← Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Bills place in AFC , Chase for 1 seed and Saints Preview Live from Lincoln Hill Farms
00:59:48
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Transcript473 lines
- [00:00]
A
Foreign.
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B
This is the Buffalo plus podcast.
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A
All right. Hello, everyone, and welcome from Lincoln Hill Farms. We are having so much fun here tonight. An incredible turnout. And you might notice behind me, the fat heads for these.
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C
Oh, my God.
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A
Give it up for the Fatheads. Dan.
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C
Look at the fatheads.
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A
Look at that.
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B
It's just.
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C
Wow.
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B
Dan's head.
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A
Yeah.
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C
I'm glad. I'm glad. They used my high school graduation picture there, and Dan's his life size, so that's.
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A
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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B
That was just a regular picture they took of me.
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C
Yeah.
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B
They didn't enlarge mine at all.
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A
It's perfect for Dan's ego. We want to give a shout out to, of course, Bud Light for sponsoring tonight lake beverage as well. They have been amazing with us. We've had so much fun doing this partnership, and we are so, so excited for tonight.
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B
These are awesome. This is the Buffalo plus tour that we are continuing to go on. This is the second stop and the fans and everybody that has come out, the meet and greet that we've done beforehand, again, it means a lot. I will speak for both of them. Every single time we have done these shows. We are terrified that nobody is going to show up. And we sit there and we go, what would we do if there's three people here and we're like, we'll do the show.
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C
It would just be different.
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B
It would just be a lot different. So. So this is very cool. It never ceases to amaze me that people watch us consistently.
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C
Yes.
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B
And show up to watch it.
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C
Yeah. I said to somebody, it makes me feel a little bit like I'm in a band. And I was an atrocious guitar player, so this is as close as I'll ever get to that. So it's fun. And with these guys from Bud Light taking us to different places, we get. This place is fantastic.
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B
Wild.
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C
You can go take care of some zombies later. Going on. Great to eat and drink and everything. So have fun and let's talk a little. Bill's football. Yeah.
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B
Lincoln Hill Shout Out. Lincoln Hill Farms.
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A
Absolutely. We're breaking stuff.
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C
I don't know.
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A
That's okay. We're. We're moving forward. All right. We're going to talk tonight about the upcoming game against the Saints. The 3 and 0 start to the season. What we make of the cornerback position, Some updates. Water is important, too.
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C
That's it. Got to hydrate.
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A
Look at that.
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B
Okay. Few. I was hoping they weren't going to stand behind us the entire show. I'm still hanging one second where I Was like by to my. How long are the f going to stay behind me?
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A
Okay, we have a lot to get to tonight, but before we do, let formally introduce us. So Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment and subscribe. Of course. Share as well. All right, so first of all, great crowd tonight. People are feeling good. Mike, the bills are 3 0. What is this team's mindset right now?
- [02:47]
C
You know they've won three different ways, right. They made a miraculous comeback against Baltimore, a very good team. Even though they're struggling a little bit now. They took care of the jets in an easy one that was over by like two o'. Clock. And then now in a third game with Miami, a team, you know, zero chance. Dan said zero chance Dan was right. We have to say eventually he was right.
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A
Barely.
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B
I was right.
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A
Well, that sweating it out.
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C
I guess he was correct that the Bills won. The zero chance part was a lot.
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B
I'm focused on the destination, not the journey.
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C
Wow.
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B
You get that one right? Got it right. I had to reverse it.
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C
See what I did there? But I would say this team is first of all, let's start with this. In the NFL, it's about winning, right? They're 3 0. So that's the biggest thing. And you want style points. I guess we'd all feel better. If you're watching the game and you're like, why did they put me through this? Because two of these games, you know, you went the night games too. You went right to the end. But the reality is. And you. These guys have heard me say, well, they've heard me say a lot of things that so much that I keep repeating. But they're all hindsight wins. It doesn't matter if they would have blown out the Ravens, that would have been awesome. It's still the win against the Ravens and 17 weeks later, it's not going to matter how many points you won the game by. They found a way to win all three. I think their best football is still ahead of them. I think they're in a great spot right now to take advantage of this start.
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B
Yeah. Especially when we talk about defensively. They are a work in progress and people here, when we were talking about it, well, you're going to get Michael Hoyt, you're going to hopefully get Maxwell Harrison back at some point. You're going to get Larry Ogun Joby for whatever he is. He's another body at a defensive tackle position that they have been injured, they have lost players at. So There is hope, especially with right now they're not playing their best football. I think they've said that. Taron Johnson said that this week. But to know they're three and, oh, like Mike said, is all that matters. And moving forward, Sean will always talk about it and he'll do it at the press conferences and he'll do it with his hand and he'll go, you know, as a team, you know, you want to be like this throughout the trajectory of the season. And that's what I think the Bills are. I think they're very raw defensively and they'll get better.
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A
I do think too. And this is something that I think sometimes we forget about because the Bills are excellent at home. They are 13 game win streak. I mean, if you've been to High Mark Stadium, you know just how loud it can be when the opposing offense is on the field. But it brings up the point, Dan. And you asked Taron Johnson about this because it's so loud for the opposing offense, that means it's so loud for the Bills defense.
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B
Dan was right.
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A
Oh, you can't.
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B
No, I. I brought it up the night before the Dolphins game. I said, hey, like the Bills offense, we don't talk about it. Not the Bills defense has trouble communicating at home.
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C
He just realized it's loud at Highmark Stadium.
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B
Have you guys brought it up on the channel?
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C
Yes. No. You haven't watch every previous episode. Yeah. And you go ahead and look at it. No, it. That is a good point for the defense and especially for those.
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A
You did not create that take, man. Do you see what we put up with? Where's the fat head?
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C
He's right there. What are you talking about?
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B
There is. I think there is something to it. And Taron Johnson said he didn't want the crowd to be any quieter, obviously making it difficult on the opposing offense. But especially, I think they've still been trying to figure it out in this post. Post Hyde Poyer era.
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A
Yeah.
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B
Figuring out all that goes into it. There have been numerous safeties that have come into Buffalo and you're going, well, this guy's gonna play and this guy's gonna do it. It's such A complex Sean McDermott, Bobby Babbage defense that is pretty much engineered back to front. So the safeties have to make all the checks and calls. Even veterans that have been around the league for other teams have struggled to do it in Buffalo. And when you have. And I was talking to Terrence, we're walking back to locker room on Wednesday and I go What a flex.
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C
I know. Taran and I were hanging out, talking.
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B
Just chopping it up, being an all pro corner, you know. And I. I go, but it's different for an opposing. When you're an offense in a road game and everybody's looking at the quarterback, the offensive lineman can turn around and see the hand signals and gestures because there's a central location that the quarterback is looking at. When you have four down linemen, they can't turn around. Trail Bernard. I go, TB can't turn around. He goes, he has. And they've snapped the ball and things have gone bad. So, like, if he said that if there's 10 guys that understand the check or hear the check and one guy doesn't, he goes, that's a broken coverage. And he goes, we've had a lot of those this evening year. So hopefully those kind of things get ironed out as the season goes along. But he did say, like, we've played really well on the road.
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C
Yeah.
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B
Because they were able to communicate and.
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C
They played the Jets. But if you want to see a play where that all goes that way, nobody wants to look back at that Ravens game and see the bad place. But the Derrick Henry touchdown, when he, as Dan says, bounced Cole Bishop, dribbled.
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B
Him like a basketball.
