Luxy312

I would be anyone real money right now that 8-8 will not get the Bills into the playoffs. There's 9 teams ahead of Buffalo right now for the wild card spots either by virtue of record or by virtue of tiebreaker. Presuming that KC beats just one team, they're in ahead of Buffalo. There's 6 teams at 5-6. There's 5 games between teams at 5-6, which means in all likelihood that there's 5 wins going out. Of the two 4-7 teams, both have the tiebreaker over the Bills. By the way, my wants are completely conditional. I stated that and there's no way to go back and look at hindsight for what we want this next weekend. I WANT them to finish 9-7. It would be great to see a winning season. However, if they don't make the playoffs, I would prefer better draft position. The Bills have been competitive in most games and that's already a good sign. What they need to learn is how to run the damned ball. Running game has been pretty awful.

He looks a lot like Akili Smith so far. Just another "Smith". They're all the same.

So you think EJ Manuel and Andrew Luck are of the same caliber player. Got it.

Is a loosing season the opposite of a tightening season? Kidding aside, I would honestly be happy seeing them win out entirely or lose out entirely. Finishing 8-8 instead of 7-9 does nothing for me and simply negatively impacts their draft position.

I'll disagree with that statement 100%. There's ZERO chance that the Bills draft a quarterback early next year. Maronne got his guy in Manuel this last year. The front office isn't going to simply write him off and move on if he has growing pains in every one of the last 5 games. Manuel has already shown that he's poised under pressure and now he's starting to make the throws he needs to make. Even really bad quarterbacks like Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, and many many others got multiple years before teams moved on. The Bills will be no different.

While the Redskins got a new quarterback last year, Shanahan has been building that team for now going on his 4th year. He was 6-10 if you remember in his first season with the Redskins. Shanahan is certainly not a rookie coach either, so I am not exactly sure what argument you're making here. Looking at Seattle, Pete Carroll is also in his 4th year this year and not a rookie to the NFL. He's been in the NFL since 1994. In terms of the Chiefs, do you know Andy Reid. He's been in the NFL forever. So restating my point, rookie head coach and rookie quarterback. Find me a situation where a first year college coach that has a first year quarterback that legitimately competes.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was a rebuilding year. You would have a hard time convincing anyone that in a year where you draft your quarterback of the future and are starting a brand new coaching staff, that you don't expect to have some growing pains. They have had some of that for sure, but I have optimism that the franchise is heading in the right direction. Here's my take on needs for next year: Offense - EJ looked pretty solid last game in going down field and hitting receivers in stride. Earlier in the season, he seemed to get a little rattled after contact and seemed to have the tendency to dump the ball off very shortly after the snap. Provided that he takes his chances, I like where the kid is going. Clearly, he was the better choice than Geno Smith and Matt Barkley. I like the youth at wide receiver. Add in the veteran in Stevie Johnson and they have 3 guys that can make plays. I don't believe that wide receiver should be a priority. Besides Cordy Glenn and Eric Wood, I'm not enamored with the offensive line. While they do a pretty good job in the passing game, they just don't seem to be able to make holes for Spiller and Jackson. I would prefer that they look to free agency for help on the line, but would be fine if they addressed it in the draft. Defense - Who's leading the league in sacks right now? Your Buffalo Bills. In fact, they're on pace to break a franchise record for sacks in a season. They're much better getting after quarterbacks this year than last. I chalk that up to solid coaching and a finally healthy Williams and trouble free Dareus. They're also leading the league in interceptions. I very much like the combination of McKelvin and Gilmore. Never thought I would say that about Leodis, but he's turned into a solid cornerback. Re-signing Byrd must be a priority. He cannot walk or be traded or this defense will take a huge step back. Manny Lawson has been solid as a pass rusher, but they're still getting gashed in the running game. Alonso is a stud no doubt, but I think they could use significant help at linebacker. Overall, I see the single biggest challenge for this team as being the lack of a running game. Playing at the Ralph in December will require them to move the chains on the ground. If I were running the show, I would be looking to draft some maulers in the early rounds.

