I like this line of thinking...

by SuperFan82 on Jul 12, 2008 9:59 PM EDT

I think if you read between the lines, Dan Pompei writes that the AFC East is not just a mere formality for New England* in 2008. I'm not sure if he's familiar with our fearful leader, Dick Jauron's declaration that "we don't match up well with the Patriots*" Regardless of Jauron's timid nature, this flowery write-up has me counting down the days until the likely Super Bowl champion Seahawks come to town to play the opener at 10am Pacific...

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25607526/

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Good article indeed.

Just out of curiosity… and I’m sure you have answered this before, but I can’t recall the answer or when you did it… why Seattle?

by Brian Galliford on Jul 12, 2008 10:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Seattle

They have an easy schedule, a great home field advantage, a top 8 QB, and a Hall of Fame coach on his farewell tour. I think cutting ties with Shaun Alexander makes their offense MUCH more explosive and as you know, I think a great slot receiver is the keystone to a successful offense and it’s hard to find a better one than Bobby Engram…They have the best linebacker trio in football and with the NFC only having three teams that have the talent to even entertain the idea of winning it all (SEA, DAL, NYG), Seattle over San Diego in Super Bowl XLIII looks like a winning bet to me.

That being said, I love that Seattle, San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco all drew 1:00 games with us in Orchard Park. Never underestimate the 10am factor.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Jul 12, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

All good reasons for Seattle, except for Engram. I agree he’s a good receiver, but he’s unmistakably that team’s best receiver, not their slot guy. He might have difficulties this year, because who’s taking pressure off him on the outside? Deion Branch? Nate Burleson? Not sure.

That said, I do think the Seahawks have a good shot at, at the very least, making it to the NFC Championship game. I would add Philadelphia to your list though – they seem to be up and down every year (they’re due for an up year), and they added some nice players in the off-season.

Agree about the west coast teams, too. I see 3 of those 4 games as winnable; San Diego is going to be a tough out.

by Brian Galliford on Jul 12, 2008 11:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Engram/Philly

Yeah, he’s their best receiver, but he does it out of the slot. Seattle’s outside receivers are slightly above average at best, but having a premier slot receiver takes pressure off of them (sort of like what New England* has). Maybe one day we’ll get to utilize a true asset out of that position…

I’m also thrilled to report from SE Pennsylvania that Philadelphia is not only the armpit of the universe in terms of its filthy people, crooked government, and overall smell, but the football team is headed for 6-10 or worse. That’s a real bad defense (even with Samuel) that doesn’t get to the quarterback, doesn’t stop the run, and doesn’t have one linebacker that could start for Buffalo. Your Syracuse boy, a heavy set and often ineffective Donovan McNabb, has speant the entire offseason crying and making excuses in the media before he even hits the field (a change of course for his career because he usually waits until after choking in a big game before adding to reputation as the league’s leading excuse maker) and the team has worse WR talent than even Buffalo does…no matter what Buffalo does this year, the whole NFL season won’t be a total failure because at least I get to see this arrogant (for no reason) Eagles team crash and burn over the next few years…always something I enjoy.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Jul 13, 2008 12:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree with all this, but

I really like McNabb. I know no everyone thinks that way, but I do. When he is on, hes as good as anybody, and lately his team hasn’t met his passion or talent. On ofense, amny times, it is just him and Westbrook.

This town needs an enema!

by killascript on Jul 13, 2008 12:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

On respect and puking

I decided I liked McNabb when he puked before taking a snap in some game a couple of years ago. I think he even threw a completion right after throwing up. Way to take one (or give one?) for the team!

by Ron From NM on Jul 13, 2008 10:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

McNabb always does that

ever since college. He struggles to keep it together in big moments in games…

by Kurupt on Jul 13, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

Seems a little extreme reaction to Philly there...

...especially the defense. They ranked 10th overall, 9th in scoring defense, 9th in sacks (37), and 7th against the run. Their only issue last year was forcing turnovers (only 19), but they’ve added in Samuel a guy thats been a ballhawk over the last few years and another legit pass rusher (Chris Clemons- 8.5 sacks).

I like Seattle’s defense A LOT. They added Lawrence Jackson to that DE rotation and that’ll give Kerney a breather. They’re running game will be better this year, and Hasselback is an extremely underrated QB. That said, they also signed Larry Tripplett.

by PozDispenser on Jul 15, 2008 7:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I like that 10AM time factor too.

