finn

I gotta say, I would rather have had the Bills lose to KC after that great game than win and have Allen choke against the Bengals afterwards like Mahomes. We would spent had the whole offseason reading about how Mahomes would have run the table, that he's the next GOAT, etc. Now, you can't say with a straight face that Mahomes is better, not after that choke job and after what Allen accomplished in his two playoff games. It's now officially cool to celebrate Allen, and that wouldn't be the case if he had choked like the Grim Reaper.

He would be our Deebo. Running backs hit the wall early, but he's a human Swiss Army knife.

And his coach hasn't matched his excellence. He's not comfortable with a superstar at QB. He would prefer Mac Jones so he can punt and play defense rather than go for it on fourth down from his own 36, which he can do with Allen. We have the right QB but the wrong head coach.

Yeah, but the throw just before by Mahomes was awful and should have been a pick six. He was just another QB today, unlike last week. But even last week, I would say it was more the Bills D playing awful than any brilliance by Mahomes, apart from the game-winning TD. Allen was the one who was brilliant.

Cordarelle Patterson alone may be enough. Suddenly you have speed on offensive and another weapon for Allen. Draft a corner and a guard, sign your own free agents, and you're good to go.

So... is there any lesson here for the Bills? Spend still more on their D-line?

As in draft Metcalf when he was right there, instead of Ford?

The best thing that has been said about him (besides "He's only 21! 22! 23!) is that he takes up space in the middle of the field with his length and speed. He's certainly not a big play linebacker, a guy who can take over the game. I wouldn't say he's mediocre, but he's certainly not a blue chip player. I'd much rather have Darius Leonard, who was picked after Edmunds. That's an impact player. (Drafting Nick Chubb in that spot wouldn't have been a bad idea, either...). Is he worth the salary they'll have to pay to keep him? No. Many times over no.

You have to wonder if that's McDermott's influence, again. His education is coming along too slowly, and he's holding back this team. Yes, he learned to go for it on fourth down past the 50-yard line. Baby is coming along. But he still doesn't get that you can't waste drives. He punts on his own 34 with one foot to go with the best short-yardage quarterback in the history of football, facing a team that WILL score if you punt. One calendar year to the day from his disgraceful punt- and field-go festival against KC, he still doesn't get it. The Education of Sean McDermott = "D'oh!"

I was wondering if the Jags would take our round one pick for Travis Etienne. Very fast, good size, coming off injury.

I suspect he might not address how KC drafted a pro bowl level center right after we picked Basham and later a starting-quality guard for I think a 6th round pick, in addition to upgrading both tackle spots. No need to point out how KC was one step ahead of him again.

A corollary is the almost-but-not-quite-there pass rush.

well, if you're thinking stats, their pass defense was first in the league.

How about Rocky and Bullwinkle? Or Elmer Fudd? Talk about feeling your age. What the hell is Rocketship?

Or anything less than three yards inside the KC 40 yard line, unless it's turning into a ball-control/field position type of game, which seems unlikely.

I had the same thought, but then I remembered how the Chiefs had those long drives in last year's playoff game against the Bills. Either team can do that, I think, which would keep it from being a real shootout.

Yes, I've had that conversation. It follows with, "Yeah, but we have 6," and "Did I mention we won six?" Always the "we," except, I notice, when talking about the Bills latest blowout, when they talk in terms of "them" getting blown out and how badly "they" played.

Do you think Pats* fans are rooting for the Bills? I live in NE, and I can't really tell. Most people are still feeling raw about the blowout.

The Bills can only afford veterans looking for a ring and so willing to sign for cheap. Fortunately, they'll be an attractive team in that regard. They also will want to stockpile draft picks, so maybe they'll ship out some players they can spare, like Beasley, Butler, Morse, Ford, Williams (provided they draft a guard early), Addison, Hughes (forgot if he'll be a free agent), and maybe Moss. Meanwhile, develop promising young players like Hodgins, Stephenson, Jackson, Hamlin, and Doyle, all of whom might start at some point. (Jackson already is.)

It's like two narratives are ready to go depending on who wins. Either it's the "It's the Bills time!/Steamroller Bills" or "They're not ready/KC owns them/Can't win on the road." And as usual, you win and the focus is on how great you are, lose and it's all about the ways you suck. I want the win because I want to spend a pleasant eight months savoring it.

Yeah, but wasn't it pretty much the same as the last game against the Pats? Sure, we didn't get every bounce in that game, if that's what you mean, but the Bills played lights out like in this one. They dominated, which is SO nice to see after all those games (e.g., Dolphins, Washington) where they let teams hang around. I'm so greedy now. I want them to crush KC, crush the Titans and crush GB or whoever makes it from the NFC. Not sure if that's even unrealistic.

Bet that's the first time in NFL history that has happened, too.

This game reminds me of the Bills beating the Raiders 51-3 in 1990.

Wow, what an impressive catch. You just don't see that very often.

Moving the camera angle for a minute, how would you beat the Bills if you're Belichick? I think he has to pick his poison. My priorities would be keeping Allen contained in the pocket--no rollouts at all--and take away Diggs and Knox. Then hope the cold shuts down the long passes and you get some turnovers. On offense, take the air out of the ball, like he did in the Bills-Giants Super Bowl. That's pretty much the only way for them to win against a clearly superior team. They've really lucky to have another weather day.