Before we get ahead of ourselves

by sireric on Sep 12, 2011 2:48 PM EDT

I have seen the optimism overflow here on Rumblings after yesterdays trouncing of the Chiefs. I am not going to say that it is without good reason, that was as dominant of a win that the Bills have had in a long, long time. I will say however that there are two things this Bills team needs to do before I join in the optimism parade.

1st ) This team needs to beat the Raiders. This is the ultimate trap game. The Bills are coming off a big win on the road and have the Patriots after. It would be very easy to look past Oakland. If the Bills get beat it will be a big sign that this team still lacks the maturity that good teams have to avoid these type of "traps." So step one; Avoid the trap and beat the Raiders. Lets not forget that the Raiders swept the AFC West last year. I know that is still the worst division in the NFL, but that means they still are a capable team. This team is not to be taken lightly and certainly cannot to be overlooked by the Bills. They haven't even come close to earning the right to look past anybody yet, especially a team that finished with more wins then them last year.

2nd ) Hold your own with the Patriots. I am willing to remain optimistic even after a loss to the Pats, but they would have to be competitive. If the Bills get blown out 45 - 10 like they have in the past it will be a huge sign that the Bills simply aren't ready to compete with the big boys of the NFL yet. A close hard fought game that results in a loss will still give me hope for the outcome of the season. The Bills cannot get swept by the Pats however. If this team is going to be playoff bound and take the step forward that we all want to believe that they have then they need to beat the Pats at least once this year. They don't have to do it in week 3, but they need to at least show they can hang with the big boys.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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I was thinking about Oakland this morning and wondering if the Bills will look past them to the Pats. I know the fans aren’t and I’m pretty confident that the Bills won’t. I think they are completely aware that no one really takes them too seriously (even after yesterday) and they need to keep winning games to change the public opinion of them.

"It’s like I’ve always said, don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby."
- Buddy Nix

"How can a guy with a name like Melo be such a pain in the ass?"
- George Lopez

by dnvrBillsfan on Sep 12, 2011 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

I hadn’t even thought about the Patriots until you brought them up in this FanPost. :)

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Sep 12, 2011 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I’m positive the Bills won’t overlook the Raiders. The Bills mission this year was to stop the run and the Raiders had the 2nd best rushing offense last year. The Bills knew that the 1st and 2nd games this year were going to be huge tests to see how their off season went and if they could achieve some of their goals.

I expect them to come out – at home – prepared to play.

by J2 on Sep 12, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Great point, I had forgotten about the Raiders rushing attack.

I’ll be watching them with interest tonight. Honestly, part of me wants the Bills to be tested. I want to know what we have before facing the Pats in week 3.

by Munchausen on Sep 12, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love it if we were tested by a throw first team before facing the Pats, I have a feeling they will be airing it out this year

But facing two of the best rushing teams will help settle the D down a bit, and get them into a run stuffing mindset. I just wish we played the Pats in week 4 with someone like the Chargers or the Eagles. Sure those would be tough games, but they would get the team ready for someone like the Pats.

And unless the Bills get unbelievable luck like a freak season ending injury or illness to Brady before we play them, were going to be sorely tested that game.

Goose22- "I have a quick first step, I’m so good just go an ask my rep
I look like Tarzan but play like Jane" Aaron May(have)bin

by WABillsfan on Sep 12, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I just get the feeling that most fans expect the Bills to have easy wins vs both the Raiders and Bengals coming up, espesially after what they did on Sunday.

And for the record I don’t count you as most fans.

No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.

by sireric on Sep 12, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt any game will be easy

Especially the way the Bengals dispatched the Browns.

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Sep 12, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Lets see what the Raiders look like tonight

The Broncos have a very very good pass rush. The Raiders lost Miller and replace him with Boss not a huge loss in my mind but they also lost Robert Gallary who is a pretty darn good lineman.

I watched them play the Saints in preseason and they looked pretty good. They have great speed a WR and if Campbell can repeat what he did for The Redskins the Raiders might not be the pushover that we as Buffalo Fans think they might be.

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Sep 12, 2011 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Tough deal for the Raiders

Playing as late as they do tonight and then having to come across country to play at 1 pm in Buffalo next Sunday.

by Slick Shifty on Sep 12, 2011 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

I'm sorry

hold on let me slow down, I was so far ahead of myself I couldn’t hear you back there

LOAD UP THE WAGON AND BLAST AWAY!!!

There is nothing worse than exaggeration!- Me

We all say, GO BILLS and I've always wondered, where do we want them to go? I guess to the Super Bowl! -Me

by 78sackdance on Sep 12, 2011 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

This post is like an alcoholic lecturing his estranged christian family about having a glass of champagne at a wedding.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Sep 12, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

This comment is a giant dose of WTF?

No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.

by sireric on Sep 12, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yeah....I'm not sure if he is against alcohol, Chiristians, or weddings :-)

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

"...at that point the cops showed up and I had the right to remain silent....but, I didn't have the ability." - Ron White

by Joe P. on Sep 12, 2011 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually chuckled. I think cjf4 is saying something along the lines of, “Why crap all over everyone who’s enjoying this win?” Pretty sure I’ve seen just about everyone say they still think the Bills have a long road ahead of them.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Sep 12, 2011 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I know.....just making a joke.

