Kansas City at Buffalo in the Divisional Round!

[Big Blitz]

Andy Reid is going to figure out mismatches that the Steelers couldn’t in game.  
 

Klein.  Dorian.  They are going to be attacked either running at them or in coverage.  
 

This is the first time we’ll see Pacheco as their featured RB.  

 

Thank God we have Jones back.  
 

We are really going to need our DEs to get to Mahomes.  
 

That’s always been the key to beating them.  
 

And we’re going to need to score over 30.  

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

4 minutes ago, wjag said:

 

All television opinion suffers from macro recency bias based on W-L results and not on why a W-L occurred.  

Pretty much 

 

The line I keep hearing is "Josh never beat Patrick in the playoffs" and I keep thinking "ok, but for your sample size you are picking 2 out of 6 of the last four years". Also of note: 5 out of 6 have been in Arrowhead. by that logic the Bills are 0-1 against the Chiefs at home...because they played in 2020 when the Chiefs were objectively better.

[nedboy7]

5 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

None of which are significant injuries…. Think the woe is me mentality is very overblown here about the injuries…. They will have several of those guys back Sunday.

Actually they are very significant. And the fact that the team still can play the way it does is a testament to the defensive mind McD has and the way they run this franchise. 

Edited January 17 by nedboy7

[vtnatefootball11]

18 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

None of which are significant injuries…. Think the woe is me mentality is very overblown here about the injuries…. They will have several of those guys back Sunday.

 

Huh??? Almost all of them are significant. Benard is very significant, particularly without Milano; he's been huge all year and is the playcaller of our defense!  Also, Douglas, Benford and Taron Johnson are very important defensive starters in the secondary, if even one or two can't go that's a problem (especially Johnson who is one of our best players).  You can hide maybe one bad player but having reserve players over the defense will be exploited by Reid/Mahomes. Not saying we can't win with a great offensive performance and opportunistic defense, but the injuries will certainly be significant. 

Edited January 17 by vtnatefootball11

[Logic]

11 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

None of which are significant injuries…. Think the woe is me mentality is very overblown here about the injuries…. They will have several of those guys back Sunday.

I take your point, but...against the Chiefs, of all teams, let's say the Bills wind up being without Bernard, Benford, and Johnson. Very possible. That would be...significant. To be down to second stringers at both linebacker positions, Cam Lewis instead of Taron Johnson, and Dane Jackson instead of Benford...those are potentially outcome-swinging injuries.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

9 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

None of which are significant injuries…. Think the woe is me mentality is very overblown here about the injuries…. They will have several of those guys back Sunday.

I agree with this.

None of these injuries looked awful on replay.

 

I think Benford, Douglas and Rapp make it back.

 

Historically, Taron Johnson has come back quickly from these things, even last week with Ty Johnson he took a much harder hit and was cleared by Friday all on limited practices. 

 

Bernard I can’t see coming back in one week. Again, it wasn’t some egregious looking ankle sprain though. It rolls, but you don’t see some horrible snap. 
 

Dodson will have to wear a harness and I would expect less than optimum performance, Spector is reported to be ok. 
 

I don’t know about Gabe. If a rolled ankle in Week 2 explained an entire years worth of up and down production (doesn’t explain 2023) then I can see him not making it back for this one too. 

[VaMilBill]

Anyone know if the bills are gonna be able to practice today based on snow?

[Jauronimo]

31 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

 

like 5% of the posters there are good, as in they have a realistic view of their team and this game.  The rest are sociopaths who are focusing their mental illness (one might say projecting!) onto this game.  I bet the incidence of domestic violence is a few standard deviations above average for that crew, matched with room temp IQs and a web 1.0 design make that place painful.  But hey they have lots of colorful descriptions of what they are going to do sexually to the Bills so there's that I guess.

Its a sexual violence forum with a football theme.  Most of those people should be on a watch list if they aren't already.

[AKC]

10 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

Klein.  Dorian.  They are going to be attacked either running at them or in coverage.  
 

Yeah, Klein was a perfect call up for the running attack Pitt was likely to and did run. But he is a North South LB who can help with straight blitz rushes against stationary QBs. None of that is happening this Sunday.

[Logic]

34 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

 

like 5% of the posters there are good, as in they have a realistic view of their team and this game.  The rest are sociopaths who are focusing their mental illness (one might say projecting!) onto this game.  I bet the incidence of domestic violence is a few standard deviations above average for that crew, matched with room temp IQs and a web 1.0 design make that place painful.  But hey they have lots of colorful descriptions of what they are going to do sexually to the Bills so there's that I guess.

