The 'UNPREDICTABLE' Bills SEASON PREVIEW and 'pressure' on JOSH ALLEN

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast Summary: Bills 2024 Season Preview & Pressure on Josh Allen

Podcast: Buffalo Plus
Episode: The ‘UNPREDICTABLE’ Bills SEASON PREVIEW and ‘Pressure’ on JOSH ALLEN
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Original Air Date: September 6, 2024

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Overview

This episode marks the Buffalo Plus crew’s deep-dive season preview for the 2024 Buffalo Bills. With Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals approaching, hosts Mike, Jenna, and Dan discuss the mood around the team, the uncertainties facing the roster, Josh Allen's role and the surrounding “pressure,” as well as their own bold predictions and intra-podcast competition for the year. Through stats, personal fears, and insider perspectives, they set expectations for a season full of unknowns, intrigue, and, as always in Buffalo, high stakes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Team & Fanbase Vibe: Confidence vs. Uncertainty

• Confidence Inside, Anxious Outside:

  • Dan notes, “I think the fan base is anxious because they don’t know what this team can be... The team itself is pretty confident with this group” (01:18).
  • Mike pushes back, emphasizing experience can't replace teamwork: “Having names on paper is a lot different than having them on the field and how they all gel and find rhythm” (02:10).

• Rosters Forecastable, But No Surprises:

  • The lineup was largely predictable post-draft, with the exception of Demar Hamlin starting at safety.

• Preseason Provided Few Answers:

  • Jenna highlights uncertainty: “It’s so hard to predict because we haven’t seen really anything in terms of preseason play from this Bills team” (02:33).

2. Reimagined Offense: 'Everybody Eats' Theory

• New Look, More Questions:

  • The loss of Stefon Diggs means 160 targets are up for grabs. There’s a theme of “everybody eats,” but as Dan puts it, “Keon's got to earn the trust of Josh Allen in a game... you have to earn the targets” (04:26).

• Role of New Weapons:

  • Discussion of how players like Keon Coleman (rookie WR) and Curtis Samuel must establish themselves before demanding targets.
  • Mike quips about Allen’s new role: “Is Josh Allen the lunch lady?... Like he’s the one that gets to serve everybody what they want.” (04:36)

• Unpredictability vs. Proven Connection:

  • The offense’s “unpredictability” is both a strength and Achilles heel. As Mike says, “confidence doesn’t win you football games necessarily” (05:46).

3. Examining 2023, Changing Schemes

• Stats Reveal Paradox:

  • Jenna: “26.5 points per game. That was third in the NFL… that surprised me” (06:07).
  • Still, offense “felt like everything was an effort,” lacked explosive plays, possibly due to missed connections and conservative play-calling.

• Pressure Points:

  • Jenna fears, “there’s too much pressure on Josh this season, especially early on, because of things kind of taking time to gel” (07:49).
  • Mike reassures: “Heavy is the head that wears the crown” (08:41).

• What Allen Needs to Do:

  • Dan: “What they actually need from Josh more is more boring football…. More check down Charlie than years past” (08:53).

4. Key Player Development

• Who Steps Up on 3rd Down and in the Red Zone?

  • Shakir is the early favorite as a safety blanket, but whether Keon Coleman or Dalton Kincaid will become the go-to guy is open.
  • “Who you going to on third and eight?” Dan asks—answer is unclear (11:11).

• Red Zone Needs and Potential Surprises:

  • “It was not a great pass-catching red zone offense,” Dan admits (16:53).
  • Keon Coleman and Kincaid highlighted as possible breakout scorers.

• Historic Lack of Production from Tight End:

  • Mike: “Guess how many thousand-yard tight ends the Bills have had? Zero.” (14:44)

5. Season Outlook: Predictions and Competition

• Podcast Prediction Game:

  • The trio enters a season-long challenge to predict the Bills’ win-loss record; losers face humorous "punishments," including a tough Pilates class or catching passes from a JUGS machine.

• Host Season Predictions:

  • Jenna: 11-6, Bills win Week 1 (27-17), Mack Hollins first TD (45:37).
  • Dan: 10-7, Bills still win division, “might be 4-4 and everyone wants to bury them,” win Week 1 (30-21) (46:12).
  • Mike: 11-6, division winners, “lower scoring game… maybe uncomfortably close at times,” Bill win (23-17) (46:58).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Allen’s Role:

  • “I think they need Josh to be more check down Charlie than years past.” – Dan Fates (09:18)
  • “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” – Mike Catalana referencing Sean McDermott (08:41)

• The Unpredictability Theme:

  • “Our offense is unpredictable... last year, we knew who the guys were that were going to get the ball. Now you’re replacing the target, and... you’re having to earn those targets.” – Mike Catalana (05:00)

• Red Zone Woes & Missed Opportunities:

  • “It was tough at times. It didn’t look as coordinated. It certainly didn’t look explosive… Josh missed Diggs deep multiple times last year.” – Dan Fates (06:22–07:09)

• Historic Frustrations:

  • “The Bears haven’t had a quarterback throw for what, 4,000 yards in their history?” – Dan Fates (15:13)
  • “Guess how many thousand-yard tight ends the Bills have had? Zero.” – Mike Catalana (14:44)

• Podcast Banter:

  • “Is Josh Allen the lunch lady?...” – Mike Catalana (04:36)
  • “Let’s not overreact to Week 1.” – Mike Catalana, half-seriously (34:00)

• Fan Interactions:

  • Live chat and superchat donations shape the episode’s energetic and community-focused tone, including suggestions for challenges and good-natured ribbing.

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Key Timestamps

• Team/Fan Vibe, Roster & Preseason Uncertainty: 01:09–02:33
• 'Everybody Eats' Offense Debate: 03:14–05:05
• Numbers from 2023 & Pressure on Josh Allen: 06:03–08:53
• Discussion of Check-Down Approach for Allen: 08:53–11:11
• Red Zone Struggles & Tight End History: 16:13–15:00
• Season Predictions & Podcast Bets/Punishments: 39:04–45:37
• Final Score Forecasts & First TD Picks: 45:37–48:18

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Takeaways for Bills Fans

• The Bills enter 2024 as one of the NFL’s most unpredictable contenders.
• Offense will be less dependent on a singular WR1, with targets widely distributed but responsibilities yet to be earned by new faces.
• Josh Allen faces significant (but not new) pressure—what’s needed is more disciplined, less “Superman” football, especially early.
• Both red zone efficiency and finding trustworthy third-down options remain major questions.
• Hosts’ predictions converge on 10–11 wins, winning the division, but with much more uncertainty and less offensive firepower—making for potentially tense, close games.
• Watch for breakout games from Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, and Khalil Shakir, plus an expanded role for Curtis Samuel.
• Playful podcast competition and fan interactivity add to the fun during a season where answers will only come week by week.

