A thing about NE I never see in Buffalo

[Albany,n.y.]

Even though there is some team continuity, in the NFL every season a coach gets a new team, it's never the team he had the year before.

In New England, Belichick takes that team from training camp & builds up as the season progresses. The best time to play NE is the 1st month of the season because Belichick is still working the bugs out, but as the weeks go on NE just keeps getting better & better, building to peak as the season gets to it's latter stages. That's why the Bills could beat the Pats last year & Arizona could this year in September. Even back in 2003, the Bills were able to win 31-0 on opening day, but in the last game the score was reversed. Most injuries don't matter because by the time the season is ending Belichick has either coached up the new backups to be able to come right in and play, or cut the deadwood & replaced them with a veteran who can step right in.

In Buffalo we get worse as the season goes on. Injuries always pile up & every year by the end of the season we get the excuses that next year all the injured players will be back & we can't possibly have that many injuries because this year is an obvious aberration. Yet every year by this time, we have guys in there starting who won't be in the league next year. We're not seeing rookies on the rise getting plugged in in December. Well coached teams get better the longer the season gets. Poorly coached teams get worse & get injured.

Also, we need a good strength & conditioning program, something we haven't had since the Super Bowl years. Ever notice how just about all the key players were in there for the playoffs during the Bills Super Bowl years? Yes, Kelly and others missed a game or 2 but virtually none of them were ever out for the season in January.

[gebobs]

I don't agree. The Bills started out like garbage this year. They have improved, but not by much.

Your point about NE is noted though and I concur.

[pmoon6]

Even though there is some team continuity, in the NFL every season a coach gets a new team, it's never the team he had the year before.

In New England, Belichick takes that team from training camp & builds up as the season progresses. The best time to play NE is the 1st month of the season because Belichick is still working the bugs out, but as the weeks go on NE just keeps getting better & better, building to peak as the season gets to it's latter stages. That's why the Bills could beat the Pats last year & Arizona could this year in September. Even back in 2003, the Bills were able to win 31-0 on opening day, but in the last game the score was reversed. Most injuries don't matter because by the time the season is ending Belichick has either coached up the new backups to be able to come right in and play, or cut the deadwood & replaced them with a veteran who can step right in.

In Buffalo we get worse as the season goes on. Injuries always pile up & every year by the end of the season we get the excuses that next year all the injured players will be back & we can't possibly have that many injuries because this year is an obvious aberration. Yet every year by this time, we have guys in there starting who won't be in the league next year. We're not seeing rookies on the rise getting plugged in in December. Well coached teams get better the longer the season gets. Poorly coached teams get worse & get injured.

Also, we need a good strength & conditioning program, something we haven't had since the Super Bowl years. Ever notice how just about all the key players were in there for the playoffs during the Bills Super Bowl years? Yes, Kelly and others missed a game or 2 but virtually none of them were ever out for the season in January.Every team has strength and conditioning programs, but even the best can't prevent sprained or torn ligament. Neither can it prevent broken bones. I see a lot of fans point to that when injuries rear their ugly head. I guess they have to blame something other than bad luck.

[Albany,n.y.]

I don't agree. The Bills started out like garbage this year. They have improved, but not by much.

Your point about NE is noted though and I concur.
You can't use the blowout on opening day as the sole reason you say they started out like garbage. They were 2-1 after 3 games & have been 3-7 since. I don't consider that improvement. In fact, the 5 wins were against some of the worst teams in football: Kansas City(2-11), Cleveland (5-8, they are a lot better now than they were in September), Arizona (4-9), Miami (5-8, probably the best team we've beaten this year) & Jacksonville (2-11). That's a combined 18-47 (.277).
None of these teams is even close to .500. The bottom line-if we play a horrendous team like KC or Jax at home, we're going to win easily. Same result in week 2 as week 13. If we beat Seattle, then we can talk improvement, but if we win only one more time or lose out, I can't see any improvement.