But if you follow that analogy to its logical conclusion, he is saying we should stop being Bills fans :-)

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

"...at that point the cops showed up and I had the right to remain silent....but, I didn't have the ability." - Ron White

by Joe P. on Sep 12, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I chuckled at yours, too. Was kind of trying to interpret for Eric, but…whatever. I have no dog in this fight.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Sep 12, 2011 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I would describe the game vs the Raiders more as a "classic" trap game, but isn't it a little early?

They would become overconfident after just one game….would they?

But I do agree that the Pats game will be a better measuring stick. Still, it is nice to see the Bills dominate a bad team (or a team that played badly) instead of sneaking out a win.

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

"...at that point the cops showed up and I had the right to remain silent....but, I didn't have the ability." - Ron White

by Joe P. on Sep 12, 2011 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

Is it too early? I don’t know Joe, and that is why they have to pass the test before I get too far ahead of myslef with expectations for this team. If they come out flat and play like they are expecting the Raiders to be push-overs then no obviously it wasn’t too early.

No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.

by sireric on Sep 12, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure that if they do play poorly it proves it was a trap game....

I mean, it is the home opener…..they should be fired up for that reason alone. But I get the spirit of you post…..take it game by game Bills and Bills fans :-)

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

"...at that point the cops showed up and I had the right to remain silent....but, I didn't have the ability." - Ron White

by Joe P. on Sep 12, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Just the fact that you call this a “trap game” makes me happy. Bad teams don’t have “trap games”. But yes, I agree with you 100%. We can beat the Raiders only if we stay focused on the Raiders.

by LaFemmeNiBuffalo on Sep 12, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Chan's Good

Chan can seriously polish a turd! He’s that good. Merriman is the key defensively, sad to say. And KC isn’t strong team, but Chan can coach. He’s the reason we expect to much! Give him more drafts.

Hey, win or lose we'll look better in our new uniforms! Go Bill's!

by buffalobacker on Sep 13, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

last time i checked they all count the same

beat the raiders, 2 and 0, lose to the Pats twice, beat Miami and the Jets 3 of 4, and we have a legitimate chance to be a wild card contender.

at the end of the day, as chan said, we are better than some thought, and far from putting ourselves on any pedestal….

the pats and brady looked damn good tonite against miami….

no way in hell bills look past raiders, they will need a huge win so they can play the pats without panic….

by simonpure on Sep 13, 2011 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions

The Raiders are not joke

and while we defeated a good Chiefs team, I think Darren McFadden is going to be the stiffer challenge for our defense than Jamaal Charles

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Sep 12, 2011 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

huh????

come on Poz… McFadden isn’t half the back Charles is!!!! I know the hype coming out of college a few years back, and since then, he has had what? One good year?

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Sep 12, 2011 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

right

Im not talking about past production or anything though. Im just of the personal belief that Darren McFadden is going to be a monster this year.

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Sep 12, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Tonight he’s playing much better and running much harder than Charles did last Sunday. I agree with you, poz.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Sep 13, 2011 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions

his stride is incredible

it looks like he makes up so much ground with each stride and his running style makes him hard to take down. He can change direction incredibly quickly.

Our defense better not be making too many diving tackle attempts or we are going to whiff hard. Good thing our tackling looked sound on Sunday, hope George Edwards keeps preaching that in practice this week.

Raiders looked very physical didnt they? I think they will be a very stiff test.

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Sep 13, 2011 2:19 AM EDT up reply actions

They did look physical, but beatable. But damn, McFadden can run when he gets going.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Sep 13, 2011 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Mcfadden

He can run, Like i expect CJ to run like. Given some blocker’s etc.

Hey, win or lose we'll look better in our new uniforms! Go Bill's!

by buffalobacker on Sep 13, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I think CJ will get there

eventually and with the way Fred is playing, whats the rush to put mileage on his tires. Fred is the man for now, CJ is the future, its an ok setup right now.

This even grates my passive cheese - LeClaire Bill

by poz on Sep 13, 2011 2:20 AM EDT up reply actions

McFadden has adequate power to take on a tackler here and there. That’s obviously not his forte, but I don’t see Spiller ever being able to play the position like Darren McFadden (from what I’ve seen of him in the pros). I think Spiller’s ceiling is Dave Megget and his floor is Trung Canidate.

"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix

by Port Royal on Sep 13, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

McFadden has adequate power to take on a tackler here and there.

Watching him bowl over that one DB along the sideline was pretty impressive.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Sep 13, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Winning in the manner in which Buffalo won yesterday doesn’t indicate what they’ll do week in and week out so much as it indicates what they are capable of doing weekly. I don’t think they had shown any indication that they were capable of what they did yesterday, so hopes are rightfully much higher right now than they were 36 hours ago. I know I’m looking forward to the Raiders game more than any game since maybe the Jets game in 08 when they were 5-2 going in.

"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix

by Port Royal on Sep 12, 2011 10:02 PM EDT reply actions