You don't watch enough of the rest of the NFL thread

[badassgixxer05]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

But I am not going to sit and passively make excuses for the Bills when they are bad. I am going to try and work our why and call it how I see it.

That's just the thing. This isn't a bad team! Maybe not a great team, but far from being a bad team. Bad teams don't go 6-2 even if its against the scrubs of the NFL. This is an average young team that is still learning and growing. Ill take a team that finds away to win games over one that always finds a way to lose games any day of the week. We've been the later the past 20 years. I'm smiling through most of this season come end game. During the game is def a different story as I'm pulling my hair out.. lol

[Boatdrinks]

7 minutes ago, Ramza86 said:

The one thing i hate about watching other games....is seeing just how easily a lot of these teams can move the ball down the field.

 

 

I agree , it’s tough to watch at times. Conversely, you see many defenses that you just know aren’t going to make a stop. Leaves a lot of those style games comIng down to which team has the ball last. It’s frustrating to watch a team that can’t stop anyone too. 

[section122]

5 minutes ago, row_33 said:

you show me the slate of 16 (or so) games each week and you'd have to pay me at least $500 to bother watching a quarter of at least 13 of them.

 

it's painful to feel so apathetic to almost all the games every week

 

I just can't get enough NFL football.  I watch games that I shouldn't just to get my fix.  I don't care how bad the TNF matchup is or how bad Booger is (I actually don't mind him terribly), I am still watching.  Probably has to do with fantasy football but I'm watching a game whenever it is offered.

 

9 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Some fans are just wired different. I can't just "sit and enjoy." It isn't in my nature. I have to analyse - good or bad. I have to understand why. I watch most NFL games most weeks and I can't just sit and enjoy those either. Some people enjoy sport that way and that is fine. I can't I have to get under the skin of it. That is what I get my enjoyment from. Doesn't make me any less of a fan. I love that the Bills are 6-2. I hated the loss to the Eagles, really hated it. I hate the Eagles more than the Patriots. But I am not going to sit and passively make excuses for the Bills when they are bad. I am going to try and work our why and call it how I see it.

 

Yeah but your takes are measured good and bad.  You aren't out here saying we need to 300 yards passing no matter what.  Constructive conversation (which you provide) is always welcome.  It seems like many on the board want to focus too much on the negative without realizing they are doing what it takes to win each individual game compiling stats be damned.

 

2 minutes ago, Ramza86 said:

The one thing i hate about watching other games....is seeing just how easily a lot of these teams can move the ball down the field.

 

 

 

Would you believe that the Bills are within 60 ypg of the 3rd best offense.  That seems like a lot but the Bills aren't built that way.  In fact surprisingly to me the Bills only average 30 less ypg than the Patriots.  The Cowboys far and away average the most yards per game and they dropped one to the Jets!  The Falcons have the best passing offense in the NFL and they are 1-7!

[Casey D]

33 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

No one is apologizing for it. But they lost to the only two teams that are 0.500 or better. Until the beat a quality opponent none of us will know how good they truly are. Dallas, Baltimore, Patriots, and even the Steelers' games will be the real barometers....until the playoffs start

Actually Tennessee and the Eagles have the same record, save for the Bills game. 

[Seasons1992]

17 minutes ago, skibum said:

Sometimes I think a lot of folks on this board measure every game against the 1991 AFC Championship game. Like it's not a convincing win unless it's 51-3. 

 

"Shoulda been a shutout" they will say............

[row_33]

4 minutes ago, section122 said:

I just can't get enough NFL football.  I watch games that I shouldn't just to get my fix.  I don't care how bad the TNF matchup is or how bad Booger is (I actually don't mind him terribly), I am still watching.  Probably has to do with fantasy football but I'm watching a game whenever it is offered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

used to be that way, even without gambling or fantasy stuff

 

15 minutes ago, Jobot said:

I think it comes from the fact that the majority of games that Bills fans watch are one of two teams.  First and most obvious, Bills fans watch Bills games.  Second most watched are the Patriots.  The Patriots style of winning games typically results in dominating nearly all 60 minutes.  So us Bills fan are likely comparing the Bills winning style to the biggest outlier in the history of the NFL.

 

it's been our misfortune to have the Fish of the 70s and the Brady Pats in our division

 

at least the Colts left before Peyton showed up, that would have been fun on top of Brady's dominance

 

[SoTier]

6 minutes ago, Ramza86 said:

The one thing i hate about watching other games....is seeing just how easily a lot of these teams can move the ball down the field.

 

 

 

This bothers me, too.  I also see how many teams regularly make chunk plays that enable them to cover 70 or 80 yards in 5 or 6 plays not 10 or 12 as well as how many teams can go entire games without a single pre-snap offensive penalty. 

 

The Bills just don't look like they can truly compete with the Cowboys, Ravens, or Steelers.   They probably can compete with the Pats if they don't commit turn overs like they did in their first meeting, but that's because the Pats offense isn't that good this season -- and maybe their defense isn't as good as advertised, either.   I think the Bills will likely make the playoffs baring a sudden surge from a team like Oakland, Tennessee, Carolina or Pittsburgh but If they have to play "the big boys" like KC, Indy or  Houston in the WC, they look like they might be one and done.  Again.

