Buffalo Bills Week 15: New England (3-11) at Buffalo (11-3), 12/22, 4:25 PM (flexed), CBS

[Jim Bob]

'Does the passing game need to return to form'

That seems disingenuous given how the Thursday night game went, and Allen going on a heater the previous week.

Also, I listened to an Allen interview with Shady McCoy and a few others. It appears he has the mental game down. He's dialed in, and if he does take that next step of 'taking what the defense gives me 90% of the time and using my elite skillset the other 10% of the time', then I truly believe he can be the 1a/1b with Mahomes. He'll likely never catch up in the hardware dept, so his legacy won't be as strong. But as someone who watched his fair share of Manning and Brady- I don't think either one was a level above the other. One just went to a franchise that provided more support, and that one is going to be more well regarded because of that.

Regardless, we are so damn lucky to have Allen.

Joe Marino had an interesting stat on his 5 predictions segment yesterday:

In the 9 games, including the playoffs, since Joe Brady took over as OC, Josh Allen has topped 250 yards passing once (Week 18 game in Miami).

So, it may be worded a little more pointedly than you might prefer, but given how good Jacksonville has been against the run, especially in London last year vs Buffalo, this could be a game where they need to rely more on the passing game than they have since Brady has taken over.

The good thing is that the Jags are down a CB and a depth safety that has played a fair amount of snaps so far this season.

 

[Zman5778]

This game makes me nervous. Jacksonville is much more talented than what they've shown in the first 2 games this season. They're going to be super motivated to come out swinging.

Meanwhile, I am worried that this is a bit of a prototypical "trap" game. We go on the road 3 in a row after tonight and all of them against TOUGH opponents. It's only human nature to maybe look past this week as an easier week against what might be perceived as a lesser opponent. I know that McDermott/Brady/Babich are likely trying their damnest to take those thoughts out of their collective heads.....but again, human nature.

Ultimately I think we pull this out.....barely. 23-20 Bills with a 4th quarter FG followed by a final-drive stop.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Drove by the Stadium area early and there were tailgates in the private lots already!

Things are drying out from a soggy night.

 

[Jim Bob]

This game makes me nervous. Jacksonville is much more talented than what they've shown in the first 2 games this season. They're going to be super motivated to come out swinging.

Meanwhile, I am worried that this is a bit of a prototypical "trap" game. We go on the road 3 in a row after tonight and all of them against TOUGH opponents. It's only human nature to maybe look past this week as an easier week against what might be perceived as a lesser opponent. I know that McDermott/Brady/Babich are likely trying their damnest to take those thoughts out of their collective heads.....but again, human nature.

Ultimately I think we pull this out.....barely. 23-20 Bills with a 4th quarter FG followed by a final-drive stop.

After how the past two matchups with Jacksonville went, the players are not talking like they are looking past the Jags. At all.



Ed said those two games were weird a bunch of times.



And I like this mindset from Groot.

 

[Zman5778]

After how the past two matchups with Jacksonville went, the players are not talking like they are looking past the Jags. At all.

I totally and 100% buy that they're talking like that.

I just worry that human nature takes over. That and I'm a Buffalo fan and thus used to disappointment.

 

[Jim Bob]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838197414785597926

 

[Jim Bob]

How a board game brought Bills players closer -- and stoked their competitive fire

Buffalo underwent significant change this offseason and has found avenues to bring the team closer.

www.espn.com

Maybe we need to get Catan for our house...

 

[KeyserSoze81]

How a board game brought Bills players closer -- and stoked their competitive fire

Buffalo underwent significant change this offseason and has found avenues to bring the team closer.

www.espn.com

Maybe we need to get Catan for our house...

(Settlers of) Catan is wonderful as a gateway game. It is best at 4 players, but the mechanics are solid despite the game being released in 1995. There is a decent amount of player interaction, and the concepts are very easy to grasp for new players, We used to play this multiple times a week in University (circa 2002-2004). Games have come a long way since then, but playing Catan is sort of like playing Quake II. Other games are certainly better, but it is legendary and great in its own right.

My wife and I have accumulated >100 modern board games, but Settlers of Catan is my origin story.

Side note - I should probably post something about the Bills to stay relevant to the thread. So "Go Bills"! Also, I quite appreciate the 7:30 start time. It takes a couple hours to wind down from watching a game, so I can at least try to fall asleep by 12:30ish.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

This game makes me nervous. Jacksonville is much more talented than what they've shown in the first 2 games this season. They're going to be super motivated to come out swinging.

