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Ep. 73 - The Bills Dismantle the New Jersey Jets
22 Plays3 months ago
Happy New Year! The boys ring in the New Year with a retelling of the Bills win over the Jets, a spirited MVP conversation, and a cautious optimism for the Buffalo Sabres.
3 buds. 2 teams. 1 city - The "Let's Go Buffalo" Podcast. Your new favorite podcast for all things Sabres and Bills. Our mission is to be your guide through the ups and the downs of being a Buffalo Sports fan. We are not members of the media nor are we experts - we’re just 3 friends who love our hometown teams and want to bring you along for the ride. This podcast will be for both veteran and newly ordained fans. We’ll have in depth conversation and debate with a few “newbie” questions sprinkled in to keep everyone afloat.
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Transcript
Introduction & Social Media Presence
00:00:23
Speaker
What's going on, everybody? You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo Podcast, your favorite podcast for all things Bills and Savers. Jake, what the hell is so funny? know it over there No, no, no, nothing, nothing.
00:00:37
Speaker
episode 73 folks it's great to see y'all again we took a little bit of a holiday hiatus here that we didn't plan on initially therefore didn't tell you about but the three of us had a board meeting via text and said we're going to take a little breather here so great to be back with y'all like i said episode 73 make sure you follow us on the socials y'all know the drill we're on all of our instagram X, TikTok, YouTube, you name it. We're probably on it. um I think the only
Return from Break & New Year's Resolutions
00:01:05
Speaker
one we're not on right now is Blue Sky, which is the new Twitter thing. You guys you guys even heard of Blue Sky? Blue Sky. Yeah. So we're not on that one yet. I don't I don't need another spot where I'm mindlessly scrolling for more sports information. So we'll probably stay off that one, at least for a little bit. But hey, let's get around and say hello to my friends here. Tommy, what's going on, brother?
00:01:28
Speaker
Happy New Year, boys. Good to see her. Yeah, this is we're ringing in the new year with some ah some good, some good times here. So severe and sports. Yeah. You know, this could be a nice if anybody's maybe missed something, missed out on, and you know, a good thoughtful holiday gift. um ah You know, send them a link to our podcast for information and entertainment. Oh, that's even free. That's a great gift. You don't even have to pay for. That's our favorite kind. Torpedo, my God. What's going on, brother?
00:01:56
Speaker
Good beer and sports. Happy New Year, boys. let's ah Let's rock into it. Do you guys, ah do you have any fun New Year's resolutions? I know.
00:02:07
Speaker
Keep my head above water. Yeah, not fit ones like, you know, good ones like mental health shit. Yeah. You know, i goingnna run a little bit. But like, you know, ah yeah I feel like they're not usually meant to be very fun. You know, it's like I need to change this about myself. Yeah, that's usually what it is. it's Like, oh, man, this part of me is shitty. So let's change it. Well, let's drink about it, boys. give down that note Let's have a beer. I'm with you, Tommy. Clearly, that's not our resolution.
00:02:35
Speaker
Right. Ready? Three, two, one.
00:02:40
Speaker
Cheers, fellas. Let's see. I'll go first this time because why not? So I'm still ripping through that same brand of IPAs here. But since it is New Year's Eve and since I don't have to work the rest of today or tomorrow, I'm going to enjoy myself a nice double home style. This is this is an eight, nine and eight, nine. So you play. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll see how we're doing here. Tommy, what are you sucking on?
00:03:05
Speaker
All the hot takes are nice at the end of this pod. I shout out my ah my cousin, CJ. He hooked me up with some ah local Buffalo beers. So I got a flattened drums from resurgence. ah Local Buffalo. And I'm freaking pumped. So cheers, CJ. Appreciate you. And you go freaking. Yeah, go bills, go sabers. Staunch, baby. CJ and Sam staunch.
00:03:29
Speaker
that's the way yeah yeah Nailed it, crushed it. That's all I like to do it. Jake, what are you drinking there, brother? We saved the best for last day. I have a very fine Miller Lite. hell yeah so walked over hey lefted over in the fridge, you know, basically water but on that. That's all right, dude. You don't waste beer. It just doesn't happen. Exactly.
Buffalo Sabres' Performance and Key Players
00:03:50
Speaker
so boy We have some exciting bill stuff to get to, but we haven't done a little savers update in a while and I want to do a positive update. Are you down? nige Can we do a little check in? Dude, I am. ah I don't know how much I'm going to bite into this, but I'm ready to be a part of it.
00:04:05
Speaker
I'm going to paint you a picture. OK, we're going to do a little positive look at the savers. So first of all, I want everybody to know that nobody, and I mean nobody, beats the Buffalo Savers 14 times in a row.
00:04:21
Speaker
Oh, you forget it. Oh, yeah. So since we podcast last year, the Sabres won a 13 game winless streak and eventually it was snapped. So I think I think we should we should celebrate that. But yeah, ah crazy. I don't want to get into that. we We could get we could spend a full hour getting negative about their performance during that 13 games.
00:04:43
Speaker
Let's look past it. Since then, they've had three wins in a row, which is nice. Their fourth three-game win streak of the year. They beat New York Islanders and the Chicago Blackhawks handily, 7-1 and 6-2. And then a little bit of a shaky win over St. Louis, but a win nonetheless, 4-2. Nigel, in that time, you know, neither of those teams are world beaters, even St. Louis, and they looked pretty shaky in that win, but yeah three wins in a row is still good to to Good to have, obviously. like any Any thoughts from those games? Were you watching at home with your family? Yeah, dude. I was i was watching as much as I could. And again, home for the holidays. So you know not totally glued. I had a brand new nephew to hang out with and all that stuff. so um But all that being said, I think my biggest takeaway from those three games, dude, is i mean once again, but we i I specifically
00:05:38
Speaker
talk a lot about the eye test with hockey, right? And the eye test these last three games, for the most part, I felt like was a monstrous improvement over the games during that 13-game winless streak, particularly offensively, dude.
