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Ep. 57 - Buffalo Bills Week 1
41 Plays1 year ago
Episode 57 is here! Also, THE BILLS PLAY FOOTBALL THIS WEEK. In this episode, we break down the week 1 showdown against the Cardinals and cover some newsy items. We also do a full season prediction and give our bold and baseless predictions for the 2024 Buffalo Bills.
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts
00:00:25
Speaker
What's going on, everybody? You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast, your favorite podcast for all things bills and sabers with the pals Nigel, Tom and Jake. We got episode 57 coming at you. You know, the drill fam, do not forget to follow the socials. ah You can find us on all of them. You know what they are. Instagram X, YouTube, TikTok.
00:00:49
Speaker
with the handle at let's go buff pod. That is buff with two F's.
Football Season Kickoff
00:00:55
Speaker
Let's get around here and say hello to my friends. Tommy, what's going on, buddy? Dude, I'm fantastic. It's football time, baby. It is. It is football time. We have officially at this point seen some real football. So we do love that, dude. We do love that. We've arrived. It's been a long, long year, dude, but we did it.
Quarterback Comparisons: Jackson, Mahomes, Allen
00:01:16
Speaker
yet Torpedo was shaking, buddy.
00:01:19
Speaker
I'm good, man. Yeah, it's been good to watch some games the past few nights. They've been exciting. So I'm hoping the fun continues tomorrow. Yeah. Some pretty good games to start off the season, too, which I appreciated, too. Like four very, at least offensively, like high profile teams. Yeah, like meaningful games. Yeah. So and all the games were great. Super unfortunate that Lamar Jackson sucks and missed three wide open guys in the last three plays of the game. But I'll tell you what. I'll tell you what.
00:01:49
Speaker
I, when people say that Patrick Mahomes is a better quarterback than Josh Allen, what am I going to say? He is. He is objectively a better quarterback than Josh Allen. Correct, yes. When people try to tell me that Lamar Jackson is better than Josh Allen though, dude, like the proof is in the pudding, bro. I know Josh Allen has accuracy issues at times.
00:02:09
Speaker
There's no way he's missing Z flowers in the back of the end zone on that second of those three plays I was talking about last night. So I, you know, it's, it's, I'm, I'm just super, like, if you're a Baltimore fan and you see, I hope somebody sees, we're going to clip this. Hopefully somebody and wants to come and talk about it. And I'll tell you what right now, if you want to, you're so more than welcome to come on the pod and try and explain to me why you think Lamar Jackson is a better quarterback
Jordan Love's Injury Update and Performance
00:02:33
Speaker
than Josh Allen.
00:02:33
Speaker
Cause he ain't, but I digress. Super good games. Um, hopefully Jordan loves leg is okay. There's some reports saying that it's, that it's okay. That it's reports. are It's not torn at this point, but other things going on, but the ACL is not torn. That's good. and know Go ahead, Jake.
00:02:51
Speaker
It looked ugly. I saw a video of like the slo-mo angle of his knee and you can see something kind of pop out. op dude yeah no i saw I also saw this morning that the ACL was intact, but they are checking for a plethora of other shit it sounds like. so yeah um he always he man i thought I thought he looked pretty good last night. I didn't watch that whole game last night, but I thought he looked decent from what I did see. um I know Dana disagreed with me a little bit, but did you watch that whole game, Tom?
00:03:17
Speaker
I watched the first like three quarters. Um, he looked good. He he definitely was. He had some inaccuracy going on, right? Yet the whole, the whole game does, which is fluky. Cause it's in Brazil. That field was miserable. It felt like the bill is playing in London. Like this has to be fixed. That's a whole nother podcast for a whole nother time, but, um, uh, but so that was terrible. So who knows, right? It's a fluky, it's a weird
Packers Roster Surprises
00:03:40
Speaker
location. You've, you've flown to, you know, a different part of the world. It's not like you're just going to, you know,
00:03:45
Speaker
Chicago or something. like so ah yeah it was i would i owe He good and it looks like, okay, man, the the Packers fans, they got another franchise quarterback right in a row. Yeah. He was spreading it around too. like He's got a diverse range of weapons with all those receivers that he's got. like There was, I think, eat five plus targets to like all the receivers that were like but can't remember names. but like the top half of that receiving room is yeah yeah that receiving corn in green bay is is is nice dude between doves and was jaden reed i saw kutcha catch a bunch last night and yeah lots of nice nice run too like a uh flute
00:04:22
Speaker
And yeah, hand around to him and he he took off dude. He was, he was gone. I also completely forgot that Josh Jacobs is a Packer that, that called me by surprise last night. I completely forgot about that. oh There was some moves this year that kind of felt like Derek Henry playing on the Ravens. You know, it kind of feels like fantasy football.
00:04:39
Speaker
Sayquan Parkley playing for the Eagles. I was like, whoa, he had three tons. Whoa. Yeah. Well, can now can we crack these
Casual Talk: Beers and Superstitions
00:04:46
Speaker
beers? Because i'm let's I know we got into it and and and and we didn't even open our beverages yet. ah You ready, Tommy? I think jake's art think Jake's our odd man out today. Unbelievable, Jake. Unbelievable. I haven't had a beer in the last like four podcasts. but i i mean Three, two, one.
00:05:06
Speaker
No, no. Chalk your shit. Chalk your shit. oh We need a counter. I'm going to get some kind of add on for the screen here of a counter of who needs to be drinking. What when? And you know what? time I honestly, I feel like you're the only one who I don't know if you've ever missed a
Bills' Leadership Changes
00:05:20
Speaker
beer. I well, that that may not be a good thing, ah but definitely I drink this afternoon and is this kind of suage my superstitions is my bat blue.
00:05:35
Speaker
breaking out the the beginning of the year. Let's go bills, baby. Hell yeah, dude. Brother Bill would be proud. Well, I'm I'm introducing my first Southern Southern beer to the pod. So I've got here from Urban South Brewery, the Holy Roller, which is just a hazy IPA, kind of a kind of a new can, though. Cool. All right. you're Very florally and pretty. And it's a good beer. I've had a couple of these. So, yep. Here's get the Nashveer beer Nashveer beers. crawl
00:06:09
Speaker
Oh, yeah. yeah but we won You guys blame me if the bills lose. It's my fault. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Yeah. You're going to be roasted. but up Well, we'll get to those concerns. Yeah. So some news items, folks, the right off the rip, there is some just kind of fun little items that came across of the waiver wire the last few weeks. um Josh Allen and Terrell Bernard were named team captains, and it was only two, which is kind of unique. um In the past, usually it's, I don't know, four to six players, I want to say, but but were pretty cool that they've
00:06:41
Speaker
Say that again. We have eight last year. Yeah. Yeah. Like a lot. Right. free And um so Josh Allen, Terrell Bernard, one player on each side of the ball. I kind of like them, like taking ownership and taking leadership. There will be a ah leadership council, kind of like a Jedi council.
