Buffalo Bills and Oregon Ducks

[GatOrlando]

2002,2011, 2014 ,2023 and 2024. Those are the best years of Oregon Ducks football. They seemed to have their best team ever last year but couldn't quite beat one team. Call me crazy but I think 2023 Oregon matches up better against Michigan than Washington did. Point of post is what ifs and near misses. Especially 2011 in that game against Auburn and those two heartbreaker's last year.

 

Now imagine making four straight Super Bowls, being blown out in three but missing winning one by a few inches. Imagine then going several years of misery before finding your franchise QB but finding him in an era where you are in a conference with Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. 

 

The Bills just lost to the Chiefs 32 to 29 and have missed out on making the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991. This coming off losing to the Chiefs last year, the Bengals the year before, and the Chiefs once more the year before. Snakebit. Buffalo has beaten the Chiefs the last two regular seasons much like Oregon had beaten Ohio State.
 

One has to question if it's better to lose in a blowout or get beaten last second. To me it's like asking if I'd rather be pinned with a pencil a thousand times or a hammer once. I'll take neither. Losing sucks, nothing makes it feel better but time.

 

[Annie]

Josh Allen looked as if he was near tears after tonight's game. Can't blame him, it was so close. However, I was rooting for KC, because I think the idea of a three-peat is exciting. That said, I would have been happy for the Bills had they won. (You can probably tell that I don't bet on games. )

[David Marsh]

On 1/26/2025 at 7:12 PM, GatOrlando said:

Call me crazy but I think 2023 Oregon matches up better against Michigan than Washington did.

Nope, you're not crazy. 

 

I think the Ducks could have beaten Michigan last year. The one team that played a type of game we matched up poorly against was Washington and we lost twice. 

[Nevada Dawg]

I think my Dawgs would have beaten Michigan as well. Last year's Dawgs were a lot like this year's Ducks--one stinking loss, in their case a 3-point loss to Bama in the SEC championship game which they played with their two best receivers, Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, gamely giving it a try out there but very ineffective. You might realize what a loss this was from what those two accomplished in the NFL this year, each of them having historic seasons for rookies in their position groups.

 

But as they say, Them's the breaks. At least this year, that single fluky loss  would have not kept them out of the playoffs. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/26/2025 at 11:27 PM, Nevada Dawg said:

I think my Dawgs would have beaten Michigan as well. Last year's Dawgs were a lot like this year's Ducks--one stinking loss, in their case a 3-point loss to Bama in the SEC championship game which they played with their two best receivers, Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, gamely giving it a try out there but very ineffective. You might realize what a loss this was from what those two accomplished in the NFL this year, each of them having historic seasons for rookies in their position groups.

 

But as they say, Them's the breaks. At least this year, that single fluky loss  would have not kept them out of the playoffs. 

You guys would've beaten Michigan. I know Alabama beat you but Beck is a much better QB than Milroe. You didn't have the talent at receiver or tight end this year and had way too many drops but you still beat the third or fourth best team twice. Kirby has built the new SEC machine now that Saban has retired. Sarkasian has a darned good team but until they beat you I have to label you the champs. Georgia had to beat Alabama to get that crown and you did it. It's hard to admit that but it's true.

 

Arch Manning is going to be good, maybe great.. it's going to be interesting to see how Alabama rebounds with a Kalen Deboer QB running his offense. Then you have to wonder if Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Ole Miss and Texas A&M live up to the hype they're going to get undoubtedly.

[GatOrlando]

On 1/26/2025 at 8:43 PM, Annie said:

Josh Allen looked as if he was near tears after tonight's game. Can't blame him, it was so close. However, I was rooting for KC, because I think the idea of a three-peat is exciting. That said, I would have been happy for the Bills had they won. (You can probably tell that I don't bet on games. )

I hope you're wrong about that threepeat as an Eagles fan. I was hoping for an Eagles vs Bills matchup because if we lost I would've been happy to see those fans get their first championship at least.

 

On 1/26/2025 at 9:59 PM, David Marsh said:

Nope, you're not crazy. 

