finn

No, I agree with Hondo, except I'd go further and argue the stars really aligned in KC, with a top-quality HC, DC, QB matched with two future HOF players already on the roster and an excellent GM drafting well (or the most part). I don't think any of these individuals, or even any pair or trio, would do nearly as well as they have in combination. I mean, Mahomes is struggling with a lousy WR corps. Give him a weak offensive coordinator, too, and you think he would be considered the best quarterback in the game? I doubt it.

I'm sure Beane has learned from the Von Miller fiasco, which looked plausible, even shrewd at the time but may go down as one of the worst signings in Bills history. No, I would welcome a trade of a fourth-rounder or lower for a safety, linebacker, pass rusher, or kicker, but the Bills have only one house to mortgage. They should invest not in current stars but in young players who might develop into stars, starting with their own players.

Don't muddy the waters with facts, man. Mahomes' interceptions are brilliant. There's no other QB in the league who throws them as well as he does. He's just on a different level.

Slower than Hamlin? No. Smarter, savvier, better in coverage? Yes.

You should. Either Hopkins catches it or the refs call pass interference. I don't know why Mahomes doesn't just chuck it down the field on every play. The refs already have their hands in their pockets getting the flag ready.

Cooper for sure. But I wonder what happens to both receivers next year. I think Coleman may develop into an excellent receiver, but even paired with Shakir and a gadget player like Samuels, he needs someone like Cooper to make it all fall into place. It's possible a rookie might fit the bill, but I would think the Bills would want Cooper to stay another year or two until a younger player develops. As for Hopkins, that looks like a rental.

Could it be him playing 75 yards off the line of scrimmage on every passing play?

Funny, I don't remember him as playing badly. In fact, he made some plays as I recall. He wasn't spectacular, but neither was (or is) Epenesa. I was surprised when he was cut. But since he's done nothing since, I must have missed his ineptitude somehow.

You have to watch out for confirmation bias, but even so, it seems pass interference is called on every incomplete pass by Mahomes pass at a critical moment, and the most blatant holds ever caught on film not being called, allowing Mahomes all the time he needs to do whatever. The blatant favoritism combined with the glazing by the announcers is nauseating. I suspect it's turning off a lot of viewers across the country.

Would you mind linking to it? I can't find it.

No, thanks. The Von Miller debacle was enough of that kind of experiment. Keep the picks. If Beane trades for anyone, let it be an experienced safety. That's the missing piece in this defense. They really could use two high-caliber safeties, but one might be enough.

We should have an open thread of all--ALL--negative remarks about Mahomes made by national commentators in all--ALL--media. It wouldn't get past a single page, no matter how he performs.

Brady always seems to make it all about himself.

But he's not. In fact, he's not even top five. It's like everyone is afraid to say anything negative about His Holiness.

Great play by the DB. Coleman probably would have secured it without his arm raking down on the ball.

Shakir + Cooper = Beasley + Brown.

I'm glad to be embarrassed!

Why is Cooper playing? I might as well be out there for all the likelihood he'll be thrown to.

I'm sorry, guys, but this is just not a good team right now. Receivers, tight ends, kicker, quarterback, pass rush, secondary, play calling...they're just average most places and not elite anywhere. Just being objective.

Brady knows they know that he knows that they know he knows that he knows they know he always runs on first down, so he runs on first down to fake them out.

At least they have Mack Hollins wonderful presence in the locker room. Did you know he goes barefoot even in cold weather? That should count for something.

It was an excellent punt. The gunners didn't do their job.

And considering that when Mahomes got off the bench after learning for a year, he found himself throwing to not one but TWO future HOF receivers, while Allen was throwing to Zay Jones and a washed-up Kelvin Benjamin, it's even more impressive.

Psychology is a weird thing. I wonder if Bass has declined precisely because the team has showed such faith in him up to now, with his mechanics getting worse and worse the more his teammates and coaches have rallied around him. Might be hard to regain one's swagger in that atmosphere. You're not cocky in response to sympathy; you're grateful, guilty, frustrated, and helpless, more of a weepy limp noodle than a fierce warrior with a chip on his shoulder. You can't go into a critical kick terrified you're going to let your friends down; that just doesn't work. No idea how he would get his swagger back. Frankly, I see him only getting worse, not better. If I'm Beane, I'd be looking at the worst teams with the best kickers.

It's more likely he'll return to his pre-suspension form: a pass-rushing specialist who comes in on third and long and can generate some heat. I'll take that. If the Bills are incrementally better everywhere than they've been this year, via getting back key players back and adding a few more--that's all they should need to be SB contenders. We're seeing it happen already with the emergence of Davis, the addition of Cooper, and the return of Taron and Bernard. If they stay healthy and add just two more pieces--a safety and a kicker--they're as good as anyone in the league. It's probably too much to ask that Bishop will develop into a starter or that Beane will trade for a quality safety. But it's critical that they have a reliable kicker, one way or another. That has to be their focus.