Happy Bills Football Sunday everyone!
*deep inhale of fresh, crisp autumn air*
Ah, the return to normalcy is invigorating and refreshing—just what the doctor ordered. I'm back in hometown this weekend and currently writing this one out "old school" on a yellow legal pad in my favorite childhood breakfast joint. If you've ever been to Jamestown, New York, you probably know it for being the hometown of actor Lucille Ball and Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson in addition to being the site of the National
Comedy Center and the Fenton History Center and Museum. Allow me to add Phil N' Cindy's to your list of "must visit" locations the next time you find yourself in "The Pearl City".
The pancakes rival the size of HC Sean McDermott's infamous bucket hats.
Now that I've worked up my own appetite, let's move onto the weekly matter of things. The Bills are coming off their second straight loss, most recently against the defending Super Bowl champs. It was another week of treading water in the bog of fan overreactions. Not to worry, gather 'round and I'll get the waitress to get us all a cup o' joe as I try my best to plug the holes all over this sinking ship for the sake of Bills Mafia's beating heart.
I'd like to make a case against a popular topic that saw much circulation before the start of the season: that there will be a large (negative) asterisk inked adjacent to "Super Bowl Champions" if somehow the Bills were to go on and win it. That is simply not true.
If you read my post last week https://buffalosportschatt.wixsite.com/mysite/post/thoughts-of-a-young-ish-bills-fan-step-aside-patriots-there-s-a-newly-hated-rival-in-town , then you know my stance surrounding the Titans and their COVID-19 protocol violations. Yes, I'm still happily riding that hate train, but really it's the NFL's handling of the situation that rekindled my desire to have this discussion. The team will never admit it publicly, but the Bills received the short end of the stick when it came to rescheduling and postponing NFL games.
In case you missed it, on Saturday of week 5, the Bills/Titans game was tentatively moved to Tuesday night after more positive tests came out of Tennessee. Although down players, Tennessee already had their game against the Steelers rescheduled for week 7, so it was onto preparation against their next opponent (Bills) for Mike Vrabel. On Sunday the news broke that Cam Newton of the Patriots and an unnamed staff member of the
Tennessee Titans tested positive for coronavirus, leaving the Bills left to wonder what the league would do. With the Bills/Chiefs game originally scheduled for the upcoming Thursday night, many thought the Chiefs/Pats would get a reschedule much like the Titans/Steelers had and thus forcing a forfeit by the Titans. In the end, the entire week leading up their Titans matchup, Buffalo had to prepare for the possibility of playing against either KC or Tennessee. The Bills were the ones to reap the punishment of what the Titans sowed.
These last two weeks for the Buffalo Bills have been the adversity that Super Bowl contenders endure and overcome in order to become champs. Need I remind Mafia that Kansas City lost in weeks 5 and 6 as well during their road to the Lombardi trophy last season.
Looking back to the number of player opt outs that teams had to plan around before the beginning of the season, it's safe to say that besides the Patriots (who had eight players decide to sit out), the Bills have had arguably the most significant impact among teams on their schedule. Albeit with only two total opt outs, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and cornerback EJ Gaines have proven their worth while missing from action this season. With no answer for the 1T DT role, combined with injuries to linebackers Edmunds and Milano, the defense has been getting gashed up the middle both on the ground and through the air. Taron Johnson's suspect play in coverage, alongside injuries plaguing the cornerback depth demonstrates how much the Bills could also use EJ Gaines as well.
Of the Bills' opponents on the schedule, the Steelers and Chargers had zero players opt out, whereas only the 49ers, Jets, and the Patriots had three or more who chose not to play this year. These losses are arguably
insignificant with regards to their impact with the 49ers and Jets, albeit for entirely different reasons. The 49ers are suffering much more from their long list of injuries than anything Covid related, whilst the Jets are just a complete fire sale with trading Jamal Adams and the handling of Le'Veon Bell.
Speaking of the Jets and adversity, the Bills are going into this week's matchup against the green men of New Jersey with injuries in key positions. I already mentioned the cornerback depth: Levi Wallace (IR) and Josh Norman are out, with Tre White and Cam Lewis listed as questionable. Matt Milano, also listed as questionable, could make a return to play with fellow banged up linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. John Brown, Tyrel Dodson, Cody Ford all out for the game, with nearly the entire TE room (figuratively) joining them after Dawson Knox tested positive for coronavirus Saturday. It's the Jets, but this game is no longer a gimme.
As if Sean McDermott owns a secret DeLorean that can hit 88 mph stashed away inside his garage, the 2020 season motto 'Find a Way' seems to be the perfect message the coaching staff could have prepared for their team. Find a way to overcome adversity. Find a way to win.
While the Bills return to play at their accustomed 1pm kickoff, they won't be able to move the needle much when it comes to power rankings with a win against the Jets today. However, it's the first step of many that the team is going to need to climb in order to return to the Super Bowl discussion.
So Bills Mafia, enjoy your tailgating; enjoy the return of your Sunday rituals! Don't forget the food, the wings, the dip, the Sahlens, the chili, the beer, picnic tables, and the Zubaz. Most importantly, don't forget to take a moment to reflect on these tough times so it's even sweeter if the Bills find a way to walk out of Raymond James Stadium holding the Lombardi come February.
For more Bills thoughts you can follow me on Twitter: @theYoungish
- Justin Young
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