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Fan Quote of the Night

“I promise I will not overreact to Week 1. And I hope you join all of us in that fact that we will not overreact, good or bad, to week one.”
— Mike Catalana (33:47)

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For more in-depth Bills analysis, behind-the-scenes insights, and weekly recaps, subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube and join the live chat every Thursday at 7:15 PM ET.

Transcript

[Dan Fates]

In the time it takes you to.

[Mike Catalana]

Actually board a flight from Group 8.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Now boarding Premier Altitude Elite Club members.

[Mike Catalana]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon.

[Dan Fates]

Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details.

[Mike Catalana]

Limited availability pick up through participating Hyundai dealer and select markets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, we have finally made it to week one of the season and we are talking Bill's Cardinals.

[Dan Fates]

Hey, guess what? There's pressure on Josh Allen and we've.

[Mike Catalana]

Got hot takes, we've got a competition, have season predictions and we have punishments.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, it sounds like a good show.

[Mike Catalana]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And welcome to Buffalo Plus Live, presented by Connors and Ferris. Mike Catalana, whose computer's going off. Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cotrel. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. Welcome to week one, everyone. Bills Cardinals. We're going to break everything down. We're going to take a look at some of the numbers as well. And Mike's computer will hopefully be quiet.

[Dan Fates]

I think the last time it was your computer that made noise.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know. Whatever. Let's talk about it. Okay. Where do we feel the vibe of this team is at right now heading into Sunday?

[Dan Fates]

All right. Are you talking about where the team is or where the general fan base is? Because I think the fan base is anxious and. Well, I want to know what you guys think, too. I think they're anxious because they don't know what this team can be worried about the offense, worried about some of the changes on defense. I think the team itself is pretty confident with this group. Dan. They started basically back after the draft with a group and you could have predicted almost this entire lineup. Once they brought everybody in, once they had made the trades, once they had made the draft picks, outside of maybe Demar starting at safety, there hasn't been a big surprise to this roster.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, but that doesn't make me feel any more comfortable.

[Dan Fates]

I'm not saying you feel comfortable. I'm saying this team, they are basically walking into the season with the guys probably in April and May and June. They thought they would have on this team minus Matt Milano.

[Mike Catalana]

Right. But having names on paper is a lot different than having them on the field and how they all gel and find rhythm. I guess that's where my one concern is. We'd love to hear from you. Comment in through the show. We'll try and answer some of them along the way. But it's just. I guess that's where I don't we talked about it before on the. On the channel is that I'm still. I don't know anything more about this team that I didn't know before the preseason. It is a lot of unknown.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. I. Going into Sunday's game and I've been asked this a couple times, like, what do you feel? How do you think the game will shake out? It's so hard to. To predict because we haven't seen really. We didn't see really anything in terms of preseason play from this Bills team with Josh Allen on the field and the starters this summer. And then look over at the other team and the Cardinals didn't play anyone, I think. I mean, Kyler didn't play. And then there's Also Marvin Harrison Jr. Had three snaps. Like, these players were not getting a lot of runs. So it's hard to project anyways because, Mike, there are just so many new faces. But I think what we've heard so much from this team is just everybody's gonna eat. Do you buy into that?

[Dan Fates]

I buy into the idea that that is what they want to do. I will also say that they know about Kincaid and they know a lot about Shakir in this offense. Those are guys that were there before. I believe the other players will eat as much as it warrants, if you're following what I'm saying. Keon's got to earn the trust of Josh Allen in a game. They have to figure out what they want to do with Curtis Samuel. And back to the beginning, what I was saying is, in terms of the way the team feels, I think there's a level of confidence in the room. That's what I was referring to. I'm not talking about the fan base. We don't know what they're going to do. You even talk to the players when their answer was like, it's going to. Basically, it's like, we're going to surprise the other teams. And do you know what you're doing?

[Mike Catalana]

They're like, yeah, totally. Absolutely. We know what we're doing. We all kind of had a laugh.

[Dan Fates]

Well, but they're practicing it every day and there's a level of confidence they have. And listen, Josh Allen brings that confidence. But the everybody eats situation sounds great if it's working that way. At a certain point, you feed the hungry dog, right? Is that. The hungry dogs run fast is what they would say. So if a player becomes that player, I mean, how do we know it's not Keon Coleman as a rookie.

[Mike Catalana]

Absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

Who just basically demands the targets, but the difference with this year is he's got to earn that as opposed to it being there because of previous experience.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, yeah, you have to earn the targets. And it's kind of funny because I was just thinking about it. Like, is Josh Allen the lunch lady? Like, like he's the one that gets to serve everybody what they want.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I bet you he loves that SNL skit.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, lunch lady land. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

He's a.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No doubt. Yeah, no doubt.

[Mike Catalana]

He's dropped some of those lines before when he's golfing and all those clips.

[Dan Fates]

And wear the hair net. Is that what he's.

[Mike Catalana]

That's it.

[Dan Fates]

Tater tots. That's what he's got.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What were you saying?

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know. What was I saying?

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're talking about Josh Allen being the launch lady. Like, he's the one to dictate.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, yeah, it was. I mean, you're replacing. You're having to find 160 targets that went to a player that's on the team anymore. Yeah, like, that's not like, oh, it was a couple passes. Like, Dion also talked about it this week when we asked him and he said that our defense or our offense is unpredictable. And we all kind of laughed, like, well, does that mean you guys don't know what we're doing? He goes, I mean, in the sense of last year, we knew who the guys were that were going to get the ball and now you're. You're replacing the target. And to Mike's point, you're having to earn those targets. Everybody's going to get opportunities to eat and I love that. And I always think back to Matt Collins talking about the play. Doesn't care who makes it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I love that line.

[Mike Catalana]

All of those lines are great, but they're just words. And confidence doesn't win you football games necessarily. So you have to go out and perform on the field. And that's what I think is. That's what's unpredictable right now is we don't know how these guys all perform together. We have not seen it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, Mike, you did a great job of.

