BillsVet

That's not new. In other news, I need help with my homework.

Think the GM evaluates a player based on the team's overall performance? Doubtful. Yes, individuals contribute, but at what cost are they to the team? Trent Murphy playing the LDE position at his salary may be able to be replaced with someone on a rookie contract and provide similar production. I am using Murphy merely as an example. People want to sign everyone, but there's going to be trade-offs. For example, I doubt if Dawson Knox continues to improve that Kroft is back next season. That said, the Bills haven't once had to make a decision on someone drafted by this regime, but that begins to change this off-season when White, Dawkins, and Milano are eligible for extensions. Not to mention those on 1 year deals.

Former VP's rarely do well after 2 terms under a POTUS, right?

There's a significant amount of psychology to being a great coach. That, and gathering intelligence among other things.

The NE game may well be an isolated event and they hopefully improve moving forward. The concern is a blueprint now exists for defeating the Buffalo offense which opponents will attempt to replicate. Yes, the defense was stellar and a force to be reckoned with for any offense in this league. At the same time, this offense cannot get out of its own way, primarily because Allen and Barkley have holes in their play which opposing DCoord's are going to exploit. Bet on it. If you're not improving, it's regression. McD, Daboll, and especially Allen need to make some huge strides soon to get back on track and prove the offense can score consistently.

He was advertised as having the best hands of the 2017 WR class. Not sure in what activity, because it's definitely not in football.

Most concerned with McD's vision of how to win in the modern NFL because ownership accorded him so much power for a first time HC. They've invested a ton on defense in years 1-3 and waited until off-season 3 to begin doing something real on offense (save for drafting Allen). On draft day or in UFA during off-seasons 1 and 2 they've been real sketchy on picking offensive players. Not going to judge the 2019 guys just yet. The other thing is McD has made some very questionable coaching choices. He fired Dennison after one season, retained then fired Crossman, is on his 3rd WR coach, and of course finally had to fire Juan Castillo. The offensive side of the ball seems out of kilter. Daboll isn't inspiring much at the moment either and a HC only gets so many swings at coordinators before it points back on him. Game-day decisions always get the most attention because you can't miss those moments. The bigger issue is what is happening before the games are played. Bottom line is McD is 18-18 and 5 of those losses have come against NE. He's also only 6-8 in the division now.

With that I'm going to agree to disagree.

I thought the defense was outstanding and there aren't enough superlatives to describe it really. It's extremely hard to play outstanding defense though from game 1 to 16 with the rules in place. Today, the defense was ready to play, but the offense continues to lag far behind for McD coached teams. More concerning is that offense seems to have taken a back seat resource wise and there is a cost for that strategic team-building decision. Yes, holding NE to 16 points was great, but remember it's taken a lot of high draft picks and UFA dollars to build that unit. And we know sustaining great defenses has been impossible over the past 10 years or so when elite players want to get paid. Seattle comes to mind on that topic as they bear little resemblance to what they were just 5 years ago.

I'm sorry if the truth hurts. Reality is a dish best served cold and some people refuse to eat it.

Waving the white flag with the "miserable" claims? That's weak. I'm really happy right now. Yet, far too many fans accept mediocrity and hope to beat up on bad teams and excuse losing to the front runners. Until I see something out of McD against good teams then it's all platitudes and people trying to be a super-fan a la SNL in the early 90s.

Tell me why Buffalo jumped right in front of Carolina to take Dawkins in 2017? Think that was serendipity? Not quite Hondo. If you think Brandon Beane wasn't involved from afar you may as well be an ostrich. As for Zay, well, McD trusted the word of his former college coach over presumably his scouts. Not a solid move for someone who himself had been in scouting. If Ford is a disappointment after 4 games, then chalking up Singletary and Knox isn't yet appropriate either. Can't take credit for plusses without acknowledging the minuses either. They lost for the 5th straight time to NE where their offense was inept. Buffalo has scored 1 offensive TD on NE in those 5 games when the game was on the line. The fact remains that offensive player personnel decisions, either pro or amateur, have been very pedestrian and does not portend greatness down the road. And now I see fans are demanding bigger receivers, which is what they had last year. Guys who couldn't separate. Now they have faster receivers who get out-muscled for balls. The GM and HC frequently are one step behind when it comes to offensive strategy.

You can see what you'd like, but playing NE at home, with that crowd and making the mistakes they did today shows they're still another middle of the road team. Did you know that McD's teams have scored 47 points in 5 games against BB? Or that today marked the first time a McD coached team scored an offensive TD vs. NE with the game competitive? Did you know McD is 1 of 12 in challenges now? https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McDeSe0.htm The defense was great, but the offense is so far behind in execution that it's going to become an issue real fast between those two units. The opportunity was there today and it was squandered. I see the same old problems under McD: turnovers, poor offense, bad game management decisions, et al. I know some here are claiming that NE is better on defense than the '85 Bears but they're not. If you are trying to be the best (which McD is) then you gotta beat the best...which is what Buffalo has a tendency not to do. The last big win they had was a year ago against the Vikings. Since then it's beating up on also-rans.

You missed a few there. They traded up for Zay, who as of today is officially not approved by almost every Bills fan. Dawkins hasn't been better than average. And now we're seeing that Cody Ford isn't an OT in this league and has to kick inside to a lesser valued position (RG). Edit: They traded up for each of those guys and expended draft resources poorly. They've traded for the likes of Kelvin Benjamin, signed the likes of Ducasse, Bodine, and Newhouse along with other skill types like Andre Holmes, Mike Tolbert, and the oft-injured Tyler Kroft. And let's not forget Mitch Morse has had some troubling concussion issues. One would hope Singletary and Knox are mainstays on this offense, but right now they're unknowns and rookies. I wouldn't classify them as a done deal yet. And it goes without saying that their biggest decision on offense had a very shaky day (cue the "it's NE rhetoric). I see a trend here.

Off the top of my head, the Giants in a couple of games. McD is 0-5 and been outscored by 60 points combined by BB in the course of 5 regular season contests.

I have no doubt the defense was amped to play Brady and company, though after this game, they'll need to sustain that effort. It's not always going to be this good. Still, it was great seeing them force 3 and outs and bail out the offense, but eventually, there's going to be frustration if that side of the ball doesn't improve. There isn't enough rah-rah stuff a coach can provide if one side of the ball is at a disadvantage if the other isn't even close to decent.

Yes, the quarter pole of the season. You're already predicting NE will be among the all-time great defenses because they beat the mighty McD and Daboll show.

Fire Crossman...oh wait Bills were out-coached another time by BB.

How many years do McBeane have before Josh arrives? Not trying to be smart, but asking the question. Everything in the NFL is about winning yesterday.

In the process we trust...unless it involves Duke Williams' status on the roster.

Great straw-man argument. Who's talking about "53 Pro Bowl players" required for a team to win. Do your job is a mantra and some of the process guys didn't today.

When did the 2000 Ravens and 2002 Bucs get downgraded behind that NE D?

Cell phones and the internet can reach the entire world last I checked.

Phil McGeoghan convinced the new HC at the time to take his former star WR. McDermott as the de facto lead of this organization needs help evaluating offensive personnel and their offense is demonstrative of that fact.

It's extremely doubtful the union would permit the removal of the bye week. Player injuries are a major issue and providing a week break during the season isn't going anywhere. Any schedule changes must result in increased revenue or the discussion doesn't even get off the ground.