Good Start, but tough challenge ahead

[ghz in pittsburgh]

I don't like the Dolphins too much and they lost Moreno early so the game was a bit easier on the Bills.

However, Miami is known to be a fast start team every year, so the win is not one of the given.

The Chargers beat Seahawks so the Bills will be underdogs again. This might actually help the Bills in terms of the psyche of the Chargers. It just shows how difficult it is to win the opener on the road against a quality opponent. Regardless how the Bears fare against the 49ers, they were a quality opponent last week.

Locally I know a guy who is in the field of NFL agency who keeps telling me that he heard many NFL offices view the Bills as a talented team (he told me one Steelers executive said during the preseason game here that he'd love to swap Bills and Steelers roster except the starting QB). Pittsburgh resident, ESPN analyst Matt Williamson has mentioned Bills talent level on radios many times. Senior sports writer here echoed as much - the Bills have a playoff squad except QB position.

I guess Whaley and Marrone must view themselves the same. They just want EJ not to screw up. It is quite pathetic that they basically took the ball out of EJ's hands in the 4th Quarter today - I was yelling, let the kid throw some passes.

All in all, EJ certainly has met their criteria two games in and the rest of the team have been on par to what they expected. No breakout player like Kiko last year yet.

Don't think the next two games will be easy though. The Chargers team will be the best team they face thus far in 2014.

[Novacane]

Most teams are going to run when they are up by 16 points in the 4th Q. I had no problem with it.

[YardRat]

OP needs to call that Steeler's exec and tell him how badly this team and front office suck.

[black N yellow]

anyone can beat anyone in the NFL nowadays. I try not to get caught up in "should wins" or reasons to look at a win as any less than what it is.

[psubills62]

Locally I know a guy who is in the field of NFL agency who keeps telling me that he heard many NFL offices view the Bills as a talented team (he told me one Steelers executive said during the preseason game here that he'd love to swap Bills and Steelers roster except the starting QB). Pittsburgh resident, ESPN analyst Matt Williamson has mentioned Bills talent level on radios many times. Senior sports writer here echoed as much - the Bills have a playoff squad except QB position.

Assuming this is believable, this is exactly what I've been saying. I don't necessarily see a grand plan, but I see talent upgrades almost across the board. And our defense is playing without its best player....

This season is getting exciting for me.

[Skooby]

Bills are favored by 1 on the early lines.

[Mace]

This isn't meant to seem like I'm optimistic, but I have doubts about San Diego on the road. They have that Jekyll/Hyde vibe going for a decade now, and looked inept on the road at Arizona. My gut feeling (like I am ever right nowadays), is that Chicago is the best team we'll face until Detroit at home, road games still make me queasy.

But I think they'll get a full stadium of fan frenzy and a Rivers who can be rattled when he starts getting hit too much.

Heaven help me I see this as a "should win", but feel good enough over the past 2 weeks to think it won't break my heart if they don't.

Like maybe everyone else here, I want a piece of New England in week 6. THAT game will tell me something, even if at home.

[Generalissimus Gibby]

I am worried about the Bolts, but I like our chances at home. Bills 16, Bolts 14

[Crisis]

Mathews is hurt (surprise surprise) so we'll be facing a Woodhead/Brown tandem at RB? I actually like the Chargers this year... should be a tough game. If it was on the road I'd expect a loss but at home I think we can pull it off.

[psubills62]

Mathews is hurt (surprise surprise) so we'll be facing a Woodhead/Brown tandem at RB? I actually like the Chargers this year... should be a tough game. If it was on the road I'd expect a loss but at home I think we can pull it off.

Woodhead killed us when he was with the Pats. Let's hope the effectiveness of our defense has included stopping him.

[Crisis]

Woodhead killed us when he was with the Pats. Let's hope the effectiveness of our defense has included stopping him.

Yeah but to be fair every single pass catching RB that plays with Brady kills us.

[Jry44]

You have to wonder if the Chargers coming across the country after a huge home win might be the same type of trap game for them that the Seahawks game today was for Seattle. An emotional high followed by a long road trip against a team that is feeding off of a super charged fan base. Could be a very difficult game for them....