00:06:58
Speaker
did ju i counsel I hope they do it. So it's ah Dion Dawkins, Conor McGovern, James Cook, Khalil Shakir, Dawson Knox, Von Miller, Daquan Jones, Taran Johnson, Taylor Rapp, and Reid Ferguson um are sure, you know, I'm sure they're going to have some kind of contributions there, but pretty cool. Pretty fun. Definitely. Yeah. Now, I honestly, did you ever know that they had that because apparently This leadership council has been an intact for the last, or according to what I've seen since Sean McDermott has been the coach.
Spencer Brown's Contract
00:07:29
Speaker
I had never heard of it. I've definitely heard of it. I don't remember if we've always been always been told specifically what players are involved, but I do remember it. I remember hearing word of it at least. Okay. Okay. Word. Yeah. I never even heard of that, dude. So I thought that was, that was wild. Yeah, pretty cool.
00:07:47
Speaker
That's all good. The, uh, the next little newsy item is actually really exciting. Um, sir, Spencer Brown, the big man himself has been signed to a four year contract extension. The exact details are not out yet. Um, but our, uh, one of ah a great follow on Twitter is Greg Thompson. He's from cover one. He has a podcast that released on Wednesday night. They're awesome. It's a one-on-one that I listened to pretty much every week.
00:08:11
Speaker
the um He has just a great mind for NFL contracts and always does great things throughout the year. But specifically, he he does a really good job of predicting contracts. So this is not set yet. This is not going to be exactly what he has. ah Spencer Brown's contract is what I mean.
00:08:28
Speaker
We'll hopefully have details for those next week, but this is Greg Tom sets on, um on Twitter at Greg Tom set. Uh, his best guess is four years, 66 million, which puts them at 16 and a half million out average annual value in $25 million guaranteed. So right off the rip. Now, what are your thoughts? Like, what are your just initial thoughts of getting Spencer Brown signed?
00:08:50
Speaker
um i think it's I think it's definitely interesting. I'm going to backtrack and say that overall, I think this is a good thing. right Because at this point now, the Bills have their two starting tackles locked up for the next several years, which anytime you have your tackles locked up and they're solid players, it's a good thing. right i think i so I think that is something to take in and of itself right off the bat. That being said,
Osiris Torrence's Impact
00:09:13
Speaker
obviously, Spencer Brown comes with a pretty lengthy injury history, which is the top concern that I have about him.
00:09:19
Speaker
about about you know giving this guy a bunch of money. um But you know he seemed last year to, um at the very least, realize his floor. right But I think this is a guy with with, I mean, the athleticism is so off the charts with this guy.
00:09:34
Speaker
Like I, I don't, I would be curious to know what this guy's body fat percentages. My guess is it's like probably 14, 13 to 15 would be my guess for Spencer Brown. Like he is a lean six, five, 300 plus. yeah Um, so six eight like he sticks eight bro. six a Thank you. Yes. He is a mountain of a man. So to you know, I have that size and that athleticism, dude. I, you would like to think there's still maybe a little bit more He could grow into the thing with Spencer Brown is you got to remember that his football history is not lengthy, right? It's hard to end in high school.
Offensive Line Consistency
00:10:11
Speaker
Weird, what is like seven man football where he went to college, like just a weird football upbringing. But I mean, you can't teach size and athleticism, right? So like when you have that,
00:10:23
Speaker
you know You can be taught the technique stuff. And it seems like Aaron Cromer has worked some pretty legitimate wonders with Spencer Brown. um And I still think there's a little bit more room to grow into it. So I'm nervous about the injury history, of course, but overall, when you zoom out and and recognize that you have all your tackles wrapped up for a solid couple of years, that's a good feeling.
00:10:43
Speaker
Absolutely. I completely agree. I think the, I'm super excited. I think this is an awesome move and I'll kind of explain in a second here to kind of comment on your, the injury concerns. I agree that that's absolutely a concern. Two things that helped me feel better in one. We'll still need some more details on the bills. Know everything about Spencer Brown's injury history. If they were at all concerns, they don't have to sign the guy.
00:11:05
Speaker
Right. They actually have a pretty good stable of young tackle players that they could bring in or heck they could go out next, next off season and, um, in free agency and sign somebody like this is not a move they had to make. Um, so I, I trust that they will know. I trust that Aaron Cromer is happy and excited about having him in in his system and.
00:11:25
Speaker
I'm hoping that the the guaranteed money is really where the contract talks, right? You can see the nice flashy number, $66 million, dollars again, that is projected, that is not set yet, whatever it'll be, we'll not talk about it when it comes out. But if it
Bills' Game Predictions
00:11:38
Speaker
truly is $66 million dollars in that ballpark, and it's $25 million dollars guaranteed, then 25 million, that's not ah that's less than half of his yeah total total value of the contract that's guaranteed. So once the guaranteed money is up, that that's really where the the cap hits. So if if the guaranteed money is very front loaded, maybe there's an easy out for the bills in a year or two, if it turns out that, man, this guy really can't stay on the field.
00:12:04
Speaker
he continually has trouble every offseason needing surgery, then they can get out of it. So I'm hoping that Brandon Bean uses this big old baller bean brain and sets this contract up pretty well.
00:12:16
Speaker
And he's he's been pretty good at that recently with his contracts in terms of ah kind of establishing an out if if we need it. um So I would have to imagine that he's taken that preparation with this with this deal. um The only one I guess you could point out and say he didn't really do an awesome job of that is maybe the Von Miller deal.
00:12:35
Speaker
um But yeah what do you know what when when when it's a when it's a veteran like that that's that high profile, I think you're your sway as a GM probably lessens a bit. and You probably have to appease the player a bit more. so and you know and but And he didn't have an injury history, right? And you can't predict ACLs. So that's a whole other thing. Now, I'm really freaking pumped that we have Osiris Torrance and Spencer Brown on the right side of this line. like Talk about a wrecking crew.
00:13:03
Speaker
Yeah. Now here's the thing though, dude. So like, okay, so we just locked up Spencer Brown. And and if if this contract ends up being roughly where he comes in, 16 AAV for your starting right tackle, I think is solid. I think it's good for everybody. Yes. Right? Like it's good for the bills, good for Spencer Brown.
00:13:20
Speaker
um But we're we're also seeing <unk>re seeing the guard market um go up pretty significantly. which just you know I have that in the back of my mind for Osiris Torrance. um I don't remember his name, but there was that guard for florida um Miami.
00:13:36
Speaker
ah That that yeah, Robert hunt that just I mean and then he wasn't the only one so Osiris torrents like when the time comes Don't be shocked if that guy like resets the guard market and so, you know just something keep in the back of the line there because I think we can all pretty much universally agree that At least me I made I shouldn't say universally I'd be more willing to move on from an interior offensive lineman than I would a solid tackle And yes, we'll have to see what happens when it gets there. That's because um Osiris Torrance is going into year two. So we still have three years of a rookie contract with him. So we have Spencer Brown on a four-year contract extension. I know Dion just got a three-year, four-year contract extension. So we're kind of like once they get up, Osiris will be up for his his contract. So we'll we'll have some things we'll fluctuate throughout that that whole line signings. Yeah. Yep. That's a good point, too.
00:14:31
Speaker
But, uh, yeah, I think it's cool. And the big thing on O-line last point here, consistency. So now you have most Irons Torrance and Spencer Brown, who are going to play again next to each other for hopefully at least three more years until a Cyrus, um, rookie contract is up. And so that's, that's awesome.