[trapezeus]

the patriots get more data from their methods of cheating with Ernie Adams. As a result, they get better at stealing other people's signals and continuously send them down to the sidelines to brady's helmet after the 15 second cut off.

it goes unchecked. they also get the most timely ugly calls that totally kill any momentum a team has. Houston watches 2 or 3 very questionable calls go up in the first two/three drives and they are down 21-0. Then in the 3rd and 4th quarter there are some make up calls to go the otherway to make it look like it was called the other way. it's a travesty.

[Albany,n.y.]

Every team has strength and conditioning programs, but even the best can't prevent sprained or torn ligament. Neither can it prevent broken bones. I see a lot of fans point to that when injuries rear their ugly head. I guess they have to blame something other than bad luck.

The bottom line is the good teams have weeded out the deadwood & coached up the young players so they can go in & win. We have the same guys we brought to camp & they're still not ready to play in the NFL in December. I guarantee that unless they're both on the Bills bench next year because of a lack of depth, that at least one of the Snow, Young OL duo is out of the league & neither one will ever be a capable starter.

[pmoon6]

the patriots get more data from their methods of cheating with Ernie Adams. As a result, they get better at stealing other people's signals and continuously send them down to the sidelines to brady's helmet after the 15 second cut off.

it goes unchecked. they also get the most timely ugly calls that totally kill any momentum a team has. Houston watches 2 or 3 very questionable calls go up in the first two/three drives and they are down 21-0. Then in the 3rd and 4th quarter there are some make up calls to go the otherway to make it look like it was called the other way. it's a travesty.Totally true IMO. I see so many games where the flags fly against one team when the game is in doubt and then when it's out of reach, they call it the other way. The league can say "Look at the stat sheet, penalties were even". That doesn't come close to the real story. I will add that the propaganda arm of the NFL (NFL Network, ESPN and even the network game broadcasters) never say much about the dismal officiated. They have a gag order and are afraid to lose their jobs. They're all part of the same hypocricy.

[Mahdi]

I find it interesting that of the 4 hardest teams they had on the schedule, Hou, SF, DEnver, Baltimore, they played 3 of the 4 at home.

[ServoBillieves]

Or is it that they don't look like they're moving in slow motion when their receivers are running routes or Brady is throwing the ball? Or that instead of 3 yard cut in routes their receivers can go 5 and, dare I say, 8 yard routes to loosen the coverage and set up the run, while also completing passes of those distances to get first downs?! On defense, they put their hands in the air to bat balls and get physical with the receiver after reception to knock balls loose?

They are a different level. Two freak of nature Tight Ends who can block, unbelievable depth at WR, a line that can pave the way for a cripple in a wheelchair, Running Backs that can run, catch, and block, a defense littered with LB and DL talent that makes up for the below-average (now looking above average/good) talent... That's how you build a franchise. It's disgusting what that team can do.

[DynaPaul]

Seriously Albany NY, what are you thinking? You can't compare anyone to New England precisely because of what trapezeus posted. You have to compare them to a real team.

[pmoon6]

The bottom line is the good teams have weeded out the deadwood & coached up the young players so they can go in & win. We have the same guys we brought to camp & they're still not ready to play in the NFL in December. I guarantee that unless they're both on the Bills bench next year because of a lack of depth, that at least one of the Snow, Young OL duo is out of the league & neither one will ever be a capable starter.That's a question of depth and coaching, not conditioning. The single biggest problem I see is the lack of passion, especially on the offense. That comes down to the coaching staff and trickles down to the leaders of the team. A change is certainly needed, we need some fire, some attitude. The defense has come around in my view and something to build on. What I was worried at the beginning of the season and it has come to fruition. How can you run a spread offense with only one good receiver?

Unfortunately, I also see the FO just promoting Wannstedt to HC. That has been their MO. I will throw out some names and tell me what you think for head coach. Steve Spagnola, Mike Nolan, Jack Del Rio, Jim Haslett. I think most of those guys could put a fire under some of our players. Dave Wannstedt, not so much.

[gebobs]

You can't use the blowout on opening day as the sole reason you say they started out like garbage. They were 2-1 after 3 games & have been 3-7 since.
Hold on a second. Those two wins were against even worse garbage than the Bills. I see some improvement in the Bills defense. In that win against KC, they gave up 400+ yards to a team that has done that twice all year. From the Bills perspective, they gave up 400+ yards and 40+ points in three of the first five weeks (and nearly 400 against the Jets). Since then, they have not given up 400+ or 40+ points and have held the opposition to under 300 yards three times.