Meanwhile, I am worried that this is a bit of a prototypical "trap" game. We go on the road 3 in a row after tonight and all of them against TOUGH opponents. It's only human nature to maybe look past this week as an easier week against what might be perceived as a lesser opponent. I know that McDermott/Brady/Babich are likely trying their damnest to take those thoughts out of their collective heads.....but again, human nature.

Ultimately I think we pull this out.....barely. 23-20 Bills with a 4th quarter FG followed by a final-drive stop.

Well, we should be a little nervous. Jacksonville D is good, they will be desperate (0-2), and have a good athletic QB.

BUT, we have a good home field advantage, 10 days to prepare, Josh is good vs man on man and plays well in prime time, Hoping the Injuries on D hold up, and I'm sure the coaches and leadership have been impressing the fact not to let this be a trap game.

 

[TehDoak]

This is the classic trap game right? Coming off a Big win vs a Divisional rival vs a team that has struggled mightily to start the season with a big game the next week.

I like to think the team has matured and recognize this. This where last years version of the bills were frustrating. The Jags game, the broncos game, the giants game, the New england game, the chargers game. Even though we won a few of those, games where we didn't bring the juice needed.

The Jags are banged up in key spots. The Jags are on the struggle bus.

We need to keep them there and let them get their season together next week. We can't be their slump buster.

Go out, get the win, come out healthy.

 

[Jim Bob]

This is the classic trap game right? Coming off a Big win vs a Divisional rival vs a team that has struggled mightily to start the season with a big game the next week.

I like to think the team has matured and recognize this. This where last years version of the bills were frustrating. The Jags game, the broncos game, the giants game, the New england game, the chargers game. Even though we won a few of those, games where we didn't bring the juice needed.

The Jags are banged up in key spots. The Jags are on the struggle bus.

We need to keep them there and let them get their season together next week. We can't be their slump buster.

Go out, get the win, come out healthy.

Do classic trap games include games against teams with lots of success against the favored team?

While I get the concern, I look at this more like a "bad matchup game" than a "trap game".

The Jets and the Jags are two teams that have given the Bills fits recently and I doubt it is due to the team looking past them and getting trapped.

 

[HOOats]

Heard Sal talking this morning about the Jags being one of the most man-heavy coverages in the NFL.

I'd love to see us stick with the heavy offensive approach but start to take the play action shots downfield. Keon has had some looks, would be awesome to get him one on MNF.

I think we're going to jack them up tbh. The guys low key hate this team. Relatively healthy and ticked with MNF home crowd on a beautiful night. Let's go.

 

[Selanne00008]

(Settlers of) Catan is wonderful as a gateway game. It is best at 4 players, but the mechanics are solid despite the game being released in 1995. There is a decent amount of player interaction, and the concepts are very easy to grasp for new players, We used to play this multiple times a week in University (circa 2002-2004). Games have come a long way since then, but playing Catan is sort of like playing Quake II. Other games are certainly better, but it is legendary and great in its own right.

My wife and I have accumulated >100 modern board games, but Settlers of Catan is my origin story.

Side note - I should probably post something about the Bills to stay relevant to the thread. So "Go Bills"! Also, I quite appreciate the 7:30 start time. It takes a couple hours to wind down from watching a game, so I can at least try to fall asleep by 12:30ish.

Killin me out west. 4:30pm start time?! Sorry work, I gotta duck out early.
Thank god dinner is prepped for the kids.

 

[misterchainsaw]

Joe Marino had an interesting stat on his 5 predictions segment yesterday:

In the 9 games, including the playoffs, since Joe Brady took over as OC, Josh Allen has topped 250 yards passing once (Week 18 game in Miami).

So, it may be worded a little more pointedly than you might prefer, but given how good Jacksonville has been against the run, especially in London last year vs Buffalo, this could be a game where they need to rely more on the passing game than they have since Brady has taken over.

The good thing is that the Jags are down a CB and a depth safety that has played a fair amount of snaps so far this season.

He's missing some games I think. He threw for more than 300 vs Philly. Had more than 250 vs the Jets too, the game he took over.

I think he's been in charge for 12 games total

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Killin me out west. 4:30pm start time?! Sorry work, I gotta duck out early.
Thank god dinner is prepped for the kids.

