Talking Buffalo

On this episode of Talking Buffalo, Patrick Moran is joined by Joe From Queens to conversate on several Buffalo Bills topics, including counting down Patrick's list of the top 20 Buffalo Bills non first round draft picks of the modern era.

Through interest and plenty of boredom, Patrick spent several hours going through every year of the Bills draft history and coming up with his power rankings of the best players that weren't taken in the first round. It's important to note that by modern era that means anytime past 1970 after the NFL and AFL merged. That disqualified a handful of 1960's draft picks that would've easily been on and likely near the top of the list, such as Butch Byrd, Mike Stratton, Tom Sestak and Billy Shaw.

Patrick counts down his list with explanations for each and spoiler alert---there's three current Buffalo Bills players on the list. As you'd expect Joe has plenty to say about several of the players and especially the order Patrick has them ranked in. Fun little spoiler alert----Joe is not very keen on Patrick's placement of Phil Hansen and also thinks current Bills cornerback Taron Johnson is ranked way too low.

Also, Joe has his Buffalo Bills/NFL Draft bingo board with plenty of hilarious nuggets. That plus their "True and False" segment, trying to avoid wrestling talk during Wrestlemania weekend and more.

Major props to Talking Buffalo sponsor, Sonny Red’s at 1841 Abbott Road in Lackawanna, just minutes from Highmark Stadium. We consider them THE most underrated spot for wings, pizza and other great food in Western New York plus it’s a great place to drink and have a great time.

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On this episode of Talking Buffalo, Patrick Moran is breaking down his biggest Buffalo Bills Week 17 takeaways after watching the film and sifting over PFF grades of their dominant performance over the New York Jets, an effort made easier by an opponent who looked disinterested if not completely checked out.

Not to take away credit for Buffalo, but seeing in real time and especially after film review, the Jets were without a question the path of least resistance for the Bills to lock up the two seed in the AFC. Patrick spends a few minutes going over a few specific plays and moments where it was obvious the Jets had mailed this game in along with their season and why it's such an unserious organization. Also, Aaron Rodgers played like garbage, even when he had time to throw the ball and Patrick documents a few instances of that as well.

As for the Bills, it was a well rounded game in all three aspects of the team. Patrick talks about Josh Allen maintaining the level of excellence he has almost the entire season without needing to get into any specific MVP talk today. Specifically discussed is him eluding several would-be sacks and having trust in his wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman to make plays.

The defense was pretty good as well and Patrick talks about being most encouraged by a pair of veterans who'll absolutely need to play well if they want to make a playoff run---Von Miller and Matt MIlano.

That plus the unsung heroes on a few of Buffalo's biggest plays, a couple things about the game he didn't like including one that may be an unpopular opinion and much more.

Happy New Year!

Major props to Talking Buffalo sponsor, Sonny Red’s at 1841 Abbott Road in Lackawanna, just minutes from Highmark Stadium. We consider them THE most underrated spot for wings, pizza and other great food in Western New York plus it’s a great place to drink and have a great time.

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On this episode of Talking Buffalo, Patrick Moran has a full preview of the Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs clash coming on Sunday that everyone wants to see in addition to three keys to victory for Buffalo, three bold predictions and a final score prediction.

Granted, the Chiefs have sent the Bills packing the past three times they've met in the playoffs but it's not like this rivalry over recent years has been one sided. Buffalo's actually won the past three regular season meetings, all at Arrowhead Stadium and hope to extend the streak to four with a victory in Orchard Park on Sunday. Kansas City comes into the game undefeated at 9-0 and Buffalo may very well be their biggest obstacle remaining from a perfect regular season. Patrick talks about how the offense hasn't looked great but is the best in the league at staying on the field by converting third downs. Defensively the Chiefs are a dynamo and seem as good as ever there.

Patrick elaborates on what he thinks the keys to the game are with Buffalo, from being able to play out in front, having offensive success on early downs and (as always) trying to make life hell for Mahomes without blitzing and leaving the back part of the defense vulnerable. Patrick also has three bold predictions, including eight catches minimum out of the backfield for the Bills running backs, a rookie finding his way into the end zone and a Bills captain on the receiving end of a big turnover.

That plus a final score pick and much more. Huge game on Sunday!

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On this episode of Talking Buffalo, Patrick Moran is joined by Jarrett Bailey of The Sporting News for a full Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs preview, including keys to a Buffalo victory, bold predictions from each and a stab at the final score.

