Josh Allen's MVP CAMPAIGN, BILLS vs 49ers PREVIEW and our THANKSGIVING food POWER RANKINGS

Summary

BUFFALO PLUS PODCAST — EPISODE SUMMARY
Josh Allen's MVP CAMPAIGN, BILLS vs 49ers PREVIEW, and our THANKSGIVING food POWER RANKINGS
Date: November 29, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates

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EPISODE OVERVIEW

This lively episode features the Buffalo Plus team diving into three big topics: the current state of the Buffalo Bills post-bye week, a preview of the critical Bills vs. 49ers matchup, and some lighter holiday banter about Thanksgiving food power rankings. In addition, the team discusses standout stories including Ray Davis’ inspiring journey to the NFL and considers the evolving MVP race, particularly focusing on Josh Allen. The tone is playful but insightful, combining locker room access with relatable anecdotes and fan-oriented debate.

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KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. State of the Buffalo Bills after the Bye Week

(Starts ~00:52)

• Perfect Timing for the Bye: The hosts agree the bye week arrived at an ideal moment, with the team getting healthy and avoiding drama that marred previous years.
  • “It's a little strange for this team to have everything going really well and the bye and getting guys healthy all at the same time.” — Mike (01:22)
• Vibes in the Building: Jenna observed a professional, focused environment, with players lingering for extra reps—an encouraging sign of their commitment.
  • "I was impressed to see... the players are really dialing it back in and getting ready for the week ahead." — Jenna (05:12)
• Division Lock-Up Talk: Despite the chance to clinch the AFC East soon, Sean McDermott remains focused on the upcoming game, repeatedly emphasizing “playing to our level.”
  • "We’re mostly focused on this week and playing to our level." — Sean McDermott via Dan (04:41)

2. Bills vs. 49ers Game Preview

(Begins ~11:47)

• San Francisco’s Injuries & Identity: The Niners’ depth and talent are acknowledged, but their mounting injuries and Super Bowl ‘hangover’ have dulled their edge.
  • “They could be extremely dangerous or one foot away from getting shoved over the cliff.” — Mike (13:19)
  • Brock Purdy’s status is uncertain; hosts doubt whether the real Niners will show up.
  • "I just think this is who the Niners are. I don't think they're a very good team." — Dan (14:44)
• Weather Factor: Possible lake-effect snow in Orchard Park might hit hardest on the California-based Niners, especially if Purdy plays with a sore shoulder.
• Bills’ December Dominance: Buffalo’s tendency to heat up late-season is attributed to both coaching flexibility and the evolution of rookies into reliable contributors.
  • “You want to be playing your best football this time of the year. And... these Bills teams have been playing their best when the weather’s gotten colder.” — Dan (26:18)
• Predictions: All hosts confidently pick the Bills to win at home, citing the offense’s consistency and expectations of Niners struggling.
  • “They’ve scored 30-plus in every home game. I expect them to get 30 again. 30-17. Bills win.” — Dan (51:31)
• Matt Milano’s Return: Expectation is he'll play limited snaps, with the hosts optimistic about the benefit of ramping injured stars up toward the playoffs.

3. Josh Allen’s MVP Campaign

(Begins ~31:40)

• MVP Frontrunner? The group laments the lack of narrative support for Allen compared to Mahomes, Lamar, or others, despite Allen carrying a less star-studded squad.
  • "If you take this player off this team, what are they like?... I look at what Josh was [doing]... The surrounding cast that he has compared to the other guys...” — Dan (34:46)
• Media “Shiny Object” Syndrome: The panel notes that MVP discussion is highly driven by recent performances and media hype.
  • “This is because the NFL and NFL media people have the attention span of a gnat.” — Jenna (34:46)
• Case for Allen: His numbers and vital contributions, especially without high-profile receivers, strengthen his MVP candidacy.
  • "Josh is in great shape to do it. If the team keeps winning... I think he will bring the voters along with him." — Mike (38:25)
• Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen: The hosts praise Lamar's athleticism but call Allen the better pure quarterback, noting that supporting casts should matter in voting.
  • "Lamar is a dynamic player. But... Josh Allen — better numbers, better spot. That's why I just think they got to be fair, the voters." — Mike (43:56)

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NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Thanksgiving Food Power Rankings

(Begins ~00:15, revisited at 08:19)

• “The lasagna.” — Mike, revealing his Italian family’s tradition (00:23, 08:44)
  • "That's so Italian. Mike's blood is 98% olive oil." — Dan (00:32)
• “Gravy. Love gravy. It is the straw that stirs the drink. It makes everything better." — Jenna (09:37)
• Hosts debate the merits of Thanksgiving classics and question whether turkey is overrated.

Coaching Comparisons: McDermott & Shanahan

(~16:18)

• Shanahan’s reputation as an innovator is acknowledged, but his record for blowing leads and questionable late-game management is scrutinized.
  • “If you criticize coaches for late game moments in game management and fourth quarter blown leads, nobody’s worse at it than Kyle Shanahan.” — Dan (17:10)

Ray Davis’ Moving Interview

(Begins ~44:24)

• Ray Davis, the Bills rookie running back, shares his journey from homelessness to the NFL, emphasizing resilience and community impact.
  • “I didn’t live a child’s life. I lived a grown man’s life.” — Ray Davis (47:17)
  • “If this were to go away all tomorrow, I just hope that my legacy and my story was able to help somebody else.” — Ray Davis (48:17)
• Jenna’s reporting humanizes Davis and demonstrates the Bills’ broader impact beyond football.

Self-Awareness at Thanksgiving Grocery Stores

(Begins ~59:08)

• "Situational awareness at grocery stores during Thanksgiving week is criminal. It is people in the middle of the aisle trying... it’s like a football game. You gotta have a game plan!" — Jenna

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TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS

• 00:52 – Thanksgiving food rankings: Lasagna shock and turkey debate.
• 01:22 – Bills post-bye week optimism & injury updates.
• 04:04 – AFC East clinching scenarios; McDermott’s coach-speak analyzed.
• 08:44 – More Thanksgiving food hot takes.
• 11:47 – How the Bills and 49ers stack up; significance of injuries.
• 19:25 – Locker room culture: Difference between McDermott and Shanahan approaches.
• 24:08 – Matt Milano’s injury update and comeback forecast.
• 26:56 – Cold weather advantage & forecast for the Niners.
• 31:40 – Deep MVP discussion, Allen’s supporting cast, and media narratives.
• 44:24 – Ray Davis’ story: From homelessness to NFL, with moving reflections.
• 51:31 – Game predictions: Bills to score 30+ and win comfortably.
• 59:08 – Thanksgiving grocery self-awareness — relatable life lesson.

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TONE, STYLE, & CLOSING

The hosts maintain a blend of sharp insight and warm humor, weaving locker room knowledge with fan relatability. They balance statistical conversation with human interest stories and sprinkle in playful ribbing—whether about Italian Thanksgiving traditions or the chaos of grocery shopping during the holidays.

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CONCLUSION

This episode offers a comprehensive overview for Bills fans: late-season optimism, a candid 49ers breakdown, and spirited Allen-for-MVP debates. Listeners are treated not only to football strategy and player analysis, but to relatable slices of Buffalo life — whether it's dealing with lake effect snow or battling supermarket chaos. For those who haven't listened, it’s a thorough catch-up on where the Bills stand, what obstacles lie ahead, and why gratitude matters — in sports and beyond.

Transcript

[Mike Catalana]

In the time it takes you to.

[Dan Fates]

Actually board a flight from Group 8.