Tivo's are very popular out there!

 

[kirby11]

Heard Sal talking this morning about the Jags being one of the most man-heavy coverages in the NFL.

I'd love to see us stick with the heavy offensive approach but start to take the play action shots downfield. Keon has had some looks, would be awesome to get him one on MNF.

I think we're going to jack them up tbh. The guys low key hate this team. Relatively healthy and ticked with MNF home crowd on a beautiful night. Let's go.

I hope this game is like when we wrecked the Titans early on in 2022.

Also, between Morse being susceptible to power rushes and both JAX OTs struggling so far, I'm hoping the DL can force Lawrence to cough the ball up a time or two with strip sacks. He's fumbled, on average, 11 times per season so far in his career.

 

[Uberpecker]

Trap game, bad match up game, whatever people wanna call it, either way I'm worried.
Jax have had their number for a while now, the last time Bills won was when Jax still had Bortles as their QB.

 

[Zman5778]

Heard Sal talking this morning about the Jags being one of the most man-heavy coverages in the NFL.

If they do indeed play heavy man against us.........Khalil, Samuel and Kincaid are all gonna EAT tonight. And heavy man also means that there should be PLENTY of running lanes open for Josh.

 

[Jim Bob]

He's missing some games I think. He threw for more than 300 vs Philly. Had more than 250 vs the Jets too, the game he took over.

I think he's been in charge for 12 games total

I'm guessing it may be the last 9 games then.

Josh Allen Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Josh Allen Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Now I have to look it up:

2024 week 2 - 139
2024 week 1 - 232
2023 playoff week 2 - 186
2023 playoff week 1 - 203
2023 week 18 - 359
2023 week 17 - 169
2023 week 16 - 237
2023 week 15 - 94
2023 week 14 - 233

There is your 1 out of the last 9 games played with only the Miami game as over 250 yards passing.

He did go over 250 yards in the first two weeks with Brady as the interim OC. So, it's 3/11 with Brady taking over after the Denver loss in week 10 last year.

 

[TehDoak]

I'm guessing it may be the last 9 games then.

Josh Allen Career Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Get Josh Allen Career game log for regular season and playoff games on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Now I have to look it up:

2024 week 2 - 139
2024 week 1 - 232
2023 playoff week 2 - 186
2023 playoff week 1 - 203
2023 week 18 - 359
2023 week 17 - 169
2023 week 16 - 237
2023 week 15 - 94
2023 week 14 - 233

There is your 1 out of the last 9 games played with only the Miami game as over 250 yards passing.

He did go over 250 yards in the first two weeks with Brady as the interim OC. So, it's 3/11 with Brady taking over after the Denver loss in week 10 last year.

I mean, thats the whole point of Brady's offense. It doesn't rely on Josh needing to be a hero to win. I think the lack of a home run hitter in WR hurts a bit as well (they are set up well for play. action deep balls). Curious to see the plan for this week as they take away the run well. My guess is they attack the middle of the field alot with two TE sets. I think they may come out with PA out of the gate and just have josh get it to knox/kincaid/Shakir over the middle

 

[yahhockey]

If you're local and have a free evening the tickets are reasonably priced. Ticketmaster resale tickets
slightly less than $150 around mid field in the lower bowl on the Jacksonville sideline. Even less as you get closer to the end zones. Many tickets in the 300s for less than $100. For 2024 Bills tickets it's reasonable and less than face value tickets. One pair of 200 club level sideline tickets was around $150 per ticket but they may have sold since I saw them. Just wish I could shake this cold because I'm overdue to attend a Bills game. All the years I suffered through mediocrity and I haven't had an opportunity to see them since 2019.

On the bright side tonight my cousin is supposed to buy tickets for the Bills at Seahawks game since I booked my flight today so the drought ends October 27.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Smoot, Andreessen, Soloman Active

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Whats cookin' Bill's Mafia ?

Chicken Fingers, Twice Baked Potatoes, Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip, Mac Salad, Antipasta, Munchies, Pie here.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Smoot, Andreessen, Soloman Active
View attachment 909048

Interesting to see Edwards inactive, since in Week 1 it was Bishop who was inactive. Might be a sign Bishop is moving up the depth chart.

 

[SwordsgoneWild]

No matter how bad the Jags look , I will never forget losing to that Urban Meyer coached team . Can't predict anything especially how this season has played out so far.