00:05:54
Speaker
I don't care how bad a hockey team is, scoring 13 goals in two games is is unheard of. I mean, it it just it just doesn't really happen, dude. To score seven goals one game and six the next is is bonkers. is is a lot I think it says it just talks about the ah capabilities that your ah offense has, right?
00:06:14
Speaker
I think a couple really notable bright starts, you know, to just kind of to picky on the offensive play there. Jacqueline seems to be in his form again, from what I can tell. And then, brother, how long we've been sleeping on Yuriko League playing for the Sabres? He looks fucking sensational. Pretty much single handedly won that St. Louis game for us. Yeah, agree. Not that long. Luckily, I mean, he's pretty young. So, yeah, yeah his his emergence on the team is like awesome to see huge and dude, I think, yeah, it speaks to the offense reviving a little bit, a small sample, of course, but they look a lot more like the team from 22, 23.
00:06:54
Speaker
ah really fast, like almost not a lot of structure, I want to say, like like very quick, creative, off-the-rush play. um And the straw that stirred the drink of that team was the kid line, quote unquote, Quinn, Cousins, Paterka. That line's looked great the past couple of games. It's like four, five, six games. Quinn's had eight points in his last six games. Cousins and Paterka have both kind of been humming with him. So you know if you can have that second layer of offense,
00:07:24
Speaker
going from a young line like that, you see what it can do. There's potential there. but and And Jake, I don't want to, I don't want to toot my own horn here, but I'm going to toot my own horn a little bit. What was I saying that the deal breaker for this team was going to be? there There was two players in particular that I mentioned.
00:07:42
Speaker
second line center, Dylan cousins, I think was one of them. yeah for sure And then, and then the other was Jack Quinn, right? Like this team isn't going to, isn't going to catch its stride. And I'm not, okay, three games in a row after a 13 game losing streak is not catching your stride. However, I don't think it's, it's crazy that we've been on a three game win streak here. And all of a sudden we're also seeing that correlate with great play from Jack Quinn. And I do, I think, I think the third unsung hero there that I didn't mention is indeed Yuri Koolick. I think getting that extra support, because I think last game at least he centered the third line, if I remember right. And McLeod shifted down to the fourth.
00:08:20
Speaker
He did. Yeah. So he's been playing with Benson and Krebs, I think, mostly down there. Which I think that line has looked awesome. It has, for sure. It's a high energy line, dude. And he's a big part of that. He looks a lot more comfortable. You're talking about the eye test. He looks he looks a lot more settled, calm, collected. And dude, his I mean, we saw it in the AHL. His shot.
00:08:44
Speaker
it's it's it's something and he uses it a lot too he he's behind only tage as far as generating shot attempts on net in the the games he's played so Yeah, that's ah that fourth score, that fourth score, fourth goal that he scored against Bennington of the Blues, dude. I mean, just absolutely that was a young forward outsmarting a very veteran goaltender with Stanley Cup experience, right? Like just absolutely waited for him to anticipate shooting to the opposite side of that crease, opened up a little bit in the five hole. And Cooley said, thank you very much and let Rip an unbelievable shot.
00:09:23
Speaker
for that fourth goal, dude, that highlight really got me going. Yeah, dude, snuck it through sealed the game. I mean, massive, massive. cut So with that goal, there that's five goals for him in his last 10 games. so He's fifth in the league in rookie goal scoring and he's first in goals per 60. So, I mean, he's we like that. We expected that when he came up, you know, he's, he's got a hell of a shot and he's using it to, to success. Yeah. um Back on the blue line, dude. I mean, Daliens absence,
00:09:50
Speaker
Holy fuck. I mean, and I think that's, you know, you can you can we we've we've torn and Kevin Adams apart, but you're constructing a roster that really relies on ah a true linchpin on the back end. The team is fourteen, thirteen and two with him. A fine record, but without him, they're oh, six and two this year. I mean, he is he's a five on five monster. He's he's incredible back there. Nigel, I can't think of a better a better reason why they miss so many games, but it's good to have him back.
00:10:18
Speaker
It is good to have him back. yeah And I believe it was seven assists over the last three games, something like during that during that win streak there. So obviously, Dolls is dealing. yeah We've seen a couple a couple plays recently um from the from the blue line. And I think Bo and Byram had one as well. But the last couple of games, dude, I'm seeing seeing these slaps, these slaps passes from the blue line to these guys that are in front of the net.
00:10:41
Speaker
Dolls found, I can't remember who it was that he found for one of those, um but I think it was Zach Benson maybe. Yeah, so I mean, but Dolls, dude, just yeah, like you just said, very clearly the the straw that stirs this Buffalo Sabres drink, dude. I mean, and we you've talked about in the past, Jake, you build your team from the goaltender out.
00:11:02
Speaker
Right. And, you know, having having UPL as a solid backstop and then having, you know, I mean, a couple of guys, you know, that we should be linchpin guys like Opie Bowen by room and then Rasmus Daliin, you know, obviously a huge part to what this team needs to be able to do to be successful.
00:11:19
Speaker
Absolutely. And the the guys in the back end not named those that you just did, Daliin power by room, continue to trouble me a lot. I think they're propped up a whole lot by those guys, especially, especially even by room. I think it's kind of propped up by Daliin's numbers. So I still have question
NFL MVP Debate: Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson
00:11:38
Speaker
marks about the,
00:11:39
Speaker
Acquiring him, but this is probably conversation for for later on in the year or the offseason, but yeah ah You mentioned UPL. He's I his stats haven't been superb But I test wise he has really kept them in some games where they hate it could have gotten even uglier than it was Yeah, maybe but like that st. Louis game. I thought he stole. Oh, he was huge. He was huge in that game.
