The Bills take the AFC this seasom

[JustDíqLix]

Are you ready for some football!?

I know I am!

With that, I am here to make a proclamation!

The mighty Bills from Buffalo will take the AFC this year.

For two decades I watched people say the Patriots window was closed, that their time was dwindling, that it was all over… seemingly every time those predictions happened, the Patriots went and won another Super Bowl.

A lot of doom talk simply because we lost to the Bengals in the playoffs. Let us not forget that the Bills watched their brother DIE on the field just a few weeks prior. Their heart was simply not in it. If it had been, the Bills would have captured the AFC last year.

The Bills have won 2 of their last 3 in Arrowhead and they’re ready to make it 3 of the last 4.

Let’s go mighty Buffalo Bills! 🦬 🦬 🦬

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Rainbarrel

The Browns and Lions sympathizers need new digs. For different reasons

This might be the most confusing one yet.

[Rainbarrel]

guess I am a year too late. To ask if Lions players get bailing wire tattoos

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I’m not arguing that being conservative is sometimes the best move. I’m arguing that even while being conservative, there are times to be aggressive. You simply cannot pass up what looks like a good opportunity to deliver a potential kill shot TD in favor of a 4 yard check down. Literally no QB in the league would advocate that, not Brady, Mahomes or Montana. No coach would argue against it either, not Reid or Belichick.

Consider an alternate scenario: Allen checks down on this play to Diggs. Diggs gains 5 yards before Tranquil brings him down. On 3rd and 4, they fail to convert. What was a 42-yard field goal is now 37. Dude still shanks it.

Do you really think the same mfs in here arguing that he was being risky wouldn’t now be arguing that he was a pussy who lacks killer instinct for foregoing the chance to take the lead?

It’s silly to just hand wave away a worst case scenario 3rd and 4 vs 3rd and 9. That’s a huge difference in what you call and even maybe even going for it on fourth. You pretty much have to pass on 3rd and 9. 3rd and 4 is far easier, especially for such a good running QB. It’s very possibly a first down but more likely worst case 3rd and 2. From there you simply do the one thing that is basically impossible to stop which is Allen running for three yards.

Again if Allen is determined to make that throw he has to actually make it. It was out of timeout so they obviously specifically wanted this play. He knew where he was going with it. But he rushed his throw instead of stepping ever so slightly to the obvious pressure that was coming. He made it way more difficult than it should have been with terrible pocket awareness. Again, the entire drive he was making mistakes and definitely not dialed in. This was just the last big one.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Easy first if he checks down

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Again if Allen is determined to make that throw he has to actually make it. It was out of timeout so they obviously specifically wanted this play. He knew where he was going with it. But he rushed his throw instead of stepping ever so slightly to the obvious pressure that was coming. He made it way more difficult than it should have been with terrible pocket awareness. Again, the entire drive he was making mistakes and definitely not dialed in. This was just the last big one.

Despite the shit I'll give Allen lovers he's the one QB that consistently ups his game in the playoffs to match Mahomes. The Bills are able to consistently sustain long drives and score pts vs. what was most likely the best D in the NFL last year. Allen seems to have a very Elway-like career path with the misfortune of having his Joe Montana in the same conference.
Allen, in the playoffs, rises to the occasion. It's no insult that he can't get it done vs. the greatest QB to ever play.
And frankly it just gives us better games and brighter moments. At no point during the Ravens game was I worried we might lose. We clearly were in their heads. The last few Bills games have gone back and forth and back and forth right up 'till the end.

[RedinTexas]

Originally Posted by Rausch

At no point during the Ravens game was I worried we might lose. We clearly were in their heads. The last few Bills games have gone back and forth and back and forth right up 'till the end.

