folz

Which is interesting after hearing what Sean Payton had to say after the Broncos game last week: "They’ve done a really good job in the last year of focusing on their run game, and then partnering that with the skillset that Josh has. I was more surprised at the effectiveness of it.”

That is a crazy stat. On the year, Buffalo is +24 in turnover differential. Baltimore was +6 in turnover differential (and turnovers ended up being a key part in the Bills playoff win over them). Kansas City is also +6 in turnover differential on the year (hopefully we can get them to cough up a couple too, despite their recent success holding on to the ball).

One of the often over-looked aspects of the Pegula ownership has been the video teams and social media teams that they have brought in/developed. The team videos are of the highest quality and the social media team knows how to play the game. Yeah, I may be a little old to appreciate the fast editing and weird references of vids like these, but I have to say I did laugh out loud watching the third video, at the "Will Clapp Moment of Appreciation." 😁

The holding call on Dion took us from a 1st and 10 at the Baltimore 39, to a 2nd and 22 on our own 43 (very difficult to convert---far from field goal range). That's huge. It killed the drive and kept Baltimore in the game. The score at that time was 7-7. With that first down, the Bills were like 4-5 yards away from a field goal. We had the momentum because the drive started off of Lamar's INT. If we score a TD there, momentum is on our side, and the crowd is going crazy (rather than silenced with a punt). And with the way the rest of the first half played out, we would have taken a 28-10 lead into the half, getting the ball out of the intermission. That would have been tough for Baltimore to overcome in that weather. That call totally kept the Ravens in the game. At best (if it was a bad call), the PI on Tre gave us 4 points. If they don't make the call, we're kicking the field goal to go up 17-10 at that point (as opposed to 21-10). On the holding call, we were going to at least get a field goal there, which would have given us a 24-10 halftime lead, a TD there gives us a 28-10 halftime lead. If the refs don't make either call, we have either a 20-10 halftime lead if we got a field goal on the holding drive (only 1 point less than what it was, 21-10), but if we got a TD there, we would have had a 24-10 halftime lead. Again could have been 28-10 if the refs still called the PI, but not the holding. And don't discount momentum or keeping the crowd in the game, etc. The two calls did kind of balance each other out a bit on the scoreboard, but I think the holding call on Dion definitely changed the course of the game much more than the PI call did.

[I posted the following in the Gameday thread, but thought it might get lost in there, so figured I would repost in this thread.] So, we keep hearing the better team lost. Baltimore was/is a better team than the Bills, but: -Head-to-Head: 1-1 -Record: Buffalo 13-4, Balt 12-5 (plus we purposefully pooched the last game of the year vs. the Pats---could have had two wins on Balt) -AFC seeding: Buffalo #2; Baltimore #3 -We scored more points than Baltimore this year (only by 7, but still) -Conversely, their defense only allowed 7 points fewer than the Bills defense on the year -So, the teams are tied in point differential on the year -The two teams scored the same number of TDs on the year That's about as evenly matched as two teams could get (with a slight edge to the Bills based on record and seeding), but then there is this too : -We had a +24 turnover ratio, the Ravens had a +6 turnover ratio (not surprising this was the difference in the game as it's one of the only stats with a major advantage to either team). -Josh Allen > Lamar Jackson Buffalo: Two best wins: KC (15-2), Detroit (15-2) Two worst losses (not counting week 17): Hoston (10-7, div winner, lost div round playoffs); Rams (10-7, div winner, lost division round of playoffs) Baltimore: Two best wins: Buffalo (13-4), Washington (12-5) Two worst losses: Las Vegas (4-13), Cleveland (3-14) The only place the Ravens had it over the Bills this year was total yards. They had 1,119 yards more than us on the year (or 65.8 yards per game). But all of those extra yards did not equate to more points or more wins than the Bills (again, the Bills turnover prowess is probably the reason for that---giving our offense more short fields). And more yards than the Bills in the playoff game didn't help them advance either, did it?. So, how is Baltimore the better team again? What metric are people using? Just total yards without looking at any other stat? Or is it just the popularity contest known as Pro Bowl voting?

