So, the Bills won huge yesterday, pasting the Minnesota Vikings 27-6, in Minnesota no less. The Bills came into
the game as 17-point underdogs. It has been classified as the biggest upset in the NFL in 23 years.
Yup, these are the Buffalo Bills who have been pilloried by everyone for the last two weeks as having possibly one of the worst teams in NFL history. But, there were a few things that led me to be optimistic heading into Sunday's game vs. the Vikings. First off, the Bills had actually outscored the Chargers 14-3 in the second half last week. This was after Vontae Davis infamously quit and Head Coach Sean McDermott assumed defensive playcalling duties from Coordinator Leslie Frazier.
On Sunday, Frazier retook the retook the reins of the defense, but Davis was still gone. Here's what a very insightful article on The Ringer had to say about Davis' departure: "Before Davis retired, the Bills played six quarters and were outscored 75-9. Since Davis retired, the Bills have played six quarters and have outscored the opposition 41-9."
The second factor playing in the Bills' favor is that the Vikings were likely overlooking them. Last Sunday, they played to a hard-fought tie with their arch-rivals, the Packers, and this Thursday they have to go to Los Angeles to face the red-hot Rams - in a throwback to a number of great '70s tilts between these two squads. The Vikings definitely came out flat,.
I have to admit I was unusually excited for the game - maybe because I hadn't been able to watch the Bills' first two games, due to my son having youth games at the same time. His game this past Sunday wasn't until four, so I figured I would at least get to watch the first half vs. Vikings - and it would likely be over by then anyway. It was over of course, just not in the way anyone expected.
I also was inspired to pull out the Taz shirt from the bottom of my drawer yesterday morning:
On Sunday, Frazier retook the retook the reins of the defense, but Davis was still gone. Here's what a very insightful article on The Ringer had to say about Davis' departure: "Before Davis retired, the Bills played six quarters and were outscored 75-9. Since Davis retired, the Bills have played six quarters and have outscored the opposition 41-9."
The second factor playing in the Bills' favor is that the Vikings were likely overlooking them. Last Sunday, they played to a hard-fought tie with their arch-rivals, the Packers, and this Thursday they have to go to Los Angeles to face the red-hot Rams - in a throwback to a number of great '70s tilts between these two squads. The Vikings definitely came out flat,.
I have to admit I was unusually excited for the game - maybe because I hadn't been able to watch the Bills' first two games, due to my son having youth games at the same time. His game this past Sunday wasn't until four, so I figured I would at least get to watch the first half vs. Vikings - and it would likely be over by then anyway. It was over of course, just not in the way anyone expected.
I also was inspired to pull out the Taz shirt from the bottom of my drawer yesterday morning:
No seriously, New England looks like they are not very good (of course, how many times have we said that before they turned it around) and we never thought Miami or the Jets were going to be good. And the Bills defense has looked very solid for 6 straight quarters now - which was the key to getting us to 9-7 and a playoff birth last year. Plus Allen looks legitimately better than Tyrod (bad week for his stock). Maybe when/if Shady comes back, we'll be even better. Who, knows? It's all in play now (5-11 also is) as we move to Green Bay next week. Go Bills.
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