00:14:49
Speaker
That's a great point. Yeah. Continuity is huge, especially with a killer online coach like Aaron Cromer. So, yeah and we've had some turnover in the past and it's bitten up, bitten us in the butt. So I'm glad that we're, we're doing pretty well with that. All right. Okay. to Keep it moving. Here we go.
00:15:06
Speaker
but The next segment, we're going to talk um quickly because we didn't get a chance to do that this offseason is a full schedule prediction. We're going to walk through the entire bill schedule and briefly kind of just give our thoughts on if this is a game that's easy that should be one, should maybe kind of be kind of a toss up or one that maybe we can chalk up as ah as a loss for the bills. Last year, there are 11 and six.
00:15:28
Speaker
And they had some spaces in their and their um and their schedule that where they kindt could kind of cruise by and make up some time, make up some wins. I don't think this this schedule has anything they have anywhere to hide. This is an incredibly difficult first place in the division schedule. ah And yeah, this is going to be tricky. So yeah, let's get it. You guys got the full slate written down here. Do you want to go through the easy, low hanging fruit, or do you want to just go chronologically?
00:15:56
Speaker
Let's just go chronologically, I'd say. Yeah, we week by week. All right, give us the first week, Jake. All right, so Cardinals, week one tomorrow. Wait,
Season Predictions and Team Dynamics
00:16:04
Speaker
should we were not talk about this one, since we're going to kind of get into this one into depth a little bit more with this one? We can we could call it, and we'll give our score predictions later. But I think we call it.
00:16:11
Speaker
Cool. Yeah, I think um this one this one should be a dub. um Arizona is is is not a super strong team, particularly defensively. They do have some weapons offensively, undoubtedly. um Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, James Conner. But defensively is where that team can be had. It should be a team that Josh Allen can um kind of pick apart with with. I don't want to say that's not easy. It's the NFL. It's you know any given Sunday.
00:16:39
Speaker
Um, but it should be a team that ah our offense compared to their defense shouldn't be crazy close. I agree. I think it's a win short week heading to Miami for Thursday night football.
00:16:54
Speaker
Yeah. So, um, I think we're going to split. I think we're going to split with the dolphins this year. I don't think we're sweeping the dolphins. Um, so I'm going to say that because we're away, because it's a short week, I'm going to put this one down as the loss with keeping the back of my head that I think the home where we host the dolphins will be the win.
00:17:14
Speaker
I actually I don't know why I feel like this but I think I just have a feeling we're gonna we're gonna win that week too I don't know why I don't know if it's because it's at night and the Sun won't be as much of a factor or what but I just I don't know man there is something about this bill's offense that just like it, I don't think anyone's going to be prepared for it. I really don't. Um, and I know there's no crazy, crazy, crazy elite weapons, but it's going to look different. The personnel groupings are going to be different. It is a full off season of Joe Brady. Um, is Vic Fangio still the D coordinator for Miami? No, he's out.
00:17:51
Speaker
these out i just don't even know who their D coordinator is right now but there isn't going to be a whole lot of film to to look at for you know except for week one um i'm putting out for a bills win week two in miami fuck it let's do it all right yeah it's uh anthony weaver is their defensive coordinator let's do it i don't know who that is but that doesn't mean he's not a problem My sister's going to be at that game in Miami on Thursday. So I'm going to, I agree. Let's give her a win. give right yeah Shout out Maggie. That's cool. shadow out mag Week three, Bill's traveled back home and play the Jaguars. Dear Lord, put this away. that We have our demons with this team. This is a win, which is why I'm calling it a loss. I don't think I, for some reason we just can't be Jacksonville. I don't think that changes.
00:18:37
Speaker
Should we keep a Tom record prediction and a Nigel record prediction? Okay. All right. All right. So you guys still want win and win for dolphins? Yeah. Yeah. I will say win, win for dolphins. Oh, okay. Yep. I'm going to take win. I'm going to take win for Jaguars. You're going to take a loss for Jaguars. Yup. I'll put our first elegance Jacksonville.
00:18:59
Speaker
All right. All right. So then traveling to Baltimore play the Ravens boy I'm gonna I'm gonna put another loss there for the bills that I thought I know LJ had some tough moments but dude that that you had a rushing attack of him and Derek Henry is to be reckoned with. And I don't, I would imagine at that point, what's, what's Hollywood Browns injury? Anybody know? Oh wait, he's, a he's a Kansas city chief now. a yeah completely forgot yeah um Okay. So nevermind. Did they have anybody injured the other night? The Ravens Mark Andrews. I sure, I'm sure hope that Jake probably hopes Mark Andrews was injured. Yeah. Um, that is, is a killer for them.
00:19:41
Speaker
I'll put that down as a loss, too. I'll put that down a loss. I kind of feel like I don't know. That just doesn't feel good to me. Going to Baltimore. Yeah. Oh, I can't be too much of a homer here. All right. All right. Week five. Visiting Stefan Diggs is new home at the second level. Bitch, dude, I know. See, I think my prediction is going to suck, dude. I I think we are going to get fucking smoked by Houston. I know this is good. I'm sorry, dude.
00:20:10
Speaker
Go with your gut and then we'll see where it lands at the end. Yeah, I think Houston's gonna run train over us, dude. I think Steph is probably gonna have three touchdowns and 150 receiving yards. I think Josh is gonna take this. He's gonna remind everybody why he's he's he's a J.A. 17. That's a win. That's a win. He's taking that home. I love it. I love it. All right. Week six traveling to New Jersey to play the Jets.
00:20:35
Speaker
I'll say a dub here. i don't I just don't have the confidence in the Jets that everybody else does. I i can absolutely see a world where Aaron Rodgers goes on a fuck you tour. I really, really, really, really can. My prediction is that he's not. um And I will go on record saying that you know if he does, I'll eat my words and and hand up. But I just don't think it's going to happen. I don't think I can see it. But i my prediction is that it's not. So put me down for a Jets a jets win or a Bills win over the Jets.
00:21:02
Speaker
Yeah, fair enough. I agree with that. I think this is Josh Allen's going to learn that he needs to play his game against the Jets and not be baited into what how they want him to play. um And that's going to win. Love it. The Jets could be very good, but I think they require a lot of things to go right. And they do. They're always happened. I don't know what it is about the Jets, dude, but they never live up to expectations. They never figured out. No, never.
00:21:29
Speaker
I think historically they have not. They still have less division wins than the Colts. So. Yeah. All right. Three weeks on the road, week seven, we're back at home playing the Titans. Dub taking one home. Yep. Easy. Traveling to the West Coast. So big travel week, but playing in Seattle against the Seahawks. Dub.
00:21:52
Speaker
I think so. I'm going to put that down as a dub. But this one, once we get there, will has the ability to be a trap game because we're traveling. Playing in Seattle is really tough. That one has an ability to be a trap game, but I'm going to put that down as a W two. Fair enough. All right. Well, circling back to the dolphins, hosting them in week nine. This is where I think because I agree. I think we'll split up. I'll give us the L here against the dolphins.