[BertSquirtgum]

The Chargers defense is really good.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

Woodhead killed us when he was with the Pats. Let's hope the effectiveness of our defense has included stopping him.

I was just about to say that. And the Chargers, from what I saw, ran some unconventional run (delay etc.)

[justasportsfan]

24-17 bills

[ghz in pittsburgh]

I remember the last Chargers game in Buffalo when Trent Edwards reached his career peak. Rivers is not very predictable in my opinion. He had some very unusual road game wins where no one expect. He faced tough Seattle defense today, granted at home.

Overall, though, this Bills team is different in the sense we are pretty solid across offense defense, special teams AND have depth everywhere (maybe except TE). The defense maybe borderline great. So as long as EJ is turning in solid performance, we should be in every game. San Diego is more of Rivers show. He can be super good and take over, but he can be limited as well.

[Turf]

I don't like the Dolphins too much and they lost Moreno early so the game was a bit easier on the Bills.

However, Miami is known to be a fast start team every year, so the win is not one of the given.

The Chargers beat Seahawks so the Bills will be underdogs again. This might actually help the Bills in terms of the psyche of the Chargers. It just shows how difficult it is to win the opener on the road against a quality opponent. Regardless how the Bears fare against the 49ers, they were a quality opponent last week.

Locally I know a guy who is in the field of NFL agency who keeps telling me that he heard many NFL offices view the Bills as a talented team (he told me one Steelers executive said during the preseason game here that he'd love to swap Bills and Steelers roster except the starting QB). Pittsburgh resident, ESPN analyst Matt Williamson has mentioned Bills talent level on radios many times. Senior sports writer here echoed as much - the Bills have a playoff squad except QB position.

I guess Whaley and Marrone must view themselves the same. They just want EJ not to screw up. It is quite pathetic that they basically took the ball out of EJ's hands in the 4th Quarter today - I was yelling, let the kid throw some passes.

All in all, EJ certainly has met their criteria two games in and the rest of the team have been on par to what they expected. No breakout player like Kiko last year yet.

Don't think the next two games will be easy though. The Chargers team will be the best team they face thus far in 2014.

I have to agree because I was thinking the same thing today. If we had an elite to pseudo elite QB, we would be a contender. I try not to bash EJ, but Geno Smith looks better to me right now. Doesn't mean he can't grow and we can't win with him, but he's not elite. If we had that guy, we would be a force.

[Forward_Lateral]

I don't like the Dolphins too much and they lost Moreno early so the game was a bit easier on the Bills.

However, Miami is known to be a fast start team every year, so the win is not one of the given.

The Chargers beat Seahawks so the Bills will be underdogs again. This might actually help the Bills in terms of the psyche of the Chargers. It just shows how difficult it is to win the opener on the road against a quality opponent. Regardless how the Bears fare against the 49ers, they were a quality opponent last week.

Locally I know a guy who is in the field of NFL agency who keeps telling me that he heard many NFL offices view the Bills as a talented team (he told me one Steelers executive said during the preseason game here that he'd love to swap Bills and Steelers roster except the starting QB). Pittsburgh resident, ESPN analyst Matt Williamson has mentioned Bills talent level on radios many times. Senior sports writer here echoed as much - the Bills have a playoff squad except QB position.

I guess Whaley and Marrone must view themselves the same. They just want EJ not to screw up. It is quite pathetic that they basically took the ball out of EJ's hands in the 4th Quarter today - I was yelling, let the kid throw some passes.

All in all, EJ certainly has met their criteria two games in and the rest of the team have been on par to what they expected. No breakout player like Kiko last year yet.

Don't think the next two games will be easy though. The Chargers team will be the best team they face thus far in 2014.

When you are up 16 in the 4th quarter, there is zero reason to throw the ball.

[mysticsoto]

I have to agree because I was thinking the same thing today. If we had an elite to pseudo elite QB, we would be a contender. I try not to bash EJ, but Geno Smith looks better to me right now. Doesn't mean he can't grow and we can't win with him, but he's not elite. If we had that guy, we would be a force.

How in the world does Geno Smith look better? There were many times in the GB game where he looked totally lost out there!!!