Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Welcome aboard. Any given Sunday, it could happen, but it won't. This is one of those rare NFL contests that you can have full faith and confidence in the home team, :mrgreen:.

You don't count 'em out because of their record, you count 'em out because they're the lesser team, it's in the Dome and because of their culture of losing. It seems every week at least 50% of the games are being won/lost by one score, so Buffalo is more the rule than the exception. Maybe I'm just bitter because they won yesterday and screwed up my picks or maybe it's because O.J. was a Buffalo Bill, IDK ... but I'm pretty sure it's a lock on you having a happy birthday.

:party:

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Interesting stats about penalties. Buffalo likes them apparently.

NFL Football Stats - NFL Team Penalties per Game on TeamRankings.com

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

They're irrelevant........kind of like we were before Payton.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

if you want to look at Penalty stats


Enjoy
NFL Penalties - 2013 League Penalty Stats - NFL Penalty Stats Tracker - List/Statistics/Data of NFL Penalties - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Hey Saints fans.

Long-time Bills' season ticket holder here (this is my 26th season--so I was there for the glory days of the early 90's). Always respected the Saints, and thought I'd pop in to give you folks the low-down on our squad.

I've seen some folks here say Thad Lewis has been playing well--I give him a C grade. He acquitted himself nicely against Cinci two weeks ago at home, but it was a far different story on the road yesterday against Miami. He was inconsistent passing and showed some panic in his game. From the 2 games I've watched him, he seems to be in trouble when he can't throw to his first read. He is pretty athletic though, so you've got to watch his escapability out of the pocket.

Our running game is what can get you. Spiller is the big-play threat, but hobbled as he is, he's limited in that capacity right now. Freddie Jackson is like novacane--give him time and dosage and he'll get you. Mike Mayock accurately described Buffalo's run game as a "boa constrictor", just keep tightening and tightening until they crush you.

Receiver-wise, Stevie and Woody are route-runners that can really move the sticks. Goodwin and Graham are the speedsters. Chandler is effective over the middle but by no means a game-breaker.

To get at this offense, you have to attack the LG spot, which is the weak link in the line. Not easy because LT Cordy Glenn and C Eric Wood are very good at covering up. The key for NO (in my opinion) is going to be taking Thad's 1st read away and backing that up with pressure.

On D, it's a whole different story. Buffalo is VERY aggressive. The run D is up and down, but when they're solid, they're very solid. So goes Marcel Dareus, so goes the run D. He's inconsistent, but when he plays well he's a load to handle.

The pass rush is very formidable, thanks to Mario Williams and a bevy of pressure packages from DC Mike Pettine. He loves to blitz and will send anyone from anywhere. Jerry Hughes has also had a bit of a resurgence as a situational rusher.

One guy to watch is Kiko Alonso. He's a special athlete--leads the NFL in tackles and interceptions (as a rookie LB). He can get washed out a bit in the run game, but at least once or twice a game he does something that boggles your mind. He's going to be a good one.

Stephon Gilmore isn't quite healthy yet, which is hurting the team. McKelvin and rookie UDFA Nickell Robey, on the other hand, have been spectacular at CB so far.

To beat this D, Brees will need to reliably hit his hot reads and be accurate on his down-field throws. They are very, very aggressive, which means they're prone to the big play.

Hope that give you folks some talking points for this coming week...looking forward to the ongoing discourse.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

They were called "Switzerland"
I was an active member of Switzerland and help form the guild. :chug:

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Great post and WELCOME! :chug:

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

I know here we are all usually guardedly optimistic and rarely overconfident, but reading this thread, it seems more like WE are 3-4, going in to a tough stadium, starting a practice squad quarterback, NOT coming off a bye week and facing a 5-1 team.

Wow, I wonder what they saying on BlueandRed.com.... 'Don't even go!' ???

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Aw, you know, it always feels better if you can fake tea leaf reading. All I was saying is if anybody thinks ANY game is going to be easy -- isn't watching the game. Anybody who watched us play Tampa will agree with that.

I think we take this game. Not sure how "easy" it will be. Cinci almost lost against them.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

thebandit27 nice work

i know the bills pretty good. i have been stuck in new england for way too many years.

Bills are a team that you have to throw the records out the window. if they come to play and things are clicking they are a team that can beat you.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Hey Saints fans, another Bills season ticket holder here.