Talk to me when the Patriots actually lose a game at home this year. LOL. That's my point. Motivation has nothing to do with the fact that New England is top 10 in offense and defense and the Bills aren't even top 20 in either. There's no doubt that I'm a fan. I'm as hopeful as anyone. My hope none the less is tempered by reality. The fact that this franchise hasn't had 5 consecutive wins since 2004 should tell you what you need to know.

I'm not sure why anyone would believe that this team is going to end up 9-7. Let's be realistic. Out of the 7 losses, 3 came to teams with a losing record. Of the 4 wins, only the win against Carolina was really a quality win and there was only 1 road win. Now you're looking at 5 games remaining with essentially 4 on the road. The Falcons are a joke, no doubt and I wouldn't pick anyone to lose to the Jags. The single biggest problem that the Bills have is that right now it looks like the Patriots will be in the hunt for the #1 overall seed and homefield advantage for the playoffs. If by some Miracle the Bills are sitting at 8-7 going into week 16, they're going to have to go on the road and beat a Patriots team that could be motivated. Not an easy task. Just ask Peyton Manning.

Exactly this. How many years does Rogers get to improve enough to be a BACKUP? This is 3. Enough is enough.

Call that homefield advantage. Patriots have been getting that advantage in Foxboro/Gilette for years. No matter what you say, there was a penalty there. Contact happened before the ball was in the air and continued through the interception. IMO, they called the penalty live. I don't know how you then go back and say there's no penalty. Could Gronk have broken back and gone up for the ball? Wouldn't be the first time and he's certainly athletic enough to outjump that DB. What should have happened at least as I see it is that there either shouldn't have been a flag thrown at all to begin with. That creates the problem right up front because the referee clearly saw and called interference. As I see it, they should have called illegal contact and awarded the Pats 5 yards and one more play. But they didn't. I think the refs blew this play, but at the end of the day it couldn't happen to a better team or Tommy Tuck.

The days of letting players develop year after year after year are over. Rogers wasn't good enough to be a backup. That's all there is to it.

While this game scares me a little bit, it's really not that bad. Atlanta's defense has been atrocious. The Bills just walked through a Jets team that sacked Manuel 8 times in the first game. This last game was much much better. Simple stat here folks. Buffalo is +7 on turnovers in their 4 winning games overall. In the games they've lost, they're -6. If they take care of the football, they should win this game pretty handily. I do agree with the comments about the running game though. It's going to be pretty hard to run the table if they don't get that going.

I went with EJ. I love the fact that he finally took some shots down the field and looked really good doing it. If we see more of that, perhaps it will open up the running game a bit.

These threads make me laugh. We're not going to trade a very good young player in Byrd for an aging 30+ veteran QB. Not going to happen. As an organization, they're also not going to get a premier QB that ultimately would stunt Manuel's growth. It makes ZERO sense in the modern era of the NFL, that once you start playing your first round potential franchise QB that you would suddenly bench him because he has growing pains. Roethlisberger's contract for next year is also $12.1 million and $11.6 million the year after. I'll chalk this thread up to the same as the Andre Johnson thread. If you really think that the Bills are going to start spending huge dollars on aging big name veterans in the waning years of their careers, I have a bridge to sell you with a complimentary troll under it. The Bills are FINALLY building the team the way they should have, and that's through youth and the draft. The comments of "let's just trade Byrd for XYZ aging veteran we don't need" should just stop.

He doesn't have to say anything. He could have said "no comment", but instead chose to say that "he always said this is where he wanted to be". You're also conveniently ignoring his contract, which is a huge reason he won't be traded any time soon. No team is going to sign up for $7.5m, $10.5m, and $11.0m contract over the next 3 years for a 32 YO wide-out that's clearly not as good as what he was when he signed the contract 3 years ago. His best bet is doing exactly what he's doing. So all this idle speculation is really just a waste of time. He's not going anywhere; the front office is (smartly) standing pat with Johnson, Goodwin & Woods as starters. I'm done with this horrendous thread.