So, we keep hearing the better team lost. Baltimore was/is a better team than the Bills, but: -Head-to-Head: 1-1 -Record: Buffalo 13-4, Balt 12-5 (plus we purposefully pooched the last game of the year vs. the Pats---could have had two wins on Balt) -AFC seeding: Buffalo #2; Baltimore #3 -We scored more points than Baltimore this year (only by 7, but still) -Conversely, their defense only allowed 7 points fewer than the Bills defense on the year -So, the teams are tied in point differential on the year -The two teams scored the same number of TDs on the year That's about as evenly matched as two teams could get (with a slight edge to the Bills based on record and seeding), but then there is this too : -We had a +24 turnover ratio, the Ravens had a +6 turnover ratio (not surprising this was the difference in the game as it's the only stat with a major advantage to either team). -Josh Allen > Lamar Jackson Buffalo: Two best wins: KC (15-2), Detroit (15-2) Two worst losses (not counting week 17): Hoston (10-7, div winner, lost div round playoffs); Rams (10-7, div winner, lost division round of playoffs) Baltimore: Two best wins: Buffalo (13-4), Washington (12-5) Two worst losses: Las Vegas (4-13), Cleveland (3-14) The only place the Ravens had it over the Bills this year was total yards. They had 1,119 yards more than us on the year (or 65.8 yards per game). But all of those extra yards did not equate to more points or more wins than the Bills (again, the Bills turnover prowess is probably the reason for that---giving our offense more short fields). And more yards than the Bills in the playoff game didn't help them advance either. So, how is Baltimore the better team again? What metric are people using? Just total yards without looking at any other stat? Or is it just the popularity contest known as Pro Bowl voting?

I think Brady is around Buffalo one more year. The 2nd half of our playoff game didn't help his cause. Nor did the fact that we won. Because he is off limits for at least another week, as the teams who already made the decision on their coaches are getting a jump start on hiring staffs, etc. The Bears were one of four teams that showed interest. So, they're out. The Jets have interviewed or are interviewing 17 different guys (plus I don't know Brady would accept that job---in the division, terrible ownership, big QB question/future). Joe already interviewed for Chicago, New Orleans, and Jax. He has not yet interviewed with the Jets, though he is on their list. There are also rumors that Aaron Glenn (DET DC) is the frontrunner for the Jets job. So the Jets don't really seem like a real possibility. That leaves the Jags and the Saints. The Jags are also interviewing: Steve Spagnuola (KC DC), Aaron Glen (DET DC), Patrick Graham (LV DC), Liam Coen (TB OC), Robert Saleh, Brian Flores (MIN DC), Todd Monken (BAL OC)---they had also interviewed Ben Johnson (CHI) and Kellen Moore (who looks to be getting the Cowboys head post). So, Brady is currently 1 of 8 remaining candidates. Jags are moving into second round of interviews (in-person). Apparently Johnson, Coen, Glen, and Saleh were the front-runners. Sounds like the Jags do want to go with an offensive guy. So, with Johnson gone, is Liam Coen the answer? Monken and Brady are the only other candidates on the offensive side of the ball. The Saints are also interviewing: Aaron Glen (DET DC), Mike Kafka (NYG OC), Anthony Weaver (MIA DC), David Shaw (former Stanford HC), Kliff Kingsbury (WAS OC), Mike McCarthy (former DAL/GB HC), and Darren Rizzi (NO interim HC). Again, they also interviewed Kellen Moore, but it looks like he's going to Dallas. So, Brady is again, 1 of 8 remaining candidates. Saints are also into second interviews and have them scheduled for Kafka, Weaver, and McCarthy. I think it will be one more year (if Buffalo continues to play well again next year and especially if we make/win a SB this year) before he gets the call. As for the Bears, great hire. It will be interesting to see if Johnson can get Caleb Williams and the Bears offense up and running...and conversely, it will be interesting to see what happens to the Detroit offense without him. Who will they hire to replace him? Can they keep it going? Was it more Johnson than Campbell with Detroit's success, or will Detroit just keep rolling (they still have some great players on offense).

Already over .500. The win against Baltimore was his seventh. So, a 7-6 playoff record currently for McD. A 7-5 playoff record for Josh.

Great initial post Chandler! One of your best. Thanks for getting us started each week. We are ONE BILLS NATION tonight. Let's F'n Go Buffalo! Mafia Mount Up! GO BILLS!

Good...everyone get it all out before tomorrow...exorcise those demons.

Man I loved Joe Cribbs and Jerry Butler! And I enjoyed watching Fergy play (he was the QB of my childhood). He was never a top guy, but he was a very good QB---despite a lot of down years for the Bills during his career. He ranks 57th all-time in passing yards and 55th all-time in passing TDs. Funny enough, Josh Allen currently has just 1 passing TD less than Fergy. So, just two more passing TDs for Josh will move him ahead of Fergy in the Bills' record books. I remember being so upset when Chuck Knox left. But, I guess if he didn't, we might not have had Bill, Marv, Jim and the boys do what they did. The post-game interview with Reggie McKenzie @ 10:55 in the video is priceless. [Reminiscent of the feelings of the Bills breaking the drought in 2017.] And we often talk about the players/league being tougher back in the day. Well, apparently the refs were too. Check out the ref @ 43:19 in the video. We're Talkin' Proud!

