recovery this week at home. If they are flat again, then it definately seems like this will be a long season. Watkins is a key component, but not the only piece to the puzzle.

Talk about mailing it in. I hope no one gets hurt.

The only opINion I care about is the reality of W-L. These pundits are paid to talk and create an audience. That said, we've proven nothing yet. Predicting the end of the season before it starts, is like predicting draft results right at the end, so much can happen that it really is a crap shoot.

Mostly agree - some commentary So, I would not be totally shocked if we finished 11-5 - but depending on how things break, we could totally be looking at 9-7 (based on pre-season prognostication, which with 1.25 will get you a cup of coffee at some greasy spoon)

As much as I hate all these prognosticators... I do have to take a step back. What has this team done? 9-7 last year. It seems like we've gotten a lot better, except for the writeoffs of everyone at QB. What position got worse? Any? Defense, outside of Dareus sitting week 1, have they gotten worse anywhere? Offense, OL - I'd say improved, especially at G, TE - improved, WR corps, same+, RB - improved, QB - I say at least the same as Orton, not a dropoff... So, did everyone else in the division/league just get that much better?