[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Dan Fates]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

What's your favorite Thanksgiving food? Comment below your favorite Thanksgiving food. What's yours?

[Mike Catalana]

The lasagna.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God.

[Mike Catalana]

I gotta tell you, I. I like turkey. I eat, it's fine. I like stuffing, it's fine. I. I don't sit there and go, wow.

[Dan Fates]

Like, so Italian. It's so Italian, honestly. Mike's blood is 98% olive oil. This is the Buffalo plus podcast, brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates from home, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe to the podcast as well as share. We always appreciate it. All right, gentlemen, we're all back together. The Bills are done with the buy. We were in Orchard park on Wednesday, and, Mike, this team getting ready for a Niners team that I think looks a little bit different than people were expecting going in. But let's first talk about where this Buffalo team is at.

[Mike Catalana]

They're feeling pretty good, and I think the buy came at a perfect time for them. It's funny, though, when you think back to last year, they get to that buy after that terrible loss to the Eagles, and then they got to go to Kansas City and all the mess that happened. But then they proceed to go on a streak, right? Because that's what the Bills do when no one expects it. Now they're sort of oddly. Dan, they're like, it's good there. There isn't panic anywhere. The last few years, there's been always something extra going on. It's a little strange for this team to have everything going really well and the buy and getting guys healthy all at the same time.

[Dan Fates]

Doesn't it feel like you're waiting for the other shoe to drop? Like you're. You're waiting to be like, wait, no, that's terrible.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, but it does.

[Dan Fates]

But Mike said it. Like, all the fact that you have all these things lining up. Like, Sean's been asked before the buy, during the buy, and now after the buy, if this buy came at a perfect time. And I loved his joke before the buy, being like, well, I love our buys to come off of wins because that's the most important thing. But the fact of the Injuries that this team has had to deal with. The way they have kind of seemed to be the perfect time to have the buy with Milano and ramping things up and Keon and Kincaid, like, all of those things, like, they didn't have to rush guys back. Back because you had this late buy, I think is the perfect mix. Because Micah said before, there usually seems to be a whole lot going around this team during a buy last year was the change in coordinator, those kind of things. Trying to figure it out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. And Von.

[Mike Catalana]

And Von Miller. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I forgot about that in a trip to Kansas City.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

To play. And when you were at.500 and desperate for a win. Now they have to still take a mindset of. I don't say desperate to win, because every week you have to win, if you follow what we're saying. But they do have a lot to play for. I. Yeah, they have the division. They are in great shape for the minimum of the two seed. Right. All those things they. They know that doesn't mean they don't attempt to keep winning. But you are on the tail of the Chiefs and you have the tiebreaker and the one seed is important, so there's no reason for a letup, especially with this stretch of games that they have. Niners desperate. Then you go on the road to a Rams team that while they're struggling in some ways, they're in the middle of a tight division race. Oh, and then you have the Detroit Lions. So. Yeah. Not a time to settle back.

[Dan Fates]

I thought it was funny when Sean was asked about locking up the division possibly this week, with the Dolphins loss on Thursday and a win for the Bills, they would clinch the one seed. And Jenna, I thought his answer was very interesting. And you can put a penny in the jar whenever we get back to that. Because, Jenna, how about his answer being like, because I'm sitting at home watching it. Still on baby Watch where she went back to the doctors today. We are stuck at 4cm dilated. She is a trooper. We are still waiting.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. We're losing some faith in it just because we're. We're at our wit's end.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's a part of the process.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, but, Jenna, I was sitting at home watching the McDermott and he said twice. We're mostly focused on this week and playing to our level. That's what we're mostly focused on. Which I thought was very. Because I didn't want to tweet it as like a clickbait tweet. But he did say it twice. Of like, we're mostly concerned about just, you know, handling our business this week and playing to our level. That's what we're mostly focused on. Like, they always talk about the division. Right, Jenna? And, like, it is right there. And I thought it was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Telling for Sean to be like, yeah, that'd be nice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think it was some acknowledgment of, like, yeah, of course it's the division. Of course you're going to be watching on Thursday for Thanksgiving to see what happens. But also, it is okay, there is still the task ahead. And even if with locking up the division, if that ends up being the case, there obviously is still more for this team to accomplish and more that they can accomplish with what's ahead of them. But I did think being in Orchard park today, you just saw, you know, I'm always curious, like, what the vibe is in the building. Like, what are we going to be walking into after a loss? Usually it feels different. Sometimes after a big win, it feels different. And today, the thing I really noticed was just how many players stayed after practice, how many guys were getting an extra reps, and just how many players in general were kind of still in the practice facility area, talking with one another, going over things. And you don't always see that, especially with a long season. So I thought that was a little bit encouraging because I think with where this team is at, realistically, you have a Niners team coming in that's very beaten up. I could see in a certain mindset being like, okay, like, we're a good team. We got this. But I was impressed to see, okay, the players are really, you know, dialing it back in and kind of getting ready for the week ahead. Because I know for me, I might be like, ah. It's also why I'm not. One of the many reasons I'm not an NFL player. But it just reminded me of McDermott being very good, especially after a buy as well.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And they also, you know, had the time off, so. So there's a tendency to be like, okay, we got to get everything straight.

[Jenna Cottrell]

McDermott was so funny talking about the buy.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, I know. With his clothes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Routine more than anything. I mean, even the bye week is, for me at least, is. I love the bye week. Like anyone does. Everyone does. But sometimes I'm like, you know, I don't really. I guess I have it. Usually I'm in a gray shirt and Bill's sweatpants. And so when I'm not wearing those, I kind of go in my closet. I'm Like, I don't know what to wear. I'm kind of, like, not myself. So I told the guys, some of the guys this morning, I said, it's good to be back in, you know, my gray T shirt and my bill sweats. That's getting a little personal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was very funny, Dan.

[Mike Catalana]

It's Sean making jokes for a game in December.

[Dan Fates]

This is off season, Sean in the middle of the season. This was a very rare thing to see. And even was like, what am I wearing today? Oh, that. That's right. Yeah. I'm used to this. I go in my closet. I didn't know what to wear this week. I thought it was a perfect moment to encompass that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How many different gray bills T shirts do you think Sean McDermott has? He had.

[Mike Catalana]

He did have that different color jacket on for practice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah. He's got the big sunglasses.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. It's got the looks.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

When he doesn't have the hat on. By the way, I was thinking about this. I know they slightly adjust the schedule Thanksgiving week, give the players a little bit of different time. What's Sean like for Thanksgiving dinner?

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, I don't know. I wanted to ask all the players because obviously this is where my focus is, is like, where. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Was asking a little bit in the media room.

[Dan Fates]

What. What side dish are you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, not that.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, you gotta watch. I asked that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just, what's your favorite Thanksgiving food? Comment below. Your favorite Thanksgiving food. What's yours?

[Mike Catalana]

The lasagna.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God.

[Mike Catalana]

I. I gotta tell you, I. I like turkey. I eat. It's fine. I like stuffing. It's fine. I don't sit there and go, wow, like, so Italian. Honestly, lasagna is, like, my least favorite Italian food. It's just what a lot of people make Thanksgiving. I. I gotta tell you, I don't like cranberry sauce. Turkey is good. I don't sit there and go, oh, my God, this is, like, the greatest meal. No, it's.

[Dan Fates]

Mike's blood is 98 olive oil.

[Mike Catalana]

And, yeah, it's funny, like I said, I threw lasagna out there because people will make it. I don't really like lasagna that much either. There's way up. More pastas.

[Dan Fates]

I.