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C
You see Terrell Bernard looking to the side. He's looking to make a change. Right as they snap the ball, they're in the wrong spot. He gets blocked. Matt Milano totally overruns the play. And then poor Cole Bishop, I have to say, is gone. And seeing Derrick Henry in a wide open hole and he ends up in the end zone. But that was in part because I think the defense was a little bit inflexed, in flux. They were trying to change something. Didn't get it done. Ball was snapped and they were in trouble.
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A
I still can't believe they won that Ravens game.
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C
Game.
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A
I was talking about it with some people tonight. I'm like, I still cannot believe that they were able to pull off that game. But it's because Josh Allen is Josh Allen. But also the Bills defense meet made a play when they needed to.
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C
Yeah, it's what they do.
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A
It's incredible when you think about it, though.
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C
Yeah, they wait for those moments. Jenna mentioned it earlier today. They could do it a little earlier and give you guys a little more peace.
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B
That'd be nice.
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C
But they wait till late and, you know, you saw them do that. And honestly, sometimes we think the law of averages will catch up to a team in terms of, like, the stats about turnovers. And all. But they, it is harped into this defense, especially a defense that can give up some yards and give up some plays to go for the turnovers. And they've made those plays and they don't turn it over on offense. And it is a mindset for this team.
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B
But this has also been a defense that as long as Sean McDermott has been there. And this is more of the X's and O's that we talk about occasionally on the channel. But like, Sean McDermott plays a zone defense. It's, he was one of the first guys to be like, nobody's getting the ball over the top of us. We're going to make offenses go 12, 13 plays down the field, and then they're going to bear down, bend, but don't break in the red zone, enforce field goals or force turnovers. So, like, that is how this defense, I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. They're not going to be man coverage locking guys down. But there is something to it where I think for a long time you're like, well, turnovers are, they come in bunches. And it's almost like football luck that you force turnovers. They have proven it time and time again that it's not luck. It's something that's ingrained in this defense to make plays on the ball, especially when it matters most. I'd argue important times could be the first quarter, getting a stop or the second quarter would be helpful instead of waiting to the fourth quarter, but they've done it.
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C
Well, we saw what happened in the game against the Dolphins. Terrell Bernard told us right afterwards that Coach Alton had come to him.
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A
I, I was about to say, you're going to regret saying saying this because it sets up Dan having the tweet that he said because I called it.
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C
Go ahead.
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B
I, I, we talked about the pod. I called it at the start of the drive. I said, here comes the two.
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C
Let me explain something to you guys. So sit down, both of them. I will say this. They're sitting next to me at the game, and I know I talk a lot. I'm seeing my wife back there. She knows I know I talk a lot, but sometimes they're not listening to me. And what I'm saying is very valuable. And I am saying this is the time when the Bill's defense usually comes up with a turnover. And I tweet it, Dan being Dan.
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B
Says, I called it.
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C
I'm like, were you not listening to me?
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B
But Jenna has the same, like, perspective when you sit next to Mike in the press box. By the fourth quarter, you kind of are worn down.
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A
So you're like the Bill's defense, they.
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B
Can'T take in all that. Right. But valuable information. How many times I'm like, he'll be on his computer and he'll just. I just tweeted and they're like, yeah, I know. I saw it. Because we were next. Well, obviously didn't see the one.
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C
I said the turnover was coming. I just by, fine, you take credit for it. You go right ahead.
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B
But yeah, they forced the turnover.
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C
Yes.
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A
I want everyone to know this is 100% real and this is 100% what happens in the sports office.
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C
Yes.
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A
We're not in front of or the.
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C
Car driving through.
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B
Drives to Buffalo. We love each other, but yeah, yeah, there's a limit.
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A
We have to talk about the Bills third down defense because I feel like a lot of fans have been watching games and they are just yelling at the TV because it's like, first down. Okay, second down, third down, third and long. The Bills have struggled.
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C
So we were talking about the Baltimore game. Baltimore was 6 of 11. It's not great, but it was. Whatever the problem in that game was, they didn't get to third down that often. They were running in the end zone. They gave up 40 points. And then they had the Dolphins game where the dolphins were 10 of 15. And I give Sean credit, they're saying, well, we got him to third down 15 times. That's great. That might be a time for your line. It's fine. We'll save it.
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B
You guys don't like the Lincoln reference?
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A
Yeah.
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B
How was the play? Mrs. Lincoln.
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C
Yes. Dan is misused that phrase.
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B
I nailed it last.
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C
And we're at Lincoln Hill Farms.
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B
So zoned out.
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C
They were 10 of 15 converting third downs. Because you're watching that Miami game and you're like, can we get a stop? I joked that these, they pay. They play the train horn at the games. I said they should have played a siren on third down because it was an emergency. The reason the stats don't look as bad as they really are is because they were. The jets were over 11 on third down, which is the Jets.
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A
Incredible.
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C
Take that. Throw that game out in that way. They were bad. Bills were good, but they were bad. The third down defense is not good enough. They know it's not good enough and it is going to cost them in games. They survived in two. It's going to cost them.
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B
That's Sean McDermott likes to say.
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C
The.
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B
The rush and the coverage, it's a. It's a marriage. And they have to. They have to blend together. It's a marriage. Like, if you can get after the quarterback, your boy.
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C
Yeah.
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B
Could help the third down defense. We'll get to him a little bit.
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A
Later, but we'll get to that in a bit. All right, what do you make of the plan then for cornerback two? Because Trey White is out there now. Max Hairston, if you had not seen, was practicing out with trainers on the field on Wednesday when we were in the building in Orchard Park. But he had on a significant knee brace. Now, he's eligible to come back from IR starting soon. Soon. The bills have 21 days. What was that?
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C
He's pointing to Orchard park over there. I know. Over there, by the way. You know, they give me a hard time about pointing to stuff. I found a video of me in Pittsburgh, Bill's playoff game in the 90s. And it was a standup of me for the news. And I pointed. I was like, the play happened right there. And I was like, oh, my God. I've been doing this for 35 years.
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A
It's okay.
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C
You're. And now they point. They point. You guys point all the time. Over there is the play.
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A
It's so good. I don't remember what I was saying.
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B
Max Hairston.
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C
Oh, yeah.
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B
Playing for cornerback, too. I got you. I got you. It was.
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A
It was a long walk.
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C
All right.
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A
Where do we think, though? Because I think people are concerned.
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C
So Dan mentioned earlier, I don't think they're going to jump out and be playing all this man defense. That was the plan coming into the year, to be able to play more man. That's why they drafted Max. I think he can play more man defense for them. Then he got into camp and quite honestly, looked a little lost in the spring. You know, until you're watching and you're like, that's when Trey White looks good. And you're like, okay, it's going to be Trey. Trey's not really a man corner. That's not what he's done. And I think they would like to play that way. I think they're going to need to play that way with this team. It's not about winning a bunch of regular season games. You know what? It's going to matter. It's going to really matter when they're playing the Chiefs or the Chargers or the Broncos or whoever in the playoffs, or the Ravens, when you got to switch things up a little bit on defense.
- [15:18]
B
That's the key. It's not. Are they going to become some team that plays 50% zone, 50% man. And like Max Harrison, for as fast as he is played like 75% zone coverage at Kentucky.
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C
Right.