00:12:03
Speaker
So mastera a lot of people were kind of doubting him early on in the year, like, you know, a couple, a couple of bad games to start, but he, he's kind of had that pattern of, of shaky starts and then really locking in the past couple of seasons. So yeah. And again, I think, I think a huge one. Yeah. Flowers for sure. And again, I think that huge one is the eye test. Like you said, dude, like it's just, I mean, it's, it's easy to look at numbers and be like, okay, he didn't save that much, but it's also, you know, if you're watching these games, I mean, that St. Louis game, he was getting absolutely Pepper dude, so I mean yeah huge game here I do it's probably fair to say that he did come pretty damn close to stealing that st Louis game for us For sure one other overarching thought before we get into other billsy stuff ah Detroit there's been a lot of trade rumblings and scouts being seen at each other's games between the Red Wings and Buffalo Looking at those rosters man
00:12:56
Speaker
You know, you have to imagine that they're looking at a player like Dylan Cousins. There's been a lot of smoke around his name. However, on Detroit's roster, man, I'm looking at names like Larkin, full no trade clause, looking at Raymond, i'm looking at ah cider. Both of them signed long term recently. Besides those guys, there's not a soul in that locker room that I want to trade for Dylan Cousins. So and I don't think there's a good fit for any kind of big trade. What are you what are your thoughts on all all the noise around that?
00:13:25
Speaker
You took the words right out of my mouth, dude. Detroit has three players that I give a shit about, and it's Dylan Larkin, it's Lucas Raymond, and it's Mo Cider. And you you just said it, dude. They just extended Cider and Raymond to long-term deals, so those aren't like... three years and done their ink for a minute i don't remember what the av is um but and then and then same thing do dylan larkin. ah Complete full no trade movement or claws or whatever so yeah dude i mean i here's what i think it sounds like the choice pretty active in the market.
00:13:58
Speaker
I have a feeling they're looking to unload one of two guys, patch or both. Patrick Kane or Tarasenko is my thought that they're trying to probably unload one of those guys. And there is no planet, particularly planet Earth, where I'm giving Dylan Cousins for one of those two guys that are both north of 30, right? I believe, I know Patrick Kane is, I think Tarasenko is well north of 32.
00:14:23
Speaker
right so thanks sorry yeah as well i should say i don't know i'd like i say' thirty two ah similar ages i think yeah yeah but in any event dude i mean d c is still ah europe i think he's twenty four i want to say he's early in the mid twenty s so those guys and and he's making less money than both those guys i think definitely less than um then Patrick Kane. I'm 99.9% sure. So yeah, dude, I have, there's no, there's no world here where I'm interested in any of those guys. I mean, if you want to discuss a trade for Patrick Kane, it does not involve a Dylan cousins and maybe like some, some assets or some picks or something. I'm willing to talk about it with you, but i I'm not giving you Dylan cousins for Patrick Kane. That's a mismatch. And you know, there's no basis that,
00:15:10
Speaker
that there that there that that is the you know kind of proposal out there or anything like that. But just from a hypothetical standpoint, yeah, totally agree with you, man. No, no shot. So we'll see where that goes. But anyways, you know, where we stand now, they've dug a huge hole that Buffalo Sabres have in general. It's theoretically possible to dig out of.
00:15:30
Speaker
St. Louis dug out of it a long time ago and climbed their way back, but it is unlikely. We're both sick. We've talked about this. We have an illness in some way. ah Always cling to hope. We'll see. However, if if I'm going to continue to like check the standings,
00:15:46
Speaker
They got to win at least nine of their next 10, 11 games, something like that. And it's a tough road ahead, man. The next few games all on the road, Dallas tonight, Colorado on Thursday, Vegas on Saturday. So but that's three cup contenders right there. Easy cup contenders. Yeah. Uh, they got their hands full. So.
00:16:06
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see. We will see. Yeah, the one thing the one thing I'll say there is we I mean, we've seen us come out hot against Colorado. And I do think the Vegas one always intrigues me a lot because of obviously the Jack Michael situation.
00:16:24
Speaker
I do think that there is a major part of the guys on this team, particularly Krebs and Elks talk who came from Vegas that carry an extra chip on their shoulder when it comes to playing Vegas. So that game was always at least interesting for me to watch there. um But yeah, dude, I mean, you just rattled off three teams that and maybe not so much Colorado, but still three very good teams and three teams that in the last several years have undoubtedly had Stanley Cup expectations. So.
00:16:51
Speaker
It is definitely a really tough stretch of of the next couple of games here on this West Coast trip. But, you know, dude, it's ah it's also a great litmus litmus test, dude, right? Like, if you think you have a chance, go on fucking prove it against these teams. Yeah. You know how you do it. Absolutely. Exactly. Exactly. And that's boy, is that I mean, brother.
00:17:10
Speaker
Hey, you you you played a world where you win those three games. I mean, what does that do to the headspace of the guys in the locker room, especially the young guys? Right. Like all of a sudden, you're like, we can fucking play in this league. So or are you two right here in this in this
Buffalo as a Hockey Town
00:17:24
Speaker
locker room? What does it do to my headspace, dude? I'm I'm getting the tattoo. Yeah. But those neighbors 20, 25 Stanley Cup. sha dude So. So, yeah. Uh.
00:17:37
Speaker
Anyways, folks, yeah, we'll we'll continue watching. yes Let's move on to our much more auspicious team going into the postseason here. Tom, take it away. yeah ah Before we break, ah kind of turn over to the Bills, I think we have to shout out the the Buffalo Bandits. They on less weight last week's Saturday um got to have their ah second annual championship flag racing ceremony. So I think that's pretty freaking cool. We're not ah we're not a Bandits podcast, but it's a Buffalo sports Um, you you know, uh, team here and, um, and I think they absolutely need to be shouted out. And I think it's just another reason of why like Buffalo is just the city of Buffalo is just like voracious for a good sports team. Like they sell out there, um, the arena all the time. Like it's, it's, it's pretty freaking cool.
00:18:22
Speaker
Yeah, I am. I feel pretty confident. I mean, based on what I interpret just from being on Twitter and then knowing the little bit that I do about the lacrosse world, dude, it seems like everyone's expecting the band is to three P, which is which is crazy.