[Mike Catalana]

Aren't we a little, like, overdone with the whole turkey thing? Like, it's the greatest meal you've ever had.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I love Thanksgiving. I am a big fan of Thanksgiving.

[Mike Catalana]

What do you like? You like the desserts?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, yeah, obviously, but this might be controversial. Gravy. Love Gravy, it is the straw that stirs the drink. It makes everything better. And you, you only have gravy on special occasions.

[Mike Catalana]

I, in my family, we just had mashed potatoes the other night, and I was like, you know what? I like these.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, it's. We don't have them that often.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't necessarily order them when I'm out. And I'm like, maybe I would. So mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey's fine. Throw the gravy on top.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The gravy.

[Mike Catalana]

Kind of like it the next day a little bit better.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Gravy is amazing. Dan, what do you like?

[Dan Fates]

But gravy covers up how mediocre turkey is. I'm also sorry for my camera. So I'm going off the iPhone and it's like tracking me. It is all over the place. I'm trying to sit as most over here. I'm trying to sit as still as possible. And my iPhone camera will just use his volume.

[Mike Catalana]

I just want it on the record. If that was me, I would get an old joke here. Mike doesn't need to know how to set up his camera. And Dan's camera is following him like it's the CIA. Look at him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Seasick. If it was you, because you do move a lot. Okay, Dan, your favorite Thanksgiving food before.

[Dan Fates]

We go back to Bill, Renee makes a sweet potato casserole. That's really good. And I never grew up on sweet potatoes. So, like, marshmallows or. It's not the marshmallows, but it's the brown sugar with, like, the crumble on top.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, okay. Now we're. Now we're getting a little bit better.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that sounds good. Okay, let's go. Let's go back.

[Mike Catalana]

I wanted to know what Sean McDermott's favorite food is. Is it the raisin brand he has for breakfast?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you think he, like, eats Thanksgiving dinner?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, I think they have a Thanksgiving dinner as a place.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know what is, like the.

[Dan Fates]

Most raisin brand breakfast?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. And then eventually. Nah. And he has what, a cookie, a dessert?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, probably. He has like one slice of pumpkin pie.

[Mike Catalana]

That's it. And he wrestles all the relatives.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Seriously? Okay, back to the bills.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They're in a good spot.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And this weekend, what do you expect to see from this matchup?

[Mike Catalana]

You know, it's funny is you think about all the injuries, and we have the interview with Greg Papa, who's the play by play guy of the Niners, and we talked about all the injuries, and then you sit there. And you think to yourself, this team is so loaded with talent. Name talent, too. And they've had. Everybody talks about injuries and how tough it is on a team. When you look at what this team has had, I mean, you're talking about McCaffrey was hurt and Trent Williams was hurt and the quarterback was hurt and Dre Greenlaw was hurt and Bose is hurt. Now we're recording this on, late on Wednesday and you know, Bosa didn't practice and Trent Williams, and it's like they, they have lost. Oh, and they lost Brandon Iuk for the season, like an immense amount of injuries. But they still have cm, you know, cmac and they've got cmc and they also, I mean, they still have Debo, right? And Purdy will probably play like they still have a lot of talent on this team. They should be angry. They should be playing like an angry team. I do have a thought that they could come into this game because they've played so many games and been to the NFC Championship and lost a tough Super Bowl. It has worn on them. And I don't know if this game isn't just the tipping point of if it doesn't go well, even though they're still in the race, they just can't muster it up. Maybe that's not the case. Maybe it's the total opposite. And they all just say, we're done with playing mediocre football because they got blown out last week with a lot of guys off the field. So they could be extremely dangerous or one foot away from getting shoved over the cliff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I could definitely see that. Dan, Brock Purdy on Wednesday was a limited participant in practice, but I'm seeing reports that he did not throw the ball at all. And, and we asked the Bills, like, this week just about how do you prepare for a team when you don't really know who's going to be in the lineup? And they're like, well, it's. It's a system thing. And so for me, and I don't know how you feel about it, Dan, but it just felt like very. The Bills are like, it doesn't matter who's out there. We. We have a plan regardless.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that's the right thing to say in the media, but as we've seen before, the Dolphins have a good system and it's not the same without TUA and things like that. Mike, to your point, I have been waiting for this Niners team, just like everybody else has, to become the Niners team that we have become accustomed to seeing over the last four to five years, and we're waiting for it, and it just hasn't been happening. So, like, at some point, I understand the injuries, I understand the hangover and things like that. I just think this is who the Niners are. I. I don't think they're a very good team. And they're sitting around waiting like, oh, they'll pick it up. They'll figure it out. I. I don't think they're going to figure it out. I think this is. This team reminds me a lot, Mike, of that Eagles team kind of last year.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Coming off the super bowl hangover, everything was going good. They had some injuries, and then the locker room just seemed to be dysfunctional. All these kind of things have kind of played into it where I just. This camera is just.

[Mike Catalana]

I was thinking, it's like, he's coming in.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm honestly not looking at it.

[Mike Catalana]

He's coming in to dock the boat.

[Dan Fates]

Where's. This is worse.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, wait a minute. Hold on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, that looks like a caricature.

[Dan Fates]

We'll just go with this.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, but not moving.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I'm not moving, so.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I'm not leaving.

[Dan Fates]

So. I don't know. This Niners team, I'm just not sold on them being this fearful team that I thought they could have been before the season. When you looked at the schedule and went, this is a scary team, Jenna.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is the perfect example of it's not who you play, it's when you play them. Because I feel like going into this season, I'm like, oh, Niners, it's gonna be tough. And then it's where they're at this year. You mentioned the super bowl hangover, all those things. There's just so much seeming dysfunction. Sounds too strong. But at the same moment, it's just. You see how cohesive this team has played in the past.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And you look at where they're at, and it just. It all looks off.

[Mike Catalana]

No question. And listen, Kyle Shanahan's a really good head coach, but the message gets. He's. Look, he's won a ton of games. He's a very good coordinator. There's many comparisons you could make to Sean McDermott with the two of them. He's made it farther. He's gotten to the super bowl and lost.

[Dan Fates]

Correct, Mike. And that's something that grinds my gears a little bit with the sense of McDermott and Shanahan get viewed in different lights, that, like, Kyle Shanahan is this winner and this innovator, and all these things and that there's truth to that because Kyle Shanahan has reinvented offensive football and his, his, his DNA is over a lot of different systems in the NFL because of what he's been able to do. But when you talk about the knock on Sean McDermott, which I agree 100% is late game moments, all of those things, Kyle Shanahan is the king of being a part of blowing leads in the fourth quarter, nobody has blown more leads. And while he doesn't get all of the 28 to 3 Super bowl because he obviously wasn't the head coach, his offense was the one that stalled his play calling, helped the Patriots get back into that. So for as egregious as 13 seconds is, let's not give Kyle Shanahan a pass for some of those things they have blown in the division. Mike, four double digit fourth quarter leads this season. Nobody has blown more fourth quarter leads in their career since Kyle Shanahan became a head coach. So for everybody that puts Kyle Shanahan in this tier of top five guys and, or, or the second tier of coaches. To me it's like because I do know there are some Bills fans that would love to have Kyle Shanahan as their head coach and to that and they're just not fans of McDermott. And again we've always agreed if you want an offensive minded head coach that's completely different. I agree and I'm not going to disagree with your views on what you want. But if you criticize coaches for late game moments in game management and fourth quarter blown leads, nobody's worse at it than Kyle Shanahan.

