BobChalmers

This + I really have to wonder what (besides race, I guess?) has people constantly trying to call EJ a "running" QB. He wasn't much of a runner in college - he was a pocket or roll-out passer, but he rarely ran - why in hell would he be a runner in the pros? EJ has started 14 games so far, btw. No need to insist on starting him OR give up on him - either option is absurd. Yeah... kind of thinking that too

Beyond that, it's pretty clear the WR's just want some on target throws on individual plays when they are open. Wins and stats will follow.

Texans' season sure hasn't been impressive so far: Wins over Redskins and Raiders, and a loss to the Giants. That's three really terrible teams they are 2-1 against. Seriously, any of them could be vying for the #1 overall pick next April.

Wins over Redskins and Raiders, loss to a horrible Giants team. Bills will be by far their toughest opponent so far. Honestly this Texans team may well be pretty bad. No guarantee of a win in the NFL, especially on the road, but this is one Bills should get.

Similar to Chicago matchups EXCEPT: Bills at home this time. Ryan Matthews is broken, and I am certain Forte >> Danny Woodhead. Could be a second straight week w/o much field time for Spikes. SD's game will be ALL on Rivers, and Bills DL should be able to pressure him some at home.

Sadly (and obviously) for us, that's not how it works - it would be incredibly bad luck failing on 6 straight 2-0 starts, but the prior seasons are in the past now - they don't affect the future. If only being "due" really counted for something, eh? Our odds for prediction based on the overall 63% statistic are the same 63% this year. Still a heck of a lot better than 1-1 or 0-2, so I'm happy about it! ... Agree with others - this is a more talented team, and being run+defense based is usually a recipe for some level of consistent success. No reason they can't play to the level of the more successful Jets teams of a few years back, for example. I also keep in mind last year's team was a lot better than their 6-10 record. Tons of injuries and they lost all 3 games that went to O/T which alone really makes them more like a 7.5 win team. IE if you play 60 minutes tied, you basically tied, and there's no statistical basis for arguing which team should win the O/T beyond luck on a 50/50 shot. If the improvement in the run defense, EJ's play with experience (and health), and the addition of Watkins and Williams at WR (Stevie who??) are enough for 3 wins, there's every reason to believe they are a playoff-capable team. Beating San Diego could be a big deal for Wild Card tiebreakers, btw. Same with Houston. Raiders and Chiefs are trash everyone in the AFCE will beat and @Denver is just a loss, so getting at least one of the next two would help a lot if it comes to that.

That poll is PRE WEEK 2!! Even though the win/loss and last games have been updated - the text says and is after week 1 only. chillax and wait for the update!

The Bills have been 2-0 FIVE times, in fact, during the 14 year futility run. It's part of their charm - not just bad, but with occasional flashes of hope to get the hook a little deeper in our mouths.

I think this is an ongoing disagreement and misconception here regarding how we should react/feel as fans. The Buffalo Bills should not care what talking heads say, because as you point out THEY are focused on winning the next game. WE are not playing in that game - we are fans who pay/sit through advertising/etc to be ENTERTAINED by the whole of the NFL experience. Part of that entertainment is listening to commentary and deserved praise about our favorite franchise during the long off-period between games. When the press is doing a crappy/lazy/unfair job of covering our favorite team, we as FANS have every reason to be frustrated with the overall quality of their product. We have every right to call them out (Marshall Faulk re: Jason Peters anyone?) and embarrass them for their incompetence. The Bills will take care of the winning on the field (to the extent that they can) and we have near zero to do with that. Separate topic.

Grimes made a great play - the one thing Sammy might have done is grab it higher so Grimes wouldn't be able to reach it. My guess is his ribs are keeping him from being the leaping/stretching athletic freak he was in camp. Hopefully he can heal while still playing.

I got that one! ONLY because I am also O-L-D!!!

THANK YOU. EJ had to get that ball over multiple people to get it to Woods. The (vertical) window was pretty small. EJ actually made a hell of a good throw. The helmet-to-helmet contact was entirely on Conti and he was fined. Should have been flagged. He could have wrapped Woods up but chose to lower his head. I'm not sure why people are so determined to prove EJ sucks that they ignore what's in front of them.

Most of the same ones who picked the Dolphins also picked the Steelers to win last night... Because I would like to watch NFLN and occasionally hear something intelligent about my team. The same lazy mentality that has them all pick against the Bills nearly every week is the what causes FredEx's game-winning run to not be one of the top 10 plays, etc... "[They're going to finish 2-14 because] they need to get better at OLT" - famous NFLN PAID "expert" Marshall Faulk mailing it in apparently thinking ALL-PRO OLT Jason Peters played for someone else.

Worse than LAST YEAR???

The last Bills game played in Chicago was many years ago - of course THAT is meaningless. Last year Bills-Dolphins was largely the same two rosters and coaching staffs. Calling that meaningless is nonsense. Only way you could not lean Bills is to argue that Thad >> EJ. Doesn't mean they WILL win, but, again, I assure you the "experts" don't even realize who won last year.

I didn't expect anyone to pick the Bills last week. This nonsense with Miami is stupid. I wonder how many of these "experts" (aka arse-clowns) know what happened when these two played last year. I bet 50% of them think Miami swept the Bills. My recollection is the Bills swept these chumps with Thad Lewis at QB, and shut them out 19-0 in their last meeting. Anyone with a non-defective brain would lean Buffalo this week. Honestly any imbecile can be a sports "analyst".

Have to give Cowherd credit on this one - Bills were his upset pick of the week. _I_ did not really think they'd win.

That is a seriously good idea.

The ball never got close to touching the pylon. He was clearly out.

What? Brown and Murphy are paid by the Bills for all that stuff they do FOR THE BILLS OFFICIAL MEDIA?? OMG, it's like they are Bills employees or something!!! Thanks for letting me know!!

Here are some of the players commenting on him this week in regards to not being a team captain. Sounds like they hate him and don't think he's the long-term answer at QB (NOT): “It’s one of those things where we have a lot of veteran leadership on the team,” Jackson said. “Give him time, he’ll definitely be a captain at some point.” “With him being a quarterback, that’s a lot of pressure,” Spikes said of Manuel. “He’s going to lead and he’s going to be great. The sky’s the limit for that kid. He’s just got to keep working. He’s young but I’m looking for him to be that leader for us and get us going.”

1. THIS - the OP pretty much ruins his chances for sounding rational in the thread title. 2. Maybe the actual NFL players on the team don't see the need to "DEFEND" EJ's play?

Seriously, can we delete this pointless/misleading thread?

WTF? Based on preseason??? In real NFL games Smith wasn't remotely as good as EJ: http://www.nfl.com/s...qualified=false EJ Manuel BUF QB 180 306 58.8 30.6 1,972 6.4 197.2 11 9 86 28.1 45 28 4 28 77.7 Geno Smith NYJ QB 247 443 55.8 27.7 3,046 6.9 190.4 12 21 143 32.3 69T 43 6 43 66.5

What makes you say EJ has regressed. Thad was the only one who clearly regressed. Tuel was always bad. EJ looks a bit better.