00:22:17
Speaker
Tom, how are you feeling? You want to do it, Tom? Are they opening the season eight and one? no That's what you're talking about here. No, I know. I know. I am. Yeah. That has to be a loss. That has put me down for a loss there at some point. This is, this is going to fall off the freaking rails. If, okay, dude. So we should, there should be, some if the bills go into that game eight and one, we should like podcast shirtless, which or something I don't know. all right yes yeah absolutely I'm gonna raise my camera angle even more for doing that. yeah yeah I think I think we all wish we shouldn't even have our heads in it. We should just have our next just far way so and frame and we can paint ourselves with Miami across our chest. I would do that for sure.
00:23:03
Speaker
i Moving right along when we travel to the Colts for week 10. Oh, I think it's the dub. This is one were we're getting the gang together for this one. So this one. Yeah, it's gotta be a dub. I love it. Yeah, gotta be gotta be alright week before the bye. We host the Chiefs week 11. Another tough one.
00:23:22
Speaker
I'll say, I'll say dub. We, we, we do well against the chiefs. Wait, is that in arrowhead or in Buffalo? It's in Buffalo. Yeah. It's in Buffalo. We do well against the chiefs in the regular season. So yeah, I'll predict a win there only for them to beat us in the second round of the playoffs. Right. I'm I'll go dub.
00:23:44
Speaker
A sheepish dub. Yeah. Well, no, mostly because I'm just like at some point this is getting too homewarish. I'm getting too I'm too up in my feelings. Hey, that's that's what this is for. This is for all right. Week 12. Everybody gets to, you know, rest up a little bit by week. Week 13. Straight out of that, we host the 49ers. Oh, Al, I'm going to say that. Yeah, I'm going to put that down as a loss. It's going to be a tough game. I think we have a chance to win that game. A lot has to go right. A lot has to go right for that game. So I'm going to put that down. That to me, that team on paper is significantly better than the bills on both sides of the ball.
00:24:21
Speaker
Yeah, the biggest weapon in there is Josh Allen versus Brock Birdie. But the story of the season will be a ah big deal here. Right. Like, yeah, how how things are going. We'll have a better opportunity to talk about that once we get to week 13. Yeah, I'm saying I'm saying L. All right. Down to L.A. after that to play the Rams dub. Yep. I think I think the Rams are ah they have a good offense. I think their defense is kind of still rebuilding, especially without an Aaron Donald. I think that's a W.
00:24:51
Speaker
Correct. All right. Following that up with the Motor City playing the Lions. I'm going to put that down as a loss. The Lions are a wagon. Lions are sick, dude. They're my n of NFC team to want to make it to the Super Bowl. That's that's that's they are my Super Bowl prediction is the Lions. It's a good it's a good pick. All right. Three division games to close us out here ah hosting the Patriots week 16.
00:25:18
Speaker
Say it quietly, Tom. Say it quietly. No, no. I'm screaming that. No. weird This is weird this is how the bills close out in December.
Division Competition Analysis
00:25:26
Speaker
They do. close us but yeah I'm a little upset that I haven't just chosen a wins all ah since December 1st against the Niners because the bills always end the season. They just take care of business. um But I'm talking. I'm taking these spoiler alert. I'm taking the next three is dubs. So, yeah, this one's a W. I'll i'll say dub here as well. All right. So we got Tom's picks. Nigel Jets week 17 in Buffalo.
00:25:49
Speaker
Uh, that is, let's see. I predicted us winning the first chance game, right? You did. So this will be the L. All right. And then, uh, going to thats about Gillette. Yeah. I guess the Patriots. Yep. How do you feel about your predictions while I count them up? Oh, way too sky high. Yeah. Yeah. Tom, you're yeah um I feel really good and will do some sick, disgusting things. If that ends up your record being ends up being the Bill's record. Imagine, imagine.
00:26:19
Speaker
Are you able to tell, you know, 13 and four. Yeah. Yeah. All right, Tom. Yeah. You're 13 and four. And you went 10 and seven. So hopefully, hopefully the answer is kind of somewhere in between in the middle, i mean the was still 11 or 12, 10 and seven. And like, if, if, if you had asked me what my record prediction is for the bills this year probably would have been like um without even going through the games, I probably would have said 10 and seven.
00:26:44
Speaker
Okay. yeah I think that'll, like you on the money I think that'll sneak you in as a wildcard team and then you have to hope that Josh Allen just catches fire. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's the way it's going to happen. I do. I i think i'm I'm a little, I'm ah i'm a little, uh, pie in the sky here, but, um, 10 and seven will or 11 and six is honestly within the realm of possible. 11 and six would also be fine too. Yeah. And I, and I am going to go on record now and saying this, and I hate that I'm saying it. I do not think the bill is going to win the division this year.
00:27:13
Speaker
I think I think this is going to be the year we can see the division. I think that is reflective in your prediction I don't think 10 and seven wins this division, if this I was your first one to admit that that the record of. Well, first of all, the bill schedules a bitch, but that's what you strive for right you want to win so that you like.
00:27:31
Speaker
if you're the If you want to be the top dog, you have to remain the top dog, which the Bills have done for, what, four or five years now? But let's not sit here and pretend that this team, overall, on paper, based on talent, did not get worse,
Bills' Team Setup and Improvements
00:27:45
Speaker
right? Say what you want about Stefan Diggs. He is a top ten receiver in this league at worst. And when you lose a guy like that, it does not help your team.
00:27:54
Speaker
it I mean, it it does help in the sense that you're not trying to, you know, keep the spirits of a diva up in the air. But the talent of a Stefan Diggs isn't something that just gets replaced overnight. Like he's he's too good of a player. um So it was replaced. Oh, never mind. All right. I think overall, this team, well, you're going to save replaced last year by Khalil Shakir, right? yeah Yes, it was replaced over eight games. We've already done it.
00:28:18
Speaker
until until teams get pick up on that, right? What happens when you don't have a step on digs to double team so the glitters should and don't can get their opportunities, right? So I think this is a worst Buffalo Bills team. However, I think we took a half a step back to potentially take two steps forward next year with all the cap money that we're gonna have. So I'm not panicking. This is, this to me, like, um it's and it's absolutely, this is not me saying it's a throwaway season either.
00:28:47
Speaker
It's still you still have Josh Allen you still have elite weapons in Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir and James Cook and you know, whoever else um You still have solid weapons you have a solid defense. There are some concerns, but your front seven's good your secondary Maybe you have a couple concerns about particularly the safety position cornerbacks. I'm not worried at all But you know, I think overall this team's taken half a step back But we'll have the cap space and then coming years to continue to take steps forward You know, so if if we, you know, like the last year I had the bills is a Super Bowl prediction. I genuinely don't this year. I would love to be proven wrong. Don't get me wrong. But I think this is the year that we can see the division to go right back around next year and fucking take it. So.