00:18:38
Speaker
But Tom, you touched on something that i that I think deserves a little bit of attention here. And i we've with there's been a lot of discussion on this podcast and every other Savers podcast in the world about Terry Pecul is selling the team. And I think one of the concerns that comes with that is, will they move? Like, does that mean that Buffalo loses its it's hockey to or excuse me it's hockey team? right And I feel pretty confident, dude, I don't think the NHL whatever let that happen i think the city of buffalo has proven year in and year out even through this drought that we are a hockey city dude this the city loves its hockey team even when we're not in the playoffs we're still in like the top three for the television market in terms of like areas that are watching the playoffs and then we just saw it dude we came back from this christmas break the team wins one game
00:19:30
Speaker
One game is coming out of the critter before the Christmas break. We come out of the Christmas break and their first game, dude, is a Friday night at home and the building is fucking sold out, dude. Can't fit another person in there with a crowbar. So I can lean more into Terry selling the team because um my fear was always, okay, if he sells a dude, does the city of Buffalo lose their hockey team?
00:19:54
Speaker
I don't think we're going to do it. I don't think I don't think there's a world where the NHL allows that to happen. I think they see that for a smaller market, it's lucrative as all hell as far as ah as far as a market can go. So I think that's something that's worth mentioning. And just a shout out to shout out to Sabres fans, dude, we're all in it together and it
Buffalo Bills' Recent Performance and Playoff Prospects
00:20:12
Speaker
sucks. But man, when it eventually we might all be dead, but eventually it's going to be good again. And my God, when it's good, it's going to be so good.
00:20:23
Speaker
I agree, clamoring for a ah success story and and though people will come back out to support it when they see it. ah But it comes up it comes up all the time when when teams are sold and and even when teams aren't sold about relocation. Like when Ottawa was going through transition from Melnick to new ownership, the rumors about them moving and all that kind of stuff didn't end up happening, it won't happen.
00:20:44
Speaker
you know and Gary Bettman kept Arizona in Arizona for what felt like decades, despite lack of ownership and and lack of interest and and lack of funds, lack of everything. So yeah, from a business standpoint, there's there's no no desire for them to move the team if if it's sold. so That doesn't worry me too much the city would burn to the ground like It would be itll be a problem. It would be hard. Everybody would be so heartbroken dude Like everyone's pissed about how bad the team is right now, but if there was suddenly no team yeah I mean, I mean dude as much as and and I stand by this dude as much as we're as much as the bills You know are a huge deal
00:21:24
Speaker
Buffalo is a fucking hockey town, dude. I mean, I know Detroit likes to call themselves hockey town, but Buffalo is a hockey town. Dude, this city eats, sleeps and breathes the savers. I mean, the fact that they're selling any tickets at all to me is astounding. So I just that always is nice for me to to remember that like.
00:21:44
Speaker
There's no, there's no business and and hockey's a business first and foremost, before it's anything else. There is no smart business decision to be made with taking away Buffalo's hockey team, which makes me always feel a lot better when with the discussion of selling the team comes up. So yeah sorry to go on a tangent there, but I think it does it was worth mentioning. Shout out, you know, Sabres fans, we are sick in the head, but we are different.
00:22:07
Speaker
Boy, you want to know who really you should sell the team is Woody Johnson in the New York, New Jersey freaking jets. that you just got Good correction. and small Dismantled, like just embarrassed, walked out of town, like just put your tail between your legs, sent home.
00:22:25
Speaker
Just, just embarrassed. Win over the Jets. This sucks so much. The Jets. K-E-T-S sucks, sucks, sucks. The Bills won 40-14. It's really 40-0. Those 14 points were scored by Tyreid Taylor and just the Bills gods allowed that to happen. um And just so much fun. I got to tell you, I watched that at a family party and I love it when the Bills play really well at a family party and I don't have to be stressed out and be a fucking weirdo.
00:22:53
Speaker
um It's so much more fun. um ah Right? It's so awesome. and Just, oh, no, wait a second. We're debating on like how cool Keon's touchdown touch catch was or how cool Amari Cooper's touchdown catch was
Upcoming Challenges for the Bills
00:23:06
Speaker
as opposed to like, okay, what what the hell are we going to do here? So um I think this let's just have a little party here, boys. What's the what's the fun stuff that came out of this this game? Nigel, hit me with something that you really enjoyed.
00:23:16
Speaker
I think the fun stuff for me, and this is, I don't know how fun this is, but it's very, it's encouraging to me because the bills have shown that even while he's reacclimating, he's going to play and that's Matt Milano. This was his last few games. I know he didn't play last week, but, um, the last, I think like maybe two games or so.
00:23:37
Speaker
started to look a little bit shakier, maybe looked a little bit slow, instincts might not have been there completely, but um I thought Matt Milano, and they weren't splash plays, like it's something that you're not going to notice unless you're watching a little bit of the film, dude, but Matt Milano just being Matt Milano was super encouraging for me to see. Obviously, you know, we have Josh Allen things to be excited about, but We all know that Josh Allen is going to be great and I'm looking for the little things that are going to start to lead us to that next spot, especially with the playoffs coming up here. And Matt Milano getting back to form is definitely high on that list. And he had several plays there, particularly in the run game defensively, where he looks like Matt Milano.
00:24:15
Speaker
shedding blocks, filling the gap, making a great tackle, wrapping up. So that was really good for me to see. Still some missed tackles and stuff from him. Still not like perfectly there. But yesterday was super encouraging for me with Matt Milano. I thought he had a really good game against the Jets.
00:24:30
Speaker
Totally. I agree. Miss this tackles is kind of part of his game, right? i gotta sell is Right. It's kind of that's kind of part of the bag. All right. At least it's not that it's on on characteristic, you know. Yeah. So for sure. That might have been a boring um but that. No, that's good. Ready. My my fun one is a record book. You ready? Yes. like Six to talk about, boys. This is really fun. So first off, ah Josh Allen has now tied Thurman Thomas. um What position does he play?
