Bills scoring 38.3 points at home this year, best in the league.

[Saxum]

8 minutes ago, skibum said:

That's cool to see - I can't remember the last time a Bills team did something innovative that gave them a real advantage. Probably have to be the hurry-up of the 90's. 

 

I followed the Seattle game for a bit on NFL Gamecenter, and I kept seeing plays where Alec Anderson reported as eligible. I remember thinking, "what the heck are they doing?", and now I know. 

 

They did something similar with Tommy Doyle before he was injured.

[TheBrownBear]

I'm not really feeling SB with this team.  Too many holes in the middle/back end of the defense, and an injury or two in those areas puts us back to where we were against the Chiefs in the playoffs last season.  We are only a few weeks removed from getting our teeth kicked in by the Ravens.  It's gonna take a longer streak of strong performances to make me forget about that one.  Win 4 of the next 6, with at least one of those wins coming against the Chiefs or Lions and I'll reconsider.

 

Having said that, I fully expect us to Squish the Fish this weekend and run away with the AFC East.

[Saxum]

15 minutes ago, skibum said:

That's cool to see - I can't remember the last time a Bills team did something innovative that gave them a real advantage. Probably have to be the hurry-up of the 90's. 

 

I followed the Seattle game for a bit on NFL Gamecenter, and I kept seeing plays where Alec Anderson reported as eligible. I remember thinking, "what the heck are they doing?", and now I know. 

 

Like the hurry up offense it is something teams including the Bills have done before but Bills were first to base their whole offense on it.

Likewise this formation is not just for running as many teams do but for throwing.

I think this is influence from OL Coach Aaron Kromer and him getting the players he wants.

5 minutes ago, TheBrownBear said:

I'm not really feeling SB with this team.  Too many holes in the middle/back end of the defense, and an injury or two in those areas puts us back to where we were against the Chiefs in the playoffs last season.  We are only a few weeks removed from getting our teeth kicked in by the Ravens.  It's gonna take a longer streak of strong performances to make me forget about that one.  Win 4 of the next 6, with at least one of those wins coming against the Chiefs or Lions and I'll reconsider.

 

Having said that, I fully expect us to Squish the Fish this weekend and run away with the AFC East.

 

The issue with Ravens is primary LBs were out and the Bills are built small and need some mass in it able to withstand heavy run game.

[Logic]

22 minutes ago, MJS said:

So, are you saying that there are coaches out there who don't mind penalties and sloppy play? This just seems like a low quality dig at McDermott. Of course he hates that. All coaches do. Fans do as well. Who doesn't hate penalties and sloppy play?

 

20 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

I also loathe penalties and sloppy play.  We'd be toast against the NFL elite teams if we committed as many penalties as we did in the Jets and Seahawks game.

Not meant as a dig against McDermott at all. 

I simply meant that the fact that there doesn't seem to be a meaningful correlation between penalties committed and W-L record probably doesn't mean much to McDermott or to fans, who both (rightly) loathe penalties.

Currently, within the top 10 of most penalties committed in the league this year, you'll find (along with some bad teams) Baltimore, Minnesota, and Buffalo. Committing a lot of penalties doesn't seem to move the win-loss needle as much as you'd think, but it doesn't mean that McDermott won't (rightly) be preaching "clean football" all week long anyway.

[Big Turk]

They could easily hang 40 on the Fins this week to increase their average

[Shaw66]

11 minutes ago, TheBrownBear said:

I'm not really feeling SB with this team.  Too many holes in the middle/back end of the defense, and an injury or two in those areas puts us back to where we were against the Chiefs in the playoffs last season.  We are only a few weeks removed from getting our teeth kicked in by the Ravens.  It's gonna take a longer streak of strong performances to make me forget about that one.  Win 4 of the next 6, with at least one of those wins coming against the Chiefs or Lions and I'll reconsider.

 

Having said that, I fully expect us to Squish the Fish this weekend and run away with the AFC East.

I think the Bills could go two ways.  One, the most likely, is as you describe.  The Bills will be a nice team, with a nice record, but they'll lose to the best teams, teams that are just as disciplined as the Bills but with more talent. 

 

Less likely, but I think a possibility, is that we haven't seen the real Bills yet, and won't until December.  If the Bills start getting the play out of Coleman and Cooper and Shakir that as is possible, the offense could be really tough to stop.  Taron Johnson gave the defense a clear boost when he returned last week, and the Bills have Miller, Bernard, and Milano - all difference makers - coming back.  If injuries fall the right for the Bills, they could be one of the favorites down the stretch.   

[machine gun kelly]

Some can bend stats to their opinions, but one very basic one is simply go team stats and search for pts.  
 

Well, consider this point.  We are looking overall mid to upper middle in yards overall, pass yards, rush yards, etc.

 

I care about ots.  Through 8 games so half the season ostensibly or will be by halftime this Sunday.

 

Offense

Bills 5th of 32 teams

 

Defense

Bills overall 6th of 32 teams with the last pts. Scored against.

 

Pts. Doesn’t lie.  I have a feeling after Miami and Indy, those rankings will climb.

[Doc Brown]

6 minutes ago, Logic said:

 

Not meant as a dig against McDermott at all. 

I simply meant that the fact that there doesn't seem to be a meaningful correlation between penalties committed and W-L record probably doesn't mean much to McDermott or to fans, who both (rightly) loathe penalties.