Do any of those teams have byes before their game in Buffalo? If so, a team could get here a day or two earlier, and sort of negate that advantage…

Betting wise – these are tough games to call. Vegas always gives the home team three points, no matter what. They also take away points from teams who travel cross country against time zones. Sometimes these are sucker bets….
z

by krytime on Jul 12, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s not hard to say the Bills will be closer to the Patriots in the standings then they were last year. Think about it : The Bills should win at least 8 games hopefully more, and there is no way the Pat win 16 again. That said, if the Bills have any hope of winning the division they have to at least be competative with Pats first. 56-10 isn’t going to cut it.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jul 12, 2008 10:46 PM EDT 0 recs

If we went 9-7

But had no big blowout losses I would be “happy” although still dissapointed. Two years ago angainst the Bears, last year against the Pats, the Chargers a couple years ago and Pitt last year. These demoralizing losses kill a team and force a team to rebuild mid-season. Not good at all.

This town needs an enema!

by killascript on Jul 13, 2008 12:43 AM EDT 0 recs

Seattle? Seriously?

They have JULIUS FREAKIN JONES starting at RB and Nate Burlson as one of their top WR’s. Bobby Engram is the only semi-sure thing they have at the position and even he isn’t that sure of a bet. Who plays TE for them anyhow? And their OL hasn’t been the same since Hutchinson left. I think they have a better chance of finishing below .500 than they do of reaching the Super Bowl, let alone winning it.

They have a solid D, but to predict them as SB champs is somewhat ludicrous IMO.

by Kurupt on Jul 13, 2008 2:14 AM EDT 0 recs

Jones/Burleson/TEs

On paper, Seattle’s skill position players aren’t overly-impressive, but that’s because their stats are skewed becuiase Holmgrem and Hasselbeck are masters at spreading the ball around. And in any event, Nate Burleson caught 9 TDs last year- for context, our #2 receiver last year caught 0 TDs and has 8 in his entire 6 year career…Seattle will spread the field with multiple receiver packages like they did in the 2nd half of last season and Julius Jones will thrive in all the open space where Shaun Alexander was too slow the last two seasons…I find it hard to believe that picking a team that’s made the playoffs 5 straight years is “ludicrous”,,,7 teams could win it this year and Seattle is definitely one of them…I just hoipe they’re starting out 0-1 on their march to the title.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Jul 13, 2008 10:16 AM EDT up 0 recs

I think the questionable weapons has more to do with the departure of Hackett, Branch’s injury and the fact that Bobby Engram will be turning 36 during the playoffs than their scheme.

That said Hasselbeck is one of the most underrated QBs in the league and he should be helped by Holmgren returning to a more balanced run/pass offense. I have never been a fan of Julius Jones, but with committee type help from Morris and Duckett, the run game should be effective. They signed Mark Wahle to finally replace Hutchinson so their run game should be rock solid.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2008 12:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

It really bothers me that you always rip Juaron for thinking that we don’t match up well with the Pats. It was just an honest answer to a typical reporter question.

Honestly, do you think we match up well with the Pats? Because if the answer is anything other than yes, I don’t see how you can be critical of DJ for saying that.

And Bobby Engram will be playing almost exclusively on the outside this year. Burleson will be on the other side and Branch will start the year on the PUP and probably won’t make much of an impact when he does come back. Look for Ben Obomanu to hold of Courtney Taylor and see most of the third WR minutes.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2008 7:50 AM EDT 0 recs

The difference between Jauron and I

Jauron’s job is to make the Bills match up with gthe Patriots. My job is to forecast customer demand for certain miscellaneous building materials…It doesn’t matter how well I expect the Bills to play against the teams in our division….if I don’t think we match up well with New England, one of the biggest reasons is that our head coach is incompetent…what good does it do to take a defeatist attitude prior to a game within our division- against a team we face twice a year? Wouldn’t the better approach be to come out swinging? Instead, Jauron states “We don’t match up well with tha Patriots*” and proceeds to run out the clock with almost 2 minutes left before halftime trailing 17-7. “We don’t match up well” became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Jul 13, 2008 10:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

its one thing to rip Juaron for the scheme and offensive style and cautious play-calling, but to rip him for an honest thing he said is totally different.