So, according to the CBS Head Coah/GM hiring tracker: Joe Brady is being interviewed by 4 of the 6 remaining teams that still need a HC: the Bears, the Jets, the Jaguars, and the Saints. Dallas and Las Vegas have not requested an interview with Joe. The Bears are interviewing 18 candidates (14 done, 4 to go). Is it me or does that sound like an unusually high number? But then the Jets are interviewing 17 candidates (12 completed) The Jaguars are interviewing 10 candidates (6 completed) The Saints are interviewing 9 candidates (only 2 complete) So, a lot of interest for Joe...but he's up against a lot of other candidates too. As far as the NFL's interviewing process. I understand that if you were able to hire your coach now, instead of after the Super Bowl (Feb 10th), that is almost an extra month for the new coach to get started. That's a lot of time---in regards to the draft and him hiring his staff ahead of other head coaches, etc.. So, it wouldn't be fair to have teams wait until say after the Super Bowl to start interviewing. It would kind of put those teams in a bit of a hole. But, interviewing a playoff coordinator now, almost seems like just an elimination round. I mean, if you want one of those coordinators, you are going to have to wait for their team to be eliminated anyhow. Sure that could be today or tomorrow, but it could also be Feb. 10th. If you want one of those guys that bad, you know it and are ok to wait. If he's just one among many candidates, then you are probably not going to wait...unless he blows your socks off and is clearly the #1 interview. So, it almost seems silly for teams to interview playoff coordinators (while their team is still in it) unless they are pretty sure that they are the guy they want (or at least one of their top 2-3 candidates). When you are interviewing 18 guys, why bother with a playoff coordinator, unless you are pretty sure you want him? And why interview guys right before their game? Half the teams will be eliminated this weekend and you can interview them on Monday...the other guys you still have to wait for anyhow. It definitely hurts the coaching candidates to still have their team in the playoffs---and unless you are already a team's top 1 to 2 choices, you probably have very little shot of winning them over in an interview anyhow. Sounds like Brady is focused on the Bills and not all that interested in the available opportunities (or isn't really expecting to be hired by any of them). But, that is also a process in the NFL...interviewing for multiple teams over multiple years drives up your stock. So, you kind of have to take the interviews. And yes, some coaches spend a ton of time preparing for these interviews. But again, it sounds like Joe has the right perspective about it this year. Get my foot in the door and be seen, but not put too much into the interviews that it takes away from the team.

Over the Last Five Years in the Regular Season: The Bills are 61-22 for a .735% win percentage (good for 2nd best in the league, only behind the Chiefs), so over those 5 years: -The Bills have the second most wins in the league -The Bills have scored the most points in the league -The Bills have the 3rd most yards in the league -The Bills defense has allowed the fewest amount of points in the league -The Bills defense has allowed the 2nd fewest yards -The Bills are first in defensive takeaways -The Bills are eleventh in sacks -The Bills are first in point differential with +912 points [The Ravens are second with +699, the Chiefs are third with +602] -5 of 5 eleven plus win seasons, three 13-win seasons, 5 AFC East titles, 5 playoff berths (four #2 seeds, one #3 seed) It's pretty crazy, when you lay it all out, just how good the Bills have been in the regular season. Glad you're coming around OP, but at least average is the biggest understatement I've heard in a long while. I mean honestly, as far as regular season goes, what more could you possibly ask for. Come on dude. That is just the nature of the playoffs itself. Unless you get to the Super Bowl, your playoff wins will be against lower seeds and your loss(es) will be to higher seeds (if you are often a #2 or #3 as Buffalo has been). I like how you went down to the 4th seed too, so you could include Houston. And for two of those years, there were only 6 seeds (so yeah, just by odds, we were going to lose to a 1-4 seed over a 5-6 seed, or even a 5-7 seed, if we didn't make the Super Bowl). Saying 0-6 against 1-4 seeds doesn't really add anything to the debate, it's still just, he hasn't made a Super Bowl yet. Plus, three of those losses were to the Chiefs. An all-time team (kind of like Peyton and the Colts behind Brady and the Pats). Two of the three years the Chiefs beat us, they made it to the Super Bowl. Last year, after beating us, they went on to win the Super Bowl. Our last two playoff meetings with this juggernaut team was a 6-point OT loss and a 3-point loss on a missed field goal at the end of the game. Some of you guys act like we get blown out of the playoffs every year. Or that Sean screws up every game with horrible decisions, etc. Outsie of 13 seconds, where are all of these major screw-ups? We have a 6-6 playoff record. A perfect playoff game. One of the greatest playoff games in history (regardlesss of the outcome). A win against Lamar, Harbaugh, and the Ravens. Despite our even record, we are still +38 points in playoff point differential under McD. Four of the six losses were one score games. Two of the losses were in Overtime. We have not been a bad playoff team by any means under Sean...we have just lost some heartbreakers (which happens to every coach, btw).

Nice article...thanks for posting. I'll give it a bump.

That's a great Comp. Hope he helps bring a ring to Buffalo like Dennis did for Detroit and Chicago.