Bills vs. Patriots, NFL Week 1: first half open thread

First it was firing Chan Gailey. Then the Buffalo Bills promoted Russ Brandon to President, a title only two men have previously held in the more than 50 years of the organization's existence. Brandon set out to hire a new coach and brought in Doug Marrone. The team drafted E.J. Manuel and a little while later, Doug Whaley took over at general manager for the semi-retiring Buddy Nix.

What a busy offseason.

Training camp came and went with freakish injuries and more freakish injuries. Kevin Kolb hurt his knee slipping on a mat and ended his season taking a knee to the back of the head after a play was over. Manuel looked good in his first two preseason games but hurt his own knee in the preseason and hasn't been seen since. The Bills sat undrafted Jeff Tuel in their final preseason game so they had someone that knew the offense if Manuel wasn't ready to go. In between, they signed and released a former Heisman trophy winner, too.

Are you finally, mercifully ready to talk football? Here is your chance! The New England Patriots come to Buffalo today possibly vulnerable after losing their top five from a year ago. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, and Brandon Lloyd are all gone. Rob Gronkowski is out with a back injury.

Buffalo Bills Inactives

If the Bills can get the win - and that's unlikely seeing as they are a double digit 'dog in their own house - Ralph Wilson Stadium might erupt in jubilation not seen since, well, the last time the Bills beat the Patriots.