 

I think the Ducks could have beaten Michigan last year. The one team that played a type of game we matched up poorly against was Washington and we lost twice. 

I personally think/thought that Oregon and Georgia were the two best teams last year. You both just faced a coach/program that knew how to game plan against you and win the small battles that helped offset deficiencies talent wise. Lanning exercised those demons this year but you know he probably feels like last year was a huge lost chance.

[30Duck]

On 1/26/2025 at 7:43 PM, Annie said:

. However, I was rooting for KC, because I think the idea of a three-peat is exciting. That said, I would have been happy for the Bills had they won. (You can probably tell that I don't bet on games. )

Annie, I'm right there with you. While others are suffering from Chief's fatigue, a 3-peat is something I really want to see. But if the Bills had won, I'd have definitely been rooting for the Bills to finally break the Super Bowl wall. I don't bet on games either, especially fortunate the last couple of weeks.

[Chas Man]

The Bills had a good chance to flip the script yesterday, but alas, they were done in by their own conservative play calling. They were in the drivers seat with about seven minutes to go, and each time they were faced with 3rd and short or 4th and inches, they ran the same play: Josh Allen quarterback sneak. Each time they ran the same play, KC packed the box and sold out to stop the sneak. Eventually, they did.

 

Had Buffalo stayed aggressive (creative) in their play calling they'd be preparing to face the Eagles in SB LIX.

Edited Monday at 03:39 PM by Chas Man

[Jon Joseph]

On 1/27/2025 at 1:27 AM, Nevada Dawg said:

I think my Dawgs would have beaten Michigan as well. Last year's Dawgs were a lot like this year's Ducks--one stinking loss, in their case a 3-point loss to Bama in the SEC championship game which they played with their two best receivers, Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, gamely giving it a try out there but very ineffective. You might realize what a loss this was from what those two accomplished in the NFL this year, each of them having historic seasons for rookies in their position groups.

 

But as they say, Them's the breaks. At least this year, that single fluky loss  would have not kept them out of the playoffs. 

 

Dawgs would have challenged Michigan, no doubt. After all, Bama took Michigan into OT. But Beck? Does he have the chops to win on the biggest stage? Bennett was a leader; Beck?

 

I think Miami fans are going to be disappointed. (What a shame .) With a run game suffering from injury and without Bowers and McConkey, Beck struggled. He threw the most picks in the SEC in a season when quarterback play in the conference was sub-par. 

 

Tough game in the opener against Notre Dame and the 4th game vs. Florida. Will Miami have more fans at these games than the Domers and the Gators? And Week 3 versus USF is not a sure win. The Canes again miss Clemson. Miami plays Louisville and Syracuse and plays away games vs, Florida State, Pitt, and SMU. 

 

And we know that in the biggest games, Mario has perfected the art of coming up small. 

 

 

[Jon Joseph]

 

How about this stat?

 

The Chiefs have won 17 one-score games in a row! In the NFL!

[Mike West]

On 1/26/2025 at 8:59 PM, David Marsh said:

Nope, you're not crazy. 

 

I think the Ducks could have beaten Michigan last year. The one team that played a type of game we matched up poorly against was Washington and we lost twice. 

I'm not sure we beat Michigan last year.  Their offense was more potent than this year's, and this year's team was the first to "crack the code" on our defense.

 

Not to mention, they way we lined up against Washington last year was an open invitation for last year's Michigan to simply pile drive our defense (the Fuskies used a similar defensive front against the Wolverines in the Natty last year and got obliterated - until that game I thought Washington would win hands down).

 

I personally believe it's time to overhaul the entire philosophy on defense.  I don't get paid for these things, and I'm just a hack, but I totally believe the best coaches in the business completely know how to take down Lanning 's scheme on defense.

 

It's just apparent to me we can out physical lower grades teams, but when it boils down to elite competition, they know exactly who to attack, and what Formations to use to neutralize a pretty damn set of talented players.