[GunnerBill]

10 minutes ago, badassgixxer05 said:

That's just the thing. This isn't a bad team! Maybe not a great team, but far from being a bad team. Bad teams don't go 6-2 even if its against the scrubs of the NFL. This is an average young team that is still learning and growing. Ill take a team that finds away to win games over one that always finds a way to lose games any day of the week. We've been the later the past 20 years. I'm smiling through most of this season come end game. During the game is def a different story as I'm pulling my hair out.. lol

 

I didn't say this was a bad team. 

[Boatdrinks]

4 minutes ago, section122 said:

 

Would you believe that the Bills are within 60 ypg of the 3rd best offense.  That seems like a lot but the Bills aren't built that way.  In fact surprisingly to me the Bills only average 30 less ypg than the Patriots.  The Cowboys far and away average the most yards per game and they dropped one to the Jets!  The Falcons have the best passing offense in the NFL and they are 1-7!

The Bills reached as high as 12th in the NFLs yardage based offensive rankings earlier this season. It’s great to move the ball , and they were doing a better job of it earlier. Weather obviously impacted 2 of the last 3 home games as far as passing goes. They’re still struggling to move the ball for long stretches , especially in the 2nd half. The goal of offense is to score points , and they’ve been mostly lacking in that all important category all season. They need to find more ways to score, and there are multiple issues at work there. 

[Dablitzkrieg]

The way the narrative is set up now, the only way I see us getting the respect we deserve is to beat the piss out of Dallas on National TV.  So lets do it!

[Ethan in Cleveland]

13 minutes ago, section122 said:

 

It really is incredible when you look around the NFL.  Here is some more did you knows:

 

The Bills old man rushing attack currently is the 11th ranked rushing attack.

The Bills score more points per game than the Minshew mania led Jaguars and the OBJ/Landry/Mayfield/Chubb Browns.

The Bills have more passing tds than super rookie sensation Kyler Murray's Cardinals.

The Bills are 1 of 3 teams giving up less than 300 ypg on defense, less than 200 yards passing per game, and less than 17 ppg.  The Patriots and Niners are the other 2 teams that accomplish that feat.

 

 

That is an interesting collection of stats.  I still believe rushing the ball is important and don't care about 300 yard passing games. I also don't care about defense YPG but the less than 17 PPG is impressive. 

I care most about turnover margin. Bills are -1. Every team at -2 or worse has a losing record. Pats are +17. 

Need more sacks and more interceptions. That will win games against better opponents.  Have a very good opportunity against Mayfield.  But so does Cleveland with their front 4 against our o-line. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

3 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

The way the narrative is set up now, the only way I see us getting the respect we deserve is to beat the piss out of Dallas on National TV.  So lets do it!

and follow that up with a W against Brady ***** 

[JESSEFEFFER]

1 minute ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

The way the narrative is set up now, the only way I see us getting the respect we deserve is to beat the piss out of Dallas on National TV.  So lets do it!

 

I think the Bills will be really excited to play that game.  Way more than Dallas will be.  Weather won't be a factor, the Dallas offense is good enough to mean the Bills will have to score more points and the Romo/Nance, Thanksgiving national audience will all combine to bring out the best in the Bills offense.

[SoTier]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I didn't say this was a bad team. 

 

Apparently, criticizing how the Bills played a particular game or their style of game = thinking this is a bad team to some posters. 

 

The Bills aren't a bad team but they aren't quite as good as their record suggests that they are, either.   Some teams with worse records than they have -- like Indy, Jax, and Pittsburgh -- have dealt with significantly more difficulty, ie, the loss of their starting QBs than the Bills have faced and are still in the playoff hunt.  Foles is supposed to be nearly ready to play, so the Jags might turn things around.  Brissett has proven to be a more than competent replacement for Luck, and he may even be good enough to play this week.  Mason Rudolph isn't Roethlisberger but he's not Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold either.

[row_33]

2 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

Apparently, criticizing how the Bills played a particular game or their style of game = thinking this is a bad team to some posters. 

 

The Bills aren't a bad team but they aren't quite as good as their record suggests that they are, either.   Some teams with worse records than they have -- like Indy, Jax, and Pittsburgh -- have dealt with significantly more difficulty, ie, the loss of their starting QBs than the Bills have faced and are still in the playoff hunt.  Foles is supposed to be nearly ready to play, so the Jags might turn things around.  Brissett has proven to be a more than competent replacement for Luck, and he may even be good enough to play this week.  Mason Rudolph isn't Roethlisberger but he's not Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold either.

 

if i tear them to shreds in a 6 or worse win season, i can't do anything but smile and say "rock on!!' for this kind of season...

 

 

it's ticking off the kind of football fan who fully deserves to be ticked off

 

 

 

[Nextmanup]

The split among the fanbase over the record is not particularly difficult to understand.

