CLIFTON PARK, NY – Ah, the Buffalo Bills’ best season this side of the millennium came to an end on Sunday.
And in classic Bills fashion, too.
Jalen Ramsey intercepted Nathan Peterman with less than a minute left in the game and Buffalo driving. However, the call on the field probably should have been overturned. The ball definitely hit the ground.
If you’re going to overturn Kelvin Benjamin’s touchdown catch against the New England Patriots, Ben Koyack’z touchdown catch and Ramsey’s interception should draw strong consideration for being overturned too.
But oh well.
Sunday wasn’t even about the game. It was about the members of the #BillsMafia that swarmed Jacksonville, the players and coaches inside that locker room and ending the drought.
Bills. Fans. Everywhere. pic.twitter.com/tlSAEiyHUv
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 7, 2018
This team will be back.
With that… Here’s the latest batch of Ebs’ Hot Takes:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the Eastern Conference favorites again. Move over, Boston Celtics. The Cleveland Cavaliers are back.
With Isaiah Thomas back in the lineup, the Cavaliers have turned back into the Eastern Conference’s best team.
Thomas makes this team extremely deep.
When Derrick Rose returns and Thomas returns to full strength, Rose will be slotted into the backup point guard role. Along with Dwyane Wade, he’ll be leading the best second unit in the NBA.
And through two games, Thomas looks like he hasn’t lost a step.
Oh, and LeBron James is still playing at an MVP level.
Georgia over Alabama. Shocking. I’m picking the underdog.
I’m sorry, but I wasn’t extremely impressed with Alabama on New Year’s Day. I still fully believe that if Oklahoma didn’t implode right before halftime and in the second half, that the Tide would be no match for Baker Mayfield & Co.
Sure, Alabama beat Clemson 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl. But remember, Kelly Bryant was intercepted on a second-and-2 from the Alabama 35 trailing 10-6 in the third quarter. Bryant was hit as he threw the ball and some how Da’Ron Payne caught it.
Alabama later scored on a freakin’ pick play. So blatant.
Oh, just 308-pound defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne catching a touchdown. Look at the footwork! pic.twitter.com/hlkr5mTNVW
— SEC Country Alabama (@SECCountryBama) January 2, 2018
Then on Clemson’s next possession, the freshman quarterback threw a pick-six on the Tigers’ very first play.
We’re talking about a 14-point swing in just under four minutes.
The Alabama offense is going to struggle once again, and the Georgia running attack – led by Sony Michel and Nick Chubb -will be the difference.
Jon Gruden was a good but not great hire for the Oakland Raiders. Ten years and $100 million for Jon Gruden?
Jeez.
I get it. 
The Oakland Raiders are coming off of a very disappointing season and are in limbo the next couple of years before they move to Las Vegas. They need to sell tickets to a fanbase they’re about to ditch. But is Gruden, who’s been out of the game nine years, worth that long of a contract? And all that money?
Remember, Gruden only had three winning seasons after he won the Super Bowl in his first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And only one of those winning seasons came with double digit wins.
The Raiders offense will fix itself. The problem is the defense.
Gruden’s going to have to bring in a solid defensive coordinator to rejuvenate the defensive side of the ball.
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