BillsFan-4-Ever Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1okb5EIo1nw Gloom, despair, agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all he must be a Bills Fan
OldTimer1960 Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I am thinking Pats 48 bills 0 - at half time...
eball Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I'm usually pretty optimistic at this time of the year, hoping (sometimes despite logic suggesting otherwise) that all the questions will be answered in the right way and the Bills will get off to a fast start. This year I'm clueless. I believe a significant part of my problem getting a handle on the team is that the last two preseason games were played without our 1st string QB. After all of the optimism of weeks one and two, the games against Washington and Detroit were difficult to watch. So I'm in a quandary -- do I focus on how organized and crisp the team looked at Indy and against Minnesota, or how terrible these last two games were? I mean, last night only two projected starters (besides the specialists) got work. The group of gentlemen wearing Buffalo Bills laundry last evening will never again be on the football field at the same time. Against the Pats* I believe getting EJ back means everything. Yes, we're talking about a rookie making his first start against a perennial power, but the confidence he exudes is inspiring. So glad to see tape of him throwing a bit last night before the game -- not limping, not looking down at his knee. I will have no confidence going into that game if Tuel or Lewis are behind center. None. Similarly, on defense I'd like to believe Pettine scaled things back significantly the last two weeks in the interest of player evaluation, but the CB situation is a mess. Byrd doesn't appear to be ready to play. It seems to be a no-win scenario with Brady coming to town -- does anyone see them not putting 30 on the board? I suppose I'll just be looking for an energetic, focused team that plays hard and smart, and doesn't give up or back down. I'll be there and cheering my ass off as always.
PromoTheRobot Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 (edited) If there was ever a reason to shorten the preseason last night was it. Last night was a total buzzkill. I understand why but it still hurts to watch Edited August 30, 2013 by PromoTheRobot
stony Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I'm usually pretty optimistic at this time of the year, hoping (sometimes despite logic suggesting otherwise) that all the questions will be answered in the right way and the Bills will get off to a fast start. This year I'm clueless. I believe a significant part of my problem getting a handle on the team is that the last two preseason games were played without our 1st string QB. After all of the optimism of weeks one and two, the games against Washington and Detroit were difficult to watch. So I'm in a quandary -- do I focus on how organized and crisp the team looked at Indy and against Minnesota, or how terrible these last two games were? I mean, last night only two projected starters (besides the specialists) got work. The group of gentlemen wearing Buffalo Bills laundry last evening will never again be on the football field at the same time. Against the Pats* I believe getting EJ back means everything. Yes, we're talking about a rookie making his first start against a perennial power, but the confidence he exudes is inspiring. So glad to see tape of him throwing a bit last night before the game -- not limping, not looking down at his knee. I will have no confidence going into that game if Tuel or Lewis are behind center. None. Similarly, on defense I'd like to believe Pettine scaled things back significantly the last two weeks in the interest of player evaluation, but the CB situation is a mess. Byrd doesn't appear to be ready to play. It seems to be a no-win scenario with Brady coming to town -- does anyone see them not putting 30 on the board? I suppose I'll just be looking for an energetic, focused team that plays hard and smart, and doesn't give up or back down. I'll be there and cheering my ass off as always. Every year the eternal optimist in me makes a mental checklist of all the reasons why the Bills will be good. After the first two preseason games, the list was steadily growing... Then the dam broke, EJ got hurt, the Byrd situation, Gilmore injury last two preseason games etc. all happened in 10 days and the list became much shorter. So now I'm somewhere in the middle, and like yourself, I have no idea where this leaves me. Exited, anxious, pretty much like every other Bills season.
Nanker Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Not to burst your bubble eBall, but I did not think they looked good against Minni's #1s. The D scored a flukey TD in the first half - but the O did very little. So, color me pessimistic. The team has far too many question marks and zero history of playing in these new schemes for me to get deluded into believing this will be a winning season. It could happen, and I hope for it to, but I'm pessimistic about our chances for this year.
BillsFanNC Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I suppose I'll just be looking for an energetic, focused team that plays hard and smart, and doesn't give up or back down. I'll be there and cheering my ass off as always. That about sums it up for me too. You never know, if the Bills are somehow able to knock Brady out early there will be a glimmer of hope at least.
eball Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Not to burst your bubble eBall, but I did not think they looked good against Minni's #1s. The D scored a flukey TD in the first half - but the O did very little. So, color me pessimistic. The team has far too many question marks and zero history of playing in these new schemes for me to get deluded into believing this will be a winning season. It could happen, and I hope for it to, but I'm pessimistic about our chances for this year. I don't think I have a bubble to burst -- I don't really have any expectations. But -- EJ didn't play in the 1st half against Minny.
Homey D. Clown Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I am pretty confident they aren't going to fold or back down and play hard, but this one isn't going to be close next Sunday no matter who's QBing the team. It's going to take 3-4 games before they even get comfortable in their new systems on both sides of the ball, and that's the reality of having everything brand new in the NFL. I'm not trying to be doom and gloom, but I have tempered my expectations for at least the 1st quarter of the season.
CodeMonkey Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I never expected much this season. I want steady improvement throughout the season with Manuel gaining experience (and staying healthy) and the entire team learning the systems and working out the kinks in them. Basically setup for a strong 2014. If it ends up being "the perfect storm" this season then fantastic. But it's not what I'm expecting.
bobobonators Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 What to expect? A loss - that's what I'm expecting. 27 - 10 sounds about right.
jaybee Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Similarly, on defense I'd like to believe Pettine scaled things back significantly the last two weeks in the interest of player evaluation, but the CB situation is a mess. Byrd doesn't appear to be ready to play. It seems to be a no-win scenario with Brady coming to town -- does anyone see them not putting 30 on the board? I suppose I'll just be looking for an energetic, focused team that plays hard and smart, and doesn't give up or back down. I'll be there and cheering my ass off as always. Ya know, I'm thinking the loss of Gilmore is as big of a deal as any..including the QB situation. Pettine will have to change up his scheme with this loss. I'm with you Eball, I really dont know what to expect at this point but I do believe Brady will probably have a pretty productive day. I think we'll need a little luck here to get a win against NE. Maybe a good ST play...or a defensive pick 6 or some event that lifts the team and carries them to an upset over the Pats. I hope we at least have the appearance of an NFL football team !!
BobChalmers Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Unknowns that I am hoping for but can't be comfortable with: - EJ Manuel plays and plays (fairly) well early. - Pettine's defense shines when let fully loose, so the Bills can give the Pats* trouble the way the better Jets teams often did. - The OL is good enough and opens decent holes for Spiller - The loss of Gilmore is offset by all the devastation in the Pats* receiving corps. All of these are "realistic" but none are certain, and the Bills probably need 3 or maybe all 4 to happen to win Sunday.
Captain Hindsight Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 If Tuel starts, I expect it to be very ugly. I actually think Tuel can play at this level, but UDFAs are UDFAs for a reason. If Manuel plays, I expect we will have a 50/50 chance of pulling off an upset
Max997 Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 I'm expecting the defense too look like it has the last few years with maybe a little more pressure The offense is a complete mystery to me
quinnearlysghost88 Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Not to burst your bubble eBall, but I did not think they looked good against Minni's #1s. The D scored a flukey TD in the first half - but the O did very little. So, color me pessimistic. The team has far too many question marks and zero history of playing in these new schemes for me to get deluded into believing this will be a winning season. It could happen, and I hope for it to, but I'm pessimistic about our chances for this year. It just so happens that fluke TDs still count for six AND they happen in the regular season too
DanInUticaTampa Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Unknowns that I am hoping for but can't be comfortable with: - EJ Manuel plays and plays (fairly) well early. - Pettine's defense shines when let fully loose, so the Bills can give the Pats* trouble the way the better Jets teams often did. - The OL is good enough and opens decent holes for Spiller - The loss of Gilmore is offset by all the devastation in the Pats* receiving corps. All of these are "realistic" but none are certain, and the Bills probably need 3 or maybe all 4 to happen to win Sunday. I think a couple of these will happen. I fear that we are going to get killed by penalties and when we look back, we will say the game could have been so much closer if we didn't have those penalties. Besides the injuries, the penalty problems are my next concern
bobobonators Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Sadly, I know exactly what to expect. LOL. INDEED.
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