[Mike Catalana]

So a couple of things on that I will say he's an innovative mind. It's his father's system, Mike Shanahan and he's been very good following that. And he's had a. Mike Shanahan had a real tree of coaches behind him and the mistakes he's made have been different. The 13 seconds game is just was such an epic game and the way the Bills lost goes on the head coach. There's no question. But Shanahan even in the super bowl made very questionable decisions. I mean think about it though. His team scored first in the super bowl overtime and lost. Right? He's found ways to lose. He has a talented coach. But I was getting more on the point that they've had a lot of veterans, a lot of the same guys and I think the message, I won't say necessarily gets old but in a season like this it feels old, stale The Bills have revamp the roster. Ners haven't done that yet. I think that's coming because they still have a lot of talent. But it's coming where the Bills have had a lot of guys that haven't heard all of Sean's things as much. But they, they responded to it because they do have an influx of younger players that the Niners haven't had. But you are right about that though. He, he is done just well enough to be immensely criticized for failing in big moments.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I do think too with the Bills, when you have results, it changes everything. When you're winning, it's the, the message doesn't seem as stale. But when you're losing and you're losing in the way in which they had by blowing big leads or by just falling apart, it, it makes it very different of saying the same thing over and over again. You're like, okay, yeah, that, like this clearly is not connecting.

[Dan Fates]

I also don't, I also don't judge a coach as much when everything is going right as to when everything's going wrong. So perfect example is last year, the Bills squabbling. We talked about how they were dysfunction, von Miller, Sean McDermott's 911 comments. All of those things, like it was bad. What did the team do? They rallied. What is Kyle Shanahan. I get it. I'm not trying to like, I will give them a pass just like I give Mike McDaniel this year. They've just had a snake bit season of injuries with the Dolphins. They have shown that when two is healthy, the Dolphins are a very, very good team. They've just kind of had one of those seasons of just hell and bad luck. Kyle Shanahan, like, this is a defining moment of like when you don't have what you want, can you still keep the ship afloat and not have it go down in terrible flames? So when things are good, you know, like Mike Eagles are a prime example. When everything's going well, Sirianni looks great. When things are going bad, how do you look as a head coach? That's how. That's the big thing. I judge a head coach.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Dealing in, in crisis. Sean, that was as close to crisis as I think he's been as a head coach. Going all the way back to playing Nate Peterman as a rookie head coach and the team rallied behind him. But in this case, last year was bad. I mean all that was bad. That was, that was the lowest of the low in terms of during a season for McDermott. And let's be honest. I mean, since he's had Josh Allen, they haven't lost more than two games in a row, which is incredible. And then they go on these runs. So all that being said, they still come into Orchard park thinking, we can win this game. If Purdy is able to play, they're a much better team. The one thing I would have to say about them is like, you have Allen, number 17, playing for the, the Brandon Niners. Yeah, he hadn't played in three years. Like, I, I don't get what they're thinking sometimes with backup quarterbacks and the way they run their team. You know, they ran into that problem in the playoffs a few years ago when they lost to the Eagles, you know, because. And then they whined about it forever. 40 whiners. I love getting that shot in, but they do. They whined about it, but your backup quarterback, he's playing in the game last week and they're like, he hasn't played in three years. I mean.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

What are we doing?

[Jenna Cottrell]

What are we doing? Okay, good news at practice. Matt Milano, he's gone from, you know, the practice window being opened up to being in a red contact, non contact jersey today. In a regular jersey. Flying around now. McDermott wouldn't comment about whether he will be back in the lineup. He did kind of mention today, Dan, that the expectation is essentially to do a pitch count, get in some reps, but not have him be like the full time guy when he gets back. But do you expect him to play, Mike? Yeah, I do too.

[Mike Catalana]

Every player said, well, whether he plays this week or in the future, he's a full participant in practice. Which you would have thought because they've been waiting to get him up there. And then you look at him and I know it's just practice, but like that dude wants to be on the field and if you're going to do a pitch count, put him out there, put him out there. And I think he does. I'd be very surprised if he was ruled out. I mean, they would have to say, like there's some particular reason they would rather him start in another week. Hey, Dan, they, they opened up the window before the bye week. Yeah. This just seems like the, I won't say ideal. Ideal would have been he never got hurt. But the ideal way to come back off the bye, him getting his work in and then practicing with the team and then playing at home back against the Niners.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, this feels like a classic McDermott being like, we'll see, we'll see. But we all kind of know and the team maybe even probably knows, like he doesn't have to show his hand that Milano will be back. And again, you'll have packages, you'll have plays, you'll have situations that you definitely want to get Milano on the field. But there's. It is kind of the luxury like we talked about in the previous pod and on the U Ask, we answer, you know, segment too on the Buffalo plus YouTube channel of like, they're in good shape. And I think all a lot of these guys that are coming back will be on pitch counts, but I think that's still better than what the linebacker situation was, the defensive line situation was. But the fact that Milano was not in a red non contact jersey on Wednesday just seemed to be like the, the telltale sign that he'll be back.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I think for the team too, it's just like, okay, he's getting another step closer. And we kind of started the pod with feeling like this team is like getting all these players back. Dwayne Carter, the Bills opening up his practice window, that's another positive for this team. And I think it's actually great timing because where they're at in the season, you mentioned them being at home, but also just like there's still regular season games left where you feel like you can have that ramp up period with them playing in games and then have them kind of right at the sweet spot when the playoffs do start. And I did want to say, speaking of the sweet spot, like the game on Sunday will be December 1st and this team has been phenomenal in December.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I, I wonder if you feel like it's just the progression of the season, Mike, or how do you think this team is able to kind of continue to ratchet things up in the way teams are supposed to before the playoffs.

[Mike Catalana]

I think because they're well coached and have a great culture.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's like in the games themselves, teams that are the best teams adapt and they adapt to who they have. They adapt to the way the year goes on and the way this league is now. September is a bit of the preseason. Even though you look back, you look back on those games, it almost feels like a different year. Even though they were, you know, they were fine in the beginning, they up and down a little bit, but it feels like a different team. This, this coaching staff and even obviously the previous coaching staffs under McDermott and Bean, they've been really good and they adapt, they adapt to their personnel and they have found a way. Now last year it took firing the OC and making a change which played greatly into them going on the run. But we've talked about the numbers, you know, these two game losing streaks that they have and then they dominate, you know, after the hail. Murray, they won every regular season game. Like this team is great really. November and December most of the time and I know. Comments. What about the playoffs? What about the playoffs? Yeah, well, it's a different world in the playoffs. So they've been good. Not great, great teams make it to the super bowl. But I think that's what it is, Dan.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it's also some luck that that goes into it. You know, the Bills seem to have had some of their injuries, some of their suspensions, even you could say have gotten out kind of out of the way. And that's why again, it feels like the bye week's coming at a right time where rookies, there is that rookie wall. But they always talk about at this point of the season they're no longer rookies. Ray Davis, Keon Coleman, those guys have, have had enough reps where you feel comfortable enough that they are going to ready to make an impact and the training wheels kind of come off and you're, you know, Sean always talks about it, you want to be playing your best football this time of the year. And a lot of the time Sean McDermott led teams. These Bills teams have been playing their best when the weather's gotten colder.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, weather might be a factor on Sunday. Now the Bills talk about being very well prepared. I mean obviously in Orchard park they're aware of, they know what things are like. But that is something I'm curious what that will do for the Niners because if Brock Purdy shoulder is bothering him and he's already coming into this game and they're like, well he could be questionable. And then just thinking about playing in a cold Orchard park game with the snow going, I'm like, if I'm the Niners, I'm like out. Immediately out.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, a big one is Trent Williams too. Yeah, he is a monster. He is a tremendous first ballot hall of Fame tackle. When he's not on the field, they're just, they are just a different team.