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B
When people looked at his speed, they thought, now he can man up. Tyree killing Xavier Worthy, it's like that's still not necessarily his game. But it's nice to be able to have that opportunity so that you're not so predictable. The Bills are going to play zone coverage 75% of the time. That's what Sean McDermott, Bobby Babbage, it wants. But it is nice to be a little bit less predictable like they've been over the last few years. Whether that's because Jabar Hamlin's been at safety, because Cole Bishop hasn't been very good, or vice versa. They've been so limited to be able to spin the Rolodex. As Bill Belichick called about, you know, Sean McDermott's defense to keep them guessing. They've been so predictable, especially in those playoff games, which is when the defense has gotten torched the most.
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A
Yeah. And Max Harrison has that speed element. And what do we always talk about? Sometimes that can make up for maybe not being in the right place originally, because you have that X factor.
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C
But Jenna, you. We were all at practice the other day, you see Max with that bracelet, that race was substantial. And, you know, he's moving okay. But you guys know there's a difference between moving in these little drills are doing with the trainers and going out there cutting and being confident to play. And then there's the point about picking up the defense. And, you know, we were talking about Taron Johnson said about young players make mistakes on the field. He hasn't even had a chance to make the mistakes yet. So the idea is, we don't know. I mean, honestly, he can come off the injured list at the end of this week. I don't think that's going to happen. But at a certain point, I think if he's. If the trainers have him at a certain point, they'll try to get him on the field. But it's hard to really predict now how much he's going to contribute to the team this year because he is behind both physically and I think with the reps, too.
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B
I think part of it too is we make, always make the golf and the baseball analogies. It's like having the pitcher that can throw 104. He doesn't have to have pinpoint location, just throw 104 and good things can happen. So I think just having him as an option, better than Codrington, maybe in a spot where you have to play some guys, it does give you more depth, especially when he comes back.
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C
Yeah.
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A
And the trade, just the speed. I mean, the Bill defense has been lacking that.
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C
Yeah.
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B
Can't teach it.
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A
All right. You talk about the playoffs now. It's early in the season, but that one seed. We should talk about that because the Ravens against the Chiefs, I know a lot of people will be watching that game coming up. And the. The team at the end of the weekend, one of those teams will be 1 and 3, which just seems unimaginable. Yeah, it's also amazing, actually.
- [18:06]
B
Well, actually, well, actually, they could be 1, 2 and 1. Yeah, I am going to. Well, actually, you there.
- [18:15]
C
So somebody. We were talking about what's better for the Bills, and then the question is, who would you root for? And I'm thinking Bills fans are not rooting for either one of those teams. You're just going to see the game end and take the benefit of whatever happens.
- [18:28]
A
I hope both teams lose.
- [18:30]
C
Right. But in a certain case, I think you might look at it and say if Baltimore. I think Baltimore is going to win that division. I mean, I don't see Pittsburgh beating him out. I guess it could happen. Cincinnati is banged up, you know, with obviously with Joe Burrow out and Cleveland's not there. Kansas City. Kansas City loses this game. They are on a wild card track, especially if the Chargers win. But then the concern you have is you get in the playoffs, say the Bills are the two seed and the first round, they got Mahomes coming into Orchard Park.
- [19:03]
A
I was saying this earlier. I want them to slay the dragon. I want it. No, I want that. What do you mean?
- [19:10]
C
Let me tell you something. I'd take them beating the Jags and the Texans to get to this.
- [19:14]
A
I mean, I get that, too.
- [19:16]
C
At some point, style points would matter. Yes.
- [19:18]
A
I want to end the narrative.
- [19:20]
C
Will it? That would end.
- [19:21]
B
You know what would be great to end the narrative? If they don't even make the playoffs.
- [19:25]
A
Yeah, yeah, that's also true. But I just don't see a world where.
- [19:28]
C
Well, the other thing about the Chiefs.
- [19:29]
A
I was literally still talking. That was like such a. I just.
- [19:34]
C
Wanted to give everybody a. A vivid example of. When you complain that I interrupt you.
- [19:41]
A
You were all witness, though. That was crazy.
- [19:44]
C
Did anybody see that? I didn't. Did you guys?
- [19:46]
A
No. They heard it, though.
- [19:48]
C
Okay, continue, Jenna.
- [19:49]
A
No, go ahead. It's good.
- [19:51]
C
Well, actually, the other thing about the.
- [19:54]
B
Chiefs is they're going to get.
- [19:56]
C
They cannot go to the super bowl because you know what that would mean.
- [19:59]
A
Yeah.
- [19:59]
C
Four straight times. Like, I know the Bills lost all four, but that is an incredible accomplishment for the franchise. And of all things, you don't want to see the Kansas City Chiefs be the ones that they get four in a row.
- [20:12]
A
I do think they're exhausted.
- [20:13]
B
Yeah, they do.
- [20:14]
A
Like, you see the.
- [20:15]
C
The.
- [20:16]
A
What's the word on the sidelines?
- [20:18]
B
You got it. It starts with the letter Cook.
- [20:21]
A
Let's. Oh, this is a lot of people.
- [20:22]
C
What are you going with here?
- [20:23]
A
No, like demise. Not demise, but, like, when people are arguing with each other, it starts with a D, like the.
- [20:31]
B
That's the audience.
- [20:33]
A
Can I phone a friend? I don't know. Let's.
- [20:38]
C
Yes, There we go. Yes.
- [20:42]
B
Well done.
- [20:42]
A
And over here. I heard it, too, Dan.
- [20:44]
C
Spell dissension. No, just let it go.
- [20:50]
B
Just take a pass using the sentence dissension. D, S, C, E, N. What?
- [20:57]
C
What?
- [20:57]
A
C. Good job.
- [20:59]
B
Descend. Like, let's move on.
- [21:04]
A
You're spelling, like, descending.
- [21:05]
C
Yes.
- [21:06]
A
Yeah, that's. That's allude and elude.
- [21:08]
C
Right?
- [21:08]
A
There's that.
- [21:09]
C
We're back to that.
- [21:10]
A
Okay.
- [21:11]
C
There does appear to be that. You saw it again with Kelsey and Andy Reid, and. Yeah, they're not used to losing. They're certainly. What. They've already lost more games than they did last year. Right. Or they did lose two last year, but they didn't play anybody in the last game because I think they were 15 and 1. So they're feeling that a little bit, I think. And that division is better. Denver's a good team.
- [21:30]
B
They're not.
- [21:31]
C
Certainly the Chargers are three, and they're.
- [21:33]
B
Not that good anymore.
- [21:35]
C
Right.
- [21:35]
B
Like, their offensive line is not as good. They tried to kind of revamp it this offseason. It's still a rookie at left tackle. They have nobody that can get downfield where Mahomes has always been. This guy that can stretch the field with speed. They currently don't have that. They're getting Xavier Worthy back. Obviously, they're going to get Rashid Rice back at some point this season, but it just doesn't feel the same. And I don't want to be that guy that was always like, the Patriots. Dynasty's dead in Week four, but it just doesn't look the same. There's plenty of time for them to figure it out, but it just doesn't feel the same.
- [22:07]
A
You know, if you're ever having a bad day, though, you can just watch last year, the last season Super Bowl.
- [22:12]
B
There's an Eagles fan here, too.
- [22:13]
A
Yeah, I see. I'm just watching Patrick.
- [22:18]
C
Oh, I know.
- [22:19]
A
Leveled essentially on every play.
- [22:21]
C
I know.
- [22:21]
A
That was incredible. All right. We've gone way too long.