[Mike Catalana]

Wow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Looking at some of the numbers from last season. Sorry, this is in the way Bill's 2023 regular season stats. This actually surprised me. 26.5 points per game. That was third in the NFL. Yeah, that to me surprised me, I.

[Dan Fates]

Think because last year, while they were successful, it did feel like everything was an effort with the offense. They did not get a lot of run after catch. They ran the ball more in the second Half, and they were effective. The targets changed in the second half, and they scored points. But it was tough at times. It didn't look as coordinated. It didn't look. It certainly didn't look explosive. And I think part of that was. And this is. This is on Josh Allen maybe as much as it was on, you know, Diggs and Davis. And I'm only referencing them because I know a lot of you get mad when we talk about last year, but we were talking about last year's offense. Josh missed Diggs deep multiple times last year.

[Mike Catalana]

Absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

And those were potential big plays.

[Mike Catalana]

There was a big one in Miami.

[Dan Fates]

Right.

[Mike Catalana]

There was a big one in the Chargers game.

[Dan Fates]

Well, then there was a big one in Kansas City. And Diggs didn't catch the ball.

[Mike Catalana]

Absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

It's not all one way, but those are the kind of plays, if you make a few of those, it opens everything up. But I think with Josh now evolving into what Joe Brady wants, I think they will be a little more. How would I describe it? A little more comfortable in a role where it's running a little bit more, getting the ball out a little bit more. Maybe not as dependent on a big play. You create those big plays with constantly moving the chains because you have guys who will make plays for you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My fear is that there's too much pressure on Josh this season, especially early on, because of things kind of taking time to gel and come together. That is something that I fear because I feel like sometimes Josh thinks that he has to be Superman.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And in those moments, we have seen time and time again him be able to rise to that challenge. But then we have also seen him, you know, at times, throw the interceptions and whatever. Look, Josh is phenomenal at what he does. I guess for my. My fear, though, going into the season is just that there isn't enough around him, specifically in the passing game, for it not to feel like Josh has to do it all himself. Now, this is a fear. I'm totally admitting that.

[Mike Catalana]

Safe space.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is a safe space. And this is what I'm worried about heading into the season. But obviously, Sunday will be the first glimpse at how this team kind of comes together, gels together, all those things. But that is Dan. That is. That is my fear going in.

[Mike Catalana]

And to that, I will say, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's that. I mean, Sean McDermott has said that before about Josh Allen.

[Mike Catalana]

So, like, we. We need Josh to step up.

[Dan Fates]

We.

[Mike Catalana]

We've said all off season, like, he needs to step up as a leader. And Dion's like, that comes with the territory of being a quarterback in the National Football League. I don't think they're going to ask to do Josh, to do anything more than Josh is capable of. And I'm not saying that you're. I'm not saying that you weren't. I'm saying what they actually need from Josh Moore is more boring football. I. I think they need Josh to be more check down Charlie than. Than in years past.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree. And here's what's funny. It's ironic because in my head, it's like you're putting. I think I'm worried you're putting too much pressure on Josh because of the resources around him. But in actuality, for this to all work, he has to be disciplined enough to take some of those checkdowns, to take some of those shorter throws and, and to keep defenses honest and then go for the explosive play. Josh is, at moments or especially early on, struggled with that. But I think. I think he is obviously capable of being that brand of quarterback. It's just not something he probably loves to do.

[Dan Fates]

He also needs to have success with the way they want to run this offense. You look at the Dallas game last year, they started running and Josh is like, keep running the ball. Yeah, it was working.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

It's a lot easier to buy in. And I don't mean he's not going to buy in, but to your point about maybe saying, I got to do more, I got to make this play, I think if this offense feels that it has a fluidity to it, that it's not third and seven.

[Mike Catalana]

Spell that one.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No way.

[Dan Fates]

Fluid. Ity.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, dang. Oh, dang. Dan's like, what?

[Dan Fates]

How many times did we see third and seven? Josh is running around back there. And then when they ended up punting, he's either, you know, chucking it out of bounds or whatever, where it just felt like they weren't together.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I think if this offense can show that where you're running the ball, putting him in good spots to then take your shots and make plays where he's not sitting there. To Jenna, when it's third and eight, third and nine all the time, that's where Josh Allen's going to feel like, I got to make this go into a phone booth, because I don't know if they are. Dan has said it multiple times. Who you going to on third and eight?

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Who is that guy? Could end up being Dalton Kincaid or Khalil Shakir, but they don't know it yet.

[Mike Catalana]

I would hope that Joe Brady, who I think very highly of, takes more of an approach of taking some of this pressure off of Josh. So. So I mean that in the sense of not every play on first down needs to be, yeah, go thread the needle. Go make the 15 yard pass. I keep going back to what Dan Orlovsky talked about when he said that, you know, Matt Stafford can make these unreal throws that nobody else can make. But it also, I think Back to Sean McVay doesn't ask Matt Stafford to do those throws 30 times a game. I think Ken Dorsy put too much on. It was Josh was the offense. That was the identity. I hope Josh is the centerpiece and plays more point guard this year than feels like he has to be every position at once.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I hear you. That's just why fear was. Because last year we saw in the moments that this offense was a slog. It was all on Josh and it became very uncoordinated. And now the season with seemingly less talent. This. The talent level seems to be down because.

[Mike Catalana]

Doesn't seem to be. It is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay, sure. The talent level is down. Will that put more pressure on Josh? You're right. I think if you, you play Joe Brady's offense, you spread the ball around. The players that are out on the outside take advantage of their opportunity. Josh's discipline, all these things can work out well. It's just that safe space, that was my fear.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you think this could be an MVP season for Josh if he's putting.

[Dan Fates]

Up numbers with this group without a true number one wide receiver and they are winning 100%. It can be. This is a, this would be a narrative year for Josh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I agree with Mike.

[Dan Fates]

Amen. You have to win. We're talking about.

[Mike Catalana]

You have to be a one or seed.

[Dan Fates]

You do. Of course. It's possible that I will tell you this. The north is going to beat each other up. They're good teams. They're going to beat each other up between Cincinnati, even Cleveland and Baltimore. The west is where I mean Houston, I guess is could be very good this year, but I think they will. They'll get. They have competition in that division. Indy's not bad. Yeah. Jacksonville's got, you know, Trevor Lawrence. The Bills have a tough division too. But I'm saying is. I don't know is the number. Last year they ended up as a 2 seed with 11 wins. Right? They were a 2 seed.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Josh was in. I don't know where.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's like that.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I don't Know where he finished? Where did he finish in the MVP vote?