The players aren’t idiots. They know they don’t match up well with New England. How exactly would Buffalo beat NE? Probably by getting some of the better performances of the season from a number of players combined with a couple of key NE players making some mistakes. That is the mindset the Bills need to have going into the game. They need to know that if they don’t play their very best they are going to lose, because they do not match up well with New England. It isn’t a defeatist attitude, rather it is a realistic approach.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

He's not a Super(Bills)Fan82

Kaisertown, I think SuperFan82 wants Jauron to pull a Dennis Green and say “They are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook”. Jauron isn’t saying anything different than the other coaches around the league. In order to be the man, you have to beat the man and until the Bills beat the Patriots they don’t match up with them. As far as Seattle going to the Super Bowl are you kidding me? Let me throw some NFC teams at you SuperFan82. Vikings, Cowboys, Saints, Bucs, Eagles, Packers(w/Favre) and last but not least, the Super Bowl champs NY Giants. The only reason the Seahawks even sniff the playoffs is because they play in the miserable NFC West. I wonder if you would have chosen the Seahawks if Koren Robinson were still on the team.

by the Skycap on Jul 13, 2008 1:28 PM EDT 0 recs

The Bucs? Not so much. Jeff Garcia’s not taking that team anywhere, though their defense is still very good.

Same situation in Minnesota with Tarvaris Jackson.

You make a good point about the Saints though. They should rebound nicely this year.

by Brian Galliford on Jul 13, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agree about DJ

Just wanted to emphasize the point you made about Jauron, Sky.
I think Jauron is frequently misunderstood. He’s not Parcells. He’s not this firebrand who uses press conferences to fire up the fans or his team. He’s a pretty straight shooter, and he’s smart.
He’s just acknowledging what everybody in the AFC already knows: you want to go anywhere in the playoffs (heck, if you’re in the AFC East, and you want to REACH the playoffs?), you have to confront the fact that the Pats are the gold standard, and have been for years. They’re the guys you have to knock out. They’re the guys you must outperform, they’re the team you have to match up with.
You want to compete? Knock the Pats on their butts, just like they did to us last season.

by Defensewinsgames on Jul 13, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dallas (11-5)
NY Giants (10-6)
Philadelphia (6-10)
Washington (6-10)

Minnesota (9-7)
Green Bay (8-8)
Chicago (6-10)
Detroit (5-11)

Carolina (9-7)
Tampa Bay (8-8)
New Orleans (8-8)
Atlanta (4-12)

Seattle (11-5)
Arizona (9-7)
San Franciscom (6-10)
St. Louis (5-11)

New England (12-4)
Buffalo (7-9)
Miami (6-10)
NY Jets (4-12)

Cleveland (10-6)
Pittsburgh (8-8)
Baltimore (6-10)
Cincinnati (4-12)

Jacksonville (11-5)
Indianapolis (11-5)
Houston (9-7)
Tennessee (6-10)

San Diego (13-3)
Denver (7-9)
Oakland (6-10)
Kansas City (5-11)

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Jul 13, 2008 4:28 PM EDT 0 recs

You forgot the Patriots’ asterisk. :)

by Brian Galliford on Jul 13, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

interesting

when most people try to do a quick prediction, they end up overestimating teams and handing out too many wins. You on the other hand have the 32 teams combining for a 246-266 record. Not too many people would hand out more losses than wins. Pessimistic much?

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks, man...good spot

I actually tried to count out 256 wins, but must have made a mistake…I owe 10 wins to the league:

My apologies to:

Philly (that pains me)
Chicago
Green Bay
Detroit
St. Louis
Oakland
Tennessee
Jacksonville
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh

(I’d like to add about 5 of those misplaced wins to Buffalo’s total, but I can’t do it until I see something positive from Edwards in the preseason. As long as I have his ‘07 play as my only point of reference, I can’t give us more than 7 wins with a clean conscience.)

...also, now that I have Green Bay and Pittsburgh 9-7, I need to make it clear that I’m picking Houston to beat out the Steelers for the last AFC playoff spot, and the Vikings to beat out the Packers for the NFC North.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Jul 13, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

come on with Edwards

really? you’re going to use the play of a rookie who was going in and out of the line up as your point of reference? The idea of a prediction is to speculate right, so show a little faith that Trent will be better and make us 9-7!

McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year

by poz on Jul 13, 2008 10:01 PM EDT up 0 recs