finn

I had the same thought. Remember Kelly blasting House Ballard after his missed block ended up in a shoulder separation? I saw that kind of anger in Allen's face as he jogged off the field after someone--was it Boettger?---blew a block that led to the second interception in the end zone. I can understand his frustration. He's has an elite set of receivers to throw to if the line just gives him time (or so he would think), but he's dodging rushers pretty much on every drop back. It's routine: Take the snap, dodge a rusher, look downfield. Anyway, that's one parallel to 1989. Also the "one or two players away" sense. The defense is (or was, before we lost White), but the line is a mess. Give Allen a line, a one-technique D-lineman and another receiver to replace the aging Beasley and Sanders, and 2022 might just be 1990 all over again.

And he's fast. I mean, he really has wheels for a tight end.

They may wait until the last weeks of the season, when teams dump high-priced veterans. If one of them wants to play with a contender, he might sign with the Bills for a reasonable salary.

Maybe revealing some exasperation about how Daboll is (not) using him?

The bummer here is that it looks like the Bills might need to draft a one-technique d-tackle with their first-round pick, leaving guard to the second round at best. They also will need at least one wide receiver. Let's hope Beane doesn't draft another Ford over another Metcalf this time.

He gave Knox a B+, despite four drops that I saw. What's up with that?

The Bills are the FIRST in the NFL in zone blocking, and we have two very good runners for this scheme in Singletary and Brieda. Meanwhile, they're 28th in power blocking, and our power back, Moss, is having a poor season, maybe because he's met in the backfield on most carries. So the solution seems pretty obvious. And yet, for reasons best known to him, Daboll sends in Moss and power-blocking plays.

I still think that one line from the article warrants more discussion: "The Bills rank 27th in success rate on zone runs; they lead the league in success rate on man-blocking runs." I can't find the stats online to back up the author's claim, but it would seem that the solution to the Bills' offensive imbalance is to call more man-blocking plays. Am I missing anything?

This is just speculation, but I wonder if the Bills just aren't accustomed to being the hunted ones. Last year, they had a predatory edge to them, and they went after teams. Now, their opponents are the intense ones: the Steelers, Titans, Jags, Colts... even the Dolphins have played with ferocity. The Bills, by contrast, only seemed to really want the Chiefs game. Otherwise, they've just been showing up for work, at least on offense. It's like they're waiting for something. Could it be that they're, well, bored by their famously easy schedule, to the extent that they've lost their edge?

It's nauseating, isn't it? I thought the years of taunts and boasts were past us, but they're not. (I live in New England.) To make it even worse, I turn on MNF and have to see that cheater's face--yet another decade of that pimp--and hear the announcers jostling for who can praise him most. As usual, the best solution is just win, baby.

I think they win, and the Bills have 11 days to get their act together for the home stretch. If they lose, they can still pull it together, win the division and so make the playoffs, but the self-analysis will need to deeper, and it will come amidst intense media and fan criticism. It wouldn't be a pleasant 11 days for them or us.

But who else will be out? This thing isn't over.

I don't mean he's deliberately infusing politics, just that the decision to get vaxxed or not is politically fraught, so it's not the same as getting angry at malingering or underperforming players, which can be productive. I mean, how should the team process McDermott's anger? Some probably share it, others are likely sullen, since they don't think it's justified, and the ones it's directed at probably feel a toxic mix of shame, defiance and confusion. None of this is not good for the team. I wonder if he applies his vaunted "process" to himself: the guy needs to look in the mirror and stop indulging his emotions.

Hard to deny, but the penalties on third down were a major factor. If the Colts had to punt on two or three of those, it could have been a different game. Still, I think they were going to lose to in most cases. Reich's emotion may have really motivated his team to win for him. Whereas it's likely McDermott was radiating frustration all week at Brown, Star, and likely all the other unvaccinated players waiting to be infected. Palpable frustration, anger and resentment from your coach, especially at teammates not playing, isn't very motivating, I'd guess. McDermott needs to get over his attitude, because more players will be out with COVID. I think the team is deep and talented enough--and has enough heart--to win without even key players. But not with a coach simmering with anger all season, let alone politically charged anger.

