As much as we have complained, we wrapped up the division earlier than last year and that's with a much more difficult schedule than any other team in the division had to play. Outside of Slowik and the OL coach, the coaching has been pretty good. Demeco has coached up them boys on D and I've not had issues with his game management since some early season blunders. Overall, I'm happy that we got Demeco as our head coach.
Allen will probably win it, but I think either one is worthy. The Ravens also have a much tougher division than the Bills or the Texans. I'll agree that Lamar has more to work with, with better wide receivers and the 2nd best running back in the league. I remember people saying Henry was too old to trade for and more prone to injury in free agency when I said I wanted him bad. LOL. That being said, Mahomes wouldn't have ever won two regular season MVP awards if they eliminated the guy with the best support team and coach. Allen also has the 5th best offensive line in the league, and the Ravens are 10th. That makes a difference. Ask CJ. He has better wide receivers than either, but has been average at best playing with one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. As far as preseason predictions the Bills weren't expected to be mediocre. Not sure where you got that. ESPN predicted the teams in the following order: 49ers, Chiefs, Ravens, Lions, Bills, Cowboys, Bengals, Eagles, and Texans. Bleachers Report predicted the following: Chiefs, 49ers, Lions, Texans, Ravens, Bengals, Bills, Eagles, and Packers.
If the Texans have to play the Ravens I don't think they have a chance to win. I'm still a little worried about the offense and second half adjustments against anybody else, though.
What about the ravens scares you most in terms of matchup? I’m not arguing with you at all, because it MAY be the team I’d like to see least too. Which is crazy given Patrick Mahomes is still alive and breathing and playing football lol
They have an opportunistic enough defense to create turnovers and stay in games. It was always an unlikely chance that they'd beat any of the following teams in a winner-take-all format even if this offense was clicking better: Ravens, Bills (road), Chiefs (road). But, that's why they play the games...
I think it's mainly that they dominated us 2x last season, including the playoffs. And, Lamar Jackson's ability to render our edge pass rush ineffective with his feet. It basically comes down to Steelers, Ravens, Chargers, Broncos for first round opponent...Ravens are easily the last choice of those.
Mostly Lamar Jackson and his legs. Scrambling QBs are just so unpredictable and can extend drives. The Texans offense hasn't been crazy impressive for a full four quarters. But I also don't think the Ravens defense is as elite as we're used to them being.
Bills were expected to be 2nd or 3rd in division by almost every reputable site. Jets and Miami were favorites preseason. Most football fans know this.
Shows how wrong those reputable sites were. The Jets and Dolphins both have losing records. ESPN and Bleachers Report were much closer to their predictions. They didn't list the Jets or the Dolphins in their top 9 teams, but both had the Bills in there.
I am too but that’s just kinda who I am so it’s whatevs I don’t wake up EXPECTING us to beat the Bills (I was there for that and it was so much fun) or the Chiefs (we’re favored) or the Ravens. Hell, we could absolutely lose to the Chargers or Broncos because that’s the NFL!!!!!!! None of that should surprise you. That league is chaos. They’ve built it to be chaos and it’s part of why their ratings transcend other pro sports. Their games aren’t everyday…they’re events…and they’re unpredictable.
Next week's game is scary without Mahomes. Andy Reid can easily come up with plays that catch us by surprise and enable the Chiefs to score 17 points or so. And the Chiefs are a defensive team that will frustrate our offense. Chiefs can win easy
Just because they’re wrong, doesn’t mean the Bills haven’t overachieved because of Allen. The jets and dolphins are stacked talent wise. There isn’t a single skill position pro bowl level player on the Bills at this point. Cook and Shakir are solid. But no one would take them over Hill, Wilson, Hall or Achane
Saying don’t have a chance might be a bit much. Texans can play with anyone with that defense. IMO ravens were much better last season.
I'd rather them rest players away at KC, then play everyone at home against the Ravens on Christmas, then they have 10 days until the play the Titans.
The first place schedule only impacts 3 games and so far the Texans have only played one of those first-place teams from last year...the Cowboys. The Titans got stuck playing a much better Washington team with their last place schedule and the Jags got the Eagles. The next two games are against the other two first place teams from last year. If Texans had these two games earlier in the season, it may have taken longer to clinch.