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know. It's all stupid because that, that. Because it turns out to be the best player on the number one seed. And I don't think that that's always.

[Dan Fates]

Lamar won it. Yeah. Twice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. That's fair.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just was curious because I think for this team to succeed, it's always been about Josh. But I feel like this year it's absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

I think for this team to really succeed, it's almost the opposite of that. Josh has got to be very good, but some of these other guys will really have to step up that we aren't.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

Accustomed to. Right. Kincaid maybe goes when we were talking about his numbers. Maybe Kincaid does go to That,000 yard 8 touchdown tight end machine.

[Mike Catalana]

Guess how many thousand yard tight ends have been the Bills have had.

[Dan Fates]

Well, the Bills have had a terrible history of tight ends.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay, can you name all of them? All of the tight ends that had a thousand yards?

[Dan Fates]

Zero.

[Mike Catalana]

There you go.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, well, they've had a terrible run of tight ends. We all love Pete Metzilar back in the 90s.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, you remember Pete.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Stop.

[Dan Fates]

Metzar was the tight end.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Being a mean.

[Dan Fates]

The main tight end when they were in the Super Bowl. Great guy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't either. Right.

[Dan Fates]

Chicago Bear. Chicago Bears haven't had a quarterback throw for what, 4,000 yards in their history?

[Mike Catalana]

Their history.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. They made the super bowl with Rex Grossman and McMahon.

[Mike Catalana]

Sexy Rexy.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So.

[Dan Fates]

No, that part I'm saying is if those players really step up this year. That's why I said maybe it's Keon, maybe it's. You just have a lot of hope that way. I'm saying is. Yeah, John, hope one hand. If you don't know. If you haven't watched us before, Dan has a cute little phrase.

[Mike Catalana]

We took it from Ben's. Ben's line is even better.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How many times you have a sack of shit where you start to smell something. Shut up, Ben.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, and I like to say you could hope in one hand and crap in the other and see which hand fills up first.

[Dan Fates]

John Spiller sends in the comments, says Keon will end up being the go to guy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So that actually segues perfect because of the notes you had. Red zone, TD percentage, 41 of 65, 63%. Sixth in the NFL last season for Buffalo.

[Dan Fates]

Now a lot of Those were number 17 running them in. He's very good at that. It doesn't not count as Six points. I think they would like.

[Mike Catalana]

I checked. I. I checked.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Let's look at.

[Mike Catalana]

Six points.

[Dan Fates]

It doesn't really matter how you do it, but it sure would be nice that it's not the red zone. Passing did not seem great.

[Mike Catalana]

No.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

When you have Kincaid, who's one of the bigger, wider, bigger targets, and he had two touchdowns. Two touchdowns.

[Dan Fates]

And then you had Knox with two. I think Diggs is not a red zone. Was not a red zone threat. Gabe dropped pick passes.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, he did.

[Dan Fates]

It was not a great pass catching red zone offense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

In that case. So there. It's a lot easier. Patrick Mahomes makes a incredible living with short passes in the red zone for touchdowns. Just incredible.

[Mike Catalana]

With great plate, with great play design.

[Dan Fates]

Play design. Great calling and guys who know where to be. And he puts the ball on the money. It's possible. And I think to your point on Keon, you know, we've seen him at practice, go up and get it and bring the ball down.

[Mike Catalana]

Plays above the rim.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I didn't know that.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. It's one of those.

[Mike Catalana]

Also, I think we've done a very good job. We haven't even got to break out our new toy yet.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So I don't know if you know this. I'll just do this. How about if I just say listen? I'm not sure if you know that. Oh, listen is my catchphrase. I say it all the time. Catchphrase.

[Mike Catalana]

That'd be a lame catchphrase.

[Dan Fates]

So listen. Well, it kind of is both.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mic pointing.

[Dan Fates]

So it is a self reporting. Self reporting thing. So I just said. Started the phrase with listen. I dropped that in the bowl right there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Those will each represent a dollar and it's self reporting. Like, even though we will hear Dan say them multiple times and then he will stop and he'll look at Jenna.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And go, did I just say what?

[Mike Catalana]

What?

[Dan Fates]

Self reporting. A dollar donated to charity at the end of the season.

[Mike Catalana]

That's the best part.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, Agreed.

[Dan Fates]

So.

[Mike Catalana]

So pitch in, comment in on all of our videos, charities that you think we should donate to. We will pick one.

[Dan Fates]

We'll pick one of them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I like that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, if there's any questions in the chat, if you want to send in your question about this season, whether it be a player, about this game in particular, what you're expecting, what you want to see, all that we always love having Mike is just. No, I look at Mike is now pointing at his computer.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I'm, I'm trying to give you the. I have a Good comment here from Moons Family fishing. Two tight ends in a back out of the backfield is going to create matchups. I thought I like them in the two tight end offense this year.

[Mike Catalana]

That means they run a lot.

[Dan Fates]

No, you can throw out of the two tight end offense. I mean you listen Dawson. Knox basically says we go into the two tight end offense to get them out of nickel, get the other team out of nickel, then you throw the ball. If they stay in nickel, everybody in nickel is not Taryn Johnson. Run the ball down their throat until they get out of nickel.

[Mike Catalana]

Didn't I say they're going to run the ball at then And Mike's ended on his point saying they're going to run the ball.

[Dan Fates]

You're dictating to the defense what you do.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is how Dan is though because you said you could run the ball and Dan's like they're going to run the ball. Where it's like you twisted my words. Because it's an option for you to run the ball but it's an also an option for you to throw the ball.

[Dan Fates]

Hey, let me tell you about the Cardinals. They're going to come in and watch the Bills in nickel and try to run it on Sunday.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

The difference with the Bills is Taron Johnson is a very good tackler and has played in that role 90% of the snaps. That's what they play on defense. Most teams in the nickel, it's a. It's not as an accomplished player as Taron Johnson you have in that nickel spot. I think you try to push teams out of the nickel with the two tight ends. Two tight ends. You still have your receivers out on the field. Sometimes you can have two. You, you run 12 personnel or you run two tight ends and the wide receivers zero backfield and let Josh Allen look around the offense.

[Mike Catalana]

Look, I, it's. I don't hide the fact that I don't like them running the ball because I feel like you're taking the ball out of Josh Allen's hand. Who's your best player?

[Dan Fates]

So.

[Mike Catalana]

So that's. Unless you run the ball like Dallas. You did against Dallas, which doesn't happen all the time.

