Even if we don't make the playoffs....

[calia]

I feel like I should be responding a la Jim Mora: "PLAYOFFS??!! PLAYOFFS??!!"

Guys -- we just need to win a game here. We have lost 4 in a row, 3 of which we should have won and everyone now admits that the team is reeling from Taylor's death (which is entirely understandable). I agree with the sentiment that the team should be proud for hanging in there -- I cannot imagine trying to play a game if one of my close friends and teammates was murdered days before and I knew I was attending the funeral the next morning. Yes, they're professional athletes, but they're also human beings, and that would be brutal for anyone to endure.

No one would be happier than me to see the team win out and make the playoffs. But I think folks might need to adjust expectations about the playoffs.

The Bills game was lost, in my view, at the lines. Our O-line couldn't protect Campbell and couldn't carve any holes for Portis. And our D-line never got near the Bills QB (whose career is so noteworthy, that I suspect most of the people on this site couldn't remember his name, just like I can't as I type this). If Thomas comes back tomorrow night, that will certainly help, but until our lines step up and play ball, we're not going to beat anyone -- and we shouldn't even be dreaming about the playoffs.

This season has been the harshest I can recall in my 30 or so years of being a fan. Season ending injury to Jansen. Huge injury to Thomas, causing him to miss most of the season. Injuries at various points to Wade, Heyer, and Rabach, causing them each to miss playing time. Ailing WRs who have every week had to contend with injuries. Injury to Griffin, sidelining him for a spell. Injury to Washington, sidelining him for a spell. Season ending injury to Rogers. Injuries to Springs, keeping him sidelined at times. The murder of our best defensive player. I am probably missing a few items, but you get my point. This was clearly not to be our year. I'd just like to see the team gut it out and win some games. If we make the playoffs, it would be miraculous, but given what has happened, I could certainly find some comfort in something short of that.