00:24:59
Speaker
Uh, let's see. Josh all is a quarterback. Yep, and Thurman Thomas is running back. Thank you. All right. um Hall of Fame running back um for the most rushing touch touchdowns in franchise history at 65. So Josh is going to rewrite that, and it's never being touched. um ah Josh also became the first player in NFL history with 40 plus touchdowns in five consecutive seasons. Five, one, two, three, four, five. And he's pretty sure he's done it in 16 games every time. I don't think this 17 game garbage can be included. I'm pretty sure he's done it in 16.
00:25:32
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, dude. I mean, sensational, right? It just speaks to the the dual threat ability. I mean, when you have a quarterback that is athletic, as Josh Allen is, right meaning with his legs, can can run, make guys miss. I mean, we've seen him you know make 40-yard runs for a touchdown and also be as strong as he is to get over the goal line on QB sneaks. Add into that recipe a guy with a rocket launcher of an arm that Truly there is no as we saw with that key on touch or can't Coleman push them There is no area of the football field that is inaccessible for Josh Allen at any given point If you're looking 50 to 60 yards down the field from east to west that area is all accessible There's nothing he can't reach so when you combine that with the athleticism and the legs and the strength I mean, it's it's still incredible, but it's like I'm not even that shocked you see it every year from this guy. I Yeah. How many years do you think he's got? I bet it's like a nice seven or eight. I think that's that that be. And then that year nine, maybe it's 38 touchdowns. A 40 in a row. I told you, I mean, because we're so in we're seeing we're seeing no. Well, all we're seeing is the addition of a more mature football game. Right. Right. like He's not old enough where we're where we're seeing a massive decline in athletic ability or anything like that. I would say another five to six years is is absolutely possible. Why not?
00:27:01
Speaker
Yeah, why not? Amari Cooper has surpassed 10,000 career receiving yards. So that's pretty cool. 57 wide receivers and an entire NFL history has ever done that. So yeah and he's on our team. Right. It's pretty cool. That's um hopefully maybe maybe he's around more in the future and we could talk about that hopefully in March.
00:27:19
Speaker
Um, Von Miller, uh, has passed, uh, number, uh, Ricky Jackson for number 16 and NFL's all time sack list at 128. So cool. That's pretty freaking cool. He's looking good. I can't wait to talk about him in a couple of minutes here, but he's, he, I think we're going to see an unleashed Von Miller in the, in the post season. He's been kind of, uh, held back a little bit. I'm excited for that. Um, yeah the bills and also in 16 games have scored 63 touchdowns, the most in team history.
00:27:48
Speaker
They have scored the most points. Wow. Hello. The Bills have scored the most points in franchise history of 509 surpassing 501 by Josh Allen in 2020. And the Bills now have 13 players with a touchdown this season tied for the most of all time in NFL history. So, wow. No way. Yep. That's a crazy one. Yeah. Yeah. Tyrell Shavers put him over the edge.
00:28:15
Speaker
um I just like I don't want to hear anything about like Josh Allen not making play like breaking the record books Playmaker MVP talk like I don't want to hear it. I don't think it's every week We have a list of five or six things that he's done. Like I it's it's it's insane. So yeah, absolutely anyway. Oh, all right We're gonna need an encyclopedia for this should we um ah Should we have a, okay, I'm going to use the word objective here because I think it bears mentioning. Should we have an objective conversation about this mv MVP situation? Let's do it. Let's do it right now. Okay. What I want to do is have a conversation of what are the requirements, what are the qualifiers, right? Like I think what my biggest issue with this conversation right now, because it's just absolute, just the worst of the worst on, on the, the Twitter sphere. Um,
00:29:07
Speaker
What is what? What it actually is what required? What are the requirements for the NFL MVP? Because it feels like it's it's moved. It's every year we're looking at something different. And what should actually be the measurement? Yeah, so and this is the the MVP. kind Like, OK, so the criteria for the MVP is quite literally what player had the most valuable, valuable season. What does valuable season mean? It was and I interpret this right. And correct me if I'm wrong here, but I interpret that as the performance that season that was most important to that team's success, right? what was was it Was it the primary driving factor of that team's success, right? And I think at this point, we can pretty I think this is objectively true. We can boil this conversation down now to Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. I think it's between those two guys. Don't forget about Sam Darnold.
00:30:03
Speaker
Uh, yeah, I guess. Fuck. What are his numbers like? they're i I said it tongue in cheek, but yeah, they're, they're pretty nice. They're arguably better than both Allen's and, and Jackson's. Yeah, but also I didn't mean to derail you. I'm sorry. I totally agree with you. It's between Lamar Jackson. Yeah. Yeah. And it is, it is worth, but it's like, okay, but it's like, it it still invites the debate a little bit, right? I think Sam Donald's maybe like his, his resume and as a whole probably goes against him a little bit here because he's been dog shit until about four months ago.
00:30:36
Speaker
But it's a season award. It is a season award. I know. i know right it' It shouldn't. It should be based on the season. It shouldn't. but But the people that are voting are still human beings, I think. Well, I think we that's why we need to boil it down to what should the requirements be, right? Well, I think I agree with you that they probably are looking at stuff. like They do take that into into account. But I think that's that's my problem with this conversation right now.
00:30:58
Speaker
Okay, so then let's let's if we boil it down to its most basic thing, it like I just said a minute ago, it should be whose performance was the most valuable to their team's success? Or another way to think about that, what player lifted those around him? right to like like Was the driving factor behind their performance being solid too?
00:31:21
Speaker
Right. And I think, okay, so let's talk about Sam Darnell for a second. I mean, hello, Justin Jefferson, the best wide receiver in the NFL, but it's not even close. Right. Okay. And we lost our number one and our number two. If you want to talk, if you want to talk about the depth chart this season, right? So that in and of itself add into the fact that they've also got Aaron Jones, who was a sick running back, Jordan Addison, who was a monster, right? Like they're doing, Sam Donald's doing a lot with a lot. No, totally.
00:31:51
Speaker
Right. Let's talk about Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson's numbers are insane. Tom, who's this running back? Sir Derek Henry. And I think that conversation starts and stops there yeah because Derek Henry is sniffing 2000 yards this season.
