McD confirms Allen to start against the Pats

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Depends on the protection.  I'd play him first half and White 2nd half.

 

You need to call White up to do that. The emergency QB rules require both the other two to be injured. And I think the spots are needed in other places. There isn't enough difference for me between Trubisky and White to protect Trubisky.

[Jay_Fixit]

I like when Allen starts games.

[PoundingDog]

I'm not sure I like this decision to be honest. You start Allen then you start a whole bunch of other guys. 

 

It's just me - I want to give some guys mental break as well. No I'm not talking about like bye week when they don't even come into the facility.

[Bob in STL]

13 hours ago, Success said:

 

That's why I don't love this.  This game means nothing - I'd love to see all of the top guys have a week off.

 

But they'll all have to play as long as Allen does.  Hopefully just a few handoffs to get the start.

 

You must have missed the Kelly era where this situation was common. 

 

First of all they typically dress 8 offensive lineman so not all of them can rest.  They might dress 9 for this game.  A few starters will on the OL will get a lot of plays.  

 

Marv gave the offensive starters one series - often it was 3 plays but sometimes enough plays to drive for a score.  After that Kelly, Thurman, Reed and anyone nursing an injury was out.  Having Reich made it easier to play with backups because he was always well prepared and was very capable. 

 

I suspect McD will do the same. 

 

We will see mostly backups right away.  

[Captain Hindsight]

16 hours ago, julian said:

The fact you don’t think much of his priorities is irrelevant, it’s a very meaningful streak not only to Allen but  his teammates, especially his oline responsible for keeping him healthy.

Yup. And the other side of it is, do they want to use a call up on Mike white? Have Josh hand off a few times and be ready to take a few knees if Mitch cant finish the game. I'd rather use the call up on a guy who is banged up

[BuffaloBaumer]

I hope that the Bills staff realizes that nobody wants NE to have that first pick. They could trade that away and make a fortune.

[CincyBillsFan]

52 minutes ago, Bob in STL said:

You must have missed the Kelly era where this situation was common. 

 

First of all they typically dress 8 offensive lineman so not all of them can rest.  They might dress 9 for this game.  A few starters will on the OL will get a lot of plays.  

 

Marv gave the offensive starters one series - often it was 3 plays but sometimes enough plays to drive for a score.  After that Kelly, Thurman, Reed and anyone nursing an injury was out.  Having Reich made it easier to play with backups because he was always well prepared and was very capable. 

 

I suspect McD will do the same. 

 

We will see mostly backups right away.  

Yep and I remember they would often leave the starting O line in for the first series with the back-up QB.  Then they also would take a seat.

 

 

[CincyBillsFan]

14 hours ago, finn said:

I did take a second. Look, he's our hero, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's not human with human flaws, nor does it mean that as an admirer I need to admire everything he does and says. Of course his teammates support his goal. I would, too, out of respect and admiration for him, not necessarily because it's a noble goal. Yes, maybe the streak means something to him that I know nothing about--a promise to his grandmother or something--but I suspect it's an ego thing. It's fine: trivial, not a big deal, and very easy to shrug off, even be fond of, maybe. But I am mildly surprised that Superman is human. 

I'm not sure I've ever read anything this passive/aggressive before in my life.  In one paragraph you manage to throw shade and love at Allen more then a dozen times.  Damn, that's impressive.

 

 

12 hours ago, JohnNord said:

I’ve seen a few people compare the situation to 2020 where Buffalo was firmly at #2 with nothing to play for.  Josh played an entire half then.  
 

But that was three posts seasons ago.  If you listened to the press conference McDermott stressed that it would be short.  I think he’s playing maybe one series at most.  

Allen was just as important to the Bills success in 2020 as he is today.  Do you think the back-up QB beats Indy in the wildcard round that year?  I don't.

 

In 2020 it was conventional wisdom to play your HEALTHY starters for about a half in these types of games. 

[JohnNord]

4 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

I'm not sure I've ever read anything this passive/aggressive before in my life.  In one paragraph you manage to throw shade and love at Allen more then a dozen times.  Damn, that's impressive.

 

 

Allen was just as important to the Bills success in 2020 as he is today.  Do you think the back-up QB beats Indy in the wildcard round that year?  I don't.

 

In 2020 it was conventional wisdom to play your HEALTHY starters for about a half in these types of games. 

That’s not what I meant.  In 2019, McDermott chose to sit the majority of the Bills starters in Week 17 against NYG.  The next week some felt they played a little rusty against Houston.  
 

Josh in particular had a patented “sugar high Josh” game and multiple receivers played poorly as well.  
 

IMO McDermott was trying to find a balance between rest vs. rust which is why he played the entire half.  
 