I agree with everything you said, except I disagree with you where you implied that we're not in the Bills' heads. I think we are, but it just works differently.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Despite the shit I'll give Allen lovers he's the one QB that consistently ups his game in the playoffs to match Mahomes. The Bills are able to consistently sustain long drives and score pts vs. what was most likely the best D in the NFL last year. Allen seems to have a very Elway-like career path with the misfortune of having his Joe Montana in the same conference.
Allen, in the playoffs, rises to the occasion. It's no insult that he can't get it done vs. the greatest QB to ever play.
And frankly it just gives us better games and brighter moments. At no point during the Ravens game was I worried we might lose. We clearly were in their heads. The last few Bills games have gone back and forth and back and forth right up 'till the end.

Without question he’s the second best QB right now and is the only one with a prayer of keeping up with Mahomes when he’s on his A game.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

I honestly have no idea what you're seeing in regards to Tranquill being anywhere close to a position to make a play on Diggs. He would've been 5+ yards away from Diggs at the point of the throw and if he hits Diggs in stride Tranquill isn't catching him before it's a first down.

Tranquil is a plus athlete. Looks to me like Drue is maintaining depth, keeping eyes on the QB until the ball is thrown. An athlete like Tranquil can eat up 5 yards very quickly once he notices the QB start his throwing motion.

You can see that Diggs would immediately be hemmed in by Bolton out there defending Kincaid on the out route as well. I mean, I don’t believe Diggs is going to cover the 6 yards necessary after making that catch with Bolton and Tranquil lurking there. It’s definitely possible but I think it’s unlikely.

Especially for Diggs. Diggs had 8 targets for 3 catches this game. He was basically worthless. He’s basically always worthless for them in the postseason. For a guy his size, he’s never truly been a plus athlete anyway. He ran a 4.47 like 10 years ago. He’s probably more of a 4.5 guy now and at 190 or whatever he’s likely playing at, the dude is far from a burner. He’s not really dangerous after the catch.

If anything, with the full power of retrospect, Kincaid looks to be the optimal target there. He’s wide open by NFL standards and he certainly would have had enough yardage to gain the 1st down.

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

It’s silly to just hand wave away a worst case scenario 3rd and 4 vs 3rd and 9. That’s a huge difference in what you call and even maybe even going for it on fourth. You pretty much have to pass on 3rd and 9. 3rd and 4 is far easier, especially for such a good running QB. It’s very possibly a first down but more likely worst case 3rd and 2. From there you simply do the one thing that is basically impossible to stop which is Allen running for three yards.

Again if Allen is determined to make that throw he has to actually make it. It was out of timeout so they obviously specifically wanted this play. He knew where he was going with it. But he rushed his throw instead of stepping ever so slightly to the obvious pressure that was coming. He made it way more difficult than it should have been with terrible pocket awareness. Again, the entire drive he was making mistakes and definitely not dialed in. This was just the last big one.

Your mindset is a little confusing. You’re talking about how it was too risky for Allen to try to throw a wide open TD pass in the same breath that you’re arguing they should have considered going for it if they found themselves in a 4th and short situation? You’d advocate going for a 4th and 2ish in field goal range, down 3 with less than 2 minutes remaining but don’t advocate trying to throw the go-ahead TD in the same situation? That logic doesn't make sense to me.

I’ll agree that his biggest mistake was not taking a step to the right before unloading. He had a ton of real estate to do so.. but at this point I just cannot agree that it wasn’t the right choice in that moment. I’ve seen and heard nothing that would change my mind and firmly believe that if we had Mahomes, Kelce and Reid on this forum right now, they would all agree with me.

For the record, I don’t think him missing this throw is any indication that he wasn’t “dialed in” or broader proof of processing issues or whatever. Our defense was potentially the best in the league last year. It was extremely good. The other 11 guys get paid too and sometimes they’ll win. That’s what I chalk this one up to. Just Chris Jones dropping trou and making the impact play he’s been known for in huge moments like this for nearly half a decade now.

Also, also, you are being unnecessarily critical of Allen on a couple missed throws/reads. No one will say anything because we ended up winning in the end, but Mahomes missed throws and reads this game too. Hell, he overthrew two of the easiest TDs he’d ever have on back-to-back plays on our second drive. I’m not going to go back and rewatch the game to prove that point, but I’m sure he missed some other plays as well.