- [22:24]
C
Well, I, I wanted to add, you mentioned the one seed and you know, when they changed that rule where it was the top two seeds getting the buy, it was different. Man, that is a massive advance to get the one seed, to get that week off, to move in and then to know you're going to be home for two different games and you catch a team, I mean, even it was the next round. But like, you know, the Bills had to play the. It's just the way it worked out. They had to play the Ravens, which is a very different team to prepare for than the Chiefs and then come right back a week later and play the Chiefs. So it's an advantage to be home. It's an advantage to maybe avoid that where maybe the two other good teams have to play each other. And to get that by in the first round I think would be huge for him.
- [23:07]
A
It is wild to see how the AFC is kind of shaping up now that we're a couple games into the season, because you talk about, oh, it's the Bengals and, oh, it's, it's this, it's that, and now it's the Chargers and it's just kind of looking a little bit different than I think we expected heading in.
- [23:22]
B
Yeah, I mean, Catalana has the Colts as the number one team.
- [23:24]
A
How could we forget?
- [23:25]
C
So I had a little fun with the kids this week. We do our league podcast. But the Colts have looked good. Right. And Houston credit to me, has not looked good. They're 0 and 3 now. Those teams can make a. I mean, it's three games into the season. I realize that I give the Colts credit. By the way, if you want to be a good quarterback, go to New York and then leave and you're automatically better. Like Daniel Jones looks like a quarterback. Yeah, right. Sam Darnold is look like a quarterback. Wait till Zach Wilson takes over the.
- [23:53]
A
Dolphins and they dart is.
- [23:56]
C
No, he's going to have to. Right. He's going to have to leave.
- [23:58]
A
No, I'm saying wait till.
- [23:59]
B
Wait till he leaves the craziest set. We talked about it before when we recorded our TV show for Sunday the last time. The. It's been so long since the Bills lost at home that Russell Wilson has been benched by three different teams since then.
- [24:15]
C
Yes, they lost to the Broncos with Russell Wilson, who eventually got benched well, because they all get sick of him. And then he goes to Pittsburgh and he got benched. Got benched.
- [24:24]
B
And he's benched again.
- [24:25]
C
And by the way, I did say the under over on Jackson Dart was three and a half, and I took the under at the beginning of the year. That was one of those podcasts I did by myself where I got to do all the talking and he's out. And so they're going with. And it makes sense, but it wasn't that long ago. We're talking about 20, 23. I mean, Russ just goes through your town, gets paid, gets benched, and goes to the next town. That's what he does.
- [24:50]
A
Let's ride.
- [24:51]
C
Let's ride. Thirteen in a row, the Bills have won regular season games at home. Yeah, it's an impressive streak. It actually really good. All right.
- [24:59]
A
We've gone way too long without talking about Josh Allen, the NFL. That guy, number 17.
- [25:05]
C
Yeah.
- [25:05]
A
Did you see the cantaloupes were in Wegmans? The Allen family.
- [25:09]
C
Isn't that cool?
- [25:10]
A
I don't know. I thought that was pretty cool. All right. Josh Allen in this offense. We've talked a lot about Josh just being the dynamic athlete and playmaker that he is, but I feel like these last couple weeks, we've seen. Seen kind of a more subdued passing attack in terms of, like, less huge plays, but those shorter dink and dunk kind of throws that the Bills can work their way down the field.
- [25:36]
B
Well, I think it goes back to even last year, too.
- [25:39]
C
They.
- [25:40]
B
They were much more of a methodical offense that they have turned into. This isn't, you know, deep passes to at the time, Gabe Davis or Stefan Diggs. It just hasn't been the same since, really. Joe Brady has kind of built this best rushing attack, second best rushing attack in the NFL behind the Eagles. Like, just the way that they. Yeah, they built the offense around the offensive line. And Josh has been able to just be good when he doesn't need to be great. Like, he's been able to have, like we talked about, even in the jets game, no touchdowns. Offense looks Great. They scored 30 points. You move on. But this is something that, you know, he was kind of joking around and was asked about it. He goes, I didn't. I didn't even know that people were mad that we're not throwing the ball downfield. My PR guy just told me, people are mad. Like, I don't care. I just am here to win. But it is the way the defenses are playing the Bills. They've adjusted and they have created new mismatches and he's got a new target that nobody expected in Jackson Hawes.
- [26:40]
C
Yeah, the tight end. And they're playing that three tight end offense all the time. And this has been the offense that Sean McDermott has wanted them to play.
- [26:48]
B
For a few years.
- [26:49]
C
He likes the physical team. Don't turn the ball over and look, it's working. I mean, they're scoring 30 points a game.
- [26:57]
A
Do you remember, and this is a deep cut for Buffalo plus fans, when Dan didn't think the run game was important.
- [27:03]
B
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
- [27:05]
A
Do you remember? You all remember that, right?
- [27:08]
B
No. I said, this is squirrel.
- [27:11]
C
Watch the mental gymnastics he's going to do here. Go ahead.
- [27:14]
B
When they couldn't run the ball and they ran the ball for the sake of running it, it was so you.
- [27:20]
A
Only like it when it was a.
- [27:21]
B
Waste of a down. When they couldn't run the ball and they're like, second down and 10. Here's another handoff. I was livid because you were taking the ball to your best playmaker on offense.
- [27:31]
C
That was your big take.
- [27:32]
B
That was. I heard over here.
- [27:33]
C
Yeah, okay, but the point.
- [27:35]
B
I never said you. I liked it when they run the ball effectively. That was what I always said.
- [27:40]
A
I only like it when it works. Like, that's what you're saying.
- [27:43]
B
It wasn't working.
- [27:44]
C
Jenna and I were on board with. They need to run it and run it better.
- [27:47]
A
You have multiple ways to win in the NFL.
- [27:49]
C
We were right.
- [27:50]
A
Yes.
- [27:51]
C
Dan was wrong.
- [27:53]
A
We need to get the fat heads up, put them down.
- [27:56]
C
But I think Sean McDermott has wanted to play this way, and I think he saw the league going this way a little bit. Obviously, the run game has become much more important. He mentioned the Eagles. You got the Ravens, you know, you have the Bills. Even the Colts can run the football and the teams that can't. It's tough. And quite honestly, I think it's impacting the Chiefs because they do not run the ball well.
- [28:17]
B
Good offensive line.
- [28:18]
C
But it's not just the run game. It's the run game and the short passes. I mean, honestly, Josh played the same depth of target as TUA last week. I mean, they were short. Short passes they did against Miami. Get the ball out of your hands and go. And it is effective. But, you know, I do think there are times when you could make life a little easier on yourself if you had that threat. They don't really have that guy on the team, but they do maximize the guys they have on the roster.
- [28:46]
B
We're joking around that this is like the offense that Sean McDermott would love to have. And I can imagine, like, Sean talking to Brian D at the time, and he was like, dude, if you just put three tight ends out there, I swear we'll be able to run the ball. And table's like, yeah, dude, whatever. We're going to throw the ball 50 times. Because that's what they needed to do at the time. The best thing that Brandon Bean has done outside of drafting Josh Allen was the way that he has built this offensive line. No doubt they are the best offensive line in football right now is a massive key to success in any weather, any time of the year, in any game. That's huge for not only Josh, but the whole. The way you build the offense has been massive.
- [29:25]
C
Yeah.
- [29:25]
A
And it's. It's not exactly the sizzle that you want in terms of, like, you love this references. Yeah, I. Okay.
- [29:32]
B
I'm just saying.
- [29:33]
A
Yes, so. But it's not exactly the sizzle that you want, but it's the steak that you need because this is what supports the framework of this entire offense.
- [29:42]
C
It's another line they stole from me.
- [29:43]
A
It's also obviously about food reference.
