Pre-Game Thread- Bills @ Pats (Thursday Night)

[Pats2000]

He's the starting QB going into a big game. Nothing more needed for discussion. Ridiculous you're still wanting Zappe at this point.

I seriously want to know how old some of you are, whether you watched the Patriots back in the 70s or 80s, because if you had any viewing experience from prior to 1993, you'd realize that QBs don't grow on trees. They're developed. It takes time.

Generally there's a progression, each year the QB gets better. The wheels fell off Mac for most of the season. Lets see if he can right the ship after that Vikings game

 

[patsinthesnow]

There is no excuse for the defense if Dion Dawkins is out. The lions pressured Allen 27 times on thanksgiving. Quessenberry has been a turnstile & Brown has given up 16 pressures in his last 3 games.

The bills defense is 26th in epa the last month of the season. Goff, Brissett, Cousins & Wilson have all had success vs. them recently. Their pass rush won’t be the same without Miller & potentially others not playing on the DL.

This is the biggest game of Mac’s career & arguably the biggest of the post-Brady era for BB. Fans should have expectations the pats can win this game given the state of the bills. Win this one & they are set up to make the playoffs.

 

[Tunescribe]

Im not anti Mac, I'm anti bottom of the league QB play. Mac gave himself a stay of execution with that last game in my mind

You contradict yourself, it couldn't be clearer: when you use terms like "gave himself a stay of execution." you most definitely are anti-Mac.

Generally there's a progression, each year the QB gets better. The wheels fell off Mac for most of the season. Lets see if he can right the ship after that Vikings game

Your problem all along has been this mistaken belief that quarterbacks work in a vacuum. Under normal circumstances Mac would have progressed from his promising rookie season but things have been far, far from normal for him. The system changed from one designed to maximize his strengths to where a neophyte OC is learning by doing. He came back from a six- to eight-week injury after four weeks. He has fought to survive behind a porous musical-chairs offensive line. On top of that he has faced opponents prepared for his tendencies with a season's worth of game film from 2021 and is getting acquainted with new receivers.

Mac's strengths all along have been solid mechanics, good decision making and throwing accuracy. He didn't suddenly lose those skills and then suddenly find them again vs. Minnesota. We know you believe Bailey Zappe is the superior player. Once and for all, if BB and the coaching staff believed that, Zappe would be playing. BB and the coaching staff know more about both players than you do.

So, assuming you are a Patriots fan, you would want Mac to play well and lead the team to victories. You also would not expect perfection from him having weathered challenges unusual for a second-year quarterback who still is getting acclimated to the NFL. Instead of holding a vigil for his "execution," why not root for the guy?

 

[chasa]

every game the rest of the season is a must win if the patriots want to make the playoffs, with our own division currently sending 3 teams to the dance.

I'd love to see mac continue to play like he did vs the vikings, and i'd love for the plays being called to be a lot less everyone end up at the same spot on the field so there is no chance of a open target.

hopefully the defense shows up again after it saw it's own shadow last week.

 

[Nunchucks]

It's hard to score touchdowns if you don't throw the ball into the end zone.

 

[Triumph]

Generally there's a progression, each year the QB gets better. The wheels fell off Mac for most of the season. Lets see if he can right the ship after that Vikings game

You right the ship by beating good teams with your QB play.

Here lies a golden opportunity for Jones to prove that he belongs as a starter in this league. The Bills have basically throttled him when the Pats allowed him to pass and now its time to turn the tables on national TV. Punting and FGs are not going to cut it.

 

[sb1]

There is no excuse for the defense if Dion Dawkins is out. The lions pressured Allen 27 times on thanksgiving. Quessenberry has been a turnstile & Brown has given up 16 pressures in his last 3 games.

The bills defense is 26th in epa the last month of the season. Goff, Brissett, Cousins & Wilson have all had success vs. them recently. Their pass rush won’t be the same without Miller & potentially others not playing on the DL.

This is the biggest game of Mac’s career & arguably the biggest of the post-Brady era for BB. Fans should have expectations the pats can win this game given the state of the bills. Win this one & they are set up to make the playoffs.

I agree with that last point. For me this is the biggest game of the post Brady era. The Bills are banged up. I don't care if it's a close or convincing win as long as it's a win.

 

[sb1]

Generally there's a progression, each year the QB gets better. The wheels fell off Mac for most of the season. Lets see if he can right the ship after that Vikings game

That is true and it's still TBD if Mac is the future for this team. The clock is ticking IMO. He seems to be healthy now and I think they want him to throw downfield more. Rightfully so.

Mac needs to step up now. Lamar's FA is looming with Bill chasing Shula's record and Kraft getting impatient for a playoff win. I wouldn't rule anything out.

 

[Triumph]

Respect in the Hood for Nick Folk.

The Patriots Kicker leads in the NFL in most FGs attempted 28 and most FG made 24. 100% accurate on PAT 23 for 23

The next closest Kicker is purported to be the best in the NFL - Justin Tucker. FGs attempted 27 made 24 (though 1 was a 67 yard miss) 96% accurate on PAT 27 for 28.

 

[Tunescribe]

You right the ship by beating good teams with your QB play.