00:29:33
Speaker
You know, the big thing for me for the division is that the dolphins and the jets have so much more of a cakewalk of a schedule that the bills will have to take care of themselves and take care of business in tough games while the dolphins and the jets have a couple of spots in their schedule where they can kind of cruise and stack a couple of wins. I think yeah that's the biggest issue. I think the bills are a better team than the jets and the dolphins, but I think that with I mean, division the division's won with your win-loss record. Like, and i think I think they're going to have a couple, be able to stack some more wins that way. You, so tom you and and i because this is, i I don't think that the Bills are better than then the Jets or the Dolphins. I think what you get with the Bills is a more battle-tested team, a team that's been there a little bit more, you know, a little bit more cohesion in terms of coaching staff and all that stuff. And those things matter.
00:30:25
Speaker
But I mean, I think if you compare like take the Dolphins, if you compare the Dolphins offense and the Bills offense, I don't even think they're close. Oh, sure. But then take the Bills defense and the and the Dolphins defense. I don't think that's close. I I still don't think it's close either. But at the opposite direction, you do. I think the Dolphins defense is way better than the Bills defense. OK. All right. All right. this got We got to we got to let it play out. Right. Yes, we do.
Josh Allen's MVP Potential
00:30:49
Speaker
Yes, we do. What do you think, Jake?
00:30:54
Speaker
I agree. but robert Rubber meets the road. You got to yes see see how they look. at i think yeah I think there will be, like like you said, it's it's the it's the continuity of Joe Brady, I think, is encouraging and exciting. And Stefan Diggs is a great player, but he frees up a lot of targets for other players. like I'm just excited to see how the offense progresses as the season goes on.
00:31:14
Speaker
And I will also do this, and I'm sorry, I'm tangent tangenting a little bit, but I will also echo Kyle Brandt in his sentiments of sentiments of picking Josh Allen as the MVP.
00:31:26
Speaker
because I do think, I think Josh is going to have a year. It's going to be, if everything around him also goes into, into place, including special teams, right? Including field goals, right? Josh Allen's not kicking the ball. So, you know, we have some things, there's going to be some things he has to overcome, you know? So yeah we'll see. that absolutely He always does. The rest of the team usually falls apart, but he always does.
Bold NFL Season Predictions
00:31:51
Speaker
Well, should we get to some very bold and baseless predictions for the season? Yeah, dude, absolutely. should we how should we do Should we should we each go? We should all just do one to start, right?
00:32:05
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah. Spread the love. Tommy, I have some I have some research that I have done. My first one is for Sir Curtis Samuel. Very excited for his usage in this offense. And I'm very excited because he is not only going to be used in some really unique ways as a wide receiver, but I I i firmly believe he's going to be offered and you given many a couple of rush attempts per game. So mine is based on rush attempts per game and rushing yards across the season. His.
00:32:33
Speaker
kind of, um, archetype of a player is very similar to Deebo Samuel. They're very different players, but he has that similar kind of attempt, right? What's the necessary attempt is wrong word, similar kind of, um, approach to the game and usage in the role. in the offense role Thank you. So Curtis Samuel's best season was 2020 with Joe Brady in Carolina. So his, in that season, he averaged 2.73 rush attempts per game, 13.3 rushing yards per game and two rushing touchdowns.
00:33:04
Speaker
depots depots per game in that season. Wow. No, no, no, no. Sorry. Sorry. Two rushing touchdowns across the season. Across the season. I'm sorry. I apologize. Okay. I was going to say he didn't get two per game. Record breaking. Good clarification. Two rushing touchdowns across the season.
00:33:21
Speaker
Thebo, across his career, has averaged 2.42 rushing attempts per per game, and 15.25 rushing yards. So I'm kind of using those numbers to base it. I think that um Curtis is going to have a really good year rushing the ball. And I'm going to give him 49 attempts throughout the entire season, putting him at 2.9 rush attempts per game, and then 15 yards per game, maybe having come out at 255 yards.
00:33:49
Speaker
so 2.9 rush attempts a game, almost three rush attempts per game and 255 yards across the season. That's my bold prediction for Curtis Samuel, which would be better than his best season um ever.
00:34:02
Speaker
Wow, dude, I like I appreciate the research that went into that. For sure. i yeah only that's a only that's a photo one It's only rush attempts more than his best and It's only I Didn't do the math there. It's it's it's only a little bit more of of rushing yards. So it's within realm of possibility. It's not aronomic That's a bold one I love it he Yeah, yeah, I like that one a lot buddy. I think that was good research there Tommy.
00:34:35
Speaker
All right. Nice. What do you got? Good stuff, my guy. I've got all right. Let me pull up up here. Okay. So my first, my first bold prediction has to do with Terrell Bernard. I think Terrell Bernard will lead all NFL linebackers in turnovers this season, whether it be INTs or fumble recoveries. I think Terrell Bernard is going to lead the NFL linebackers in terms of turnovers.
00:35:02
Speaker
That is my that's just just based off of um Just based off of what we saw him do last season. I mean he was a splash play machine So if he can keep that up, I'll be willing to Put him up there as the guy that's gonna lead in instagram turn overs so that's Just my own context like what's a what's a Average and great season for a linebacker as far as turnovers go. I would say average is probably Two or three. and yeah Really? Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah. Linebackers because they're not like not a lot theyre they're typical like a lot of linebacker I.N.T.s do come from like batted balls at the line of scrimmage. Right. Like defensive lineman gets a big old pop. Their ball goes straight in the air. And when they go straight in the air, the linebackers are they usually the ones that are in a good position to catch that ball. um You know, so but but TV also made some of the middle of the field last year. He's just got the athleticism.
00:35:56
Speaker
um And he also, for whatever reason, dude, and did I don't call this luck or whatever, um he he was around the ball every time it went on the ground. Like anytime somebody fumbled, he i think I think he had two or three fumbled recoveries. He's just got the instincts. go yeah yeah Wait, that's a clarified question real quick. so So if Terrell Bernard dives on ah a ball that was fumbled, he gets credit for the turnover, not the player that knocked the ball loose. Fumbled recovery. He got the fumbled recovery. The player who knocked the the fumble loose gets the forced fumble stat.
00:36:26
Speaker
But that force fumbles that doesn't count as the turnover. Am I correct? and Correct. Because they could still the offense, the opposing team can still still pick that up. Yeah. I got you. I got you. Okay. All right. Well, I got one. But real quick, if you are listening, send us what your bold predictions are. Please drop in the comments.
00:36:43
Speaker
um All right. For me, I'm going to go to the edge rushers, Vaughn Miller and Greg Russo. I think Vaughn Miller has a little bit of a Renaissance coming off his ACL tear in 2022. And I think Greg Russo pops a little bit. I think between Vaughn Miller and Greg Russo, they're going to hit 20 plus sacks.
00:37:02
Speaker
What? oh Did I? a Did I aim too high between between both of them? All right. So I'm going to piggyback with Jake because my next one was also about sex. And I put at Oliver in group about sex. Yeah. Great sex at Oliver.
00:37:28
Speaker
You didn't hear the word sex at all. i heard so I just heard sex. Oh my God. So I'm going to piggyback with Jake. Jake, you're not going to have a co-one here. um the i So Groot's best season ever was eight sacks in 2022. Ed Oliver's best ah year ever was nine and a half sacks last year in 2023. So I was putting Ed Oliver and Groot together to get 20 plus sacks. And you put Von Miller and Groot together to get 20 plus sacks. So I think between the three of them, they get 30. How about that?