[Dan Fates]

I saw, yeah, I saw something on social media that he was riding around in a scooter today around the locker room because it even hurts for him to walk. And that guy is a warrior.

[Mike Catalana]

So we don't even know about Bosa. Again, we may know more about Bosa. As you're watching this, you may be or listening to it On Friday or Saturday leading up to it. We may know more, but Bosa is a game wrecking player and they didn't have him last week. I mean they got handled by Green Bay in that. The reason I say is they're, they're not done because of the way that division is, which is wild. Like I think it's all 5 and 6, 6 and 5. Like they're all bunched together.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But it's going to take a, it's going to take a run from them and maybe that run for them starts the next week because of all the injuries and they get everybody or get some of those guys back.

[Jenna Cottrell]

George Kittle did talk this week and he said like I am still optimistic. Like this team does have all the pieces and he's a leader on this team and he's a star on this team and I expect him to say that. But I do feel like the vibe is just, it's different coming into to.

[Mike Catalana]

Buffalo and we haven't really even talk about McAffrey that much but like he is an incredible player when healthy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's not healthy. I mean he's at the moment, he doesn't have the burst. He hasn't scored a touchdown I think since he's been back and the guy just piled up touchdowns. What'd he go 17 straight games with? A touchdown?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Fumble.

[Mike Catalana]

He fumbled. That dude doesn't fumble either. Like he's a machine and he's not the same. So you know that takes away even with the other guys. McCaffrey was the guy who really put this offense over the top. But he's going to play and Debo's going to play and Kittle's going to play. So it's not like you just roll the ball out there and you get a win.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean the Bills, because you look at this and you say you don't want it to go the other way. You go out there Sunday, get knocked off. Now you're at the Rams going, okay, because the next week you're at Detroit. Like things can turn around quickly if you aren't focused. Bills are usually focused. I'm not going down a three game losing streak. I'm just saying is this is a very winnable game but you still got to go out there and play well to win it.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, yeah. McDermott is what, 70 off a buy?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

In his career.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, he's, he's, his team is pretty.

[Dan Fates]

Good, but good coaches with extra time are usually pretty dangerous and usually have their teams in, in good position.

[Mike Catalana]

So you learned that from the fat man because.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

It's all right to say, right, Andy. It mean Andy's great out of a pie. He's always been great.

[Dan Fates]

And Jenna, to your point, the weather is. Lake effect snow band is starting to set in. For those people that are not in western New York that are listening, Lake effect snow band supposed to set in somewhere over western New York Friday, Saturday into Sunday. They're expecting what, 15 to 30, like, or somewhere in that range, maybe around the 2ft range. They talked, I know the county executive talked that, like, hey, if it's three feet over a weekend, that's no problem. They can handle that. If it's three feet in a day, which you never know with lake effect snow could be a problem. McDermott said that, you know, they don't control the weather. They're just trying to get ready for a football game.

[Mike Catalana]

The hope is that it stays south of Orchard Park.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's. So that's what we were talking about today in Buffalo. The expectation is for it to say stay south. But also with lake effect snow, if it is snowing three feet in a day.

[Dan Fates]

Crazier things have happened in Orchard Park.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, I know. That's why.

[Mike Catalana]

And people who don't know, even if you follow the Bills like you see about the snow, it literally could be 2ft, 3ft, 10 minutes from the stadium.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

And 6 inches at the stadium. It's. It's nonsensical.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

What goes on? I know there's science behind it, but. Dan. Science. Right.

[Dan Fates]

I guess I should stay on here. We're not meteorologists. Not doctors. Not meteorologists.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. Not in the building.

[Mike Catalana]

Not yet.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. I'm trying to think. Anything else?

[Dan Fates]

MVP talk?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yes. Let's get into it. Dan, has your MVP thoughts changed? No.

[Dan Fates]

It's comical. It's like we joked round about. I know there were some comments after the U. S. We answer about the recency bias of defensive and offensive coordinators under Sean McDermott. Things like that. Everybody has their own opinion, but Saquon deserves to be in the MVP conversation. What he has done with the Eagles and all, all of those things. Lamar is not in the conversation. And it's getting a. I guess I'm a little bit annoyed that Lamar and Mahomes are in the conversation. I get. I get my homes just because of the name. And The Chiefs are 9 and 1. Golf isn't in that conversation. And his teams are 9 and 1. And I think golf has been better at moments. And the. The offensive numbers that The Lions have put up.

[Mike Catalana]

It's just been flat out better than Mahomes this year.

[Dan Fates]

Right?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But he's not even uttered. He's not even whispered in the conversation. And it's still Lamar and Mahomes and Saquon. Like, things like that you have to have. Your team has to be really good. Otherwise Joe Burrow would probably win the award for how good he has been with the Bengals. Like, he. His numbers are crazy. But we have seen what this award has turned into is the quarterback of the top seed. So whether that one of the.

[Mike Catalana]

One of the best seeds. The thing I would say is I think Lamar's been much better than he was last year. This year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Ironic. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And he won last year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So the people I was watching one of the four letter networks, I don't like to name them, but it would be called espn. And they were talking about it and they were like, lamar, how do you not have Lamar there? And I'm thinking, do you realize what last year was where Josh Allen had a much better statistical year than Lamar, by the way, ended up as the two seed by the end of the year when most of the votes had already been figured out and he did not win. And it was. Lamar won to dance point. Best player, quarterback on the one seed and he won it. Josh is going to be the one or the two seed this year. He's been great all year. He's had big moments. They've won because of him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's carried a team that most people did not think were going to be at this level.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is because the NFL and NFL media people have the attention span of a gnat.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because it's whatever is flashy and whatever happens, actually. Oh, that's the mvp. Ooh, that's the mvp. When you do take a step back. I agree. Saquon. Absolutely. In that conversation. He has done a hell of a lot when people did not expect him to be that guy and what he was, what he has been able to do. And then you look at Lamar and you say, yeah, his numbers are better, but you look at the body of work that Josh has put together for the season. And Jared Goff, a great example, Dan, of how sometimes when the narrative is not surrounding a player, it's interesting how it will just completely go to someone else. It's Mahomes because of the name and the star power. It's Lamar because of the name of the star power. But there are other guys that are more qualified, in my opinion, at this point in the season. When you look at what they've been able to do so far and you.

[Dan Fates]

Know why to me Josh is the clear number one is because of the surrounding cast that he has compared to the other guys.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

That to me drives me nuts because I always think about it at times and I know that's not what the award is like. I'm not naive to that fact of it but it really should be part of the conversation of if you take this player off this team, what are they like? If you want to say, if you want to say it should be Joe Burrow. I, I can't really disagree with you besides the record but the Bengals are probably a three win team without Joe Burrow like because of, you know. But he has Jamar Chase. And then I look at Lamar Jackson, I go he's got Derrick Henry and he's got all these weapons around him. And then I look at what Jared Goff has Saquon, you and me could probably rush Mike for about 150 yards in a season over with that Eagles offensive line. So I look at what Josh was A.J.

[Mike Catalana]

Brown and, and Jalen hurts like and you look at Derrick Henry who is right there with Saquon close with the numbers as a running back and he's on the team. I hate having to. I don't disparage Lamar. I think Lamar is a great, great player and a winner even though he hasn't won big because I think he ought to be fair. Things Josh hasn't done. Even though we think Josh has certainly been better in the playoffs. Lamar has been a great, great regular season player. He's had a great year. But to your point, this year they got him Derrick Henry. Their offense in a total is probably more versatile and better. He got it last year because they ended up as the one seed with a better defense and the numbers. I think this is the if you want to vote on narrative. Josh has the narrative this year. There's no question.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I would be genuinely curious if you asked a casual NFL fan, not a Bills fan, if they could name the Bills wide receivers how many they would get.