[Dan Fates]

You mean effectively.

[Mike Catalana]

I would love an effective run game. I would love an effective run game.

[Dan Fates]

Clip that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Put that on a T shirt. Dan loves the run game.

[Mike Catalana]

Effective. That's what the T shirt should be.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Spell it. Good question. Good question from TR he says key players to this game. Khalil Shakir, my guy. I think you're right.

[Mike Catalana]

I think because of a Lot of the unknowns and I know a lot of people are commenting in too, saying like, not really sure what to expect. We're in the same boat. I think the team is and just understanding when there is that play. When you need a guy that Josh has some rapport with, the only one is is Khalil Shakir. He can say again, he has rapport and practice with with Keon and all these other guys. It starts, I think with with Shakir and being that safety blanket and having that familiarity I think is going to be huge early on in the season. He will develop it with mbs. I know he will. I have total faith that he will. I will tell myself that every night before I go to bed that he will develop. What if he goes for like 110?

[Dan Fates]

Oh, I. You will be beyond insufferable.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm not going to do the podcast.

[Mike Catalana]

It's just gonna be me. I'm just gonna be sitting here by myself, be like, hey, welcome back to the Buffalo plus YouTube channel. Like, comment subscribe so let's talk about MBS.

[Dan Fates]

The channel will blow up and I don't mean in a good way.

[Mike Catalana]

We will lose a lot of subscribers.

[Dan Fates]

The other person I'm thinking about because you've hidden him in this offense for this season is Curtis Samuel. You've talked about a lot of camp. You saw him in the tight end groups, you saw him in the running back groups. I think that is something this team has not shown a little bit of Isaiah McKenzie lining up. Nothing like what this guy can do.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And I think early in the year you're right. Developing rapport with the player is one thing, but the defense not really having an idea of how you're going to use him because they haven't had that type of player with his running ability and his ability to basically play running back if you need him to or put him in there. I think you can get some bigger plays out of Curtis Samuel.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I just think early on it'll be. I expect more to see from Khalil Shakir just because they already have that connection and Shakir has proven himself to be unbelievably reliable and they're that outlet for Josh if he is in trouble and needs someone to go to. But I am really excited to see what Curtis Samuel will add to this offense and because Joe Brady talked about how well he would fit into the scheme, what he can do and we know he had his best season of his career under Brady earlier on for Samuel. So I think that that leads to a lot of excitement for sure. But early on, I expect more from Shakir.

[Dan Fates]

Jason Rizzo obviously took the over for the game. He saw that Josh throws for 350 runs for 75, maybe 85 TDs. One rushing spreads it around between Knox, Shakir, MVS, Kincade and Samuel. Bills win 4213. That would be the over, wouldn't it?

[Mike Catalana]

That would probably hit the over.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, that would probably hit.

[Dan Fates]

Wow. That would be someday.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm glad we're all starting this season calm, levelheaded, not too big of expectations. I love it. I love where we're all at.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Is this game a must win, though? You talk about where it's so.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's so funny because I was on radio and they were asking me like, if.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, Shane Russell. Wow. Sorry. $10.

[Dan Fates]

Thank you, Shane.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thank you all.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, and there were some people all across the world, they were asking what time we would record this because we said 7715 and there were people in England and all over the place. So we did clarify it was Eastern standard Time. What were you saying?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I was saying, is this a must win game? You're talking about earlier, how you were on radio and I just want to. On the record. I was listening.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Dan was not.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. To himself.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

That was a tough point.

[Dan Fates]

And if you follow our channel and a lot of you do, you know, sometimes Jenna gets just beaten down and.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just take the one shot.

[Dan Fates]

Just doesn't listen.

[Mike Catalana]

Not me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Help me.

[Dan Fates]

And she's like, I. She just admits I wasn't listening.

[Mike Catalana]

In a weird way, I kind of think it is a must win. You don't need to. You don't need to look great. You just need to win it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

It's. It is a must win for what they want to accomplish this year. I mean, the season is not over if you lose this first game, but you will. Well, last year, brutal loss to the Jets.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Jets.

[Dan Fates]

Knowing though that the jets, it was on the road. The jets have an incredible defense, but they, you know, Rodgers was out of the game and you should have won that football game. There's no question. They still should have won it. They were able to make up for it. In other years, they've been able to make up for it. They made up for the game that Dan and I still think they're going.

[Mike Catalana]

To win in Jacksonville.

[Dan Fates]

In Jacksonville against Urban Meyer's team. They've always found a way. Last year they pushed that to the brink. I mean, they had lost those Games they were six and six. And then they found a way to go down to Miami and end up as the two seed and winning the division. I think their margin from errors for error is smaller this year.

[Mike Catalana]

That jets game, Tyler Bass had a field goal late to tie it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was thinking that when he says they're like essentially the wiggle room is.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It is supposed to be windy on Sunday.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Not too much rain though, which is nice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, someone said Jenna doesn't look high tonight. Roy Collins, change my allergy medication.

[Mike Catalana]

There it is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Might be it. We might be cooking allergy. Okay. Seriously. Seriously though, I'm feeling good. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

No, yeah, that allergy medicine does it.

[Mike Catalana]

Buffalo plus sponsored by Allegra.

[Dan Fates]

That's what I changed to relax on a Friday night.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, stop. No. That does make me nervous though about. With these games for the season expected to be a little bit tighter, your wiggle room kind of goes away. And what could that mean when pressure is on and Tyler Bass.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, yeah. Look. It's an issue for this team. It was started last year that he. He slumped.

[Mike Catalana]

This guy has been started great last year.

[Dan Fates]

He has been a very good kicker overall for his time in Buffalo.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Remember that kick in Detroit was like bangs the kick through. I mean he made big kicks for them. You had a ton of confidence and then you start to see cracks a little bit and then it became a problem. Then he started missing short ones. Even at the end of the Pittsburgh playoff game. Do you remember it was in the end of that game.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it.

[Dan Fates]

The game was basically over. But he shanked a kick.

[Mike Catalana]

I think it was a 13 point game. Would have made it a 2 score game or something like that.

[Dan Fates]

It was just you, those you have to make. And then he ended up missing one the next week.

[Mike Catalana]

I have a question for everybody.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Biggest surprise or hottest take for just this week? Like what's your week one hot take as we record this on Thursday.

[Dan Fates]

Well, obviously he has one.

[Mike Catalana]

Nope, I have a different one.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, but that's saying you have one.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, yeah, I have. I have hot takes for days.

