We’ve slowed down a bit here on the written portion of BLEUMAFIA, as admittedly I must remain vigilant in my own pursuits of fiscal greed and remaining above drowning debt, but my FANHOOD and loyalty could not be stronger for the Buffalo Bills. I haven’t posted as many articles, but I have kept up on weekly podcast shows on Saturdays. I will crank up the dial this next week for a push into the playoffs on the premise the Bills show up on Monday Night.
It’s a little early for my final prediction, as I like to wait for the energy in the air (remotely) and in the minds eye’s of the team’s and coaches best warriors. I tend to base my picks on the statistical and analytical aspects, much like many others, but also prefer to observe the game with all beings of my athletic life.
Ignoramus – Spectator – Analyst – “Try-er” – Player – Athlete – Player – “Try-er” – Analyst – Spectator – Ignoramus
This is typically the potential upward and potential downward climb of any athlete. And somewhere throughout are coaches, journalists, “casuals”. We are all lovers of the game, and no man or woman’s perception of the game is untrue.
So I give this #pregamedump with my longstanding observations, and you can get my final game prediction right before kickoff by following me on twitter. Here We Go.
Judon
I have been a fan of Matt Judon since his days as a Raven. His size, tenacity, and relentlessness are a killer concoction for any Bills fan. He will certainly have a huge impact on the Bills ability to do anything on Monday. Pass, run, Win/Lose. He has incredible elasticity on his pass rush, and there is no corner too skinny for him to get around.
Allen will surely be keying on getting the ball out quickly. Judon’s long limbs will be batting balls, something other teams’ have recognized CAN happen against Giant Josh’s sometimes low release point.
Spencer Brown helps the case for the Bills to prevent Judon from ruining Josh Allen’s Monday, but it’s arguable no one in the league can stop Matt Judon right now.
Jones
Mac has the perfect smooth richness of a veteran, with the young creative mind of a rookie. He has soaked up the culture and mindset of the Patriots, and the execution of the system on the field has demonstrated a high ceiling. He knows how to get the ball out quickly, with a proactive approach, unseen in most QBs, letalone rookies. Some guys have the ability to anticipate and prognosticate what the defense is going to do, and with the help of their coaches talking in their ears, can process quickly enough to prevent the defense from…. defending.
You’ve seen Brady do this, with help from coaching and a relentless study. If you can beat the defense before they really get a chance to defend.. you’re going to win most games.
The problem is, Mac Jones isn’t battle tested. He hasn’t played many good teams (yet) in his NFL career. The Bills are good. The defense will swarm and also try to knock balls down to avoid quick and easy completions. If the Bills can manage to prevent Mac from getting in an easy rhythm by batting balls, deflecting, and getting their hands on him often, they can certainly win.
Farmer Josh or Josh Millionaire?
People handle success differently. Josh Allen has appeared at the surface to handle success decently well up until this point. The realist in me understands that if the Bills lose this game, they are in for a big wakeup call. I personally feel that wakeup call should have happened when we lost to Pit, and to Ten, and first half of Miami, and Jax, and Ind.
The Bills have NOT seemed to wake up out of this fictional reality that they’ve won something already.
It does seem to me that the program is a little hollow from a leadership standpoint. I’m still not so sure it was necessary to inject Emmanuel Sanders into this locker room, an offensive locker room and WR room that broke franchise records. Gabriel Davis has taken a backseat. I can assume others have had to bite their lips, in respect to the “old head.”
I don’t think the Bills are ready to lay down. I think it’s time they woke up.
Josh Allen is the first to wake up. If he can recognize that this team is reliant on him as a GENERAL, and not only just a feel good leader, this team can win Monday, and win a Super Bowl. The killer instinct that was inherent in Josh Allen’s game must come to the forefront of this team’s chemistry, and I’m going to need a little CRAZY out of this team Monday night.
Buckle Your Chinstraps.
The Bills are down Tre White, we all know that. I expect a few more injuries to occur in this game. We all know the weather won’t be pretty, but the game won’t be either. Even if it was perfect out, these teams, especially the Patriots are coming to kill. Buffalo had their fun last year, in a romp in Foxburo, and Bill Bellichick threw the phone on national TV. This game is going to be ugly, and NE is not afraid of setting the tone. The Bills must stay ready, not get ready once it’s too late.
IF the warrior spirit of Josh Allen comes to lead the men onto the battlefield, and they can recognize how important this game is to THEM, not to the spectators, or owners, or coaches, they can win. They must recognize from within however, that they haven’t won yet in order to accept that. Legacy teams don’t win for the fame, or the city or the fans or the owners.