Here lies a golden opportunity for Jones to prove that he belongs as a starter in this league. The Bills have basically throttled him when the Pats allowed him to pass and now its time to turn the tables on national TV. Punting and FGs are not going to cut it.

You beat good teams with TEAM play. Exhibit A: Patriots 10, Jete 3. It will be a stiff test for him but Mac is not on trial Thursday night vs. Buffalo to "prove he belongs as a starter" in the NFL. In your weird little mind, perhaps. As you proclaimed weeks ago, "Mac Jones is not my quarterback."

 

[BB8XSBW]

It's that time of the year again. It's time for the Patriots to smack around their sons from Buffalo, as has been tradition around here for the last two decades, and as the GOAT has been doing since Super Bowl 25.

We held an elite offense to just 26 points on the road last week, despite the defense taking a well deserved night off to ensure they are fresh for the postseason. The same offense that dropped 33 points on a good Bills defense in Buffalo.

MJ is getting healthy and heating up at the right time, which is horrendous news for the rest of the league. The sky is the limit for this team with the elite QB play Mac has been giving us the last few weeks as he continues to get healthier.

We're going to slap these fools up and down the field on Thursday night. It's time to put them in a choke hold and tap them b*tches out.

 

[borg]

Yes, 4 TDs in 4 games is a better trend than his 6 TDs in 8 games this season.
At this new accelerated rate, Corky has a fantastic shot at 12 passing TDs this season.

Very curious about the "Ugh" and the "Dislike" I was given for my factual post that includes Corky's real time Passing TD stats and a season ending projection based on his 'lauded' recent 4 game / 1 Passing TD per game pace.

Attach these pitiful numbers to any other QB in the league and this board would be unified in its ridicule of the sub-J.A.G. production and mocking next year's QB draft with BaconGrundleCandy

But.......Corky is 'our' J.A.G.....so.......carry on!

 

[Tom Tupa]

I don't have a great feeling about this game but Buffalo hasn't looked too great lately. Hopefully the signs of life the Pats offense showed in Minnesota carries over to an even better showing Thursday night. The defense absolutely has to get their crap together when it comes to slowing Allen down though or we're in for a long night.

Win or lose, at least we're wearing the throwbacks again

 

[JMC00]

Random Stat:

Mac Jones has as many games of 20+ completions (every game he has played and finished) this season as Josh Allen despite Allen playing 4 more games. That's actually 3 more than Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts have despite both playing 4 more games as well.

Bottom line Patricia gotta get better calling plays in the red zone

 

[BB8XSBW]

Random Stat:

Mac Jones has as many games of 20+ completions (every game he has played and finished) this season as Josh Allen despite Allen playing 4 more games. That's actually 3 more than Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts have despite both playing 4 more games as well.

Bottom line Patricia gotta get better calling plays in the red zone

Not just that, but Mac is simply a better QB at this point in the season than Josh Allen.

Over his last 4 games, he has had a QB rating of, 79.9, 89.2, 104.6, 119.8.

Josh Allen's QB rating over the last 4 games: 46.8, 78.6, 100.4, 80.8.

They've had two common opponents, but Mac has faced tougher defenses overall while playing hurt.

Not that this should be surprising. Josh Allen is an overrated QB.

 

[Rob0729]

Not just that, but Mac is simply a better QB at this point in the season than Josh Allen.

Over his last 4 games, he has had a QB rating of, 79.9, 89.2, 104.6, 119.8.

Josh Allen's QB rating over the last 4 games: 46.8, 78.6, 100.4, 80.8.

They've had two common opponents, but Mac has faced tougher defenses overall while playing hurt.

Not that this should be surprising. Josh Allen is an overrated QB.

I think saying Jones is a better QB is a huge stretch, but the last month is the reason why I don't consider Allen elite. He is capable of playing like an elite QB for stretches, but the guy every year goes through stretches where he is average at best and awful at times. His lack of consistency keeps him out of the elite ranks in my eyes. You never saw this lack of consistency for Mahomes, Brady, Manning, Brees, or any other QB you would put in the elite ranks.

 

[Patsfan1958]

 

[mike_usagisan]

We're 1-0 when wearing our throwbacks this year! Let's go undefeated in the throwbacks and maybe they'll come back permanently!

 

[SVN]

There is no excuse for the defense if Dion Dawkins is out. The lions pressured Allen 27 times on thanksgiving. Quessenberry has been a turnstile & Brown has given up 16 pressures in his last 3 games.

The bills defense is 26th in epa the last month of the season. Goff, Brissett, Cousins & Wilson have all had success vs. them recently. Their pass rush won’t be the same without Miller & potentially others not playing on the DL.

This is the biggest game of Mac’s career & arguably the biggest of the post-Brady era for BB. Fans should have expectations the pats can win this game given the state of the bills. Win this one & they are set up to make the playoffs.

The vikings oline was injured too. our pass rush just disappeared

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

We're 1-0 when wearing our throwbacks this year! Let's go undefeated in the throwbacks and maybe they'll come back permanently!

I do wonder what itd take to get them back permanently or what the chances are. They look way better than the regular ones and clearly more popular