00:37:55
Speaker
so we Do you want to want to want to piggyback together? I'm down to combine. I'm down to combine. Let's do it. Let's do it. That is that's a lot of sex. That's so many. Like a good a good year is like for the whole team is like 50 something like that. I think I think the NFL record for s sex is 58 in a season. But the the bills had 54 last year. Like they did they had a lot. Yes. Right. So like that's that's not that's this is not crazy. This is bold, but it's not crazy.
00:38:26
Speaker
Yeah, we're we're trying to be bold. We're trying to be bold. Yeah, you're right. These these are bold. Jake, I didn't mean to laugh. I just thinking about Bob Miller putting up 10 plus sacks this year just was like, wow. and no no I didn't say Bob Miller had 10 plus sacks. I said between the two of them. You did. You did. He could come back and have seven, but maybe group pops off and has 13. You never know.
00:38:46
Speaker
Absolutely. Absolutely, bro. You are. You are absolutely right about that. if And it is 13. We're going to pay him the entire world next. Oh, he's going to get the fucking bag. If he if he gets 10 plus, dude, he's going to get the bag. Yes. Back up. the bratra maybe Maybe. Maybe. Yeah. Maybe. Maybe breaking the the contract record. Yeah. like getting Or at least getting close.
00:39:10
Speaker
Um, all right. My next one, I predict that, um, by week eight, so I'm picking like a rough halfway point, um, or I'll, I'll even give myself a little bit more wiggle room and I'll say by week nine, Ray Davis supplants James cook as the number one running back in this offense is my prediction for usage.
00:39:33
Speaker
Yep. Or maybe maybe I should um Ray Davis out touches James Cook in the offense by week nine. Okay. Is my prediction. And then the remaining of the season, he has more usage than dreams cook. Yes. Yes. I think, I think once, once that moment happens and maybe, maybe we should get some more qualifying elements in there. Like once he, if we have a game where he's got more touches, it it probably needs to be at least So what's let's say by week eight, he has three more touches than James Cook. I would say from that point on, their touches need to, like, he would need to have more for this, for this to hold true. Yeah. Or I would give you the average across the rest of the season. That's fine. Okay. yeah i'll say I'll take it then. Total touches across the rest of the season. But I don't want to twist it to or turn it too much my way.
00:40:24
Speaker
No, no, no, no, no. Total touches over the second half of the season. Yeah. Okay. Week nine and after he has more touches than James Cook, James Cook. Let's make it that by, yeah. Week nine and after Ray Davis has more touches than James Cook, whether it be receptions or handoffs or rush attempts. Yeah. I like it.
00:40:43
Speaker
Love it. Love it. All right. My last one is around, uh, somebody has come under a lot of heat lately and that's Tyler Bass. I think he beats the haters. I think he, he is even with his, his career completion rate around 85%. And to make it extra spicy, I'm going to say he sets his career long. So higher than 58 yards this year. I would, I would kiss you on the mouth, Jake.
00:41:07
Speaker
I would kiss Tyler Bass on the mouth, too.
Bills vs Cardinals Game Focus
00:41:09
Speaker
Well, i'm I'm easier to get access to my lips than Tyler Bass. That's for sure. So. All right, boys, there's our old predictions. We we got 20 minutes left. We got to get into week one. Talk to us. Yeah. OK. Week one.
00:41:24
Speaker
The Buffalo Bills are playing tomorrow, folks. Freaking tomorrow, Sunday, know November. Oh, my God. Sunday, September 8th. Holy cow. Two months. One p.m. in Orchard Park. The over under is set at 48 points. The bills are seven point favorite six and a half, seven point favorites right now.
00:41:45
Speaker
The weather's looking nice, looking crisp, partly cloudy, high at 61, a little bit of light winds, and it's going to be a beautiful football day. It's going to be freaking amazing. So the, um let's start with keys of the game. Like what are the big talking points here? And my, my first one that I want to bring up is, uh, we're going to see this full offense.
00:42:05
Speaker
We're going to see what Brady's complete scheme that he's worked on all off season really, truly looks like we're seeing Josh Allen playing a full game and all the weapons out all at the same time. We saw some like kind of snippets over, over the preseason over um training camp. And we haven't seen all the puzzle pieces. I'm excited to see all of that put together.
00:42:27
Speaker
Yeah, dude, for sure. And I think you hit on the like the biggest key or I i don't know if it's a key, but just like ah what is this going to look like? Right. Because I like I can confidently say that, like, while we predict that we think there will be, you know, a good chunk of 12 personnel and all that stuff like.
00:42:46
Speaker
At the end of the day, we don't know how often is King Kade going to be out wide? How often is Keon Coleman going to be out wider in the slot? Same with Curtis Samuel. like You just have so many chess pieces with this Bill's offense, so many guys that can play in different spots. Dawson Knox can play in line or out wide. James Cook can be in the backfield or out wide or in the slot. Same with ah Keon Coleman, wide or in the slot. Shakir, wider in the slot.
00:43:11
Speaker
So there's just so many different variables with the Bill's offense. What is it going to look like? Because since we don't know what it's going to look like, I don't even know if we can necessarily say that's a key. But that is going to be like, that's what we're all itching for, is finally take the curtain down. Let's see Oz behind the curtain and see what this Bill's offense looks like. Yeah, so excited. So excited. Me too. Me too.
00:43:42
Speaker
Another key of the game, I think, is going to be, um I think, Groot and Ed are going to have ah have a game. I think that Ravens, sorry, Ravens, oh my gosh, I'm all turned around. That Cardinals offense, the Cardinals offensive line is is not good.
00:43:57
Speaker
is not good. but Yeah. So I think Groot's going to have his way. I think Ed Oliver is going to have his way. And I'm sure there's going to be another guy who's just going to have, have his way. Um, I think they're going to really wreck things. Tyler Murray's loves that. He almost invites that chaos in because he's quick on his feet. He's so agile. He's such a great athlete and he's really good with pressure in his face. So I think that's going to be tough, but I think Ed and group get home. They have sacks, quarterback pressures. They're going to be in there and they're going to be wrecking and just ruining Kyler ah Murray's day that um on Sunday.
00:44:34
Speaker
Yeah, so what's the biggest thing with that when you have a when you have an athletic quarterback like a Kyler Murray or Lamar Jackson? It's what with Kyler Murray specifically, there's two things, right? And I feel like we say this every every week, almost, but it's organic pressure, organic pressure, meaning with your four down defensive lineman. So defensive end.
00:44:54
Speaker
defensive tackle, defensive tackle, other defensive end, right? Not bringing extra blitzers and stuff like that in order to mess with Kyla Murray because Kyla Murray, like Tom just said, eats up the blitz, right? Has an insane QBR against the blitz, right? Very good. Yes, he's very good. And then the other thing, the the second thing is um second thing, second thing is contain, right? If you're Greg Russo, right? And you're cooking that tackle, you can't cook that tackle to the point where you're six yards off the field.