[HDuck]

2-1   1972-74 Miami (L-W-W)

2-1    2017-19 New England (W-L-W)

[30Duck]

Pittsburgh Steelers went 2-0 twice, '75, '76, then, '79, 80, both times the Oakland Raiders represented the AFC in what could have been their 3rd. 

[SoGaDawg]

I honestly think that the Eagles will win.  I’m by no means an Eagles fan, but I’ll be pulling for them.  They have more than a few former Dawgs on their roster that have made a big impact.  
 

Also, nothing against KC at all.  I pulled for them hard to finally bring a Super Bowl to their fans.  Just like I pulled hard for Detroit and Buffalo this season.  You gotta admit, the Motor City fans and the Bill’s Mafia have suffered heartbreak quite enough.  KC is a great franchise now, and Reid, Mahomes, and Co have earned it and enjoyed it.  I gotta pull for my Philly Dawgs in this one!

Edited Monday at 06:31 PM by SoGaDawg

[HDuck]

It's hard to get to 3 straight.  The NFL likes "parity."

 

1967-68 Green Bay Packers

1973-74 Miami Dolphins

1975-76 Pittsburgh Steelers

1979-80 Pittsburgh Steelers

1989-90 SF 49ers

1993-94 Dallas Cowboys

1998-99 Denver Broncos

2004-05 New England Patriots

2023-24 Kansas City Chiefs

 

2-1   1972-74 Miami (L-W-W)

2-1    2017-19 New England (W-L-W)

0-4   1991-94 Buffalo

[GatOrlando]

 I'd say this recent Kansas City run is already better than the 90's Cowboys or either half of the two Patriots dynasties. Mahomes just played in his seventh AFC Title game in 7 seasons as the starter. He'll be going to his fifth Super Bowl and if it wasn't for two overtime losses the Chiefs would be in their seventh straight Super Bowl. Remember it took heroics from Brady and Burrow to beat them in 2018 and 2021.

[Jon Joseph]

On 1/27/2025 at 1:30 PM, SoGaDawg said:

I honestly think that the Eagles will win.  I’m by no means an Eagles fan, but I’ll be pulling for them.  They have more than a few former Dawgs on their roster that have made a big impact.  
 

Also, nothing against KC at all.  I pulled for them hard to finally bring a Super Bowl to their fans.  Just like I pulled hard for Detroit and Buffalo this season.  You gotta admit, the Motor City fans and the Bill’s Mafia have suffered heartbreak quite enough.  KC is a great franchise now, and Reid, Mahomes, and Co have earned it and enjoyed it.  I gotta pull for my Philly Dawgs in this one!

I do not disagree. Philly does have the better D. But at every level of football I start by asking which team has the better QB? So ...

[30Duck]

On 1/27/2025 at 5:06 PM, GatOrlando said:

I'd say this recent Kansas City run is already better than the 90's Cowboys or either half of the two Patriots dynasties.

With you on this. I think Mahomes is already the GOAT, winning 3 SB's in a row would make him GOAT+. This Chiefs team finished 15-2, a L @ Buffalo in WK.11 and a throwaway L in WK.18. They started out with Mahomes to Tyreek Hill, he left and claimed that Tua at Miami was actually a step up.

 

Now KC is playing a different game, with far from the most talented roster, but still dominating. the Eagles will probably be the betting favorite, take them at your risk. 

[Jon Joseph]

On 1/27/2025 at 8:48 PM, 30Duck said:

With you on this. I think Mahomes is already the GOAT, winning 3 SB's in a row would make him GOAT+. This Chiefs team finished 15-2, a L @ Buffalo in WK.11 and a throwaway L in WK.18. They started out with Mahomes to Tyreek Hill, he left and claimed that Tua at Miami was actually a step up.

 

Now KC is playing a different game, with far from the most talented roster, but still dominating. the Eagles will probably be the betting favorite, take them at your risk. 

 

Open: KC -1.5.

[AnotherOD]

"Not to mention, they way we lined up against Washington last year was an open invitation for last year's Michigan to simply pile drive our defense (the Fuskies used a similar defensive front against the Wolverines in the Natty last year and got obliterated - until that game I thought Washington would win hands down).

