Bills 37, Dolphins 20

As Jerry Sullivan tweeted yesterday, it really is too bad that Josh Allen can't play the Miami Dolphins every week. With Allen under centre, the Bills have put up 30 points three times, all of them against Miami - and his three highest passer ratings have also come against the Dolphins. Sure, their pass defence isn't very good but yesterday in south Florida, Allen had what looked to me to be his best game as a pro which should silence the small group of Bills fans who've been ever-so-quietly beating the drums about how he isn't progressing quickly enough - and calling WGR 550 to make their case against him and, believe it or not, as one caller yesterday morning did, to make the case for switching to Matt Barkley. But I'm quite pleased with Josh Allen's overall development and with how confidently and effectively he's playing this season and I'm positively giddy about him when I compare him to two of his 2018 draft class-mates: Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Not to mention how he stacks up against Nathan Peterman, EJ Manuel, JP Losman, Trent Edwards, Jeff Tuel....need I continue? Allen was not sacked yesterday, did not turn the ball over and he has now thrown 163 passes without an interception. He showed his prowess in the running game again with a 36 yard scamper and a touchdown.

Possibly my favourite Marv Levy quote was one from the week leading up to one of the Superbowls. Replying to a reporter's question, Levy said "This is not a must-win; World War II was a must-win". Holding a Master's degree in British military history, Levy actually downplayed comparisons of football to war, explaining that he had fought in a war and that he thought war metaphors were not properly applicable to football. Levy was born in 1925 and served in the United States Army Air Forces (the predecessor to the USAF) from 1943 to 1946. He began coaching football in 1951. As a Jewish American who served in WW II, there is no question that a man like Marv Levy appreciates the sacrifices that were made. Ok now please stay with me here as I transition to Don Cherry (for the last time).

Cherry was born in 1934 and was 11 years old when the war ended - plenty old enough to remember it and to have a sense of how important it was. Whatever efforts he has made in his life to remind us of the significance of the contributions of Canadians (and others) to the war efforts of the first half of the 20th century are entirely understandable, if not commendable. His strong desire for the continued honouring of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in these wars is admirable too. But last weekend, he went too far and he knew it. Everyone involved apologized the following day except for him. Ron MacLean told us on Saturday night that, in the end, Don was not willing to take the steps which he was asked to take - which presumably included making a clear and sincere apology - in order to keep his job with Sportsnet. So, his long run is over. I generally appreciated his hockey analysis without always agreeing with it. Even some of the groups he insulted from time to time would tune in to hear him on Saturday nights. I recall a story told by Mark Hebscher who had attended a game at the Montreal Forum in a private box and watched in amazement as all of the televisions in all of the boxes changed to English CBC after the first period and then back to French when Cherry was done.

In three-down football, Hamilton and Winnipeg earned births to the 107th Grey Cup to be played on Sunday at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The Montreal Carabins and the Calgary Dinosaurs will meet in the 55th Vanier Cup in Quebec City on Saturday. I tuned in a bit of the Mitchell Bowl on Saturday, won by Calgary over McMaster, and by my rough count from seeing shots of the stands, there could not have been more than 200 people in the stadium, other than the teams, coaches and trainers. For the Dinos, this was a home game and with a birth in the Championship at stake, the turnout was pathetic. I know that Canadian university football has pretty limited appeal but honestly Calgary.....I guess there is a chance to have a better showing for the Grey Cup but I am not optimistic that the stands will be full. The Grey Cup game should be played every year at Mosaic Stadium in Regina until further notice.

Up next for the Bills, after two road games, they return home to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The Broncos last won in Orchard Park in September, 2007 - a 15-14 win on a last second field goal in a game marred by a spinal injury to Bills receiver Kevin Everett. At 7-3, the Bills currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC. The schedule becomes much tougher over the final six games but I predict that Josh Allen and the rest of the team will rise to the level of their opponents and finish the season no worse than 10-6.