Three full seasons later we know that this isn’t the case.  You can rest Josh and he’ll be fine for the playoffs.   That’s what will happen Sunday.  McDermott said his appearance will be “quick.”  There’s no way he plays an entire quarter much less an entire half. 

[buffaloboyinATL]

18 hours ago, Virgil said:

 

I'm more so thinking the Anti-Josh media will try to include this game's stats against Allen when supporting Lamar

It is sad that this is true. Constant campaigning by the media for Burrow, Jackson, Barkley etc.  Allen’s freakish plays, that he makes on a weekly basis, are starting to be taken for granted for some reason.  

[Matt_In_NH]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

I hope that the Bills staff realizes that nobody wants NE to have that first pick. They could trade that away and make a fortune.

Are you suggesting they dont know that?  The bigger question is more what will they do about it....if you are assuming they should "try and lose", doubt that will be the strategy.   You can assume you will see guys like Mike WHite, Eddy Ulefoshio, Joe Andreesen, etc.....but those guys will try.

[HappyDays]

15 hours ago, finn said:

I did take a second. Look, he's our hero, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's not human with human flaws, nor does it mean that as an admirer I need to admire everything he does and says. Of course his teammates support his goal. I would, too, out of respect and admiration for him, not necessarily because it's a noble goal. Yes, maybe the streak means something to him that I know nothing about--a promise to his grandmother or something--but I suspect it's an ego thing. It's fine: trivial, not a big deal, and very easy to shrug off, even be fond of, maybe. But I am mildly surprised that Superman is human. 

 

Honestly man you're just way off base in this entire thread. Every superstar cares about their own achievements. Of course Allen would take a Super Bowl win over any individual accomplishment. That doesn't mean he isn't allowed to have some personal pride. If he didn't have that pride he wouldn't be a superstar.

[pennstate10]

19 hours ago, Virgil said:

 

I'm more so thinking the Anti-Josh media will try to include this game's stats against Allen when supporting Lamar

I think that’s true. 
 

But this game annd other Bills blowouts where Josh didn’t play ibeyond the 3rd q is why snaps taken, not games played is a better way to normalize statistics. EPA is based per play. Josh leads Jackson by that metric. 

[US Egg]

I don’t know how Josh is gonna take the first snap.

 

[hondo in seattle]

37 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Honestly man you're just way off base in this entire thread. Every superstar cares about their own achievements. Of course Allen would take a Super Bowl win over any individual accomplishment. That doesn't mean he isn't allowed to have some personal pride. If he didn't have that pride he wouldn't be a superstar.

 

Achievements and accolades are two different things.

 

I'm sure Allen cares about what he achieves.  He wants to run for TDs, throw for TDs, and all that because he takes pride in his accomplishments and he wants to contribute to the team's success.  

 

That doesn't mean he cares about MVP awards and all that.  

[Cheektowaga Chad]

Gotta treat like a pre season game 

 

Coaches need to pull them if they see fit and Josh has to know to play it safe as well with himself and his teammates 

[NoSaint]

20 hours ago, Virgil said:

McD had his press conference today and stated Allen and a few other starters will start the game Sunday, but will then be pulled quickly.  
 

McD said the consecutive start streak is important to Allen and he wants to respect it.  
 

I’m perfectly fine with this and like that McD honors it.  Now, if he plays more than one drive and does anything more than hand the ball off or throw a quick screen, different story.  

I don’t want him running a bunch of designed keepers but I’m all good with a few drives of basic play calls and the instruction to not get himself killed.

 

i think there is something said for a real week of practice, warmups and a few tosses to keep routine going 

[Sierra Foothills]

28 minutes ago, US Egg said:

I don’t know how Josh is gonna take the first snap.

 

 

Boy Josh really let himself go over the holidays.

 

Now I'm really concerned that the celebrity has gone to his head and that he's lost a step.

 

[3rdand12]

18 hours ago, stevestojan said:

i have one but now I’m intrigued why I can’t figure out why you’d ask that

Well it is a bit of an odd question for sure. And not sure what led me to that  lol

 But you seem  slightly over protective. Which is a trait We parents acquire.

My Grandsons just started playing flag football.

They want to be in there ? I want them in there.

Happy New year to you And Family

17 hours ago, stevestojan said:

Still not following the kid analogy - but I am an old (44) first time dad with an 11 month old so my brain is at like 32.6% at all times. 
 

But you were eloquent in the second paragraph and actually changed my mind. Let him play, but for one snap! 🙂

awesome post all around. Congratulations.

[3rdand12]

16 hours ago, Bookie Man said:

One long bomb to Reggie Gilliam then call it a day.

Hope the line can hold protection for the 5 minutes it takes Reggie to lumber up the field

 jk Reggie