[Mike Catalana]

I think this year they would get Shakira and then they struggle. Especially if you play fantasy, right? Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I don't even know how much Shakir would get.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't think Shakir would get that many.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I mean if you, if you follow the NFL like if you play any fantasy football. But I mean beyond that there's, there's nobody now.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I feel like you would say Kincaid.

[Dan Fates]

The casual football fan wouldn't know really any of these guys. The people that know the game understand the insides and outs have Khalil as probably one of the top 10 best wide receivers because of what his impact is. But his stats won't say it. Shakir is probably not going to make the Pro bowl even though his impact is Pro bowl worthy. But you're playing the name game with other guys that are putting up bigger numbers and, and have more of a resume in their career. And because Shakir is going to have 80 something catches and 900 yards, it's not going to pop and be like, oh, this is, you know, Shakir's not winning you any fantasy games. He is winning the Bills games. He's not winning you fantasy games.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But that's exactly my point of like.

[Dan Fates]

Right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree around other guys is is apparent to even casual fans.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Whereas it has to be a little bit more nuanced for you to know some of the bigger name guys on Buffalo. They are not the bigger named guys in the league other than Josh.

[Mike Catalana]

Right. Amari Cooper's the biggest name wide receiver.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's been very, he's very limited.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He could be more and more. But we're talking about at the moment. Now look, you have this week, Josh has got another national TV game which always helps. And Saquon against Lamar going in that one. You know, this is just the way this world works. But it's probably going to be some sort of an elimination. They're just the way it goes. If one of them has a great game, the other one.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's true.

[Mike Catalana]

Actually the funny thing from the Ravens is it's two guys which, because I think Derrick Henry is, you know, an elite, elite player too. So I think Josh is in great shape to do it. If the team keeps winning, especially these big games like national tv, I think he will bring the voters along with him.

[Dan Fates]

Can I say one more thing on Lamar?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Because I watched that entire Sunday night game and my thoughts on Lamar didn't change at all. Like, Lamar is still as dynamic as they come. He is still a great player in every sense. And like I understand why he's got the MVP awards, all of those things. But I remember I said on this, this channel, like better throat, like pure passer is Geno Smith when they played the Seahawks. And I know what Geno has regressed to a little bit. And they're dealing with an offensive line that can't do anything. Lamar is still like I still every time the ball is snapped, if I'm a Defense. If, or if I'm a fan of the opposing team, my heart's in my chest. Like, I'm just so nervous about how he can beat you and how dynamic he can be. And then when he throws the football, I kind of like, exhale. Now again, he, he can still dot a ball. Debateman, like, that was still unbelievable. But his touchdown pass to Andrews, and I talked to a friend of mine who knows football and Carl who played at Syracuse and works for wivb, like, that ball needs to be on the back shoulder. He throws it into the defender. Andrews makes a great catch. And it's like, what a great read by Lamar. Like, I still like pure passer, putting the ball where it needs to be, ball placement, all of those things. I still don't think Lamar's in the top half of the league. That's not to say that he can't make an elite throw, but it's almost, for lack of a better term, it feels like by accident, like, no, now I, I will.

[Mike Catalana]

I push back on one thing. I'm watching the Rams and the Eagles game on Sunday night. No one throws the ball better than Matthew Stafford.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Pretty spiral.

[Mike Catalana]

He doesn't scare me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Matthew Stafford, No.

[Dan Fates]

Both things can be true because what.

[Mike Catalana]

Lamar does, he puts himself in a position to make sometimes kind of a shitty pass that still ends up as a touchdown because he's so.

[Dan Fates]

His dynamic.

[Mike Catalana]

Dynamic, yes. Sometimes it's like I, I did love his touchdown run when he sort of just stopped, let the guy go by and he walked in the end zone.

[Jenna Cottrell]

High school.

[Mike Catalana]

He is, He's. He is that. So you're right as far as pure thrower, which probably is what hurts him in big moments in the biggest of big games. But this is. He is still dynamic as a player and I don't begrudge him that. I'm just looking at it strictly when we talk about this vote. Josh now has the better record. I know he lost to him earlier in the year, but that's head to head in what, September?

[Jenna Cottrell]

September, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

We're talking about better record, going to be a division winner, one of the top seeds, and great numbers.

[Dan Fates]

I'm not saying he's Daniel Jones throwing the football. Like, I just want to clarify that. I'm not saying Daniel Jones, but when I see some of these throws and it's pointed out. It was pointed out to me too, which makes a lot of sense. Lamar used to be one of the worst passers against the blitz. Last year he was like second to last.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

This year he is second Best against the blitz. So he is having more of an understanding of. That was kind of how you beat him. That was how the Chiefs beat him in the playoffs. Like, you just blitz the crap out of him. He's kind of confused and doesn't know exactly what to do. But it almost. It's easier said than done. It's like, hey, why don't you cover Kelsey? Like that kind of dumb statement that gets said. But it's like, if you could rush three, keep Lamar in the pocket and make him throw. I know you can't cover for nine seconds, but it just feels like some of these throws, like he's got guys open and overthrows them. Like EJ at training camp. Like, he. He will sell some balls that you're like, that was a bad throw in a clean pocket. So it's just. I was trying to explain it to Carl and I said, I go, it's like a. To me, it's like a dart player. Like, I'm a. We play darts in college, right? You get a couple beers in you. It's like, oh, I can hit what I'm trying to aim for. But then if you tell me you got to hit a bullseye, you. It might take me 30 minutes to hit a bullseye because it's almost an accident that I hit a bullseye. You look at someone like, Stafford can throw bullseyes after bullseyes after bullseyes into tight areas. Josh has shown he has the ability to have touch on his throws now. He can fit the ball into tight windows, all of those things. Lamar, to me, it almost feels like sometimes when he throws those perfect passes, it's almost by accident.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. It's just. He's different. He's an incredible playmaker, though.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

That's why when we talked about the mvp, who's a better quarterback, it's Josh Allen. But Lamar is a dynamic player. But all that being said, so is Josh Allen. Better numbers, better spot. That's why I just think they got to be fair, the voters, because I hear about some of these guys voting. But Jenna's right. Shiny object. Let's see what happens this week and the next week.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's literally the meme of, like, the. The woman, the guy looking back, and the woman looking at her boyfriend. And it's like, whoever had the best game.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep. Whoever turns their head this week.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, exactly.

[Mike Catalana]

Men. It's always our fault.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, it's just the example.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, but.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, but.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hey, just so you guys know, the dose makes the poison.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, my God.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Picks okay, wait. I wanted to talk about the Ray Davis interview.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So a couple weeks ago, it was. It was more than a couple weeks ago, but that's because it took me a while to put together the story, but sat down, did an interview with Ray Davis and Bill's first year running back. Played at three different colleges, went to multiple high schools, and he had just such an incredible story of. Of his life. And so we wanted to show you the story because it's one of patience and perseverance and a special person who changed his life forever. Excuse me. I think you'll enjoy it. Here's the story. Ray Davis has always searched for a place to call home.

[Mike Catalana]

The Buffalo Bills select Ray Davis Running back, Kentucky.

[Ray Davis]

I didn't live a child's life. I lived a grown man's life.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Born in San Francisco, there were many nights Davis did not know where he would be sleeping.

