finn

I'm hoping they use him to jam Tyreek Hill when they play the Dolphins. Disrupting their timing be the only way to slow down that express train since Tua gets rid of the ball so quickly. Bonus is shopping him to teams that play mostly man defenses. He's a good player, just can't play zone well, evidently.

Me, too. If the Bills lose, it's just awful. But if they win, even in a rout, it's nice, but like, ho hum.

My rebuttal is that Davis would be a bottom-tier WR on teams that do not have a top-three QB. Allen is connecting with him even though he can't get open because of poor route-running and lack of ability. Even then, he drops passes at a high rate. You see in Diggs what Allen can do for a top-flight receiver. You see in Davis what he can do with a mediocrity.

Agreed he has to play smarter. No question. But I would argue that those spectacular long balls to Davis would be double or triple in number if Davis was a true WR2--OR if Allen's protection were as good as Mahomes'. I'm overstating the case a bit, but the bottom line is that I think Beane would have done better securing an elite O-line and set of receivers for Allen than invest so much in the defense. I would trade a KC-quality line and a Bengals-quality WR corps for a weaker overall defense, wouldn't you?

So Gabe has lousy hands, is a poor route runner, and isn't particularly fast. Nice to have him as the WR2. Really helping the team.

I'm not saying he should only throw deep. I'm saying he can't throw deep (without turnovers or sacks) because Beane hasn't given him the weapons or the protection he needs to do so. As for running, he can't be as reckless as he has been, but designed runs and scrambles that end with a slide should remain a key part of his arsenal. Teams can take away the deep ball because Beane has given Allen only one receiver and they can pressure Allen instantly because Beane has been fine with mediocrities like Brown and Saffold. And the don't have to worry about his incredibly effective scrambling now because McDermott has now taken that off the table, unilaterally. I stand by what I said: Beane and McDermott don't understand what they have in Allen. They're playing to his weaknesses and neglecting or even discouraging his strengths. And we're seeing the result: cognitive (and physical) dissonance.

Beane and McDermott are blowing it. They have what could be a Hall of Fame QB, and they misusing him. His genius is the deep ball, improvisation, and running. But instead of a) protecting him; b) giving him deep weapons; and c) leveraging his running, which terrifies other teams, they're unilaterally disarming him and the team. The O-line an afterthought; NO top receivers besides Diggs; and no more run plays for him, with scrambling heavily discouraged. In short, they're collaborating with other teams to neuter this unicorn of a QB, a true generational talent used properly. What a travesty.

Didn't the same thing happen in the Green Bay game last year?

I have the sense other NFL players just don't respect Gabe Davis. He may be a good blocker, but he's not much of a threat as a receiver. I wonder if Beane will pull something off. Trade Elam for a decent WR?

Until Monday night, I've always had in mind the Allen from the 13-second game, and I've rationalized away every bad performance since then (bad day, bad line, bad elbow, bad receivers). But the Jets game was something different altogether. He didn't just have a bad day; something was very wrong. Now he appears ashamed and bewildered. Not a good emotional state for a comeback.

Isn't this kind of problem--a QB who's lost his way--one of the key responsibilities of a QB coach? I mean, what is more important? If he's biding his time waiting for another OC job, having potentially the best QB in NFL history melt down on his watch isn't what he wants on his resume. Short-term solution for McDermott: Fire the useless Brady and bring in a coach Allen will learn from, not some ambitious wannabe.

That's what people were saying after the Cincinnati game. And the Miami game. And after an offseason when he was roasted as a turnover machine. No, if he hasn't gotten it yet, after six years in the league, he likely won't ever get it. We have to accept who he is: a very entertaining, very exciting player who simply cannot or will not play cautiously. It may still be enough to go all the way.

The two sets of traits might be connected. He has bad judgment because it pays off many times, like the TD throw to Diggs, which could have been picked off. He can do things no other QB can do. Paradoxically, that's why he may never be great.

I'm really beginning to think Allen would rather lose than play dink football. He equates winning with the big play, not the score at the end of the game. He'll feel bad for awhile now--and go back to the same pattern. What's different now? Humiliation on national TV? Been there done that. High-stakes game? Ditto. A long offseason to get his act together? He's had several. If the Bills go all the way, it will only because other teams don't or can't follow Saleh's blueprint.

I think self-discipline is the problem, not confidence. He's addicted to the dopamine rush of the deep ball, and teams that can get pressure with four can just wait for him to implode, like a child who really really really wants that candy just out of reach. Maybe that's what Diggs is seeing. A man-child quarterback.

Wow. All Allen had to do was not turn over the ball. He could have just kneeled.

Who is our backup QB? Doesn't matter who he is. Put him in.

What a story. Jets win even without Rogers. I still have faith, but I really don't like Allen's face. He has the flushed look he has when he plays like a fool.

Is that what happened? He broke off his route?

I'm the ultimate Allen defender, and I can't defend his play this game. He's playing like a stupid rookie.

Why aren't they giving it to Hall and Cook every single play?

It's just a great defense, disciplined, great tackling, athletic, fast. Our skill players match up, but our line is two or three levels below their d-line in quality, and that's the difference. By the way, the score would be the same with Rogers in there.

He's no Brady, and I mean that as a compliment. I like that he chucks it, overall. Frustrating at the moment, but the payoffs are great. I don't want a Marcia Brady dinking and dunking.

Looks like the same guy from late last season. What happened to his vow to be patient? It's like he's itching to chuck it downtown, no matter what the coverage.

That's their game plan now. Take the air out of the ball, win by three points or less.