Buffalo Bills Week 11-- Kansas City (9-0) @ Buffalo (8-2) Sunday 11/17, 4:25 PM, CBS

[Jim Bob]

The reason Damar is starting has literally nothing to do with what happened to him in Cincinnati. Beane drafted Bishop and brought in Mike Edwards to compete with Damar and Rapp for the two starting positions. Damar won the competition (thanks to injuries). That doesn't mean he SHOULD be a starter, it just means he's the best we've got currently.

Hopefully we upgrade that position in the offseason (my guess is that Bishop progresses and takes the reins)

Damar had a big experience advantage over Edwards and Bishop entering the offseason program.

Then Damar was the healthiest of the three and was available for more offseason and training camp practices than Edwards or Bishop.

Experience + Availability is why Damar has been the starter next to Rapp all year.

Plus, he has been better than a lot of people are saying. The Bills coaching staff prioritizes safeties taking away the big pass plays over the top. So, while Hamlin hasn't made a lot of plays near the line of scrimmage, a huge part of that is that he is lining up 15+ yards off of the LOS on most plays and they are asking him to not get beat over the top. And if you look at the big pass plays this year, only one safety has really gotten beat for one and that was Bishop.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856348155148939638

 

[Willgamesh]

The reason Damar is starting has literally nothing to do with what happened to him in Cincinnati. Beane drafted Bishop and brought in Mike Edwards to compete with Damar and Rapp for the two starting positions. Damar won the competition (thanks to injuries). That doesn't mean he SHOULD be a starter, it just means he's the best we've got currently.

Hopefully we upgrade that position in the offseason (my guess is that Bishop progresses and takes the reins)

except if it didn't happen he would of been cut for his play and not even had a chance to compete for a spot.

 

[Jim Bob]

except if it didn't happen he would of been cut for his play and not even had a chance to compete for a spot.

If he never got hurt, he wasn't getting cut after how he played in 2022 after Hyde went down.

 

[TehDoak]

My one prediction for Sunday is that it isn't going to be a close game. I don't know who wins, but typically after a 'don't deserve win' like the Chiefs got or a sloppy win like the Bills game, the next week usually isn't great. Chiefs are likely going to play the 'disrespect' card because they aren't favored this week. The bills being at home is an advantage for the Bills.

I'll wait to see if Cooper and Kincaid can play or not before deciding. I think the trickle down effect he has on the offense can make a big difference. Plus actually having a vertical passing game off of play action would be nice too.

 

[Zman5778]

except if it didn't happen he would of been cut for his play and not even had a chance to compete for a spot.

Hamlin would never have gotten cut. McDermott would have highly valued his experience in the system. At worst he would have been a regular healthy scratch like Edwards was.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Hamlin would never have gotten cut. McDermott would have highly valued his experience in the system. At worst he would have been a regular healthy scratch like Edwards was.

Agreed, The Bill's always liked Hamlin's play and the player before the incident. People need to stop telling stories, this isn't twitville.

 

[Jim Bob]

My one prediction for Sunday is that it isn't going to be a close game. I don't know who wins, but typically after a 'don't deserve win' like the Chiefs got or a sloppy win like the Bills game, the next week usually isn't great. Chiefs are likely going to play the 'disrespect' card because they aren't favored this week. The bills being at home is an advantage for the Bills.

I'll wait to see if Cooper and Kincaid can play or not before deciding. I think the trickle down effect he has on the offense can make a big difference. Plus actually having a vertical passing game off of play action would be nice too.

KC is 9-0 and they have the 9th best point differential at less than +7 per game.

I am expecting it to be a one score game either way. Especially with KC coming off of a 2 point home win vs Denver.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I expect the Bills to upgrade Hamlin is a common sense way which isn't going to bring a huge media circus.

Hamlin is a free agent at the end of the year. They'll let him move on, celebrate his time and congratulate his new contract. It's smart.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856055804048142715

I expect the Bills to upgrade Hamlin is a common sense way which isn't going to bring a huge media circus.

Hamlin is a free agent at the end of the year. They'll let him move on, celebrate his time and congratulate his new contract. It's smart.

The Bills like guys who know their system. I will not be shocked if Hamlin is back in 2025.

 

[Dubi Doo]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856055804048142715

The Bills like guys who know their system. I will not be shocked if Hamlin is back in 2025.

Yup. Hopefully in a backup role in which I'd be 110% fine with.

 

[Jim Bob]

Yup. Hopefully in a backup role in which I'd be 110% fine with.

It won't surprise me if it is a competition between Hamlin and Bishop. And it won't surprise me if either guy wins.

 

[Selanne00008]

WGR had some interesting points for the KC Game. It's a massive swing game where if we lose, kiss a chance at the 1 seed goodbye, BUT we could potentially rest up and have our own bye in a sense come week 17 and/or 18. If it's the difference between risking the 2 or 3 seed, and josh and other starters get to rest, it could be worth it.

Is it worth it to push Kincaid and/or Cooper out there if they aren't 100%? Anyone else banged up? Do we even look at the opponent to make a determination like that, or is it the same answer if we are playing the Pats, and if you can go, then you go.

If we win though, then it's pressing all the way to the finish line, especially with KC's weak ass schedule.