The Bills suck. Overall, I would say it's a wash. They are what they are. Mediocre.

[cookie G]

At least as far it goes with the Bills vs. the Pats, it isn't hard to understand why the 2nd game is usually a blowout, (as it has been for the past 10 years or so.)

He watches the tape of the first game;
He figures out what they are doing;
He does something else.

A simple matter of adjustments. They have a coach smart enough to understand that, as well as a QB smart enough to implement it.

A relatively uncomplicated concept that gets lost on many people, including coaches in the NFL.

Kyle Williams said it the best after the first game...

They don't force things, they take what a defense gives them. But for them, they are smart enough to know what a defense is giving them.

Of course, our defense gave them everything this year.

[TigerJ]

I think your argument has some merit on some points. I agree with gebob in that the Bills have improved during the season in some areas. The defense, statistically speaking, is quite a bit better, though they are still unable to stop opponents in critical situations. The continuity in New England is a powerful factor in their continued success. We can't know exactly what happens during New England's practice routine during the week, but speculating, it may be that with a strong core of veteran starting players, Belichick is able to reduce somewhat the reps that they get during practice so that young backups get more reps than a typical team. That makes for less dropoff and fewer mistakes when they enter games. It helps that Tom Brady is a very talented QB. Ryan Fitzpatrick needs every practice rep he can get during the week. That's why Tarvares Jackson can't get a sniff of activation. He just has so little opportunity to practice, he still doesn't know what he's doing.

[THE END OF ALL DAYS]

It's all about the freaking quarterback! Brady is unbelievably good and that is why this team is good year after year. Everything revolves around the quarterback and until we get a great one we will be just another ugly little sister.

[gebobs]

It's all about the freaking quarterback! Brady is unbelievably good and that is why this team is good year after year. Everything revolves around the quarterback and until we get a great one we will be just another ugly little sister.
But to the OP's point, NE seems to progress as the year goes on. This year is a great example. They lose 2 of 3, including the hapless Cardinals, but are 9 of their last 10. The previous two seasons, they went a combined 16-0 in the second half of the season.

[justasportsfan]

I'll say it again " KILLER INSTINCT". Pats have it bills don't.

[pmoon6]

I'll say it again " KILLER INSTINCT". Pats have it bills don't.Pats should be flagged every play for too many men on the field. Their 11 and the six in stripped shirts.

[justasportsfan]

Pats should be flagged every play for too many men on the field. Their 11 and the six in stripped shirts.

I agree. But still, they just step on your throat while the zebra's hold you down.

[streetkings01]

Players believe in the hoodie...........because what he teaches them produces results on the field. Why would anyone follow Gailey when he consistently puts out a gameplan that doesn't work on sundays?

[imbondz]

I'll say it again " KILLER INSTINCT". Pats have it bills don't.

yep. Brady and Bellicheat both have it. They killed the '#1' team in the AFC last night.

[ServoBillieves]

yep. Brady and Bellicheat both have it. They killed the '#1' team in the AFC last night.

Does great when Kraft is making it rain cash like Hernandez after his score (craps? That's just low) and whichever other receiver was "making it rain." The refs were OK with seeing them celebrate that way because they knew they'd be showering in caviar and chardonnay.

[Syderick]

Totally true IMO. I see so many games where the flags fly against one team when the game is in doubt and then when it's out of reach, they call it the other way. The league can say "Look at the stat sheet, penalties were even". That doesn't come close to the real story. I will add that the propaganda arm of the NFL (NFL Network, ESPN and even the network game broadcasters) never say much about the dismal officiated. They have a gag order and are afraid to lose their jobs. They're all part of the same hypocricy.


They had no problem criticizing the replacement refs.

[JohnnyGold]

Can we revisit this thread when the Patriots lose either wild card weekend to pit, or in the divisional round to baltimore?

Bills fans have an irrational fear of the Patriots.