00:32:07
Speaker
James Cook, I think maybe hit a thousand last week. Nope. He's 16 yard shy, 16 yard shy. OK, so and I know he's got a shit ton of touchdown productions. I think he's actually first in the NFL in touchdown production. But that's just didn't score. Right. what What if Josh ran in half of those, by the way? So and and my argument would then go back to let's go back to the beginning of the season. Right. What was everybody saying about Josh Allen and the Bills? Everybody was saying that it's a step back season.
00:32:36
Speaker
Right. This will be the worst season that they've had with Josh Allen as the quarterback. It's a reset. You got to get through the dead cap money from Steph Diggs, and then you can look to take take steps forward again. Right. Josh Allen's receiving core consists of Khalil Shakir going into the season. Right. So that's not, well, we'll discard ama Amari Cooper for right now, but even right now, like in the grand scheme of the NFL landscape, where are you putting Amari Cooper? I mean, does he snip the top 15? I don't know. Maybe. Right. Top 24. Yeah. I'd say. wes into you know Right. So, yeah so you got Khalil Shakir.
00:33:13
Speaker
Matt Collins, rookie Keon Coleman, who everybody was shitting on us for for that pick, because nobody thought he was going to be any good. right You do draft for Amari Cooper, which is awesome. You've got Dawson Knox, and you've got Dalton Kincaid. Find me another team that's got a receiving corps, as far as the MVP conversation, that has a receiving corps that is that bad or worse.
00:33:40
Speaker
You can't. And then you add into the fact that Lamar Jackson has Derek goddamn Henry as his running back. Derek Henry was the one that beat the Buffalo Bills. It wasn't Lamar Jackson. Derek Henry is opening up a lot for for Lamar Jackson. I would go as far as to say, if you had to pick an MVP for the Ravens, you can make a case that it's Derek Henry. Because as Lamar Jackson is good as he is without Derek Henry, the answer is no. He is not.
00:34:09
Speaker
I rest my case. I like it. Hey man, that's yeah. Yeah. I'm going to, I'm going to give you some space here. I'm gonna like, you know, give you a little golf clap. I think Lamar's the offensive player of the year. No questions asked. His stats are crazy. I don't think his stats look like that without Derek Henry.
00:34:27
Speaker
Right. I think another big thing, so for me, there's a couple of different pieces that that kind of come into the equation, and I think it needs to be kind of readjusted for these voters. um it's There's three primary kind of attributes and then two secondary ones. It's team success, so it's record, right? Right right now, the bills are, what are we, 13 and 3, right? And the ravens are Something, can't remember. um If anybody could look that up, that'd be great. um they I think it should be also personal ah player stats, volume versus play stats, like per play stats. At the moment, Josh has sat out essentially in a full ah entire game. he's a hes He's rested four quarters worth of time.
00:35:12
Speaker
So, um, right at some point volumes that he doesn't have to eat is that the bills the defense and the offense have been able to work together in conjunction and and set up this team we're like, all right, we're gonna sit, we're gonna send in Mr. Biskey and have him set this up bring this ship home.
00:35:26
Speaker
um And I also think marquee wins in plays are the ones that are also going to be ones that help set an MVP apart. Who are you winning against? We've beaten both um the the number one, like the number one seed on both sides um of of both conferences. We've beaten the Chiefs handily. We've beaten the Lions handily. And marquee wins in primetime games. And Josh Allen was the reason we won for both of those games. Plays of the year, Josh has five of them. He has entire Rolodex.
00:35:53
Speaker
Right? like that nobody like think Like what else do you want? I think then some secondary attributes into this MVP conversation is very similar to what Nadja was saying, is the weapons around them, right? who's Who's their supporting cast? And then lastly, strength the schedule of who who are you playing against? Who are you winning against?
00:36:11
Speaker
um And currently I can't remember, I don't have to stand in front of me, but the Bills have one of the toughest strength of schedules this this season. So they they're as successful as they are against um really great competition. And I think all of those put together start to kind of make this conversation pretty clearly in a Josh Allen conversation. Yeah, Tom, just to piggyback there. So the Ravens are 11 and five and the losses that they have are to the Chiefs.
00:36:36
Speaker
the Raiders, the Browns, the Steelers, and the, ah but I don't know, someone else. ah Sorry, i want to I lost it. it's okay I it. Yeah, this those aren't exactly, like some of those are great teams, of course, but the Raiders are, what, three and 13 or something like that? Yeah, in competition for the number one pick. Yeah, exactly.
00:37:03
Speaker
Yeah. And we lost to, so we lost to Houston, the Ravens, right? Two, two great teams there, Ravens included. They're a great team. And then the Rams where I mean, I think we just laid an egg that game, right? Like, I mean, we played the game of their life.
00:37:20
Speaker
Yeah, we've seen the Rams go on to their next couple of games after that were, were, I mean, I think they won one of them or whatever, but they were clunkers. Yeah. Like they were, they were like tied with the jets through a half of a football. So yeah, dude, I don't know. I mean, I think the fact, and and i the strength of schedule for the bills is kind of an interesting one because going into the season, I think it was a scarier looking schedule than what it ended up being.
00:37:43
Speaker
But like the dolphins were a fraction of what they're supposed to be. The Jets look like they could be playing in the big 12 right now. I'm not sure they're an NFL quality team. Um, and then like, like the, like the 49ers, a shell of what they should have been. So I think going into this season, the bill strength, the schedule did a little bit more for them than it does now, but dude, you got wins against the lions and the chiefs.
00:38:06
Speaker
right, where Josh Allen was, like Tom said, imperative in both of those games. So I don't know, dude, it's just not even a discussion for me. Truly, in my honest, honest opinion, it literally starts and stops at Derek Henry.
00:38:20
Speaker
You're talking about one of the best running backs of the last 15, 20 years. You know, and the and he's still paying an attention. And yeah, and and especially with the way that Lamar runs, but like half of their success comes from the run pass option game. Right. And the play action, you know, that play action is a is a shell of what it is without Derek Henry. Like it has like to their play action game with J.K. Dobbins was a fucking joke.