 

I personally believe it's time to overhaul the entire philosophy on defense.  I don't get paid for these things, and I'm just a hack, but I totally believe the best coaches in the business completely know how to take down Lanning 's scheme on defense.

 

It's just apparent to me we can out physical lower grades teams, but when it boils down to elite competition, they know exactly who to attack, and what Formations to use to neutralize a pretty damn set of talented players."

 

 

 

Well argued. Appreciate!

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:08 AM by AnotherOD

[30Duck]

On 1/27/2025 at 5:51 PM, Jon Joseph said:

Open: KC -1.5.

Interesting. If I bet, I'd take that in a hurry!. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/27/2025 at 6:51 PM, Jon Joseph said:

 

Open: KC -1.5.

That's interesting. If I was inclined to put some paper on this game I could watch my team lose but see my bank account win. I could also take Philly and the points and win on all accounts. Conflicting.

[30Duck]

On 1/27/2025 at 7:06 PM, GatOrlando said:

I could watch my team lose but see my bank account win. I could also take Philly and the points and win on all accounts. Conflicting.

I'm aware of that conflict, but I can't ever make a bet involving my team. I would have made some good $$$, if I had bet on my Oakland A's, '72, '73, '74. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/27/2025 at 8:14 PM, 30Duck said:

I'm aware of that conflict, but I can't ever make a bet involving my team. I would have made some good $$$, if I had bet on my Oakland A's, '72, '73, '74. 

I don't usually put wagers on things like money lines in sports because I'm just not knowledgeable on it. But I get the issue of betting on or against your teams. Not a huge baseball fan but was it the 80's that had that A's super squad?

[30Duck]

On 1/28/2025 at 2:53 AM, GatOrlando said:

Not a huge baseball fan but was it the 80's that had that A's super squad?

The A's had a 3-peat, 72, -74, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers, unfortunately, free agency broke them up, Jackson & Hunter both ended up on the Yankees. I lost interest in them after that, they'd have some success later, Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart, Jose Canseco & Mark McGwire.

[GatOrlando]

On 1/28/2025 at 7:15 AM, 30Duck said:

The A's had a 3-peat, 72, -74, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers, unfortunately, free agency broke them up, Jackson & Hunter both ended up on the Yankees. I lost interest in them after that, they'd have some success later, Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart, Jose Canseco & Mark McGwire.

Ahh. I was thinking of the bash brothers and the series against the Giants with the earthquake. My father is a big Reds fan and he would always tell me about the Big Red Machine in the 70's. I grew up with the Derek Jeter Yankees dynasty in the 90's to the 2000's as the dominant force. The Braves three dominant starters with Maddox, Glavine and Smoltz just couldn't ever seem to be at them.

[30Duck]

On 1/28/2025 at 4:18 PM, GatOrlando said:

My father is a big Reds fan and he would always tell me about the Big Red Machine in the 70's.

Yeah, your dad and me would have definitely been on different sides in '72, I was cheering for "The Big Red Machine against Boston in '75. 

[cartm25]

I was rooting for Buffalo in this one. I'm to the point now that I'm rooting against KC in almost every scenario. Nothing will turn me against a player/team than seeing the best player in the world getting treated with kid gloves, and even worse, when the best player (Mahomes) flops . . . in football.

 

Unfortunately I'm compelled to root for the Eagles in this one. I like Andy Reid, and I generally like the KC team, but at some point I have to oppose the team that has stymied my 49ers their last two SB trips.

[cartm25]

On 1/27/2025 at 10:45 AM, Mike West said:

I personally believe it's time to overhaul the entire philosophy on defense.  I don't get paid for these things, and I'm just a hack, but I totally believe the best coaches in the business completely know how to take down Lanning 's scheme on defense.

This is concerning, especially because DL had been given the "defensive genius" label. He still could be if they overhaul and things improve, but the Ducks defense didn't look the part against elite competition.