 

2 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

Its a sexual violence forum with a football theme.  Most of those people should be on a watch list if they aren't already.

You guys absolutely nailed it. These descriptions are just exactly perfect. Kudos.

And just to keep things on topic: I enjoy saying Reggie Gilliam's last name. Gill-ee-um. It's fun.

[Charles Romes]

The way he’s played all year, lumbering out there and showing his age, Kelce seems primed to make critical drop or fumble in this game, which will swing the momentum. 

[MikePJ76]

just like last week I am very worried about the bills ability to stop the run sunday.  KC will get buffalo spread out and then run inside where there strength is on the line and pacheco is a tough tackle.  I am concerned he breaks a few 20+ yard runs simply because of the light boxes.   

 

The flip side is without bernard they are going to hit short passing plays in the middle and turn them into big plays.  

 

Hopefully like last week Buffalo is playing with a lead and an incredible atmosphere.

[Success]

The Dolphins had a similar injury situation to ours on defense - and they did a pretty good job against that KC offense.  You have to consider that the Miami offense had a ton of 3 & outs, and their TOP was 10 minutes less than KC.  It wasn't until later in the game that their D started caving a bit and the game got out of reach.

 

KC is not an explosive offense - and we have solid depth players. If there is one thing I really trust McDermott with, it's gameplanning a good defense w/ the players he has available.  

 

If our offense can put 27+ on the board, that should win the game, imo.

 

 

[Gman10]

I see a lot of negative mindsets going into this game. I'm on the newer side here, but I assume this happens before every game? Just a week ago you guys were so nervous about the Steelers. Lol

Edited January 17 by Gman10

[Logic]

1 minute ago, Gman10 said:

I see a lot of negative mindsets going into this game. I'm on the newer side here, but I assume this happens before every game? Just a week ago you guys were so nervous about the Steelers. Lol

I think that the ridiculous amount of injuries on defense have dampened spirits a bit more than usual around here. Combine those with the fact that we've lost the last two playoff games against the Chiefs and many probably won't believe the Bills can get past them until they see it with their own eyes and...there you have it.

[dorquemada]

3 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

The way he’s played all year, lumbering out there and showing his age, Kelce seems primed to make critical drop or fumble in this game, which will swing the momentum. 

 

I'm convinced there's a silent majority of football fans who are ready to be done with the hero worship of Kelce and attention ***** around Taylor Swift.  Im also wondering how long the State Farm commercials last if KC are divisional round losers

 

Let it be our Bills who usher in this glorious new era

[Success]

1 minute ago, Gman10 said:

I see a lot of negative mindsets going into this game. I'm on the newer side here, but I assume this happens before every game? Just a week ago you guys were so nervous about the Steelers. Lol

 

It's funny - I always see opposing fans describe us as "insufferable" and "cocky," but we're always waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Always.

 

It's decades of history, as well as everything that happened just this season.  I don't think anyone really knows what to expect w/ this team.

 

[bills742]

Taron limited, that's huge! Was fearing DNP today.

Edited January 17 by bills742

[Mark Vader]

2 minutes ago, Gman10 said:

I see a lot of negative mindsets going into this game. I'm on the newer side here, but I assume this happens before every game? Just a week ago you guys were so nervous about the Steelers. Lol

That's how this board is.

 

Although I am confident in the Bills, this will be a tough game.

[MikePJ76]

1 minute ago, Success said:

The Dolphins had a similar injury situation to ours on defense - and they did a pretty good job against that KC offense.  You have to consider that the Miami offense had a ton of 3 & outs, and their TOP was 10 minutes less than KC.  It wasn't until later in the game that their D started caving a bit and the game got out of reach.

 

KC is not an explosive offense - and we have solid depth players. If there is one thing I really trust McDermott with, it's gameplanning a good defense w/ the players he has available.  

 

If our offense can put 27+ on the board, that should win the game, imo.

 

 

Miami just brought pressure seemingly every snap after the first quarter especially in the red zone and even a little outside of it. 

 

They probably felt like they had to gamble because they had no chance to get home with a four man rush.  I have to think Buffalo likes their matchups outside with our ends and their tackles especially with the noise.  The chiefs strength is in the middle of the line and that kind of creates a push with our interior.  The bills DT played really well in KC this year though.