00:38:48
Speaker
Because nobody was afraid of JK Dobbins, you know, or Gus Edwards. So, you know, I, that's why, that's why it's difficult for me to look at Lamar's, the MVP, because he's got the best running, one of the probably the best, maybe the Christian McCaffrey, whatever top three running back of the last 10 years.
00:39:06
Speaker
But pure running back like Derek Henry has that. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And to kind of put a bow on all this, I think my big thing is it also why I'm not sure why the fan bases are tearing both players down. Bill's mafia included are going after the Mar. Right. So we are as as guilty of this. But I think i think we has to we remember we have to remember that these are two amazing players that we get to watch every single week. um And there's no reason to just because one is successful doesn't take away the success of the other. um i just I think that conversation has gotten just to be, ah hey, we're just going to start spitting on each other and throwing things at each other and just trying to just tear each other down. And that's the to me, that shouldn't be the conversation. So yeah anyway. it's It is a very magic.
00:39:55
Speaker
uh it's just it's it's this at the end of the day this is fucking meaningless this is a gold star to put on your shirt like it Yeah. And neither of these guys, neither of these guys give a shit about the MVP award. the All they care about is wearing the Super Bowl champ hat at the end of the season. yeah hundred percent Yeah. If either of these team loses in the first round, do you think either quarterback or fan base gives a fuck if they have the MVP on their team? No, absolutely not. You're going to be pissed off about the season. But if you go to them win the Super Bowl, then, yeah, who cares if you won the MVP? So I just don't see why people are so like up in arms about it. and Like you said, tearing each other down. Yeah.
00:40:29
Speaker
pretty crazy. Well, okay. Whoo. That was good. Nice work boys. I got that off my chest. Um, I think there's one other big talking point about this, uh, Bill's debts game that we can take away instead of going into kind of some, the nitty gritty. I loved seeing the defense get back to their splash play turnover, making selves. And that's the way that this team is going to be successful in the post-season.
00:40:55
Speaker
this team, if we don't have those turnovers and we don't have those flash plays, I think, I think we're a middle of the pack defense. I don't think we have much, we can't make and make much noise without that. Thank God we have the highest turnover differential in the, in in the um and the league and with some of the most potent playmakers on the defense. So I think what that this, this game and going is showing to me like, Hey, this team is still capable of that. We haven't really seen this kind of turn turnover um and splash play making in the last few games. um However, that's reassured me like, Hey, that's the way that this team has success in the postseason. It's not from sound consistent defense. It's from, Hey, we need to, I trust them. I'm sure I'm better on short and a third and short than third and long every day, every day of the week. You know, um, I think, I think we really need to see this defense turn up the playmaking abilities to, for them to be able to kind of hold up their end of the bargain and let Josh Allen go out and win games this, this postseason.
00:41:55
Speaker
Yeah, i am we love the splash plays. right The splash plays are super fun. They're exciting. And any time you're getting the ball back into Josh Allen's hands, that's something that's really, really, really, really good. I will be honest, I am petrified about that being the recipe for success with the offense. right Because that that i mean while you can argue that the bill's forced mistakes,
00:42:21
Speaker
I think that is that recipe is dependent on mistakes from the other team. Right. And that is what scares me because right now the process play to play for this Bill's team ah on defense is concerning. It's concerned so good.
00:42:37
Speaker
Yeah, and and I don't know, like maybe some of that has to do with the fact that Tamar Hamlin's not playing right now. You know, I'm not exactly sure what it is. Call it a new defensive coordinator. But man, like there were still some film highlights and I'm i'm sure you saw a couple of them too, Tom, that were just nothing short of concerning and particularly in the secondary man like guys guys running into each other you know miscommunications to two guys doing the job of one guy you know not knowing what their responsibility was in that moment and like like there was i can think back to a game against the jets where
00:43:14
Speaker
and There was there was a there was a moment where I think it was Terrell Bernard and Taryn Johnson if I remember right both made the same play to cover the guy in the flat and then the tight end was able to leak out and Thankfully Aaron Rodgers just fucking missed him because Aaron Rodgers is absolutely washed up, dude But you know who's not missing that throw and then is a touchdown Lamar Jackson or anybody else that we're gonna play in the playoffs Yeah, so like the shit like that dude like I'm still nervous about this defense, dude, because I don't believe a sustainable recipe for success is counting on splash plays and turnovers. I think you need to have that consistency play to play. and And I don't know, man, I remain super nervous about this defense to be completely transparent.
00:44:01
Speaker
I think you you're entirely justified. I think that that's that's going to be the crux of this postseason. Can this um defense maintain their playmaking prowess or are they going to be had in some of these moments and not be able to take it to force mistakes and play against some of these really high executing and really talented offenses with really amazing players at quarterback? Like, yeah, that's going to be the thing that's going to make or break this postseason.
00:44:28
Speaker
Yeah. Thankfully, we've seen him do it in all these big games. We've seen him do it against Detroit and Kansas City and all these other places like we've seen them do it. So it's not like it's hey, we're hoping this could happen for the first time this season. But who that's going to be that's going to be a big deal. So yeah. yeah And I'll find out. I think the splash plays and maybe I think these go in tandem with with the pressure from the front floor. Yeah. Right. Like, are we able to contain these quarterbacks, not only contain, but get some pressure because it's it's a lot of the time it's that pressure that leads to turnovers. Right. Right. And thankfully, this defense is also constantly gunning firm for for fumbles. Right. I mean, it's somebody gets the ball in their hands on the other team and all of a sudden the entire secondary turns into Mike Tyson.
00:45:09
Speaker
Yeah, homing missiles like it's crazy. Yeah. And which makes me excited to see Von. and Von Miller has been playing really well. He's been playing really effectively. He's per on a per snap basis. He's one of the most efficient and effective defensive um defensive players, defensive line players in the league right now.