[Ray Davis]

It was the hardest time of my life, when you. When there's no consistency, when there's no stable home, when there's nobody to tell you that they love you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Davis was in and out of homeless shelters and foster care. One of 14 kids, his parents struggled to support the family. So Davis took on that role, dropping his younger sister at school, taking care of his baby brother.

[Ray Davis]

I wouldn't be who I am today without those journeys, without going from seven different homes, from living with different families, from sleeping on floors, sleeping on couches.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But when he needed a refuge, that's where he found sports.

[Ray Davis]

Football was my escape. Like I said, it was my escape from the reality of what I was going through. It was two hours of practice every day that I got to get away from being homeless, being a foster care child, sleeping on floors. It was the one time where I felt like this. And everybody held me at the top of the world. But as soon as I walked away from that practice, I was back to this. And nobody would know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was until after a game. Davis life changed forever when he got a ride with a teammate and their family.

[Ray Davis]

Laura Banks is who I call my mom. She took me in at the age of 16, and that's who I had my long, long drive with back from Santa Barbara, back to California. And she asked me about, almost, I want to say, close to a thousand questions. And she learned who I was. And from that day on, it became a bond. I became unbreakable.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Laura Banks saw a struggling child and took him in, and she has been there ever since.

[Ray Davis]

It's crazy because, you know, she was there for the. The high school games. And the college games play.

[Mike Catalana]

This is Davis across midfield.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And now that journey has taken them here to the NFL.

[Ray Davis]

I haven't really accepted the fact that I'm here. I haven't accepted the fact that I'm in the league or I'm in that nothing seems real still.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Davis is considered one of the oldest rookies, but he has lived a lot of life in 24 years and he is making the most of this dream, one he's held onto since those sleepless nights in California.

[Ray Davis]

I get to go out there every Sunday or Monday or Thursday and play the game that I love and get to have fun. I want them to know that my guy's never going to give up. I've been through too much to give up. I've been too much to be upset and sad and mope.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. From his childhood, he has been searching, searching to feel like he is home. And now Ray Davis has exactly that.

[Ray Davis]

I want people to understand. I don't do this for me. If this were to go away all tomorrow, I just hope that my legacy and my story was able to help somebody else.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I mean, he is an incredible guy with an incredible story behind him. And he's already been helping out in the community. He won the NFL MVP community award for helping out with big brothers, big sisters, a program that he himself was in when he was growing up. So already making a huge impact off of the field and also contributing on as well.

[Mike Catalana]

He. He got me the most when he did the. I felt up here and then I was back down here. Dan, I want to congratulate you. We did a great job on that story. You and I did.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I definitely got some help. Also want to give a shout out, Brian Swera.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Who edited the piece. He did a f. I mean, you watch it. He did an amazing job. So thank you to him and also thank you to Ray because he was super gracious with his time and. Yeah. I mean.

[Mike Catalana]

And he really liked the story.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He did. Which always, you know, for this job, real quick inside baseball, but, like, it's a little intimidating putting together someone's life story because you want to do it well. You want to give it the respect that it deserves.

[Mike Catalana]

So you did that. And I'm joking when I said Dan and I, we had minor, minor little words.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Absolutely. Helps.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Very little. It was Jenna's story. Great job.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No. And it's Ray's story.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Honestly, you told his story well.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And I love that. I loved it at the end. You know, you have that soundbite in the beginning of him saying, I didn't live a child's life, I lived a grown man's life. That you're like, whoa, yeah. And he has. I wouldn't blame Ray Davis to be angry and upset and thousand percent.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

You know, walk around like the world's against him and to come out on the other side of him being like, I don't, don't, I have no reason to be sad or upset or moan dope. Like, I get to do this. Like, that's, he always talk about like people always. And Ray obviously credited his mom or his, you know, he calls his mom. But like, you always talk about people that like, helped you along the way. Like I remember doing the Josh Allen story and it was the OC at Reedley Community College. The only guy that recruited him, like, things like that. Like, but it's crazy when you only have like one person that believes in you and, and to see what that does for somebody and how far it can take them is, is pretty special. And I love Ray. He was like, I, I'm, no, don't feel sorry for me. Like, I'm great. I, I, this is who, this helped make me who I am. So I loved it.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's a really good player too.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So he has contributed a lot as a rookie.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's not just a nice story. It's someone that's actually been really good in where he's been at. So. Yeah, I feel like a lot of fans will be rooting for him extra hard.

[Mike Catalana]

That's great.

[Dan Fates]

Fred Jackson vibes.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. I was thinking that.

[Dan Fates]

Watch play on the field, right?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. It just plays like him. Fred's a great dude now. Fred's son's really good player too. Fred was a great Buffalo Bill. Great player. I think he does have some similarities. I could see a little taller, but Ray can really play. All right, let's do picks on the games and then a quick credit to me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Dan, you want to start with picks?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I like this bills. They've scored 30 plus points in every single home game. I expect them to get 30 again. I see this game being like 30 to 17. I think the Bills win handily. Same thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I already put in my graphic, but.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I have a similar score. Slightly closer. I had for some reason an odd number, 29 to 20. Bills win it in control. Maybe closer in the first half, San Francisco's been at bad second half team. The Bills have been one of, if not the best. So yeah, I'm with you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you Think Purdy plays well again.

[Mike Catalana]

This is Wednesday saying that he wasn't throwing. And just the idea of, you know, when it's that kind of injury, I'll say. I'll say yes, because they're desperate. But if he does, I don't know how effective he's going to be for them, so.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah, I hear you.

[Dan Fates]

I don't think he plays.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know because, like, they are in the division hunt.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And they're like, even being five and six, it's like, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

They still have division games. You know, I may change my mind that he's not going to play because that idea of him not throwing on Wednesday, coming off of where they thought he was going to play last week, and then they shut him down.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They also said this with, like, McCaffrey, like, oh, he'll be fine. And then he ends up going to Germany for.

[Mike Catalana]

Right. But McCaffrey. But Purdy was like, yeah, he's basically. He's playing. And then they were like, no.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

This might be one of those injuries where it does more harm by playing. Yeah, yeah. And they got other games down the stretch, so I'll say no.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. All right, let's do credit to me.

[Dan Fates]

My wife.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My wife.

[Mike Catalana]

My wife.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Like I said, we talked about the beginning. It'll probably be my. Credit to me for the next two months will be credit to my wife. She's upstairs with the two girls right now. I've been helping out a lot more around the house, just being home more. The bills. Bye week was a great time to kind of be home. Credit to you guys for helping me out. Jen or Renee was telling me this last night, just being like, it's been so nice having you around. The bill's bi week helped, but also having great people that I work with that I consider family constantly checking in on me has been. Yeah. So credit to you guys as well. And I'm sure by next week we're scheduled for a possible induction on Saturday. We. I didn't know. There's, like a ticket line to get induced, apparently at. At hospitals.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. So we're like. It's like a deli ticket. So we're like maybe five or six on the list. So we need other people to naturally go into labor so that we can get in.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. I'll have seven pounds of a baby girl. Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Again, everybody's healthy. If there was a reason to induce earlier, we would have that. But mom and baby are healthy. Mom is just very over being pregnant, which I totally Understand? Actually, I don't, but I can sympathize. My wife's a hero. She's upstairs with the two kids right now. So. Yeah. And then I'm sure over the next few weeks, it'll still be credit to my wife and then credit to the nurses and doctors and everybody that will help out along the way. So appreciate some of the kind words. I know a lot of people are messaging me saying, congratulations, we're not there yet. I have just been terrified to be more than 20 minutes away from home or her at any moment, because bags are packed. We're just kind of in the waiting game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Oh, my God. I feel bad. Every. Every. All us texting, like, so many updates.