Are they good? Yes. Are they great? Yes.

Are they immortal? No.

They haven't won a superbowl since 04--don't forget that. And, Brady has almost lost as many super bowls as he's won. If Eli wins 1 more this year, he'll be tied with Brady for Super Bowl wins--and Coughlin will be tied with Beliceck.

The reason why the Patriots seem like the best team in the history of the NFL, with the smartest coach, and the best qb ever (even though eli and the giants are almost identical) is because of the hype machine in connecticut--E!spn.

I've said this for the past 10 years, since realignment, and I will continue to say it. The NFL's method of scheduling is mathematically flawed, and inherently advantageous to good teams. With a modified schedule, the Patriots "accomplishments" over the past decade would be seen for what they really were/are: a good team who peaked with a monster defense in 04, and hasnt been able to get over the hump in a decade.

People probably think that 16-0 team was one of the greatest teams in NFL history too, right?

[trapezeus]

belichick is a nobody. he's getting the info from ernie adams and no one knows what he does. but the guy over saw spy gate and he still is doing something that is creating results no one else can do. that's hardly excellence. it's shady. it's down right madoff. Madoff never had any losses even during bad years. and people closed their eyes and said, "he must be good."

The pats haven't even had talent the way other dynasties have. they aren't playing fair and the NFL is complicit in helping. it's not a wack-o conspiracy theory.

[Mr. Pink]

belichick is a nobody. he's getting the info from ernie adams and no one knows what he does. but the guy over saw spy gate and he still is doing something that is creating results no one else can do. that's hardly excellence. it's shady. it's down right madoff. Madoff never had any losses even during bad years. and people closed their eyes and said, "he must be good."

The pats haven't even had talent the way other dynasties have. they aren't playing fair and the NFL is complicit in helping. it's not a wack-o conspiracy theory.

So what was he doing in Cleveland in 94 when they had the best defense in the NFL and a QB who was sacked like 10 times all season?

Belichick is not a nobody. He's meticulous. He has a strong work ethic. He's constantly studying, tweaking and improving. Whatever his teams' do or have done is never good enough for him. He doesn't rest on his laurels or accolades.

Sure the Pats were "cheating" but no more or less than teams in baseball stealing signs. You still have to know what to do with that data and then your players still have to be good enough, believe in you and be able to execute it. Just knowing what to do and when to do it isn't the end all be all. There's no magic button to press when you know what to do, you still have to actually be able to do it.

Oh also, if anyone thinks that the Pats are getting special treatment in the league, why haven't they won anything since 04? And why even bother watching if you think they are getting preferential treatment? All that means is that the league is fixed and the outcomes are predetermined. Maybe the NFL should just make Vince McMahon commish then.

[kishoph]

The biggest difference between the Bills and the Pats is Brady > Fitzpatrick.

[gebobs]

The biggest difference between the Bills and the Pats is Brady > Fitzpatrick.
Heck, I bet Mallet > Fitz

[Historian]

This team has been soft since Rusty Jones was sent packing by TD.

[The Jokeman]

Or is it that they don't look like they're moving in slow motion when their receivers are running routes or Brady is throwing the ball? Or that instead of 3 yard cut in routes their receivers can go 5 and, dare I say, 8 yard routes to loosen the coverage and set up the run, while also completing passes of those distances to get first downs?! On defense, they put their hands in the air to bat balls and get physical with the receiver after reception to knock balls loose?

They are a different level. Two freak of nature Tight Ends who can block, unbelievable depth at WR, a line that can pave the way for a cripple in a wheelchair, Running Backs that can run, catch, and block, a defense littered with LB and DL talent that makes up for the below-average (now looking above average/good) talent... That's how you build a franchise. It's disgusting what that team can do.

The Patriots know how to work the draft as they always end up with multiple picks and/or additional picks in early picks in fourthcoming drafts. Then when they do look to acquire guys in the season get great value is they almost never trade anything above 4th Round picks but get talented guys in return. Toss in on free agents they have a great idea of what type of guys to go after. I think the Bills front office over the last few years been horrible in matching players to scheme in regard to the draft.