I wish the state would pass a law that prohibits fans from suing the organization, unless they could prove gross negligence. In this case, the guy that got landed on should be able to sue the drunk faller, but it certainly isn't the organizations fault. Dumb people will always find a way to remove themselves from the gene pool. Hopefully, before they breed.

He's not anywhere near the end of his contract. Houston totally has the choice and is in control. Regardless, from his own mouth: "I've always said this is where I wanted to be, so I don’t really have anything to say about that." Makes this thread pretty pointless and stupid.

I've heard from a lot of folks in WNY and most won't go to Toronto for a couple of reasons. First, the drive is long. Having to cross the border is a PITA and the prospect of sitting in traffic after the game isn't attractive. Second and more important, that stadium is a baseball park. It's tiny and cramped. Why would anyone want to go to Toronto to watch a game?

Lucky for us, our teams front office isn't using your "logic", which is a term I'll use loosely. You don't just "bring in playmakers". That's the logic Dan Snyder tried to use for 10 years running in Washington and it was an epic failure. That was the logic the Bills used when the brought in Terrell Owens, and it was also an epic failure. Houston runs a pass first offense that throws the ball 30+% more than the Bills. Andre Johnson is also getting some serious cash and under contract through 2016. $48 million of the potential $72.2 million he signed for in 2010 was guaranteed. It's not very bright to assume that Houston would be willing to take the cap hit to move him, when they essentially signed him to an "end of career" contract.

We come upon these questions ever season. What over the hill, at the end of their career player should the Bills trade for? Why? EJ Manuel didn't need his top two wide receivers yesterday to throw for 245 in windy conditions. Trade makes no sense unless it's a really late pick.

McKelvin has played well, and of that there's no doubt. However, I think that there's a fundamental problem with reasoning as to why he's playing well. Very simply, when your defensive line gets pressure and gets it quickly, it makes QB's rush their throws. Any QB in the NFL that's given time is going to be able to pick you apart. Geno passed for 331 yards in week 3 and looked all world. The Bills really didn't get to him much that day. Not the case yesterday. McKelvin has always been aggressive. It suits him well when the front four are doing their job, but will be a liability when they don't.

Bottom line is that 8-8 will not cut it. If they lose even one more game, they are done. Looking at schedules of the other teams in the race though, it's still possible. Jets and Miami play each other twice. I think the Fins are the defacto better team. Week 16 @Buffalo is the biggest game of the season, assuming that Buffalo doesn't drop one before then. Some have suggested the Steelers, but looking at their schedule, I don't see a cake walk. I actually think that if you look at the collective records of teams remaining that the Bills have the easiest schedule in the NFL. The single biggest risk to missing the playoffs is being 8-7 and having to go to NE in a game that could potentially matter for home field advantage. To a degree, it's going to come down to Denver and whether they can hold onto the 2 game advantage they currently have over NE. The game at NE in a few weeks should be interesting.

You're obviously missing the point here a little bit. What I'm trying to get at is that Spiller is an electrifying player. He's not a plod ahead for 4 YPC and move the pile kind of guy. He was productive last year because he got touches. Sure, he had is no gainers and 1-2 yarders here and there, but he makes his hay on big plays. Carrying the ball 200+ times and averaging 6.0 YPC was all the big runs.

There's an easy explanation here too. D.M. has already said that they run the same offense regardless of whether Freddy or CJ is in. They basically don't call different plays, regardless of the player that's taking the field and see them as interchangeable. Hearing that is a head scratcher to say the least. Why would you not change up your game plan depending on the talent you put on the field? If you have a running back that's good in pass blocking (Freddy), do you still put CJ in on a passing play just because it's his "turn"? Stupifying.