I think you guys will win, I just hope it isn't ugly. We've had a lot of close games this season.

Taking a look at our schedule so far

1 Sun Sep 8, 2013 Patriots L 21-23 0-1
2 Sun Sep 15, 2013 Panthers W 24-23 1-1
3 Sun Sep 22, 2013 @Jets L 20-27 1-2
4 Sun Sep 29, 2013 Ravens W 23-20 2-2
5 Thu Oct 3, 2013 @Browns L 24-37 2-3
6 Sun Oct 13, 2013 Bengals L 24-27 (OT) 2-4
7 Sun Oct 20, 2013 @Dolphins W 23-21 3-4

I would say the browns game is the one that got the furthest away from us, as TuelTime had to come in, and hopefully we never have to see that again. Other than that, we've been in it.

What would you guys say your weakest point is?

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

O-Line

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

That snap that connects the chin-strap to the helmet. :)

Honestly our weakest point so far this season doesn't seem to be any of our weapons, but more their utilization or lack there of. We haven't spread the ball around as much and that narrows our dimensions.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

you guys are solid without a doubt. just need some seasoning added here and there.

weakest point IMO is LB pass defense. dink and dunk on us all day.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

I would say by far our biggest weakness is the price of beer in the Dome. And what hagan said as well.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

How much are they in the dome? Theyre $9 for 16oz at the ralph.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Depending on what kind of beer you drink they cost about a six pack +2 each.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

You guys sure have been in a lot of close ones ... who's starting this Sunday? Flynn or Lewis?

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

i don't see any reason flynn would be starting, should be thad.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

As I said, I think the Saints win, but I don't think it's a blowout by any means.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

I'm hearing "Matt Flynn" bandied about all over sportstalk outside of Buffalo ... they just must be figuring he's been there long enough to learn the system ... didn't work too well for Minny throwing Josh Freeman out there early though ... either way, QB is gonna' be an issue for you guys on Sunday.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Wondering how cutting Tez will hurt our d.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Hang in there Fitz, I remember another team that went 6-10 in 2010, losing 6 games by 4 points or less. The next year they were in the NFC Wildcard game against us. They could have easily been 12-4 that year. Slomotion knows who I'm talking about.

Unfortunately for you, it won't be that close this weekend. :D

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

zero

if Ryan/Loomis/Payton think he is expendable, he is

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

He had 1 sack and 4 tackles all season with zero assists.

What do you think?

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

... and then that team went right back in the crapper the following season, finishing 4-12 and assuming their rightful place at the bottom of their division, :neutral: ... hey, don't want to build up their expectations too much, Hulka, :rofl:.

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

I got this one marked as a blow out.

41-17 Saints

Has all the makings of a big win considering how we match-up. Bills have one of the worst o-lines in the game when it comes to protection so I expect a lot of pressure in the dome. (given up 60 QB hits this year which ranks 31st)

Here is an interesting look at some o line stats. Our saints have been pretty good this year protecting Drew, and getting everyone healthy will be big for our running game.
NFL Stats: by Team Category

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

Like everyone else has said; he's played in what one game this year? Battled injuries all season, no way he's a significant loss.

Interested in seeing what Keyunta Dawson brings to the table, hope he's active...

Re: Buffalo Bills
 

While the number of pressures that Buffalo's OL has allowed may lead you to that conclusion, I'd say it's not quite representative of the OL. There are a few confounding factors at work there:

1) The vast majority of pressures were allowed by former LG Colin Brown, who has not only been replaced, but also released from the team. In the Jets game alone, he allowed double-digit pressures and 3 sacks.

2) Both EJ and Thad have had a tendency to hold the ball too long. EJ because he's methodical in going through his reads; Thad because he panics in the pocket if his 1st read is taken away...makes the OL look worse than it is in reality.

Overall, the weak points in protection along the OL are the guard positions. Legursky is barely serviceable at LG, and Urbik is a much better run blocker than a pass blocker. If NO can get inside push with both Jordan and Hicks, that's their best best to pressure Thad. The tackles, Glenn in particular, are very good in pass protection, although Lewis hasn't gotten to the point where he's comfortable stepping up into a clean pocket to avoid edge pressure, so that's going to work in your favor as well.