[cartm25]

On 1/27/2025 at 6:48 PM, 30Duck said:

With you on this. I think Mahomes is already the GOAT, winning 3 SB's in a row would make him GOAT+. This Chiefs team finished 15-2, a L @ Buffalo in WK.11 and a throwaway L in WK.18. They started out with Mahomes to Tyreek Hill, he left and claimed that Tua at Miami was actually a step up.

 

Now KC is playing a different game, with far from the most talented roster, but still dominating. the Eagles will probably be the betting favorite, take them at your risk. 

I still give Brady the GOAT status, but Mahomes is approaching rapidly.

 

Hard to argue, if KC 3-peats, that they aren't the best team--or had the best stretch--in NFL history. I guess, now that I've typed that, I'd probably only give them the best stretch in NFL history because there are some LOADED teams from the past.

 

Amazing how teams with excellent HC's and QB's can have prolonged success.

[30Duck]

On 1/28/2025 at 5:26 PM, cartm25 said:

 

Amazing how teams with excellent HC's and QB's can have prolonged success.

Interesting you say that, a few years ago, there was this guy who would show up on TV and radio touting his "foolproof" formula for betting, and seriously, it was "The team with the best players and coaches will most often win". 

 

As far as best teams, the Steelers in the 70's get my vote, at the time I was a Cowboys fan, I really didn't like it when they beat Dallas twice, by 4 points. But those teams were loaded, defense is practically all in the hall of fame, and the offense, Bradshaw is probably not even a Top 10, but I don't remember many missed passes or INT's and Stallworth & Swann, are my pick as No.1 WR's, and of course RB's, Rocky Blier and Franco Harris. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/28/2025 at 5:22 PM, 30Duck said:

Yeah, your dad and me would have definitely been on different sides in '72, I was cheering for "The Big Red Machine against Boston in '75. 

He's still upset that Pete Rose died without getting into the Hall. But that circles back to the betting lines we were talking about. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/28/2025 at 6:14 PM, cartm25 said:

This is concerning, especially because DL had been given the "defensive genius" label. He still could be if they overhaul and things improve, but the Ducks defense didn't look the part against elite competition.

I think your defense held up pretty well. Last impressions are often the ones we hang onto. The rushing defense against Boise in game two was concerning and you gave up big plays against Penn State and Ohio State (twice). But Tennessee and Notre Dame had really good defenses and Ohio State carved them up as well. People laud Texas but they forget Ohio State made a lot of drive killing mistakes.

 

Boise put up points on Penn State and Penn State moved the ball on the ground at will against Notre Dame. So maybe Oregon needs better corners and safeties to stop 6'3 and 230 pound freshman and sophomores that can run sub 4.40s. Maybe guys bigger than 5'9. Sure would be nice to get the best corner to flip from Ohio State.. Lanning will get it figured out I think. If it's Lupoi or you have to go poach a guy like Ryan Day did three years ago with Knowles.

[30Duck]

On 1/28/2025 at 6:13 PM, GatOrlando said:

He's still upset that Pete Rose died without getting into the Hall. But that circles back to the betting lines we were talking about. 

I think that's wrong too. In fact, I think the Baseball HOF is completely messed up, far too many inductees, and only 1 unanimous, certainly worthy, Mariano Rivera, Ichiro was just voted in, I vote short of unanimous. Willie Mays wasn't unanimous, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and worse than that I think is the players who get in after numerous, sometimes 10 votes. There are currently 278 players, I think that's at least 100 too many. 

 

 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/28/2025 at 7:24 PM, 30Duck said:

I think that's wrong too. In fact, I think the Baseball HOF is completely messed up, far too many inductees, and only 1 unanimous, certainly worthy, Mariano Rivera, Ichiro was just voted in, I vote short of unanimous. Willie Mays wasn't unanimous, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and worse than that I think is the players who get in after numerous, sometimes 10 votes. There are currently 278 players, I think that's at least 100 too many. 

 

 

They need to review these votes. The whole unanimous thing is ridiculous. Don't put silly emotions on voting for worthy candidates.