Currently, within the top 10 of most penalties committed in the league this year, you'll find (along with some bad teams) Baltimore, Minnesota, and Buffalo. Committing a lot of penalties doesn't seem to move the win-loss needle as much as you'd think, but it doesn't mean that McDermott won't (rightly) be preaching "clean football" all week long anyway.

Got ya.  I've always thought that good teams play on the edge of the rules.  The reward of holding to allow an extra second for Allen to hit a big play outweighs the chance of the ref calling a penalty.  Same goes for being physical with an elite WR in man to man coverage.  "Stupid penalties" are what drive me crazy (false start, personal follow, illegal shift, defensive Offside, 12 men on the field, etc.).  My guess is the good teams commit the former more than the latter.

[sunshynman]

9 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I think the Bills could go two ways.  One, the most likely, is as you describe.  The Bills will be a nice team, with a nice record, but they'll lose to the best teams, teams that are just as disciplined as the Bills but with more talent. 

 

Less likely, but I think a possibility, is that we haven't seen the real Bills yet, and won't until December.  If the Bills start getting the play out of Coleman and Cooper and Shakir that as is possible, the offense could be really tough to stop.  Taron Johnson gave the defense a clear boost when he returned last week, and the Bills have Miller, Bernard, and Milano - all difference makers - coming back.  If injuries fall the right for the Bills, they could be one of the favorites down the stretch.   

I see both views. I think we are that nice team right now. But if Miller continues to be showing his old bend, Groot and AJ will start looking like All Pros. Add Milano back in. Keep Bernard on the field. With the addition of Cooper on the O, and that Bills team could impose their will. If we look like that come playoff time, we could be a buzzsaw.  Of course, we will need to keep penalties down. But if Bills start fast and keep the opponents out of the endzone, they will be unstoppable. And we will need some luck too.

[Maynard]

Bad things man…

[billsbackto81]

3 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

I'd rather lose to them and then beat them in the playoffs...the reverse of what we have done the previous multiple years 😂

Believe it or not , I'd rather play the Ravens in the playoffs. Unlike last game we'd have Milano, Oliver, Bernard, and Johnson back. Plus the addition of Cooper on offense I feel would yield a different result, especially in B-lo if we get the better seed. I don't see Baltimore getting the same preferential treatment KC gets from the refs, plus Lamar's tendency to not show up in the playoffs is a big plus for me.

 

Of course it's JMHO....

[Sweats]

That's interesting......i guess i just never really paid too much attention to too many other teams cause i thought 6 Olinemen was actually a common thing.

[Big Turk]

2 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said:

Believe it or not , I'd rather play the Ravens in the playoffs. Unlike last game we'd have Milano, Oliver, Bernard, and Johnson back. Plus the addition of Cooper on offense I feel would yield a different result, especially in B-lo if we get the better seed. I don't see Baltimore getting the same preferential treatment KC gets from the refs, plus Lamar's tendency to not show up in the playoffs is a big plus for me.

 

Of course it's JMHO....

 

I mean maybe we would.  No guarantee they aren't injured for that game.

[billsbackto81]

26 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

I mean maybe we would.  No guarantee they aren't injured for that game.

One can pray. Just once I'd like to see our D in the playoffs mostly healthy, especially our key starters.

[benderbender]

49 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said:

Believe it or not , I'd rather play the Ravens in the playoffs. Unlike last game we'd have Milano, Oliver, Bernard, and Johnson back. Plus the addition of Cooper on offense I feel would yield a different result, especially in B-lo if we get the better seed. I don't see Baltimore getting the same preferential treatment KC gets from the refs, plus Lamar's tendency to not show up in the playoffs is a big plus for me.

 

Of course it's JMHO....

Also the Ravens have been leaning on Henry heavily. We’ll see if a long season has an effect on that plate and screw in his ankle. Plus Lamar is reportedly having back and knee issues which may linger. 

Edited 22 hours ago by benderbender

[machine gun kelly]

8 minutes ago, benderbender said:

Also the Ravens have been leaning on Henry heavily. We’ll see if a long season has an effect on that plate and screw in his ankle.

A couple of years ago, he fell off at the end of the year and it showed in the playoffs.  We can just see what happens as no point in discussing it now.  I’m more concerned with hosting KC at 8-2.  That is real momentum.  Then we go through murderers row for 3 weeks.  We should coast through the Cheats twice and Jests.

[No_Matter_What]

4 hours ago, Allen2Moulds said:

I prefer to beat them both times.

Agreed. I honestly think it might be better to lose to them in regular season so we can finally beat them in PO.

 

Especially if they keep winning and come here 9-0 so they are likely #1 seed anyway I say let them win.

[90sBills]

5 hours ago, billsbackto81 said:

Believe it or not , I'd rather play the Ravens in the playoffs. Unlike last game we'd have Milano, Oliver, Bernard, and Johnson back. Plus the addition of Cooper on offense I feel would yield a different result, especially in B-lo if we get the better seed. I don't see Baltimore getting the same preferential treatment KC gets from the refs, plus Lamar's tendency to not show up in the playoffs is a big plus for me.

 

Of course it's JMHO....

Chances are we’d play both. 

[JerseyBills]

12 hours ago, Blackbeard said:

I have a feeling about this "down" year.

 

 

Down for the year of 1st of many SBs

[LABILLBACKER]

11 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I also loathe penalties and sloppy play.  We'd be toast against the NFL elite teams if we committed as many penalties as we did in the Jets and Seahawks game.

We have a HOF QB who keeps bailing us out of 3rd & 14's because of poor coaching and disciplined preparation. McD has had 7 years to clean this penalty-fest up.  I just don't get?