00:45:25
Speaker
He's not, he doesn't have the volume stats. He's only playing 10 to 15 snaps a game. Like he's in on third down on obvious passing plays. That's when he's being used. um But he's looking good when he does it. So I'm excited. I wonder, and I honestly would be very surprised if he's not.
00:45:42
Speaker
utilized a little bit more in the postseason of like, all right, we're going to, we're going to let you off the leash a little bit and let you go in and and and go ahead and make some plays. So I'm hoping that he can kind of lead the way group has been, you know, it's just been amazing. How about that? Uh, he, uh, he sniffed out the, uh, the, um, the, uh, what, what kind of, I was a sideways pass over to from Andre, right? Yeah. Yeah. There was the screen there that was going to go to Devontae Adams and, and,
00:46:06
Speaker
We got a little bit of help from the right tackle on that play because he did not take the right pass protection set there. So like and ah in a quick screenplay like that, it's really important that that offensive tackles sets real quick and gets hands on that defensive end. right And instead, that bozo turned a 45-degree step, opened himself up, which allowed Groot, being the freak that he is, to just stick a pile and not and you know bat that ball easily and you know get Big Phil an INT there, which is super fun.
00:46:34
Speaker
um But yeah, dude, I would agree with that. I think when Val Miller is in, he looks great except for the contain. If he is going to get those extra snaps, which I'm down for, because he still might be our best pass rusher. I need him to contain, dude. If you're not going to get there, stay in your lane, because again, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nicks, these guys getting out of the pocket, dude, and and off to their throwing side, just like we see Josh Allen do, yeah it's a problem.
00:47:04
Speaker
So yeah, yeah, we'll to see right. This is it. We'll have to see that. So anything else you want to touch on this Jets game or should I move ahead? Well, we can move ahead. I'm not even sure. I mean, nobody's going to play where Josh was going to play for a minute Sunday to keep his streak intact. And then I mean, we can if there's stuff you want to mention, let her rip, dude. But I could get a shit about this game. i Yeah, I think that's exactly you summed it up very, very succinctly. They're very eloquently. they thought Thank you. um The Bills are playing at the at New England in New England in Foxborough on Sunday at 1 p.m. And it is kind of a little bit of a throwaway game. The Bills are locked into the suit unto the two seed. We can't change that. um So at this point, this is going to be essentially our bye week. Resting most starters, Josh Allen is going to start briefly to continue you know um maintain his his starting streak. And the other side of this is the Patriots are the front runners for the number one overall pick. If they win,
00:47:55
Speaker
They kind of screw that up. So I like how motivated are they going to be? I don't know. um But again, like note there are there are no nobody sandbagging in the NFL, right? There's there' that's not going to happen. These players still want to go out and win. They're still going to go out and do really well. um So my big thing is this get out of the out of this one healthy win or lose doesn't really matter. Right. um Just get at home healthy. It matters to my my um record prediction from the beginning of the season. But that's just personal.
00:48:23
Speaker
um Let the coaching staff see these different depth combos. um Are there any, are there any depth players you're interested in seeing, getting a little bit of a look at? um I think for me, ah it really comes, Javon Solomon is a guy that I'm interested to see get a little bit more run. I'm hoping that on Sunday, he gets to, you know, maybe be the the third defensive end or maybe even Start, you know given the fact that it it is indeed a throwaway game There is nothing the only possible negative that can come out of this game for the bills is injuries Yeah, right. So, you know, you can't I mean I would be in favor of I call up the entire practice squad if you could I mean, that's where I'm at with this game. Just just get out of it healthy, dude But I would I think I would love to see a little bit more run from Javon Solomon
00:49:10
Speaker
um There's a couple secondary guys like cream Jackson. I would love to see get a little bit of run in the in the secondary there See what he can do um Those are the guys that jump out to me really quick. Maybe Cole Bishop, up you know I see it's highly um want to see Tyler and Grable get back because he's graves goingnna be on one He's been I and I are a bunch of the season get let him get some run He was flashing quite a bit in the preseason. So he was I think he's gonna have some future um on this offensive line Yeah, but ah Nothing crazy, dude. Just just God, just get out of there healthy. That's nothing. You do the very best that you can to use this as a legitimate by week. Yeah, totally agree. I think I think that's it, dude. That being said, score predictions don't matter. So we're not doing them to this week. um Some ah just other interesting things to look at the remaining games this weekend for playoff seeding. There's opportunities for the Broncos, the Dolphins and the Bengals to all land that seven seed.
00:50:01
Speaker
um Right now it's definitely in the Broncos favor, um but there's a path for the Dolphins or the Bengals to get there. um The Bengals are the least likely just they have the least opportunity and they need the most help to get there but it's all possible so those would be some fun games to pay attention to and see what happens. For me, at this point, we just, I'm not, I'm not scared of anybody.
00:50:20
Speaker
Like, we just need to go in, whoever we get, whoever we roll, whatever whoever we pull um in that wildcard round and hopefully beyond, um we just got to go in and take care of business. Like, ah thankfully, we know we're going to have at least one home game um in the playoffs, hopefully two. And then who knows, you know, we could possibly, as being a second seed, we could get a third if something happens with Kansas City. But um I'm ready. Let's just bring whoever you can and whatever you got and we'll handle it. Hell yeah, dude.
00:50:47
Speaker
This will be our last pod before we are prepping for the playoffs. Ooh, dude, how fun. Well, I just got bottle I just got stressed out. Goosebumps. Yeah, I know. Let's fucking just soak that in. Oh, dude. Here we go, man. if It's just such a volatile sport, dude. Yeah. It's so every every any given Sunday. That's why they that's why that saying exists, dude. Any given Sunday or Saturday because playoffs.
00:51:15
Speaker
Boy, yeah. All right. How many games did you watch this sweat past weekend? I watched as many as possible. If it was on the TV, I but had eyes on it. yeah so much fun Well, folks, thank thanks for hanging out with us. We appreciate you. Freaking go, Bills. Go, Sabres.
00:51:29
Speaker
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. 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.