[Dan Fates]

So you have it. So you start. While I think of a hot take.

[Mike Catalana]

I think Keon could lead the team in receiving yards. I think there could be a game plan of almost in a sense throwing Keon in the deep end of the pool, getting his feet beyond wet and just absolutely force feeding him the ball and seeing what they have early on, seeing how defenses will challenge him, see how he will respond to the challenges and whether we talk about it's a Year in transition or things like that. There's no rebuilding when you have Josh Allen, but just see what you have right off the bat with Keon.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think Mack Hollins has the first touchdown.

[Mike Catalana]

That would be some juicy odds off his cleats.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is my hot take. Yeah, I just. I feel like they love him. I think Josh loves him. Loves him. I think that they. This is my opinion. I feel like they kind of want to make it a point of, like, we have an unselfish veteran, so we're gonna go to him first. That is my. That is my take. So there's that. I wonder what the odds are on that.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, you could get.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I might have to try that.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. My hot take. This isn't that big of a hot take, but I will say it. I think Greg Russo has two sacks, and he looks like a number one defensive end in the NFL.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Man, they would love that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he's going to chase down Kyler. Kyler can move. He also can sort of run his way into sacks just because he's constantly trying to look down the field and make a play. I'm big on Russo for this year.

[Mike Catalana]

The Chad's talking and demar has a pick is a really good take. Like, first start since that Cincinnati game. That would be.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wouldn't it be incredible if this year he won comeback player of the year?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's my hot take, so.

[Dan Fates]

You know what was so funny? I was listening to radio. I was listening to the radio one night, and a guy from Baltimore, just an old man.

[Mike Catalana]

That was just an old man. Line of. I was listening to the radio.

[Dan Fates]

Well, did you want me to say which channel?

[Mike Catalana]

No.

[Dan Fates]

Serious radio.

[Mike Catalana]

You should have said, let's live, like, in this. You should have said in my Tesla.

[Dan Fates]

Look at that. Look at that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What happened?

[Dan Fates]

Power went out.

[Mike Catalana]

We lost the camera. Hang on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. All right, Mike, go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

It's because of his hot table. Oh, good. I just get to talk while the camera's here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Because Dan was mean, and the person.

[Dan Fates]

Was going on and on from Baltimore about how much Joe Flacco deserved that and basically diminishing Demar.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, that's wild.

[Dan Fates]

And I was listening, and I was thinking to myself in. The host was saying, it wasn't a Buffalo host. He was like, are you kidding me? The man died on a football field and came back to play again the next year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We hopefully will never, ever, ever see anything like that again. And he did it. And Joe Flacco played really good football.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So there's a difference between the two. Now, Demar, though, we talked about this. We've talked about this on other podcasts. Now Demar is judged as a football player, though.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

And it coming back from last year where he even admitted, Dan, he said it was a, you know, a, a recovery year. What was the word he used?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Healing.

[Dan Fates]

Healing year for him. He's earned the spot to this point. He has earned the spot by his play. And they didn't have Mike Edwards who they thought stepped in, but he was hurt and you got to be healthy and be on the field. Demar was out there in April, all the way through August, playing well, basically played as the number one guy.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

The thought was that Edwards would, but he wasn't healthy. We don't know what the rest of it's going to be, but I think they have a good level of confidence in Demar. He's not a superstar, but He's a competent NFL safety.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Started 13 games, played in 15 in 2022. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Shout out, Scott.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Scott Blakely. Appreciate it. He was a fan of your podcast since the beginning. Been a fan for four decades and to be honest, hardest season for me to project.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's totally fair.

[Dan Fates]

We're with you on that.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's usually been really bad. Like, you could know, like, it's going to be bad or you could be like, hey, this is. We don't know what's going to happen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We were saying in the car, you could tell me you don't think the Bills will make the playoffs and be like, okay. And you could also tell me the Bills will make the super bowl. And I'm like, okay. Like, it really has that range to it, especially as we get going.

[Dan Fates]

This is not a hot take because it's really kind of an incredible number. And it's not about this specific game, but for the year, they haven't lost a game by more than six points in the regular season. In 40 games. Yeah. Ties the all time NFL.

[Mike Catalana]

They have never been blown out of the gym, as Brandon Bean likes to say.

[Dan Fates]

That is kind of incredible. I think that streak ends this year and it doesn't mean you lose by 30 to. Not to legitimately say to the last snap of the game you could have won for the last 40. Meaning, like maybe it would take a fumble or whatever, but you're not down by more than one score.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

The Chiefs last year on Christmas Day, the Raiders ran all over them and blew them out. It happens to teams all the time. I think this year, with the way that schedule goes with those three straight very difficult games on the road. Yeah, that's tough. Even if you win a couple of them, like at some point, it's just difficult to not go the other way one time. It's a credit to this team that they're always credit to the Bills that they're always fighting. And even when they get down, they made comebacks. The Baltimore game's a good example. Was that two years ago. Yeah. They were down 20 to three early. They come back and win the game. So I think that's incredibly impressive. But I think that probably ends this year.

[Mike Catalana]

I promise, I promise that I will not overreact to week one. And I hope you join all of us in that fact that we will not overreact, good or bad, to week one.

[Dan Fates]

Bills lose by 14 points to the Cardinals.

[Mike Catalana]

They're still working on things.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it's harder to say.

[Dan Fates]

That would be hard to not overreact to getting blown out.

[Mike Catalana]

I won't do it. I will be the level headed one on this podcast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's absolutely not. You've never been that.

[Mike Catalana]

One day.

[Dan Fates]

One day.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, there was a comment by Tom Cop saying, don't give these guys money. They get paid and have sponsors. The tips are ours. We don't make any extra money for doing this channel. So I feel like that Dan and I do. Okay, well, apparently I'm not in there, but yeah, I. I just wanted to. To let everyone know that Frosty, Frosty.

[Mike Catalana]

If we lose, I will unfortunately overreact. Yep, that's fair.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hey, I mean, that is certainly one thing.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't overreact to the preseason and I won't overreact to week one.

[Dan Fates]

So why would somebody say don't give these guys money?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know. I just, I felt like that was. Here we go, Tom. It's shaming. Okay, so I had a couple questions. So in terms of what we think for the prediction for this game, we can get into that in a little bit. But truly, we got to talk to Bo Brock who does a Cardinals podcast. He was a great insight. You could check it out on our channel. What is your takeaway of what this Cardinals team is? Because Jonathan Gannon going into a second season, they have Kyler Murray. They draft Marvin Harrison Jr. The defense was abysmal last year. They've tried to make some changes. How do you shake out what this team will look like?