00:45:23
Speaker
because Kyla Murray's saying deuces and he just picked up 30 yards, right? So it's it though it's those two things. And just, you know, as a refresher for those that maybe aren't football aficionados, when you have athletic quarterbacks like that, that are good against the blitz, the key is contained, right? You have to stay in your lane so that that quarterback can't get out and dice you for, you know, 20 plus yards because Kyla Murray can do that easily.
00:45:49
Speaker
Yeah, he he's gonna he there's gonna be a couple plays where he's gonna scramble and he's gonna scoop and he's gonna get some yards on it on the ground. It's gonna be. Yeah, there will be some third and longs that get completed because kind of Murray's fast as hell. It looks like a water bug out there.
00:46:04
Speaker
Yep. So my um kind of on that same note is the bills need to get off the field on third down. The Cardinals are going to attack this game on trying to keep Josh Allen on the sideline. They have a great rushing offense. They have Kyler Murray who can kind of make things work, make magic happen.
00:46:20
Speaker
the bills need to get off the field. so So that bill's defense, which has a lot of question marks, and we're also very excited to see what all these pieces are going to look like together. They need to be able to get off the field when it counts. This has been something that has plagued the bills over the last few years. We have like example after example of the bills not being able to seal the deal and and They have that they have the um opposing team at third and 15 and they can't They can't get off the fields that needs to change and it needs to start with this game Yeah, hundred percent dude. I don't even have anything to add to that. That's just exactly right Because you're right. That is they're there the Cardinals best defense is their rushing it attack and
00:47:03
Speaker
Yeah. Right. It's good. keep Keep the clock moving. And that keeps Josh a on the sideline. That is that is their best weapon against us is that rushing attack. So yeah hopefully, you know, like like we said, the defensive line is just crushing that for Skylar Mary to throw. We'll see what happens. Yeah.
00:47:21
Speaker
Yep. I'm excited to see Marvin Harrison Jr's debut. He's gonna, he could be a problem. he He's also a rookie, but he could be a
Special Teams and New Kickoff Rules
00:47:29
Speaker
proud. Who knows? Yeah. I'm not even going to sit here and say I'm excited about it because that could that tune could change incredibly quickly. Yeah. I mean, that guy, that guy is a weapon. You're right. Rookie season, very first NFL game.
00:47:40
Speaker
Who knows? um But, yeah, like we could be saying, oh, wow, it would be cool to see him, you know, we don't have to stress about it because he's a rookie week one. I don't want to be the guy that's changing my tune on that at the last minute. yeah ill I won't sit here and say that I'm not a little bit nervous for MHJ. Yeah, but you could absolutely have, you know, seven receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. like That could very well be his deadline. Is he the number one threat or or is is another piece that you're as or more worried about?
00:48:09
Speaker
i Okay, so in terms of wide receivers, this is kind of similar to the bills in the sense that we have to consider wide receivers and tight ends for their pass catching options because in terms of specifically wide receivers, mar and harris Marvin Harrison Jr. is the biggest concern. Their biggest pass catching weapon period, that tight end Trey McBride, that guy is a problem. And then still good I know we have that on our document here.
00:48:34
Speaker
How is that going to look without Matt Milano? Are we going to be in a situation where you know they they do one ah one fake run, Dorian Williams bites the hell out of it, and suddenly Trey McBride's ripping 45 yards up the seam.
00:48:50
Speaker
Yeah, you know, or that I'm worried about. It's not. I'm not worried about Terrell Bernard covering that, but I'm worried about Dorian getting his kind of all turned around and his feet upside down. And in all of a sudden, Trey McBride's feasting and and they're going to continue to attack that if they figure that out. One hundred percent. I could absolutely see a world tomorrow where like getting ready, get ready for this because I think there's a shot that could happen because he is healthy. Dorian Williams gets benched for Cole Bishop.
00:49:20
Speaker
Yeah, that is that is a small prediction that I have for tomorrow. And I william can't figure it out. Cole Bishop will come in and be the thumper that that carries Trey McBride. Yeah, I mean, because right we've heard all these stories that when ah Cole and Dalton Kincaid were in college together and Cole would just lock them up. And Dalton's Dalton and Trey McBride are in the same bucket for me. Right. Same caliber of athlete, same caliber of player. Very like they're going to be the next generation of tight ends along with Sam LaPorta.
00:49:47
Speaker
um So yeah, I would love to see co-bishop be able to at least get a some run there, um either in as of, you know, a different packages as a third safety, replacing during, you know, playing a linebacker role, who knows. um But that could absolutely happen.
00:50:03
Speaker
Yeah, I could see it because it's just like, you know, last year with, um, Jordan Poyer coming in on third downs, right. Or on third downs, Taylor Rapp would come in and Jordan Poyer would move down into the box. Right. Like I could see, I could see a world where we do that. And it may be even at least in obvious passing situations. Right. So it'll be interesting. I think we'll see Cole Bishop on the field tomorrow, but I will level capacity but i think we will. I hope so. Yeah. Yeah. That'd be really exciting.
00:50:29
Speaker
Another cool thing um that we're going to see tomorrow is the new kickoff. It's been kind of fun to see. Definitely weird, right? I always think that the TV's paused. The kicker kicks the ball. Nobody moves. And then they they they can only move once the ball either hits the ground or it's returned.
00:50:50
Speaker
so It's going to be interesting. Um, I just knowing the bills, I think that they're going to leverage this for their advantage. They love special teams. Sean McDermott loves special teams and using it oh does brand and being to gain an edge, right? Yeah. Cause field position matters. The biggest indicator of scoring on a drive is starting position. Where on the field did you start? If you're further up, you have a better chance to score. If you're further back, you have a worse chance to score.
00:51:19
Speaker
That is the biggest indicator for scoring drives um in the NFL. So I think the Bills are going to absolutely use that to their advantage. um I think and Tyler Bass, while he is right having some issues with field goals, he's a good kicker. He can control the ball. He can directionally kick.
00:51:35
Speaker
he's going to be able to put the ball in good places and force the Cardinals to have to return in in advantage yeah sorry at a disadvantage in and not great situations. yeah It was very interesting like watching the game last night. right like I don't remember which team it was, but I think every kick I saw was just a touchback. yeah which which to me like I thought one of the reasons that this rule went into place was to kind of get away from that a little bit, right? To make that play matter a little bit more. But here's the thing, right? And and Tom just touched on it with Brandon Bean. This bill's organization is not an organization that is just going to willingly concede those 25 yards. They're going to make you work for whatever yards you are going to get. I believe the bill's plan on kickoffs is going to be drop that ball to one yard line and make them earn every goddamn yard.
00:52:27
Speaker
yeah that is my prediction because that's been the way they don't kick us in the past anyway right like it doesn't always it's not always any kicked out of this is definitely done his fair share of just let's just get a touch back and and be chill about it but i think given this new kick off and and the way it looks i can imagine the bills are just gonna say up take the twenty five i think they're gonna say come fuckin earn the twenty five and i would imagine with with the athleticism that like i was in the roster again the other day The bottom half of this roster has an average RAS of like a hair over eight.
