finn

Maybe with the best pass-coverage linebacker in the league?

I'm three hours north of you. There are a few other Bills fans up here, but Covid. Can't get my family to watch it with me, so it's just me screaming and yelling by myself. A bit sad.

Right, that and a real downpour. This game features what might end up being two Hall of Fame passers. Playing it in high winds or monsoon rains would be like Ali and Frazier fighting while sick with the flu. We're in for a treat Sunday night. I just hope Mahomes is healthy. I want to see a heavyweight bout--and see the best team (the Bills) win.

Incidentally, I really appreciate that Allen has never offered his hurt shoulder as an excuse for those two losses, although he wouldn't be wearing a brace if it wasn't affecting him. Another thing to like about the guy.

Yeah, I'm just expressing anxiety, which is funny because mostly I'm quite confident the Bills will win. But as for Beasley, I thought speculation was that he had a torn meniscus, which is painful and debilitating but playable. I wonder if that report was just wrong. I sure hope so. A Beasley at full strength makes the Bills much harder to stop.

The Bills don't have injuries to Allen, Milano and Edwards now, so it'll be a very different game right there. But now Davis and Beasley are hurt, so it's not all roses, especially with KC getting all its key players back. Beasley had a terrific corner on him against Baltimore, but in the clips I saw of him he was just going through the motions; his knee injury must be serious, even if he's not on the injury list. If Davis is hobbling, too, KC can bracket Diggs to take him out of the game, and then I'd worry about Allen trying to do too much, especially if they fall behind. The usual: throwing into double coverage, holding onto the ball too long, risking his neck to get the first down, and, worse of all, relying on Knox or Duke Williams. I have to say, though, I'm very confident that Frazier and McDermott will do something innovative and effective against Mahomes, and I am pretty confident that Allen to stay patient and take what's there: underneath throws to Singletary, passes in the flat to fat old Lee Smith, designed QB runs, maybe even (gasp) handing it off to the running backs. I'd love to see Williams and his explosiveness in the game. In short, the first meeting offers very few clues on how this game will go. The Bills are much better overall than they were, and KC looks like they'll be as good as they ever were. Should be really fun to watch. Just hope the fricking rain won't be a factor.

I'd be happy with a shootout. The Bills defense is better than KC's, and the Bills offense is every bit as good as KC's, so they would win in most scenarios. KC has not been burying their opponents; the Bills have.

And yet the Bills have been mocked for essentially taking him, Edwards and Allen over Mahomes.

That's why I want the Bills to draft one of the two big tight ends and/or add an exciting WR. Pour it on.

Or that if the Bills defense shuts him down they trot out excuses for him. "He's just not himself. Obviously, no defense in the world could shut down the Holy One." I think we can accept as a given that a Bills victory will have an asterisk (outside of the Bills mafia) no matter what happens. Fine, who cares? Make excuses.

Plus, am I the only one who hold his breath--in anxiety, not anticipation--when Roberts is about to catch the ball? It seems that three outcomes are equally likely at that moment: 1) He'll return for 10-30 yards; 2) he'll get stuffed back at the 6-yard line; 3) he'll fumble. I know that's not remotely fair based on his stats, but it might be close to true in terms of the stakes involved. As his coach, I would stress he doesn't have to take it to the house like McKittrick, that we like him just the way he is, no need to prove a thing, make good, sound decisions and DON'T TURN THE BALL OVER! (I think I would have to shout in his face at this point, wouldn't be able to help it.)

If Mahomes does play, you'd think the Chiefs would max protect him, including limiting his scrambling and designed runs. I wonder if the Bills will anticipate that plan and adjust accordingly.

The Ravens just released Mark Ingram. I know that trades are not allowed in the playoffs, but can the Bills sign Ingram because he's a free agent? He might be an improvement over Devonta Freeman, and he might sign for cheap for a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

I was thinking about that drop. I'm not sure he's experienced Humphrey's physical play before. It must be really distracting to have someone whacking hard at you while you stretch out for a tough catch. Diggs has the necessary concentration and, ironically, maybe Knox (who drops the easy ones). He's still a rookie. I hope he can adapt, because more physical play is coming his way.

One that can block, get open, catch the ball and not fumble or pop it high into the air. Imagine.

That's what I would want my team to do against someone like Allen. Make him work down the field slowly and hit his receivers hard each time for now gain. If possible, keep him from rolling out to extend plays. He'll still score, but not on every drive and not always touchdowns and not via soul-crushing long bombs. That and work hard to give the Bills bad field position, as the Colts did. Then at least you have a chance, especially with a good offense like the Chiefs have. Incidentally, I expect this will be exactly the Bills' plan against KC. The fact is, Allen is terrific. He's smart, savvy, mobile, tough, big and can throw anywhere from any platform against any coverage. He's wired to his receivers and OC, prepares well and is an excellent leader. He's the whole package. And he's 24. ☺️

I associate the word with criminal enterprise so I don't really see its appeal. I get the undertone of "us vs them," but other in-group monikers are available, so why choose this one? What, are we supposed to mutter stuff like, "Mahomes sleeps with the fishes" or "Either Allen's signature will be on the long-term contract or his brains"? It's a little cringe-inducing.

Well, speaking of myself, I find confirmation bias at work. I love the pro-Bills media talk, but I tend to underrate it compared to any negative chatter about the Bills. I'm happy with the good but really react at the bad. Trying to be objective, I would say that most media figures are saying the Bills are for real. Try this experiment: Pretend you despise the Bills and think the media drools over them. If you're like me, you'll quickly see how much positive commentary is out there.

The Chiefs also need to think long-term. If he's rushed back and gets another concussion, his career may be over. The more concussions you have, the more easy it is to suffer another one. The big hit he took in college might explain why it seemed to take less to concuss him this time around. If I'm the Chiefs, I keep him on the bench. He's 25, with a lot more football in him.

What is Baker known for? Really. I've only seen highlights (and lowlights) of Browns games. What is he known for? A Rivers-like quick release? Long balls? Is he a check-down artist? Clutch? His highlights all seem to be throws to wide-open receivers.

Yes, a good point. Maybe fewer shot plays then. It seemed the Bills could have put this one away in the first half, and the long bombs on most every drive cut short most drives. Hey, I'm just glad they won.

Deserves its own thread. To me, McDermott is hands down the Coach of the Year. No one else is close when you look at what he's accomplished the past three years and this year in particular. To build a team on values of hard work, resilience and mutual trust, I mean, that's brilliant.

I had the opposite reaction. The wind is blowing down long passes, yet Daboll keeps calling them for the entire first half. Based on McDermott's post-game comments, I suspect he told Daboll at halftime to knock it off. If the Bills had lost, Daboll would be excoriated on this board--for good reason. The ten-yard passes appeared to be there all game, and what success the Bills did have passing was due mostly to them. It seems to me Daboll's all-pass plan was stupid under the wind conditions, and, worse, he didn't change it when it failed, at least not until half time. My sense was that a more balanced attack of runs--even very short ones--and short passes might have led the Bills to a lopsided lead by halftime. Frazier and McDermott are the heroes here. We don't need a goat, but let's just say it's lucky for Daboll the Bills won. That first half was bone headed on his part.

There is something child like, almost sweet, about Josh Allen. Maybe the word is guileless. There's nothing phony or pretentious about him. That, combined with a ferocious will to win and real humbleness, would win over any teammate.

I was impressed by Trevarious White's speed on that play. He looked like he could have run right past Taron if he wanted.