[Dan Fates]

I think this team is trying to still identify that Kyler Murray is their guy and they sort of re upped on that. I think they believe he can be. They're in a really tough division. I mean, they're playing, you know, with the rams and the 49ers. I think they could be. How does this sound? A better team in Week one than they are in the season. Because they have the advantage of. You really don't know what they're going to do. And I say this all the time. The bad teams don't know they're bad yet. And they will be fired up and they'll be in that locker room. They'll be saying, shock the world. Nobody believes in us. There's a reason they've won eight games in two years. Yeah. But I think they could come in with a good plan. Some things the Bills haven't seen and give them a harder time than. Once people see them on tape, I think you'll realize that they're going to struggle defensively, and they lost a couple of guys that could have really helped them with a pass rush. And Buddha Baker is good, but their corners were not good. They're not good against the pass.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

They can run the ball.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And Kyler can make some plays. And Harrison may be really good. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They're all.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, their O line isn't bad.

[Dan Fates]

No. So Trey McBride, too, was really good for them. Tight end.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So I. That's why I say they walk in the door and you're like, you got to see what. What they're looking for. And Josh even said, like, right away he may be making quick adjustments.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I. I thought when going into this game, in the. The preseason, when the schedule came out, it was like, easy win all this stuff. And after we talked about Brock, I was like, okay, I still think the Bills win this game. But to me, I was like, Micah Hyde. Hope is a hell of a drug. And I think that this Cardinals team has a lot of hope coming into this year.

[Mike Catalana]

What does that look for Mike?

[Dan Fates]

It's confidence.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Confidence is a hell of a drug. Honestly, it should have been hope. Hope, whatever.

[Mike Catalana]

No, Mike has talked about hope in hands and stuff like that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah?

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Wait. I want to say thank you to Shane. We appreciate it. Thank you to Jim. We also appreciate your tips. That's very kind. Do you. Do you agree with that, though? I feel like that's pretty fair.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, I feel like every team starts out like, the Cardinals aren't going through training camp in preseason, going, we have no chance of winning the Super Bowl. Every team does at 0 and 0. It's.

[Dan Fates]

It's.

[Mike Catalana]

It's also the Fact of not letting teams hang around. Yeah, I think that's. That's a big thing of it, too.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. And I feel in the past, the teams have struggle. The Bills have struggled with that. But that being said, I think it's a hell of a lot easier to be up for games early on in the season when you haven't lost ten in a row.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, of course it's going to be one of those things where early on I just think you have more optimism because you don't know yet. So I just. I. I feel like this. This Cardinals team will put up more of a fight, but I just do think that their defense is not going to stand the test of Josh Allen.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Victoria victorious. Yes. And victorious. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, victorious. Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Loving your coverage since I found you last season. Thank you. And as Jenna always says, share. Tell your friends. That's what we like when more people come to our channel.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Moon's family fishing. Dan is right. Is a hell of a drug. That is really, really good.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Definitely. Appreciate that. Okay, predictions.

[Dan Fates]

How do you want to start, Michael?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do we. Do we, like, map out, like, the challenge? Like, do we?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, why not?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay, let's talk about this is actually, I'm very excited for it because the stage is being set, the table is.

[Mike Catalana]

Being set that everybody's gonna eat at.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So, you know, I'm gonna eat.

[Dan Fates]

Here's what we're doing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're gonna think about me is we're.

[Dan Fates]

Gonna predict the season, and whoever is the closest wins. The first two people then. Well, the first person gets to choose what the third person does. Finish in last place as a punishment.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. You were. You kind of got a little.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I. I can describe.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wordy.

[Dan Fates]

Somebody wins, somebody finishes second. Somebody finishes last. The first person predicts the best record. The closest record gets to say to the third person. Here is your punishment, meaning the second person just gets to enjoy the punishment.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're gonna do who has. Right now, we're gonna do a picks for what we expect the Bill's record to be, and that will be a tiebreaker. If. When we go through game by game, whoever has the best record will win. If there's a tie, then we'll use this as the breaker.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

So we make our prediction at the beginning of the year. It does change week to week, you know, depending on what's going on with the team. So we will. We will make competition.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I like William.

[Dan Fates]

So now do we start out with our prediction or do we start out with telling with the punishment?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think we should start out with other punishments. Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

I haven't thought of a punishment.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What?

[Dan Fates]

What?

[Mike Catalana]

But I thought it was two people. We would decide together what the third person does.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I thought that was the way. I have a punishment that I have set for the person in last. If Mike wins, he has a punishment for the person set in last.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay, I got it.

[Dan Fates]

I don't think he was listening.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Can you imagine that? Okay, he doesn't have one.

[Dan Fates]

Do you want to save yours for next week? Yeah, because we can tell ours now.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay. Save. I'll save it for next week.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, go ahead, Jenna. You go. She's so excited.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, no, I cannot wait for whoever loses if. If I win. I cannot wait, because there's a lot of. A lot of slander about doing a Pilates class because. Oh, it's not that hard. It's two pound weights, specifically, maybe from these people around me. So if I win, I'm going to have the loser do a very, very challenging Pilates class and make fun of you along the way, because I can't wait to see how that goes.

[Mike Catalana]

It would also be great if we just dominated the Pilates class.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know for a fact. No, no, no. I know for a fact that will not happen. You will be embarrassed, and I can't wait for it.

[Dan Fates]

Right. Those Pilates classes are, like, five minutes, right?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, exactly. 45 minutes of sheer hell.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, so my punishment for whoever finishes last of one of you two, it actually applies to either one of them. We go to Buffalo all the time for practice or games. Somehow it's ended up that old man Mike has to sit in the back seat. I don't like sitting in the back seat. You don't put baby in the back seat. Right. Isn't that it? So here's the punishment. Dan drives because the princess doesn't drive, and that would be Jenna. So in any case, it doesn't matter to me if Dan's in last place. He's going to the back seat. Jenna's in the passer seat. I'm driving. If Jenna finishes in last, we just switch seats. She goes in the back, I get back in the front seat again.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

And that is for all of the 25 season.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, it's not, like embarrassing people in a Pilates class. I'll put it to you this first of all.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, I just want to clarify. We will take a video of the Pilates class and post it.

