Max Fischer

Probably the same thing. I don't see much difference between losing a step in speed and agility. The ability to make adjustments is also a sign of age. It happens to everyone and at a certain point the slow decline can quickly turn into falling off a cliff. Sanders may still have a few good games left but we probably shouldn't expect him to get much better than he is now.

Agree, I don't think Beasley is "done" a la John Brown, but he's certainly last a step or two, which is crucial for getting separation in man-to-man. Still one of the best to find a hole in zone but there's a lot of evidence Beasley is having a problem in man-to-man. OTOH, McKenzie is far less wile in zone but is much more dangerous in man-to-man. If only we could meld them together.

Maybe because Sanders is 34, in his 12th season and has played 175 games? Losing even a half-step makes all the difference. It happens to every player, especially those who excel at getting separation. It's just unfortunate it happened to Sanders about half-way through this season and will not get better. See John Brown and now Cole Beasley.

I may be noted elsewhere on this thread, but when I look at the Bills schedule, they also count the Jets, Saints, Dolphins (2x) and Panthers as 5 of their 9 wins. Not to mention the Texans and the Redskins. I bet it's pretty close to a -122 differential, if not worse. PLUS, the Bills LOST to the Jags. FFS, let's not get carried away AGAIN by counting this week's game as a win. ANY team can lose any week. There are no gimmies. I would have thought every Bills fan would have figure that out by now, FFS.

You claim the "media" makes up stuff Beasley says, but that just not true at all. The media, like everyone else, quoted exactly what he said on social media and on film. In fact, I've never heard Beasley say that he's been misquoted. The problem is, what he's says is untrue or at best, misleading.

You mean, quote Beasley exactly and it's the media's fault?

And some folks will put the blame on Edmunds regardless of the failure of the coaches and 10 other players.

Seems a bit overdramatic.

I think Beane has repeatedly demonstrated the Bills can handle the cap. We are in Year 4-5 and even next year and the year after looks manageable. There’s plenty of evidence that Beane has no intention of fielding Allen and bunch of scrubs, especially with a new TV contract on the horizon. Hopefully, too, by then COVID will be a thing of past with even more scientific advances and reduction counter-productive anti-vaxx attitudes.

it may soon be moot but the article doesn’t say Dawkins is officially out.

its simple. Vaxxed players are MUCH less likely to miss a game. Unvaxxed players have a MUCH greater chance of missing one or more games.

Where have you read that?

The decision not to vaxx is also playing a part.

The lack of Dawkins news is disconcerting. If Dawkins wasn’t asymptomatic, I wonder if he could get in game shape even if cleared today. Hopefully the team created a better option than Brown at LT. I had hoped Bates could play an even slightly below average LT to keep the rest of the line in tact.

Likely for the same reason it started at 1.5, Vegas is trying to push bettors to choose the Patriots. Seems very doubtful Beasley is worth a whole point.

I think differential matters to a point. It clearly indicates good and bad teams, but it’s harder to analyze without closer examination. For example, each game, an extra late touchdown scored or given up could substantially change a team’s ranking, but not a game’s outcome. IMO, the NFL is as close to parity as it’s ever been (in my lifetime). Bills lose to Jags, Bucs get shutout at home to the Saints, Cardinals lose to Lions, Chiefs looked terrible and now good, Titans are difficult to figure out, Packers almost lose to a backup QB and his hurting defense. Abundant examples every week.

That’s an amazing leap in logic.

Depends on which throws you mean. Yes, Carolina scored when Milano couldn't keep up with the RB, but a great deal of the yards were on 2nd and 3rd and long, and the Bills purposely give the offense that part of the field. On the interception - I think Josh was overaggressive, but mostly Chin made a very nice place. Would love him on the Bills. What I liked: - With three OL out of position, and a rookie making his first start at LT, it could have been a LOT worse. I thought Daboll made adjustments that favored what those five could do. - I liked seeing misdirection and rolling Allen out of the pocket. - The defense did the job.

Scored 31 points on a tough Carolina defense. Some will point out a few short fields but the offense, despite three OL out of place, still had a decent day. I thought the defense played well. However, our punter is getting worse.

So, who plays middle linebacker?

Agree. Olson’s content is mostly fine, but his style needs work. Early teen enthusiasm and vocabulary, mixed with some painful cliches.

Do you have any more absurd hypotheticals?

This post seems to have a heavy dose of wishful thinking. For me, Jones is dangerous because he's not asked to do too much, and what he's asked to do, he does well. The question is whether the Bills can force Jones to perform tasks he's yet to prove proficiency. IMO, first down could be THE key indicator. The Pats have done a great job of making 2nd and 3rd down plays manageable. If the Bills can limit first down plays to three yards or less, it could put pressure on Jones to make plays on 2nd and 3rd, not just take what the defense give them. I'm curious if the Bills will try to jam the receivers to disrupt timing of the short passing game that force Jones to make tight throws. Would leave Edmunds and Milano to take away the short TE and RB safety valve passes.

I’d say it’s fairly drastic.