 

[Jim Bob]

The Buffalo Bills may solve run defense questions over next month

They have four games against good teams plus a bye

www.buffalorumblings.com

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856149018243457381

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856045717338439979

 

[buffalowing88]

WGR had some interesting points for the KC Game. It's a massive swing game where if we lose, kiss a chance at the 1 seed goodbye, BUT we could potentially rest up and have our own bye in a sense come week 17 and/or 18. If it's the difference between risking the 2 or 3 seed, and josh and other starters get to rest, it could be worth it.

Is it worth it to push Kincaid and/or Cooper out there if they aren't 100%? Anyone else banged up? Do we even look at the opponent to make a determination like that, or is it the same answer if we are playing the Pats, and if you can go, then you go.

If we win though, then it's pressing all the way to the finish line, especially with KC's weak ass schedule.

I definitely understand the case for some of these points from WGR. It's probably frowned upon by most fans and the players/coaches but resting anyone who isn't 100 percent wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Two weeks to get healthy while entering the stretch run would be a nice reprieve for a team that lately has dealt with injuries around this time every year.

 

[misterchainsaw]

The Buffalo Bills may solve run defense questions over next month

They have four games against good teams plus a bye

www.buffalorumblings.com

You know it's funny, we all have been complaining a lot about the run defense, but they're something like 3rd in the NFL in stuff rate, 9th in EPA/rush, and 6th in defensive rushing DVOA.

I think it's a combination of the league in general getting better at running the football (worse at stopping it) to counter the trend towards two deep safeties and light boxes, but also that the Baltimore game weighs so heavy on our minds because of the potential of seeing them again in the future.

On a completely different tangent - I'm stunned this is the first time the McDermott era Bills have reached 8-2. I thought for sure one of the 13-3 seasons would have gotten there - obviously the schedule plays a role there with KC, DET and SF all coming in the 2nd half of the season.

 

[Zman5778]

You know it's funny, we all have been complaining a lot about the run defense, but they're something like 3rd in the NFL in stuff rate, 9th in EPA/rush, and 6th in defensive rushing DVOA.

The run D to me seems like feast or famine -- we either give up a long run/chunk play......or we stuff it entirely.

 

[misterchainsaw]

The run D to me seems like feast or famine -- we either give up a long run/chunk play......or we stuff it entirely.

I mean, that would explain the higher success rate/stuff rate, but big plays should show up in EPA and DVOA.

It seems, at least according to those metrics, that it's worth giving up a few "big" plays (as long as they aren't too big/too frequent) to get those stuffs that result in 3rd/4th down stops or create 2nd/3rd and longs. They certainly would have graded poorly for Baltimore and Miami, IMO (though opponent adjustments would take some of the sting out of the BAL game), but I suspect they graded out a little closer to average/good than most people would think for the IND game given the raw numbers - take out the one biggest run and Taylor was under 3 ypc for the rest of the game.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Dodson claimed by The Fish

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Husko]

Damar had a big experience advantage over Edwards and Bishop entering the offseason program.

Then Damar was the healthiest of the three and was available for more offseason and training camp practices than Edwards or Bishop.

Experience + Availability is why Damar has been the starter next to Rapp all year.

Plus, he has been better than a lot of people are saying. The Bills coaching staff prioritizes safeties taking away the big pass plays over the top. So, while Hamlin hasn't made a lot of plays near the line of scrimmage, a huge part of that is that he is lining up 15+ yards off of the LOS on most plays and they are asking him to not get beat over the top. And if you look at the big pass plays this year, only one safety has really gotten beat for one and that was Bishop.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856348155148939638

Last I checked the Bills defense has given up the most explosive plays in the NFL. There's no brownie points for those plays mostly coming as runs or YAC instead of deep bombs. I agree he's doing a good job of taking away over the top passes, but it's at the expense of everything else a safety is responsible for.

Also, he gave up the hail mary, so it's not zero.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Could be looking at something similiar for Benford ?

Source: 49ers, Lenoir reach 5-yr., $92M extension

The 49ers and CB Deommodore Lenoir, who has two of his six career interceptions this season, have reached a five-year, $92 million extension, a source told ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[KiwiGriff]

Is it just me isn't worried if we lose this week? Win the Superbowl the Hard Way. Go through Lamar, go through Mahomes in the playoff on your way to the big game. f*** em.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Is it just me isn't worried if we lose this week? Win the Superbowl the Hard Way. Go through Lamar, go through Mahomes in the playoff on your way to the big game. f*** em.

I'm never really worried about losing. This year was supposed to be a retool, and we're off to our best record since 1993. Some of that is ease of schedule, but they do seem to be much more consistent against inferior teams this year, and I also believe a healthy Tua led MIA squad + Arizona are solid teams (WC teams, imo). So, I'm just impressed with how this season has gone even if I do complain during the games, haha.

The fact we're going to smoke this division and should be in play for the 2 or 3 seed is great. Also, my biggest concern, even bigger than Ws and Ls, is this team being healthy for their playoff run. If we can get lucky, and Milano comes back at even 90% strength, then who knows? Maybe we can go on a run, but I'm just enjoying having a competent GM + coaching staff, and an elite QB. Our best years are still ahead of us, and that's enticing as hell. Beating KC this week be damned.