[Dan Fates]

By the way, does the other person join in the Pilates class?

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, they heckle. Oh, okay.

[Dan Fates]

But here's the thing about mine is, and I will reserve the right to, on occasion, when I'm feeling generous, maybe allow it to change. I just want to lose.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't have to drive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, wait a minute.

[Dan Fates]

Dan's always like, I'll drive. I'll drive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, Clarkson, thank you so much.

[Dan Fates]

There we go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wow, guys, thank you. That's so sweet. Team Jenna.

[Dan Fates]

Take a hike, Tom.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's funny.

[Mike Catalana]

I just have mine.

[Dan Fates]

I, I. Oh, no.

[Mike Catalana]

Somebody just suggested it. John Bushy.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, no.

[Mike Catalana]

You're the best. You are the best. Whoever. If I win, if I win, you guys at training camp next year will have to catch 10 balls from the Jugs machine.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

[Dan Fates]

Whoever's in last place has to catch.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And then you're going to run into it.

[Dan Fates]

I think the maybe it would be 10 balls are going to be hit to you or shot at you because it might take a while to get to 10.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. See how many you can catch. Yeah. 10.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I need gloves.

[Mike Catalana]

No, you need to catch 10. However long that takes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought you were going to say punts, which is way scary.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, no, no, because that we.

[Dan Fates]

So we have to work this out with the bills. Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

We'll do it. We get the Jugs Machine to the backyard, and we'll have been fire them.

[Dan Fates]

The thing about it is, when we're doing it, we won't just walk right into it. No, no.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They really sneak up on you.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Shout out. Shout out. John.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was Jay. Oh, no, it was John Bushy.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, you're right, John.

[Mike Catalana]

That's the best. You're gonna get a hat if you don't have one already. I'm gonna make sure you get a hat.

[Dan Fates]

So have you guys. I know sometimes the old cartoons come back and maybe you've seen it. The Archie comics at all. Do you know that at all?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I've heard of it.

[Dan Fates]

Well, there's one character in it called Jughead, and someone suggested to me that that should be Dan's nickname.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is so funny.

[Mike Catalana]

Not very nice. You guys are very nice.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my God, I am so motivated to not do that Pilates class.

[Mike Catalana]

I know my wife Jennifer's last. I'm gonna have her do the Jugs Machine. If you finish last, I'm gonna make you wear a man purse for the entirety of the 2025 season.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my God. I can't. I'm okay. Well, that's a lot. That's substantial, but it gets you a man person.

[Mike Catalana]

I love the chat, the chat. Will decide for me. The chat speaks all.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, that's very true. Oh my gosh. The man purse is amazing.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Leave and a man purse.

[Dan Fates]

And there might be some weeks where you and I both sit in the back and make her drive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, you don't want that. You just don't. It's fine.

[Mike Catalana]

All right, predictions.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. My prediction for the season is 11 and 6. I have the Bills winning this game 27 17. I think it'll be a slower start in the beginning for both teams. And then I think Josh Allen and the Bills should be better than the Cardinals. And I think that it's exactly what's going to happen. I have it being a 10 point difference and I have the Bills. I don't want to say coasting, but I feel like it might be, like I said, slower to start, but then the Bills poured on. I have Mack Hollins as the first Bills touchdown.

[Dan Fates]

So excited about Jenna Betts. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I have the bills going 10 and 7 and still winning the division, likely in a tiebreaker. I think they will be a playoff team playing their best football at the end of the year. I do think there's going to be some rough patches. I think they may be one of these teams that's sitting there at 4 and 4 or 4 and 5 and everybody wants to bury them until they really look at the schedule. Those games on the road at that is a tough, tough stretch for them, but I think they will pick it up and I think later in the year these young players will be improved and I think they will be really good going into the playoffs. Division winner, but 10 and seven.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

And this game.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, this game. I have the Bills winning 30 to 21. Higher scoring than Dan thinks.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I think it's a lower scoring game. I have the Bills like Jenna at 11 and 6 winning the division. I know that the jets right now are the odds on favorite to win the division. They have to prove that to me. While their roster may be better, I think the Bills have a massive advantage in coaching especially I think they. I mean, I really like Mike McDaniel, but I really do think that the Bills have the best coach in that division. And then as for this game, lower scoring Bills win don't cover the six and a half. I think they win 23 17. Maybe uncomfortably close at times, but I can't name three players on Arizona's defense and neither can you. And it's. The fact of the matter is I think it's just Josh Allen at the end of the day gets the job done.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. First touchdown, James Cook. Okay, first touchdown.

[Mike Catalana]

I had one earlier, didn't I?

[Dan Fates]

Said Josh Allen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I said Josh Allen.

[Mike Catalana]

Mbs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God.

[Dan Fates]

Man, he leans in.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, he certainly.

[Dan Fates]

Well, let's also see what when the inactives.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, I should have done Shakir.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, that's who I had.

[Dan Fates]

No.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You didn't have Shakir.

[Mike Catalana]

I know we've done a lot of content.

[Dan Fates]

Who is your first touchdown? You said Mac.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I'm gonna go with Mac. But I love Shakir.

[Mike Catalana]

I want Shakir.

[Dan Fates]

Shakir, Matt Collins. And it'll probably end up being Josh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It will most likely be Josh, but we're gonna do something different. Okay. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for the chat. Thank you for the tips. We really do genuinely appreciate it.

[Dan Fates]

We love doing this and I didn't mean to interrupt you because we just did not.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's perfect. You so.

[Dan Fates]

No, it's. That's not. What the. What the heck?

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's for charity.

[Dan Fates]

It's for charity. We are going to do this Every Thursday at 7:15 Eastern Time, United States of America, New York State. That's where we are. We're going to do this. And a week from today, if you're watching this on Thursday, Dan and I will be in Miami. Jenna will be back here. We'll still come on live before the game on Thursday as the Bills get set, play the Dolphins, but plan on it every Thursday at 7:15.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Appreciate it. Chat was great today.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. You guys been great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm so excited. Guys, we're almost there.

[Dan Fates]

I know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's amazing. All right. For my Catalana and Dan Fates, I'm Jenna Cottrell.

[Mike Catalana]

Best bets is out tomorrow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And then we will all be at the game on Sunday and we will have that post game podcast up ASAP after the game.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, thank you everyone. Please be sure to like comment, subscribe and share. We always appreciate it. Oh, T.R. writing in. Good night and good vibe. I love that. Good night and good vibes. All right, we'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris.