I am resigned to our not making the playoffs. I don't think it's a big deal, frankly. If we did manage by some weird play of circumstance to end up in the postseason, we'd soon be out of there. Recall last year.
I expect us to lose to Buffalo.
This year is about next year and years following. It has been all along. We do not yet know whether Mac can rise above medicocrity. He has yet to achieve even that status on a consistent basis, after all. He had a nice game in a losing effort, one in which 3rd down and red zone play was not even close to mediocrity.
Much of the blame goes to the preposterously bad coaching/playcalling on the offensive side, no doubt. And if this season is about seasons going forward, that problem must be solved. The only rational and effective solution is to replace the two bumbling clowns "in charge of" the offense.
The ineptitude of the coaching does not let Mac off the hook, however. He shows NO SIGN of being able even to begin to overcome the bad coaching....none. A legit qb will be make a real, observable difference in such circumstances. Mac has not done so. As of now, if you're into comps, he's on par with, maybe even a step behind, the likes of Mike White. Both can beat a really weak defense. Big deal. Is that good enough? I don't preclude the possibility Mac can improve, but I see little evidence to this point that he is making substantive progress. As of now, net, he's just not good enough.
I expect and welcome very direct intervention in the team on the part of the Krafts. They have pressed Bill the GM on his nonsense, with some success. Given the inexplicable BS re coaching the offense, Bill the Coach obviously needs a boot as well.
While there are enough solid players on this team to form a core on which one can build, the jury is still out on Mac, the offensive coaching is...offensive, and the head coach needs, as my grandfather used to put it, "a kick in the slats."