The time has come for a reckoning. As I so lengthily stated in my regular season wrapup, the real season has just begun to this Bills team. Josh and the Boys have racked up yards, woo'd the critics, danced on the grave of teammates Ls, but now is the time. Let's preview what we've all been waiting for in this week's #pregamedump.. HEYeyEHeY
Tasker's video is still cold as hell. I keep watching it. Also his latest version in shorts and keeping the Peaky Blinders hat on is just as good.
Sub Zero Fight!
The scoop is this, as per a New York Times article shared from a friend, Philip Rivers hasn't won a game in weather under 35 degrees in a few years, maybe 2015 or so.. So I did some research..
In a New York Post article I dug up, It shows his actual net difference between his QB rating in fair wearther, and in cold weather from 2015, you can check it out for yourself, but very interesting. Warning- Brady heavy beginning-scroll to bottom for stats.
It's only going to be around 32 and partly cloudy, but Phil will need to break down some statistical cold weather analytics to come out on top if you're looking purely at the (kinda) cold.
Old & Cold
Older bodies, specifically quarterbacks bodies break down faster, move slower and less explosively in colder temperatures.
Another friend of mine once coined the term "Old and Cold." over wings at the Fireside Inn in Lancaster about Brett Favre during the 2007 upset by Eli Manning in the Playoffs, and I remember thinking no way man. He's Brett Favre. He then did the most Brett Favre thing and threw the game away. But he really did look OLD and COLD in that weather. It's a term that has stuck with me since about older QBS in polar temps..
It won't be as cold in Buffalo today, but I expect to see a similar outing from Rivers today.
Young Guns Blaze
The other 17 on the field today is NOT old, and IS about as RED HOT as he's been in his entire life. Josh and the boys of summer have reached winter, and back to their previous Apex Mountain of last year's Playoff loss to Desaun Watson (who could be coming to the AFC East next year), and the first round of the AFC Playoffs.
Why Do I call them the Boys of Summer?
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| Photo Credit - @croomphotos |
Inside the Buffalo Bills’ Florida workouts: How Stefon Diggs broke ice with Josh Allen
This year marks the first year that 7 teams from each conference make the playoffs, coining it Super Wild Card Weekend. Allen and the boys worked all summer to get ready to get back here. There should be no jitters, no fears, no surprises.
Having felt what they felt last year the team should respond with class and confidence today. I expect the team to play well together and fully know Josh Allen will go down swinging no matter what, so it will be a fun day Win or Lose.
How Many Fans?
Stefon Diggs gets to play in front of the fans, who won't be as loud, but certainly will be felt. On a previous #humpdaycheckdown I joked that they should leave fans only to one side of the field, similar to the Section 6 HS Playoffs. Obviously the first game having fans is newsworthy, but what worries me is the distraction it may or may not have on the team. We love the team, the team loves us. But hopefully moments of focus aren't compromised by the presence of fans, or the responsibility to please them.
The Bills are professionals, but every man can become childish in the face of huge successes, or huge failures, in front of people who look up to them. Ask any Bills fan who's drank too much on a sunday. LOL
Who's winning?
I think the Bills start out a bit slower than usual due to the fans in the stands. Nerves are real and legs will feel like jelly. The Colts will probably think, this is it? before kickoff. The Bills will probably feel a bit the same, as to say 'Yikes..this isn't what I hoped for'..
But then the ball will kick off.
And Daddy Josh will be in a dog fight versus Daddy Phil.
The Defenses will be crucial to the success of both teams, and oddly I don't expect a big shootout of epic proportions. I expect a hard fought grinding game where every bobble, hold, fumble, or INT will make WAVES.
Phil will falter under pressure, giving up sacks, and losing his mind. He doesn't like getting hit, and our Defense Loves Hitting.
Run game will be meaningless for the Colts if they are down 2 scores or more, but the Colts don't really change what they do throughout the game, up or down. They will pound rock and Phil will call it at the line if he sees something he likes. Don't forget Reich is calling the plays so NEVER count him out.
Josh will need to be safe, but also precise. He can't afford to try and win it on every play, but he also needs to go out and win it. He will play like himself and have a comfortable but statistically drab day, including running the ball for crucial drive extending firsts. Get down young bull. Protect yourself for the next game, but don't forget last seasons anger in how it ended.
The Bills offense will show its teeth with the run game and we will prove we can win ugly or pretty and come out on top. We gain the upside early 3rd quarter and never look back, though the final whistle will fall within one score as every Phil Rivers game does, but we win, 23-16.
Stay tuned after the game for the postgame wrapup where I highlight and hopefully preview next weeks game! Go Bills!
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