It depends on what you are focusing on, and what is enough to make you happy as a Bills fan.

 

For those happy living in the moment and having a nice record after 8 weeks, things are going great.  And the team/organization is not a train wreck, as per the norm.  So there's that.

 

However, others are focusing on the long term goals of the franchise, looking further down the railroad tracks, and seeing that this team is nowhere near as good as their record says they are.  And there's a great reason for that: we have a historically easy schedule this year.

 

As I wrote yesterday somewhere, the party will end come our single playoff game.

 

Although even then, I'm sure a large segment of the fanbase here will be happy with another "one and done" season like a couple of years ago.  Others will not be.

 

 

[Wayne Arnold]

44 minutes ago, section122 said:

So much doom and gloom for a 6-2 team.  Enjoy it.  It has been 25 freaking years.  I watch a lot of other games.  Too many.   

 

The Bills are 6-2.  The freaking Buffalo Bills are 6-2.

 

Here’s where I differ from most Bills fans: I refuse to lower my expectations for this franchise just because the performance of the team historically has been so absurdly poor.

 

This isn’t college football where the gap between the haves and have-nots is enormous. It’s the NFL - all 32 teams have generally the same resources and opportunities to win the Super Bowl.

 

Until this team looks and feels like a true, legit Super Bowl contender I’m going to find it very difficult to “enjoy it”. Because I’ve had the football yanked out from under my foot by this franchise before. I know what a pretender looks like. And if this team finishes 9-7 or 8-8 or worse, I’m not going to look back and think “Wow, remember that 6-2 start? That was so much fun!”

 

”The freaking Buffalo Bills are 6-2”. Good, now let’s make it 9-2. Then 12-4. Then to the AFC Championship. Then the Super Bowl.

 

Then we all can truly enjoy it because it will be real.

[row_33]

3 minutes ago, Wayne Arnold said:

 

Here’s where I differ from most Bills fans: I refuse to lower my expectations for this franchise just because the performance of the team historically has been so absurdly poor.

 

This isn’t college football where the gap between the haves and have-nots is enormous. It’s the NFL - all 32 teams have generally the same resources and opportunities to win the Super Bowl.

 

Until this team looks and feels like a true, legit Super Bowl contender I’m going to find it very difficult to “enjoy it”. Because I’ve had the football yanked out from under my foot by this franchise before. I know what a pretender looks like. And if this team finishes 9-7 or 8-8 or worse, I’m not going to look back and think “Wow, remember that 6-2 start? That was so much fun!”

 

”The freaking Buffalo Bills are 6-2”. Good, now let’s make it 9-2. Then 12-4. Then to the AFC Championship. Then the Super Bowl.

 

Then we all can truly enjoy it because it will be real.

 

Kelly showed up and it was "now it's going to be Bills time!"

 

and they sucked for two years and then BAM!! were in the AFC CG

 

 

[section122]

4 minutes ago, Wayne Arnold said:

 

Here’s where I differ from most Bills fans: I refuse to lower my expectations for this franchise just because the performance of the team historically has been so absurdly poor.

 

This isn’t college football where the gap between the haves and have-nots is enormous. It’s the NFL - all 32 teams have generally the same resources and opportunities to win the Super Bowl.

 

Until this team looks and feels like a true, legit Super Bowl contender I’m going to find it very difficult to “enjoy it”. Because I’ve had the football yanked out from under my foot by this franchise before. I know what a pretender looks like. And if this team finishes 9-7 or 8-8 or worse, I’m not going to look back and think “Wow, remember that 6-2 start? That was so much fun!”

 

”The freaking Buffalo Bills are 6-2”. Good, now let’s make it 9-2. Then 12-4. Then to the AFC Championship. Then the Super Bowl.

 

Then we all can truly enjoy it because it will be real.

 

It will also be over.  1 team each year gets to raise that banner.  I won't miss out on enjoying the wins to worry about what comes next.  I can't control any of this.  So I will take what enjoyment I can out of each win and each week.  The Bills are still missing game changers on offense and they won't, at least in my mind, be a consistent contender until they get those pieces.  I will still enjoy the ride this year.

 

I disagree with your 32 teams have a chance to win the super bowl as well.  Buffalo is not and probably never will be a fa destination.  They are also a small market team.  Remember when Gillmore left and said now my family can watch me?  Remember when Antonio Brown refused to come to Buffalo (blessing in disguise)?  New England gets players to take discounts for a chance at winning.  Some cities are more attractive than others and some franchises are more attractive than others.  In the AFC Big Ben, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady account for every super bowl visit from the AFC with the exception of 1 lone Joe Flacco year going back to 2003.  Think about that 15 of the last 16 super bowl participants are because the teams had all time great qbs.  

[Wayne Arnold]

8 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

Kelly showed up and it was "now it's going to be Bills time!"

 

and they sucked for two years and then BAM!! were in the AFC CG

 

The 1988 team started 11-1. After their first loss in Week 5, they beat their next six opponents by an average of 17 points. 

 

Not sure about strength of schedule but chances are it was not nearly as weak as this season.