- [29:48]
C
That is true, but, you know, it. It is effective. And we just sort of accept the fact that this is what Josh Allen does. Not every quarterback is going to do that. He is his adaption to different things in the game itself. Going from being an inaccurate guy in college to one of the most accurate passers. Going from a guy who had no patience and turned the ball over at a high rate to now being the guy that rarely, if ever, turns it over to being a guy who accepts this. I said to the guy, said, I just think he's in this place now in his career where he really doesn't care about the stats. He really doesn't. He's already put up stats. Everybody knows he's great at the MVP and when they need him, he can go for 251 in a quarter. Look at the games last year when they played Detroit and they played the Rams, and he just. He had over 1,000 yards in total offense in two games. It's incredible what he did. So he can do it, but he accepts this and just executes exactly what they want.
- [30:50]
B
So I asked Josh this week about. He always talks.
- [30:52]
C
Another flex.
- [30:53]
A
Yeah, I knew. I said that the fat head's getting bigger.
- [30:57]
B
I was like, here you go. Well, you also talk to Josh. You could. You can mention that later.
- [31:02]
C
But we.
- [31:03]
B
How else am I supposed to phrase that. How would you phrase that?
- [31:05]
A
He talked to Josh.
- [31:06]
B
Yes, but I asked the question.
- [31:07]
C
Oh, okay.
- [31:08]
B
How to say Josh.
- [31:10]
C
I talked to Dan here.
- [31:12]
B
Yeah, that was nice. A little too far.
- [31:17]
A
Okay.
- [31:17]
B
Come on.
- [31:18]
A
All right, tell what you asked Josh.
- [31:20]
B
Josh always talks about the fact and the fact that he hasn't turned the ball over and the offense and the state of it. And he's like, well, you know, I. I just know that I have to take care of the football. And I kind of asked him and pushed back. Like, the thought of a quarterback taking care of the football is not some nuanced theory that just came up. Like, hey, by the way, the quarterback shouldn't turn the ball over. But something has happened where Josh used to be this elite talent, but you'd always follow it up with, but he turns the ball over. Josh is incredible. The Bills are great, but Josh is turnover prone. Josh hits all the buttons and goes crazy in big moments. And he said that the everybody eats philosophy has helped him. Joe Brady bringing that in. And he goes, I don't feel like I have to put the ball somewhere. Like, I don't have to force the ball to one where one. The quote was something that. You don't have to put it where it has to go.
- [32:11]
C
Yeah, he's talking about Dick.
- [32:13]
A
Yeah.
- [32:13]
B
Yeah. And it was kind of interesting because. And so, like, this is where I'm stuck between a take and what I think is right.
- [32:22]
C
Oh, here we go again.
- [32:24]
A
Watch him. A rock and a hard place.
- [32:26]
C
Watch him cook. Here we go. Let's go.
- [32:28]
B
Take it.
- [32:29]
C
By the way, no matter what he says, he's going to take credit however it ends up. So go ahead.
- [32:33]
B
Because when Brady Bean goes on the radio and says, we don't need a wide receiver and you guys are making this whole thing up and we've scored all these points, I still think you would love to have a number one wide receiver. I still think you'd rather have Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase Amin, Ross St. Brown, so a guy that you knew you could go to. I do see the other side of the coin where you feel then if you have that marquee elite wide receiver, you have to force the ball that way, and it doesn't allow the offense to flow. And that when you don't have that Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, Stefan Diggs, at the time, Josh said, he goes, I feel free. And that offensive coordinators then feel free. Because then you don't need to feel like, okay, I gotta get this guy involved in the offense early. It's Been Dalton Kincaid early on in these games, but then it's been Shakir late in the fourth quarter against Miami.
- [33:24]
C
So I, I'll. I agree with Dan, He's. Yeah, I know, right? Look at me. I agree with Dan, but I'll push back in this case. It's nice to have that dude when you need him in the big moments.
- [33:39]
A
Yeah.
- [33:39]
C
And look in the Kansas City game last year in the playoffs, the two guys who made plays for Josh, because he makes this point, Mac Collins was great. And James Cook. That James Cook touchdown was incredible. Only Josh Allen on that roster can make that play, and he did. And Mack Hollins got himself down the field. They got that score before the half, which was huge. And Mack made a play, and that's great. It's not even as much as total targets. It's a guy who can make that play for you in a big moment. And if you go back and watch those games and I've done it, you know, it's kind of hard to watch that Chiefs game because you know where it ends up. But even the offense scored points. But man, it was tough. It was a lot of fourth downs. It was a lot of Josh running through somebody to get it. And in those moments, sometimes you need the guy that'll make the play for you. And I still am not sure if they got that guy for them. But, you know, and maybe it's. Maybe Keon steps up at times, right? I mean, they. I like that slant they run to Keon and when everybody's looking at numbers, it's like, that was a one catch for four yards, but man, when it's third and three, that is a massive four yards. So I do think there's individual guys, doesn't have to be one, but guys need to step up for their quarterback because they know how he's going to play in those games.
- [34:59]
A
I think we've seen Khalil Shakir do that in the past. But you mentioned Keon. What have you seen from him now in year two? Because he had a lot of expectations on him when he was drafted this off season. Getting kind of called out by the Bills brass, being like, hey, like you need to be better. Where do you think he is at? I mean, we're only a month in, but I do think you see those bits of improvement. It's just building off of that. And what can he add?
- [35:24]
B
It's. It's hard to kind of balance and put into perspective really big numbers and really big stats against Baltimore and then kind of non existent. I again I agree. That third down conversion, we talked about it on the podcast, that I said I liked the play call and I liked Josh having the faith to throw that slant because it's a run play. It's a designed run play. The offensive line, everybody's blocking. It's just Josh has the option to throw a quick slant to. To Keon. I love that he caught it because I love the fact that you can go back.
- [35:53]
A
Is that good for a receiver?
- [35:55]
C
Yeah.
- [35:55]
B
And the was the fact of it wasn't that long ago that it drilled him in the back of the head, like.
- [36:00]
A
Yeah.
- [36:00]
B
So was that Houston? Houston?
- [36:02]
A
Yeah, it was bad.
- [36:03]
B
Now, again, he makes that play in the Baltimore game off the deflected pass. That's just a guy being there and making a massive play. I like him off scramble drills when the play gets a little bit off script. I think he's one of the smarter wide receivers that Josh has had in a long time to get open and find space for Josh when he extends plays. I still just don't know if he's a consistent guy to go five for 70.
- [36:29]
C
Yeah.
- [36:30]
B
Because I just haven't seen enough of it.
- [36:32]
A
I think that's fair. I think he's. I think it's surprising to me sometimes how intuitively he will be in the right space, but sometimes I think it's kind of like I ended up here. Right.
- [36:44]
B
It's like he's better when the play's drawn up in the sand.
- [36:46]
A
Yes.
- [36:46]
B
More than like, the play of like, hey, yeah, 15 yards and cut and make sure you get separation and leverage.
- [36:52]
A
Yeah.
- [36:52]
B
He's more of, hey, you run around for a while, I'll find a place.
- [36:55]
C
To be open and I'll go back to that Kansas City game. And they got the ball in that last drive. Like, their play calls what they were doing Kansas City. Well, because. So if anybody's a Yankees fan here, Right. A lot of times you see. Watch them during the year and you know, they hit a ton of home runs and even, like, Aaron Judge. Right. Great numbers, all this kind of stuff. But you know what? It matters. It matters in those big moments in the biggest games. And I see that offense against Kansas City when they were trying to get those first downs to get down and maybe kick field goal, you know, or score a touchdown. And they're throwing to, like, Amari Cooper on basically a screen, and they're. They don't. Didn't have the confidence in that drive to get somebody open down the field. And then, let's be honest, Kincaid dropped that Well, I saw another replay of it. He's got to catch that. That ball. He needed a guy to step up.
- [37:46]
B
For him being a buzzkill.
- [37:48]
C
I know, but. No, my point is, in this case, that's where it matters for this team. They're going to win a ton of games. They're going to be home for the playoffs. They're going to be in those spots. Somebody in those moments to step up for Josh Allen is what's going to make the difference. So, like I said, maybe it is Keon. We saw Cook do that. I think Cook can make those plays for them. And then we wait to see on some of these other guys. Shakir's a great player. Yeah. Very good. You know, maybe it's somebody else. Maybe it is Dalton Kincaid this year. Yeah, that makes the play, but he's.
- [38:19]
A
Coming off a great game.
- [38:20]
C
Yeah, I know it's a long season, but it all matters when it's really cold outside and it's the playoff games.
- [38:25]
A
Well, this brings up, at least for this week, the Picasso player of the week. Who's a guy that's going to step up on Sunday against the Saints.
- [38:33]
B
Shout out Picasso.
- [38:34]
A
Shout out Picasso's little pizza Bud Light.
- [38:37]
B
Little Bud Light and pizza.
- [38:39]
A
Yeah, it sounds pretty good.
- [38:40]
B
That's a good marriage.
- [38:41]
A
All right, who is your Picasso player of the week?
- [38:44]
B
So Jen and I were having a phone call while we were driving out here, and she's like, who do you think your Picasso's player of the week is going to be? And I said, it's Joey Bosa to have the impact in this game. She goes, oh, I was going to have Joey Bosa. And I said, perfect. We'll tag team up and abuse Mike because. Because your boy has been mia And I fear Jenna had this point. We fear this could be a Greg Russo game. Like, he could get three sacks against a bad offensive line by New Orleans, and that Mike will get to be like. And I was right. But they need Joey Bosa to be a consistent factor.
- [39:19]
A
I think Joey Bosa will have a big game, and I think because of that, also, Greg Russo will have a good game.
- [39:25]
C
So all of a sudden, I was the buzz kill. I'm the negative.
- [39:28]
A
I love sitting in the middle because it's fun to gang up on you and up on you.
- [39:32]
C
I like Greg Russo as a player. I think there's more there. I want to see more out of him. See Greg the fan club.
- [39:39]
A
He just got paid.
- [39:40]
C
Greg Russo and I talked to him.
- [39:41]
B
We had a great talk before, but it's Just. Just wrong. Like, is just wrong. So very sweet. It was so. Thank you so much. Don't be on Mike's side, by the way.
- [39:50]
A
You gotta move, actually. No, I'm kidding.
- [39:52]
C
You interrupted me.
- [39:53]
A
Sorry.
- [39:55]
C
No, I'm kidding. I know. By the way, I talked to Greg Rousseau at practice the other day, and I said to him about getting to the quarterback. He knows I got to be better at. We got to get there. They do play, and this is what happens right now in the league. Like both mobile guys and guys who want to get the ball out of their hands. Actually, I even think the Saints are going to try to get the ball out of their hands. They want to avoid that. That being said, it doesn't even have to be a sack. He's got to be better. They've all got to be better. Bosa was really good. I think. Really been good in two games. Yeah, no doubt. They were all ineffective against Miami. To it did that, where he got the ball out of his hands and he made some plays. The bigger thing was when he got out of the pocket a little bit. Both of them did not do a good job. They've got to be better in those circumstances when they play those guys. I do realize. I'm like, hey, Greg, you only got one half a sack. I said, double digits. So I said to him, I need a little more. He goes, don't worry, Mike. I'll take care of you. Then you can say you were right. But it's. The numbers need to come. He needs to be better. There's no doubt. He needs to be better. So. But it's early.
- [41:04]
A
Is he your Picasso?
- [41:05]
C
He's my player of the week. The Picasso player of the week. Greg Russo.
- [41:10]
B
That was so. That was such a weak cheer as compared to Bosa.
- [41:14]
A
Yeah. Bosa got all the claps. All right. We should. We should probably talk about the Saints.
- [41:18]
B
Sure.
- [41:18]
A
Sunday, a winless team coming into Orchard Park. Now, you said about the Dolphins there was a 0% chance that the Bills were going to lose to Miami.
- [41:29]
B
I did.
- [41:29]
A
But now you're a little. You're a little worried.
- [41:32]
B
I'm more nervous this week than I was against Miami. And it's. It's a very strange feeling. Why? Again, I thought that the Bills have dominated the Dolphins.
- [41:41]
C
I'm letting you cook. Go ahead.
- [41:44]
B
That was like a polite interruption. I said that the Dolphins had zero chance of winning that game. When you guys were listing off the names and all of that stuff. The Saints don't have any of that. That the Bills have dominated The Dolphins, that was a big reason why I thought they had no chance. But I also think that the Dolphins thought and think they're a good team and they're not. I think the Saints know they're a bad team and the Saints know that they're 16 and a half point underdogs and they just got blown out by 30 points and they're trying to build something with a new head coach. And like those are guys that aren't fighting for playoffs. Like, they want to keep their spot in the NFL. And that to me, when grown men in the NFL get embarrassed, they don't like it. And usually there's a response coming back. That's the only reason why I'm a little bit nervous that this is a dangerous Saints team. And The Bills had 10 days of going. The Saints think we're 3, 0. They're at, we're at home and there's no chance. I think there's a 1% chance.
- [42:41]
C
Wow.
- [42:42]
B
The Saints win this game.
- [42:43]
A
Well, I think about seven years ago when Josh Allen. Now look, it's a different situation, but when Josh Allen was a young quarterback, Sean McDermott was a younger head coach, they were going to Minnesota. They were double digigit underdogs, 16 and a half points. Exactly. And Josh Allen was hurdling linebackers.
- [43:01]
C
Yeah.
- [43:01]
A
And that was kind of the welcome, this is Josh Allen moment.
- [43:05]
C
And the Bills ended up handling him. I think it was like 247 or 24 9, something like that. They won the game. I, I, I think it's the right point about what this Saints team is. They were embarrassed. First two games. They played well. Well enough. They were in the game. It's tight. They went up to Seattle. They got smacked right away. They were down. They gave up like 31 points in the first half. I mean, it was terrible for them and it was bad. They are embarrassed. So I do think you're going to see a purpose from that team. I do think the 10 days for the Bills to get ready for the game is, is impactful. I think their last win is behind them a little bit. And I don't think players underestimate individual players. That that's the point I try to make. Like Taron Johnson's looking at the tape and he sees Chris Olave and, and.
- [43:52]
B
Shaheed Raheed.
- [43:54]
C
No, no.
- [43:55]
A
Shaheed.
- [43:56]
B
Shaheed.
- [43:57]
A
Yeah.
- [43:57]
C
Yes.
- [43:58]
B
Is that his last name or his first name?
- [44:00]
A
His last name.
- [44:01]
B
It's his last name. Rasheed Shahid.
- [44:03]
A
Yes.
- [44:04]
C
Yes.
- [44:04]
B
Nailed it.
- [44:05]
C
Yeah. You were close, but they see, you know, they have talented players that they're going up against, so they don't sit there and go, this guy, you know, this is not a college game when you're playing on the homecoming weekend. It's an NFL team. And to Dan's point, too, is that they were embarrassed in that game. I think they come back with some. With some fight in this one. And I think the Bills realize that, yeah, they have seen this before. They've avoided this in many cases at home when there are substantial favorites. This is 16 and a half points, but I think the Saints will play better than they did last week. But it's still a big mountain to climb to beat the Bills.
- [44:43]
A
I talked to Taron Johnson at practice. Am I doing this right? Okay. But I did ask him the challenge of going up against a team that doesn't have the record in terms of that success. And he talked about how they are desperate, they are hungry for a win. But there's the leaders on this team that make sure that the mindset for the younger players already, because, yeah, it's easy to think, hey, what's. What do we always say in the NFL? You're either humble or about to be humbled. And that is real in this league. You saw the packers lose to the Browns last week. Like, it is real. So for this Bills team, I think that there is that maturity. And that's what I look at when I see this team. This team has the composure and the leadership and all that stuff to take this game seriously. And I think some other teams that don't have that same. Same strength in their locker room might look at it differently.
- [45:31]
B
You talk about how they've avoided these letdown spots, and I think somebody was asking us actually at the meet and greet, like, do the Bills play down to their level of competition? And we kind of said, like, no, They've been really good recently in Sean McDermott of not underestimating teams and things like that. They're going to come back and beat Jacksonville. In Jacksonville, like that game a few years ago, we're convinced, like, that was the letdown spot. That was a game that the Bills had absolutely every chance to win that game and didn't. And the other game I think about when I thought about the Bills being 16 and a half point favorites, that worried me was that two years ago, Denver beat Miami. No, Miami beat Denver 70 to 20. And everybody was like, oh, my gosh, this Denver team's.03. Sean Payton stinks. This Denver team's awful. Denver won the next week.
- [46:17]
C
Yeah.
- [46:17]
B
Because they're grown men that got embarrassed putting up so 70 points and it's all over the TV. Like that's where I have a little bit of a fear that the Saints team could have some fight in them. I think they have to get off the big key in this one is off to a fast start.
- [46:31]
A
Set the tone.
- [46:32]
B
The Saints have scored zero first quarter points. The Bills are number one in the NFL in first quarter points with 35. Get this team. Let it the message be known quickly. You're not on the same level as us. We're prepared, we're ready. And don't let bad teams hang around and think they have a chance break their will early.
- [46:54]
C
Wow.
- [46:55]
A
I mean, I like the point.
- [46:56]
C
Dan's ready to play finish well. There's a couple reasons why that. First of all the Saints have not.
- [47:03]
A
Break their will is a lot like that's a lot. I'm sorry.
- [47:08]
C
He's fired up.
- [47:09]
A
He needs a Bud Light.
- [47:10]
C
I know Bud Light will take care.
- [47:11]
B
Of you guys saw speech about that the Dolphins stink. You're like we're being not. You're not giving them enough credit. I was like, I'm not giving the speech in the locker room to the team when I said the Dolphins had zero chance.
- [47:22]
C
Can you imagine that Dan breaking down the huddle. This team you're playing has got no chance to beat.
- [47:27]
B
You have nothing go beat. But I could fire them up for this week. Yeah, don't take this 16 and a half point dog lightly.
- [47:33]
C
The Saints have not taken a snap in a game yet with the lead. Okay. They just have been behind wild and they're not the kind of team, all.
- [47:41]
B
Of that worries me.
- [47:42]
C
Well, with two scores. So you guys know in the Miami game, Bills have a seven point lead. They're driving before half. All of a sudden bad play. Josh gets sacked, shanked, field goal. Miami gets it takes up the rest of the half and scores. So instead of the Bills using the clock, going up two scores and getting the ball to start the third quarter, which a one score there against that Miami team would have put him to sleep. But it didn't. It was tied going into the half and it was close the rest of the way. So to Dan's point, burying a team that has struggled and is trying to find themselves, well, they have put their will. They have veterans on defense, real veterans. Like I gotta say this for me, old guys on that defense.
- [48:23]
A
That's how you know so.
- [48:25]
C
But I think that would be the message to the team. Like that was embarrassing what we put on the Field.
- [48:30]
A
Yeah.
- [48:30]
C
And it's Kellen Moore's a new head coach. They're trying to establish something, and that's what can happen. Teams like this can look really, really bad and then show some fight. Another time. I think they'll show fight. I just don't think they have it to be.
- [48:41]
A
All right, well, that leads us into our picks and predictions, because let's do a quick recap. So two and one on the season. Two and one.
- [48:52]
C
Yeah.
- [48:54]
A
Thank you. Thank you very much.
- [48:56]
C
So Dan and I predicted exactly what. What was going to happen in the Ravens game. We were right.
- [49:02]
B
We're right.
- [49:03]
C
We couldn't help it if the Ravens were dumb, and we picked it. So we are considering ourselves three hours.
- [49:10]
B
No.
- [49:11]
A
No. Okay, so just a reminder, my punishment for if I win would be these two reading mean tweets that I've curated. While they eat progress. There's a lot of hotter wings.
- [49:21]
C
Yes. Mean comments. Mean tweets. There are a few out there.
- [49:25]
A
Yeah, but they got to be funny. We got.
- [49:27]
B
They got to be good.
- [49:27]
A
There's some creative ones, but. Yeah, so.
- [49:29]
C
So when I win, the punishment for Dan and Jenna is they have to sing in a bar on a karaoke night together. The song of my choice.
- [49:44]
B
And when I win, which I don't like my odds already, they have to catch 10 passes off a jugs machine so that I can get revenge on the jugs machine. What the jugs machine did to me last training camp. So we'll go off that damn jugs machine.
- [50:00]
A
That was still. Okay. Just making sure. Just recapping. All right. Our picks and predictions for Sunday. Dan, I will start with you.
- [50:07]
B
Yeah, I. I do have slight concerns about this game, just because you can look at every stat and the Bills are way better. But there are games like the Browns beat the packers, that weird things happen. So I guess that's where my level of concern is. I want the Bills to jump out to an early lead. My favorite pick of the week is the Bills minus three and a half in the first quarter for Uncle Dan's best bets. If that's something that you're into, like the plug, I like that. But I think eventually the Bills do get the job done. I. I think it's a little bit closer. I don't think they cover 31. 20. Bills win.
- [50:38]
A
Okay. I also have the Bills winning this game. I don't think that's a surprise for anyone. I have them winning 34. 17. I think the Saints score. Who cares? Touchdown late in this game. But I just look at These as two different teams that are in two different directions. You have one team that has top tier talent, Josh Allen, the NFL mvp. You have an established team, you have an established coach, you have an established culture and all of that matters. And I look at the Saints and I just think they're really early on. They have a ton of old, old veterans like Mike talked about and then some guys that are just trying to hate hang on to some roster spots in the NFL. So I just think it's. It is a mismatch. Now. I don't think the Bills take the bait and fall for the trap game, but I do think there will be maybe a moment early on that the Bills can really break their will. I hate that, but just set the tone and I think that is an important piece of this game is just.
- [51:30]
B
Making sure it's what Mike and I do to you.
- [51:33]
C
She's like, I can't break Jenna's will.
- [51:36]
A
In the car ride homes from Orchard Park.
- [51:37]
B
Just.
- [51:38]
C
Yeah.
- [51:39]
A
Just trying to get through it. But no, I do think that for this Bills team, they are the more mature group and I expect to see that on the field on Sunday.
- [51:47]
C
Yeah, I was thinking about the Saints and thinking I never think about the Saints. Is there a team? And look, they've won a Super Bowl. Like they've had their success. But for Bills fans, it's a NFC South. It's the Saints. I don't think you ever think about the Saints.
- [52:02]
B
No.
- [52:02]
C
During the year, unless you know a Saints fan, the Bills rarely play them. They've only played them five times in Orchard Park.
- [52:08]
B
Do you remember the last time they.
- [52:09]
C
Played at Orchard park when they ran.
- [52:11]
B
All over them for like a billion yards.
- [52:13]
A
When was it?
- [52:13]
C
It was the 2017.
- [52:15]
B
It was like the three, four game losing streak. It was the game before they benched.
- [52:20]
C
When they benched Tyrod and played n.
- [52:24]
A
They ran all over them.
- [52:26]
C
Yes.
- [52:26]
B
Yeah. Mark Ingram, I believe was the running.
- [52:28]
C
Back they just ran all over. I think the last time the Bills beat the Saints in Orchard park was 1983. But they've only played there 52 years.
- [52:37]
B
Old at the game that broke his will.
- [52:42]
C
I was in college at the time.
- [52:44]
A
Will.
- [52:44]
B
Yeah.
- [52:44]
C
The Bomber knows I was in Ithaca at the time. We were having fun anyhow. You guys weren't. Cuz you weren't close to being.
- [52:51]
A
My parents weren't even married yet.
- [52:53]
C
Oh, wow. Oh, now they're just. Just picking on me. Yeah. I think the Bills dominate this game. I think they win. I think they're coming out to play a Solid game. I think they'll play the way they normally do. I think the defense does better on third downs in this one. I've got the Bills winning at 33 13.
- [53:09]
A
Okay, we love it. We'll finish up with credit to me. We always love doing this segment.
- [53:14]
B
So do I go first?
- [53:16]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [53:17]
C
Just.
- [53:17]
B
I was going to do. I don't know what I was actually going to do on this, but it was going to be. This is a credit to Bud Light because this jacket just.
- [53:25]
C
He loves his jacket.
- [53:26]
B
I'm obsessed with this jacket.
- [53:27]
A
Okay, you gotta set this up right. So Lake Beverage hooked us up with these.
- [53:32]
B
Shout Out Jay.
- [53:33]
A
Yeah, they've done a phenomenal job. The fat heads, all that stuff. And they. They left these on our desk. And Dan looked at it and it was truly love at first sight.
- [53:41]
C
It was.
- [53:42]
B
And then what made it better was that Mike and Jenna tried them on and they looked like art smocks.
- [53:48]
C
Yeah.
- [53:48]
B
Like they. They. They looked like wannabe doctors in a back alley.
- [53:53]
C
Yeah.
- [53:54]
B
Like in these white coats.
- [53:55]
C
Yeah.
- [53:56]
B
And she's like. And they were like, we're not gonna wear this. We can't do it. Nothing against Lake Beverage, but I'm sitting there and I tried it on.
- [54:04]
C
It's like, oh, I look good.
- [54:05]
B
I'm wearing it. I was like, I'm. I'm absolutely.
- [54:07]
C
And then he went home and showed his wife. She said, oh, Dan, you look good.
- [54:11]
B
Shout out, Renee. She gave me the go ahead.
- [54:13]
C
He's been wearing around the house for two days. What are we talking about?
- [54:15]
B
But shut it. Like, this is elite. Like, this is. This is my fit. Like I'm a quarter zip guy.
- [54:21]
C
Yeah.
- [54:22]
B
Like this is going to be golf course attire. All these Buffalo plus events. So shout out Buffalo or Bud Light and Lake Beverage for this sweet Quarter zip.
- [54:30]
A
Yeah. I caught Dan checking himself out.
- [54:33]
B
It was so funny because I was like, oh, I guess we're not going to wear these. Like, this stinks. I kind of like this. And I was like, screw it. I'm wearing this thing. They're like, yeah, somebody will wear it. I was like, I like it.
- [54:41]
A
Oh, no. You. You crack us up. The art smock Back Alley doctor is wild.
- [54:47]
B
It was so fitting, though.
- [54:49]
A
It was. It was all right. My credit to me is credit to my in laws because I see Jeff over there. Oh, and Zach. That's my husband. Family. Like they are.
- [55:00]
B
You guys all know Zach from the pod.
- [55:02]
C
You heard us talk about Zach.
- [55:04]
A
A round of applause, if you don't mind, for Jeff and Julie, my in laws. They Come to everything. They did not know when Zach and I first started dating that they would have to schlep around all of Monroe county and all over the place. But they have done so much in supporting me and they are fantastic people. So I just wanted to give them a shout out because I know that there's a, there's a lot that is involved with this job. Zach has to, by being married to me, be at everything, but they don't. So I appreciate it.
- [55:32]
B
My father in law's here as well. The Perros, my wife's family, they come to everything. So shout out to Chuck Pero back there. My wife doesn't even want to come to these events. It's partly because somebody has to watch the three girls, but she wouldn't want to even if she did have babysitting care.
- [55:48]
C
That's it.
- [55:48]
B
But it's my father in law shows up to everything.
- [55:50]
C
Yeah, well, I was my, my wife, I think she and my niece are here and her boyfriend are here. So I think, think they're still here. But it's a lot. She runs her own business for them to come here. I was much appreciated. I have to say, you guys are awesome. Shout out to you guys. Credit to you guys for showing up tonight. Bills fans, Buffalo plus fans. As Dan said in the beginning, like, we appreciate it. Sometimes we look at the numbers on a pod and we're going, damn, that's a lot of people. And then we come to a live event and I know it's taken a night, night from your own time to come to be with us tonight. We really appreciate it. So thank you to all of you for being out here.
- [56:31]
A
Please give yourselves a round of like, honest.
- [56:33]
C
Let's go.
- [56:33]
B
Bill's fans, Buffalo plus so much to us.
- [56:36]
A
We truly have so much fun with.
- [56:38]
B
This and it's crazy when we've seen the same people have shown up where it's like, I thought you went to one, like you were good, like you didn't need to. And it's so, it's, it's wild again. You know, we always think that there's going to be three, three people that are going to show up.
- [56:51]
C
And don't worry, in a future podcast, Dan will take credit for you guys showing up tonight.
- [56:58]
B
I know I do sound really pretentious. Being like my fit is my.
- [57:00]
C
Credit to me.
- [57:02]
B
Credit to me. I look great.
- [57:04]
A
Credit to me. I asked Josh Allen a question.
- [57:08]
B
I'm.
- [57:08]
A
That's okay.
- [57:09]
B
I'm going to ask Josh Allen if I look great in this bud Light.
- [57:11]
A
Quarter We'll have to update the answer. All right, we want to thank everyone, everyone so much for joining us here. Please be sure to, like, comment and subscribe. You know how much it means to us. For Mike Catalana and Dan Fates, I'm Jenna Cottrell.
- [57:25]
B
Shout out Lincoln Hill Farms.
- [57:26]
A
Yes.
- [57:27]
B
Shout out bud Light.
- [57:28]
A
Yeah, of course. I mean, this was an incredible event in terms of, like, just this place, like, Lincoln Hill Farms. Amazing. We can't thank Bud Light enough. Jay has been phenomenal. Lake beverage. Like, this is so much fun. We have so much fun doing this. So to be here with everyone, it really does mean a lot. So thank you so, so much.
- [57:45]
B
I need a bud Light.
- [57:46]
A
Yeah, let's get a Bud. Thank you guys so much. We really appreciate it. Get home safe. Thank you.