I missed that. Did anyone really call for dumping Allen? Now that would be a post to save. Can you find it? That person should have carry it as a mark of shame for the rest of their TBD career.

Did you follow Kelly's Bills? There was just as much doom talk then after inexplicable losses. And there were just as many holes in those rosters as the current team has, especially the secondary. Of the players you list, I would take only Thurman, Bruce and Tasker (over Singletary, Hughes and Jones). Obviously, the Kelly Bills did more, but give the current team a chance. I have a lot of hope for them. I'm concerned mostly for the resiliency factor. That, more than superior talent, is what defined the SB Bills. Not sure if Allen's Bills have that quality yet. You get hit in the face. How do you respond?

Well, the doom talk isn't willful, right? It comes from identifying with the team too much, so when they win we feel like winners; when the lose, we're losers. So the despair-talk, edged with anger and frustration, is all about our fear that we're losers, that we suck and always will suck. I wonder if the players know that the fan's applause and boos are not all about them. I mean, even at the peewee level parents aren't really reacting to and for their kids most of the time. It's still about them. The cool thing about being a fan of a national team is that you go through all these emotions with millions of people. Today we all suck.

Yeah, at least we don't have to wait as long as usual with the bad taste of a loss in our mouths. I think they'll thump the Saints, but everyone will say, correctly, that the victory doesn't amount to much. A sound team can lose to a Jaguars team once a year, but the Bills really do not look good now. It's not just COVID and the missing players, nor just the refereeing or bad bounces. They just don't seem to have the mojo or team identity they had last year. The good news is that I can see it coming back in force. All it takes is a spark, like Taron returning the interception against the Ravens in last year's playoff game. Could have happened today, especially early. If (yes, big "if," but that's the point) McKittrick had broken that return for a big gain instead of fumbling, the Bills might have won, even in a route. It's a funny game. They were passive bystanders in the Jags game, and seemed oddly passive or apathetic today. Maybe being humiliated will galvanize them.

I think this is right, except I still think Allen is special. The Bills are certainly not a dominant team, so let's walk that back. On the other hand, they have most of the pieces in place: QB, WR, and, today notwithstanding, defense. They're still better than most teams (so above average, not average) and they can probably beat anyone. On the other hand, pretty much any team can beat them, not a feature of great teams. What does this add up to? They will probably make the playoffs, where they're probably equally likely to lose the first game as they are to win at all. Look around the league: every team is flawed, including the ones at the top. Really, it will come down to matchups, weather, COVID, and luck.

Need a one-technique D-tackle. And a WR, too. But I'm with you in spirit. Picking nothing but guards for all the rounds, and adding two more elite ones in free agency, would be deeply satisfying.

I agree. It's like they're not hungry, or they expect someone else will step up. To be fair, the defense has been playing lights out all year. I think they're owed a dud or two in a season. But the offense is not doing well. Even when Allen had time to throw today he wasn't connecting much. Could be the weather in part. But you don't sense much urgency or caring. Is that on the head coach? Maybe.

This is the best take on the game I've read so far. Admirably succinct, too. The first and third points are worrisome. I just hope Star and Edmunds can make up the gulf between their offense and our defense. And Allen refusing to play the Tom Brady role of short passes, being patient, has lost them at least two games so far.

True. Every team has bombed games, including the Colts. Trouble is, with a loss today it will be a dogfight to even make the playoffs, and our next stretch is brutal. Do you see this team doing well against New England, twice? Me neither. They might muddle through, but it will be an ugly slog.

Time to ban this idiot from the board. Stick to football, fool.

I think a defensive back would do better in his place. Or one of the coaches. Or a fan from the stands. How could he be so bad? Is it psychological?