Last year: After week 6, the vaunted Bills defense was... Reeling after a loss at home to New England. We had given up 37 points to a Patriots team that was clearly better than us. Our record was 3-3. In our 3 losses, we had given up: 37, 23, and 22 points.
This year: After week 6, the Bills are reeling after giving up 36 points at home to one of the top teams in the conference. We're 3-3. In our 3 losses, we have given up: 34, 24, and 40 points.
Yes, over the course of the remaining 10 games, the "stats" changed to make the defense look like one of the best to have taken the field in Bills history--despite our 9-7 record. But at the end of the day, this Bills team seems to be right about where they were at this point last year, defensively at least. This makes sense, considering not much has changed personnel wise, aside from Aaron Williams being out for the season.
Offensively though, much is different. We are putting more points on the board, and that is with: our starting QB; 2 top RBs; and 2 top wideouts all missing significant time. I get the frustration at losing 3 home games to some of the best teams in the NFL, but so far, the teams we have lost to this year would be: the 2 top seeds in the AFC, and a division champion/playoff hosting NFC team.
Wasn't this supposed to be a Bills team that could contend for a wild card in the minds of 90% of the fanbase heading into this year? And isn't that where we find this Bills team, 6 games into the season? 1 game back from the playoffs, with a new offensive and defensive system, and essentially a rookie QB? Seems like we're right on pace for that goal, with a .500 record after (by far and away) the most difficult part of our schedule already completed.
I know it's 2015, and instant gratification is the only way people are able to consume media products, but for the love of god, there are 10 enjoyable games left this year, and we get the Jets twice, who currently sit at 4-1 and hold the 5 seed, 1 game back from the vaunted Patriots. Those Jets, led by our castoffs, have beaten teams with a combined record of 9-14, and are led by Ryan Fitzpatrick. They play us 2 more times, and the Patriots 2 more times. If you think that Gailey and Fitz will hold it together for 16 games, go review the record of any team Ryan Fitzpatrick has ever quarterbacked, including his 3+ years in Buffalo.
For 15 years, you guys have only wanted "meaningful football games". Well--there's 10 meaningful ones on the way. Enjoy them. Or don't. But stop pretending we broke up the champs last year and are left holding the hot potato of an organization in shambles. It's the same team, performing at essentially the same clip, with a better offensive output. Now we're healthy, and the easy part of our schedule comes along.
New teams and players take time to fit together--see last year's Super Bowl champions who started 2-2, and looked completely lost against Kansas City.
I retired from twobillsdrive.com, and this place looks like the next one which I will be permanently logging off from.
The 3 worst things about the NFL these days are:
1) Goodell
2) The refs
3) Fans that are part of the "now now now give it to me now" generation that analyze every play of a game as if it's life or death, and a referendum on the direction of the organization as a whole. You guys are literally setting up a scenario for yourself where you complain, fret, and are generally miserable for the entire 3 month run that the Bills will make towards the playoffs--despite this being "the only thing you've wanted for the last 15 years."
Well--it's *****ing here. Enjoy it.
This year: After week 6, the Bills are reeling after giving up 36 points at home to one of the top teams in the conference. We're 3-3. In our 3 losses, we have given up: 34, 24, and 40 points.
Yes, over the course of the remaining 10 games, the "stats" changed to make the defense look like one of the best to have taken the field in Bills history--despite our 9-7 record. But at the end of the day, this Bills team seems to be right about where they were at this point last year, defensively at least. This makes sense, considering not much has changed personnel wise, aside from Aaron Williams being out for the season.
Offensively though, much is different. We are putting more points on the board, and that is with: our starting QB; 2 top RBs; and 2 top wideouts all missing significant time. I get the frustration at losing 3 home games to some of the best teams in the NFL, but so far, the teams we have lost to this year would be: the 2 top seeds in the AFC, and a division champion/playoff hosting NFC team.
Wasn't this supposed to be a Bills team that could contend for a wild card in the minds of 90% of the fanbase heading into this year? And isn't that where we find this Bills team, 6 games into the season? 1 game back from the playoffs, with a new offensive and defensive system, and essentially a rookie QB? Seems like we're right on pace for that goal, with a .500 record after (by far and away) the most difficult part of our schedule already completed.
I know it's 2015, and instant gratification is the only way people are able to consume media products, but for the love of god, there are 10 enjoyable games left this year, and we get the Jets twice, who currently sit at 4-1 and hold the 5 seed, 1 game back from the vaunted Patriots. Those Jets, led by our castoffs, have beaten teams with a combined record of 9-14, and are led by Ryan Fitzpatrick. They play us 2 more times, and the Patriots 2 more times. If you think that Gailey and Fitz will hold it together for 16 games, go review the record of any team Ryan Fitzpatrick has ever quarterbacked, including his 3+ years in Buffalo.
For 15 years, you guys have only wanted "meaningful football games". Well--there's 10 meaningful ones on the way. Enjoy them. Or don't. But stop pretending we broke up the champs last year and are left holding the hot potato of an organization in shambles. It's the same team, performing at essentially the same clip, with a better offensive output. Now we're healthy, and the easy part of our schedule comes along.
New teams and players take time to fit together--see last year's Super Bowl champions who started 2-2, and looked completely lost against Kansas City.
I retired from twobillsdrive.com, and this place looks like the next one which I will be permanently logging off from.
The 3 worst things about the NFL these days are:
1) Goodell
2) The refs
3) Fans that are part of the "now now now give it to me now" generation that analyze every play of a game as if it's life or death, and a referendum on the direction of the organization as a whole. You guys are literally setting up a scenario for yourself where you complain, fret, and are generally miserable for the entire 3 month run that the Bills will make towards the playoffs--despite this being "the only thing you've wanted for the last 15 years."
Well--it's *****ing here. Enjoy it.
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