[Mike Catalana]

What's going on?

[Dan Fates]

Or if I miss a text and you guys are like, hey, what's going on?

[Mike Catalana]

And then the next mind he's. You're at the hospital, right? Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Oh, when you don't text me back, because Dan texts very fast back, I'm always like, oh, my God, it's happening.

[Dan Fates]

And then it was like, no, just giving the girls baths. And you're like, o. Just kidding. You're like, oh, just making dinner.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was very excited. All right, you want to do your credit to me?

[Mike Catalana]

Mine is football related, and I'm going to say this. And Dan cannot say a word for 30, 40 seconds. Okay. Credit to me. I was right about C.J. stroud.

[Dan Fates]

Boom.

[Mike Catalana]

Say anything. Here's what I was right about. He's still a really good player, but what do we say about the NFL? You're either humble or about to be humbled. Put himself in the top five. A lot of people around him talked about where he was coming into year number two. He's still really good, but I saw somebody tweeted he misses Stefan Diggs more than Josh Allen ever did, which is funny. Dan Orlovsky should thank him for running out of the back of the end zone. You know, he did the thing with. I just think he was a little ahead of where he's going to be. I still think he's going to be a top five quarterback in this league. I think he has that ability.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you really?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. I just did not think it should be that fast. He's going to need to. He's taking a little step back. His team has taken a step back. They're blaming the OC which, maybe that's the problem. But that guy was the right guy year one, not the right guy year two. My only thought was, you do not crown the guy. I mean, Heck, they tried to do it with Daniels eight games into his rookie year and then teams start to figure him out. Those guys both have immense talent and I believe another gear. But I think he's had to take a step back. He's really good. He's not top five right now. He's probably on the edge of 10 below. Yeah, he's okay. He's okay. He's a good player. Not great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. You see the flashes. I get it. I mean I agreed with you that I would get frustrated because did a lot of podcast talk in the off season.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And like you said, the NFL self.

[Mike Catalana]

In the top five quarterbacks.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean look, I want every quarterback to be confident. Like to play in the league you have to have a chip on your shoulder. But.

[Mike Catalana]

Did we lose him?

[Jenna Cottrell]

That noises.

[Mike Catalana]

Goodbye, Dan.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, I was just moving my microphone. Sorry.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, yes, you have to be confident, but you also have to be self aware. Caleb Williams.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Self aware.

[Mike Catalana]

You know that on the field it came across a little preachy. What did you say little bro? A little brown.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He little brought him.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I just didn't like that.

[Mike Catalana]

Like it's a little early in the game to be the expert on it. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Self awareness is important.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

A lot of people.

[Mike Catalana]

So now Dan, go ahead. This is. Go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

No, I just. You're doing the exact opposite of what everybody did. Like everybody loved him. You didn't. And now you're trying to take a victory lap and dunk on all the people that crowned him early. When you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

First of all, first of all, Dan, this is a play from your playbook.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like kettle black like this is.

[Mike Catalana]

But I just did not like the early crowning. Give the guy. Let's see play, not play. 16 games Sunday at 1 o' clock when everybody thought they stunk. Now when everybody thinks you're good. By the way, he did a lot to get the Bills back into that game. Even though they were playing lousy in.

[Dan Fates]

That poor offensive line, had injuries. It's also a snake bitten season.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay. Okay. It's fine.

[Dan Fates]

I respect that. I think Laramie Tunsil just got another penalty.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Yeah, he's. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But still it's hard. It's hard when you appointed yourself top five and your team is struggling.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And that's what. And let's be real, in the. In the NFL, especially with quarterbacks, the goal post is. Are always being moved back.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I will say for the goal post being moved as long as CJ realizes it's right behind him. When you run out of the end zone.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Michael. Wow. Okay. All right. My credit to me is based off of actually self awareness. So in Trader Joe's Thanksgiving week, the situational awareness at grocery stores during Thanksgiving week is criminal. Criminal. It is people in the middle of the aisle trying to. I get it. You don't know exactly what you're. You're looking for. But it is like. It's like a football game. You gotta have a game plan. You got to know where you're going. What are you doing? You got to anticipate. You gotta hit the hole when you see it. Trader Joe's was on. It was insane. Game plan. Anticipation and making moves. And I was. I did not see a lot of that.

[Mike Catalana]

Did you express your frustration at anybody?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, because I just, like, bottle up inside because that's what you're supposed to do.

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, I had a moment in a grocery store that was the craziest thing. So it's not a grocery store. Do you guys know Leo's Bakery in Delhi?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah. Very good. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Great place. So I go over there. I'm helping Jenny.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Is that a town?

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Credit to me. And I'm in the bread line because she wanted me to get sourdough bread.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh.

[Mike Catalana]

So I'm standing there looking for the sourdough, which wasn't out yet, which was fine. And they bring the long loaves of, like, French bread. Hot French bread. Coming right out of the oven. Realizing that there were all these people waiting for the bread to come out. So I'm just seriously, innocently walking in the aisle because I had no idea. And they're setting the bread down, and all the people that Jenna is talking about self aware are attacking the shelf. It's like I'm in the middle of it, and they're all like. And I'm like, I just grabbed one because I figured I got lucky. I was there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, so good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Phenomenal bread.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's just.

[Mike Catalana]

But imagine during Thanksgiving. Well, now it's Thanksgiving. Who.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Get ugly.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There should be classes.

[Mike Catalana]

You want to.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Situational awareness classes for grocery stores, for driving in the left lane.

[Mike Catalana]

This is old man.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know.

[Mike Catalana]

I've done my job. They have old man.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Some people, if you have young kids, I get it. Like, I'm not. You know, there's. There's reasons and there's excuses. Some people, they have reasons. Other people.

[Mike Catalana]

Honestly, I think most people with little kids are very aware because they're constantly having to corral their kids and they know what's going on.

[Dan Fates]

I'm just constantly apologizing. Just everywhere. Two kids running around just like, sorry, sorry, sorry.

[Mike Catalana]

Does Shane ever apologize to you about you? No, she never says, I'm sorry.

[Dan Fates]

Because Shane's also bringing a doll, a backpack, six other things walking through the store. And as Ryan is just running into oncoming cars. And she's like 2ft tall. So, like somebody pushing a car, I don't even blame them to be like.

[Mike Catalana]

It'Ll get better when you have a third.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What is. What is the. The Jim Gaffigan is so good because he has a large family. The comedian. What's it like having six kids? It's like, picture you're drowning and then someone hands you a baby. I mean, okay, you're one of what, four?

[Mike Catalana]

Five.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Five. I'm one of three. Daniel, be fine.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I wanted to, but, yeah, we'll figure this out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

All right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, let's wrap up here. This is a long podcast.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right. Thank you, everyone, for joining us. For Dan Fates, who's at home on Baby Watch 2024, Mike Catalana, I'm Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe, and share. We appreciate it. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors. And fairs. Oh, also, Happy Thanksgiving.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Enjoy the holiday.

[Mike Catalana]

Stay out of Jenna's way in the grocery store.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Stay out of my way and enjoy the gravy. Shopify's point of sale system helps you sell at every stage of your business. Need a fast and secure way to take payments in person? We've got you covered. How about card readers you can rely on anywhere you sell?

[Mike Catalana]

Thanks.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Have a good one. Yep, that too. Want one place to manage all your online and in person sales? That's kind of our thing wherever you sell. Businesses that grow grow with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at shopify.com listen. Shopify.com listen.