The pressure is high for both teams, obviously heading into this conference title clash. For the Bills it's all about getting over the hump to reach the Super Bowl, something that the Chiefs have personally stopped three times already during this Sean McDermott/Josh Allen era. It's also a legacy game of sorts for both Buffalo head coach and quarterback. Meanwhile for Kansas City they're two games away from winning a third straight Super Bowl, something that's never been done in NFL history. The guys spend time talking about the significance of both.

Jarrett has plenty of unbiased insight on both teams coming in, from Kansas City being literally unbeatable in one score games over the past two seasons as a team that simply never beats themselves, to the Bills and their newfound identity that isn't statistically pleasing like it's been in the past but arguably the most balanced team during the McDermott era.

From there Patrick has keys to the game for a Buffalo victory he shares, ranging from dancing to what's brought them there to a commitment to not letting Travis Kelce roam wild through the Bills pass defense. They also share some bold predictions from the game, including a return to form of sorts for Allen, score predictions from each and tons more.

You can follow Jarrett on Twitter at @JBaileyNFL and be sure to check out his work both at The Sporting News and Behind The Steel Curtain (SB Nation).

Major props to Talking Buffalo sponsor, Sonny Red’s at 1841 Abbott Road in Lackawanna, just minutes from Highmark Stadium. We consider them THE most underrated spot for wings, pizza and other great food in Western New York plus it’s a great place to drink and have a great time.

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In this episode of Talking Buffalo, Patrick Moran and guest Chris Ostrander discuss the contrasting perceptions of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, the significance of Rich Eisen's return to ESPN, and the anticipation surrounding the Bills' upcoming schedule. They delve into the future of head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the Sabres' spending habits.

The conversation highlights the evolving narrative around McDermott and the differing ownership styles of Terry Pegula in relation to both teams. In this conversation, Patrick Moran and Chris Ostrander discuss the current state of the Buffalo Sabres, focusing on ownership dynamics, financial concerns, team spending, and management issues. They explore the challenges the team faces in retaining players and attracting new talent, as well as the sentiment among fans regarding management accountability. The discussion also touches on new roles within the organization and expectations for the upcoming offseason, highlighting the urgency for change and improvement.

Takeaways

• The Bills and Sabres are perceived differently by fans.
• Rich Eisen's return to ESPN marks a significant shift in sports media.
• The anticipation for the Bills' schedule is high among fans.
• Sean McDermott's job security is tied to team performance this season.
• Terry Pegula's ownership style differs significantly between the Bills and Sabres.
• COVID-19 has impacted the Sabres' spending and operational decisions.
• Fans are eager for more primetime games for the Bills.
• The Bills' success has raised expectations for the team's future.
• The Sabres have struggled to spend to the salary cap effectively.
• The narrative around Sean McDermott is evolving as he engages more with the media. COVID and financial constraints impact team ownership decisions.
• Fans feel ownership is not fulfilling promises.
• The Sabres' spending habits raise concerns about player retention.
• Management's decisions are scrutinized by fans and analysts alike.
• The team's inability to attract talent is a significant issue.
• The Sabres' past trades and acquisitions have often missed the mark.
• Fan sentiment is at a low point regarding management's effectiveness.
• New roles in the organization may not address underlying issues.
• The upcoming offseason is critical for the Sabres' future.
• There is a sense of urgency for management to make impactful changes.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and New Beginnings

03:03Buffalo Sports Landscape: Bills and Sabres

06:06Rich Eisen's Return to ESPN

09:05Anticipating the Buffalo Bills' Schedule

11:45Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane's Future

16:57Terry Pegula: A Tale of Two Owners

23:02The Impact of COVID on Sabres Spending

27:59Financial Concerns and Ownership Dynamics

30:21Team Spending and Player Retention

32:40Challenges in Attracting Talent

35:57Management and Leadership Issues

39:18Fan Sentiment and Management Accountability

41:11New Roles and Organizational Changes

46:53Looking Ahead: Offseason Expectations

Be sure to follow Chris on X at @2ITB_Buffalo and check out the Two in the Box blog in addition to the Instigator Podcast.

Major props to Talking Buffalo sponsor, Sonny Red’sat 1841 Abbott Road in Lackawanna, just minutes from Highmark Stadium. We consider them THE most underrated spot for wings, pizza and other great food in Western New York plus it’s a great place to drink and have a great time.

Special thanks to local Buffalo band, Orange Zestfor allowing us to use their awesome single, “Old Friends” as the new official intro music for Talking Buffalo. Check out Orange Zest and be sure to support not only them, but local music!

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