00:53:03
Speaker
but Which is fucking hot. It's not really athletic. That's sick. And that's just like, and we've seen like, that's Brandon Bean backing up like what he's always talked about, right? Once you get to the fifth round and later with him, he's just picking traits. He's picking tools. He guys in in the hopes that this coaching staff can do the little bit of teaching here and there. But this is an athletic ass group of third and fourth stringers. Yeah. So i'm I'm optimistic that like,
00:53:32
Speaker
It could be a strength for the team this year. like what ah let's you know Can you imagine like imagine a world where the opposing team's average starting position is the 19 instead of the 25? I know we're talking about six yards, but you add that up over however many kickoffs you have over the course of 17 games, that's fucking a lot hot, dude. yep So i that's my prediction for the kickoffs. i think I think the bills are gonna make teams fucking earn it.
00:54:01
Speaker
Jake, you had wanted to kind of talk about this. Is there any specific questions that you had? I just noticed in watching Thursday and Friday night that that there was a lot of touchbacks like you guys touched on. And um I think it's 30 yards that the touchback goes to, not 25. 30 yards. It might be. I still don't know how the kicking rules.
00:54:21
Speaker
But yeah, I guess I was just surprised how, it works right even when exactly yeah but how willing those those four teams were to just drop the ball deep and take the 30 yards. i Yeah, I guess I was just surprised by it because of all the conversation about how it would prompt more returns. So I'm curious to see how it plays out. It was two games out of however many there are in the season. And I can't even sit here and come up with a solid reason as to why I think teams would do that. Because if it is indeed the 30, just conceding 30 yards, dude, that's a goddamn lot. It's almost half the field.
00:54:57
Speaker
That's a big deal. Yeah. you know ah like if you know So let's assume it is the 30. Let's say all of a sudden now the average starting position is like the 23. And with where the the kicking team like starts from, I don't think that's crazy.
00:55:15
Speaker
Like if the 30, if the 30 is, is where teams get on the touch pack. Um, I think a comfortable place where the bills could probably stop teams is indeed like the 24, 25. And that fucking matters, dude. Like it adds up so quick, you know? So I think some teams are a little scared right now of what this is going to look like. And they don't want to be.
00:55:38
Speaker
They don't want to open themselves up to a crazy return. So I think that's why we've seen the touchbacks. You going to see some games where, sorry, Tom, I just interrupt you for like the fourth time. Please continue.
00:55:51
Speaker
You're good, dude. You're right, though. We're going to see some games where there's some monster returns and somebody gets gashed for a one little mistake. Somebody gets misaligned. Some great block happens and boom, it's going to be an explosive play. So I think some teams are going to be playing it very conservatively and like, all right, we're going to give you the 30, but at least we didn't give you the 55.
00:56:09
Speaker
ah Yeah. Right. black But stats, like like that that happens during the kickoff before too. Like it can happen. It's just like, yeah, which which gives you the statistical advantage. And that's something like you said, Bean and McDermott are really keyed in on. So yeah I'm curious to see how it plays out. Yeah.
Season Opener Challenges
00:56:25
Speaker
Yeah. They don't take special teams lightly in Buffalo.
00:56:28
Speaker
Nope. And I'm glad, I'm glad. Cause as you win in the margins, this and the madfl is a hard place to win. Um, and we're going to need all the help we can get. We talked about our um you know a schedule prediction. This is a top schedule. We're going to need every piece of help that we can get. And I think this is a spot that could be a couple of percentage points in the bill's favor.
00:56:47
Speaker
Yeah. Um, we kind of already got into some of these, these concerns. I guess the very last one is that first concern bullet point, which is sometimes the bills just buck and fumble week one. We saw it against Pittsburgh a couple of years ago. We saw it against the jets last season. Like sometimes the bills just choke on one during week one.
00:57:09
Speaker
I, I am, I don't know, dude, I, something just feels maybe it's just like the different offensive identity or what dude, or maybe it's the different leadership situation with just, you know, the two main guys that are in charge of their units being the captains. You know, maybe it's that, I don't know, but I, I don't foresee a week one fumble this year. I think.
00:57:33
Speaker
I don't know, man. I, I feel like I say this every, every year and I know I definitely said it like a year ago on the spot. We're going to see it eventually, dude. The, the Josh Allen.
00:57:46
Speaker
just throttle the season season, like just just be just be the fucking guy. You can tell him getting hyperk because I'm using the F word it a lot right now. Yeah. I mean, dude, everybody's out there calling. He's been called overrated by by um all opposite. Right. He's been told by players, by executives. He's been called the work the number one trash talker in the league. And Josh Allen loves trash talking. So he does. He puts that on his top shelf.
00:58:15
Speaker
That goes on his refrigerator at home for his mom and dad to see like that kind of shit he loves.
Final Score Predictions and Farewell
00:58:21
Speaker
And he's going to take that to heart in. OK. Right. OK. but You know what? When it's like it's the same. I think we talked about it last year when Ken ah when we finally fired Ken Dorsey. Right. Because to me, it looked like last season that Ken Dorsey was just neutering Josh Allen in terms of running the ball. But Josh, like when Josh Allen runs for six yards and gets a little bit of contact and stands up,
00:58:44
Speaker
and does that with his shoulders. Fucking forget about it, dude, because you're done. You're done. And that's just the way this guy takes, dude. He's a competitive guy. But like that, like that's how he gets himself going is the shit talking. Right. Like so between that, you know, a couple of these from ah from a little bit of contact. Well, can look out, dude, because he will rip your head off.
00:59:04
Speaker
So that being said, I think we should do some score predictions and so I'm predicting the bills to win. I think they're going to take it home. They're going to take care of business. And I think Josh Allen is just going to have a freaking day. I'm predicting a 31 to 21 win versus the Cardinals. I've got 28 17 bills.
00:59:26
Speaker
Low scoring wave and I'm going to go, I'm going to go 34 28 bills. Okay. Cool. Yeah, cool I think some points are going to hit the board. I do. I think both offenses are going to be able to move the ball a little bit. um And but I think the bills are going to take it home. We'll see. We'll tell. Yeah, boy, I'm so excited for my football games to start at noon now. Oh, dude. i Yeah, I'm pretty jealous. I'm pretty jealous well because noon and then what is it? Three fifteen.
00:59:59
Speaker
325. 325 is the next game, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then 715 for the, or a 720 for the next one. Bro, get out. My old ass is going to be so so sad. oh I'm not going to miss those Monday mornings. Wake up. I don't have to wake up for teaching anymore. Monday mornings. evening Yeah, you don't.
01:00:18
Speaker
All right, folks, this is it. We've made it to the season, the regular season. Enjoy their Buffalo Bills, right? we We are so lucky that we get Josh Allen in this version of the Buffalo Bills right now. So enjoy the season. Have some fun. I hope you watch it with your friends and your family and you have time. Don't you care about.
01:00:36
Speaker
Right. And I hope you come back here because you care about us because we care about you and ride this season along with us. um It's going to be an awesome season. Here we go. And yeah, we love you all. And thank you so much for listening. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for spending some time with us. Please give us a like and a follow on Instagram, X, TikTok and our YouTube channel at Let's Go Buff Pod.
01:00:57
Speaker
These are my pals, Jake and Nigel. My name is Tom and you're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast. We're sending you love wherever you are. Go Bills. Go Savers. Let's go Buffalo.