billsfan89

Knox will come back as the 5th option in the offense and doing a lot of the blocking and grinding work that he does well. And that’s a perfect spot for him to be in. Shakir and Kincaid and reliable slot options and Gabe may not be the stud WR2 we all hoped he could be but he still is a solid WR and adds that outside presence. Assuming Knox comes back in December I hope they use him as a “utility” player along with a second TE. Using him as a full back of lining up in more creative spaces where he can block or leak out for easy catches. I still think Knox has a place in the offense just has to be used differently.

Both teams players were bumping and there was heavy contact from both teams

The Taron play is a good point but the Hail Mary was not a non-call both players were battling for the ball and position.

They made it more tense than it needed to be but they came out with a win. They were in control of the game up until the very end. The complexion of the season is vastly different sitting at 5-3 with a “mini-bye”. The offense looked very good they just couldn’t get that final field goal to put the game away when needed in the third. They got the key first down to grind the clock to force the Hail Mary situation which was clutch. Been saying it since week 3 Shakir needs to be a factor in the offense. His snap count and targets were slowly inching up and he has his breakout. The Bills have 4 legit weapons in the passing attack plus Hardy as a gadget player and Cook out the backfield. Overall a well played game the team looked more confident and I didn’t see any major injuries which makes the extra few days rest that much more valuable

I wonder if they will bring up Joel Wilson (TE) from the practice squad to backfill for Knox and Morris? Wilson is the only TE on the PS and I doubt they would want to go into the game with only Kincaid at TE. I know they can flex Gilliam into TE for blocking but you probably want at least one backup TE on the roster. Not too bad an injury report, Knox we know is going to go on IR and not be back until late November or December. Morris and Spector are battling nagging injuries should take the week off. The only big and pivotal question mark is Ed Oliver, if they can get Ed back it would greatly help the defense.

Von has two SB rings including a SB MVP, he also was a key contributor to the 2021 SB title most recently. That type of resume commands respect, and yeah the guy is coming off a major injury playing limited snaps give him some time.

I trust Josh and the offensive line and receivers to get that patched up. The issue for me is when teams go two high zone can the offense stick to running the ball and adjust when needed?

It is pretty obvious he will be back on the PS, active roster maybe? I wouldn't hate kicking the tires on him to take snaps from Ford who has been a complete zero thus far.

DT is where the attention needs to be. I think Bernard is playing well at LB and I can live with Williams taking his growing pains in October and November as I think more experience will lead to a better performance. Dodson and Klein are also decent depth and probably about as good as any street free agent. But they simply do not have a DT that can replace what Jones did. Poona Ford is not that guy and Settle is a JAG at best. Phillips and Oliver are three techs and don't play well out of position. If this team only makes one move either via trade or free agency it should be to address the 1-Tech DT position. I would hope they can find more depth at the corner spot and get Josh another weapon in the receiving game but 1-Tech should be the top priority.

If I had to rank the Bills needs at the trade deadline I would say it would be 1- One Tech DT - Without Jones or another capable run-stuffer disruptor the defense just isn't the same, it would be very negligent to not try to get help at DT. It shouldn't be hard to find a solid One Tech DT. If the only move this team makes is getting a decent Jones replacement that will be good enough. 2- WR - I don't know if Hopkins would fit the Bills cap-wise or if Mooney from Chicago would be a more realistic option, but adding another playmaker to the offense would help. 3- CB Depth - I think Jackson and Benford with Taron in the slot is fine, Elam isn't the depth I would hope for but flexing him in as a dime back will work hopefully he gets better awareness in a more reduced role. But the Bills need to see what options they can do to bring in some depth at CB. I know LB may be a need to some but I am fine with what they have there. I can live with Williams getting baptized by fire a bit and plugging in Dodson and Klein as depth. There are going to be only so many move this team can make so you have to pick and choose.

Josh cost this team the Jets game and he has had some clunkers the past few weeks. Josh is not above criticism, he is one of the best QB’s in the league but when an offense is sputtering a QB has to take some of the blame.

I won’t say this game is the season but man does it really feel like a win or loss changes the complexion of the season. A loss puts them at 4-4 not tragic but going into a stretch of harder to win games the margin for error is so small to even crack 10 wins. A win puts them at 5-3 going into a “mini-bye” where they can get reinforcements at the trade deadline and have a team rested and 2 games over .500 going into a tougher stretch of the schedule. It’s a huge game at home against a decent opponent got to bring it like the season is on the line because it somewhat is.

Knox is a really good blocker and runs powerfully after the catch along with decent route running he has value to the offense but his drops are a big issue. And the drops which were already bad have only gotten worse since his injury. I think Knox is really effective as a supplemental option in the passing game and his blocking provides value. If Knox is your 5th option your offense will hum but if you need him to step into a larger role then your team is in trouble. Luckily with Kincaid and hopefully Shakir emerging they can IR Knox to come back for a stretch run as the 5th passing option behind Diggs, Kincaid, Davis and Shakir.

Shakir and Morris should step into his snaps. I really like what I have seen from Shakir so far. He catches everything thrown to him, he runs crisp routes and he has an improved on his blocking. No reason he shouldn’t see 35 snaps a game with Morris taking about 25

That Pats loss was really difficult as both sides of the ball floundered but also both sides of the ball screwed up the other side of the ball chances and the Special Teams did not do anyone any favors either. The offense flounders all game only having scored 10 points which puts them down 12 with 7 minutes 36 seconds left. The offense scores in about 2 minutes to get the game back to within one score with 5 minutes 30ish seconds left. The defense in the only time this team played "complementary football" actually came up with a big turnover to give the offense a short field with about 5 minutes left in the game. The offense not only cashes in the turnover for a TD but gets the two-point conversion to give the defense a 3 point lead which at least gives them a margin for error as a field goal only ties the game. The defense then proceeds to give up a long TD drive with less than 2 minutes left in the game. Just one of those frustrating losses. Really should have been able to put up more points in the first half and even in the second half they didn't get it in gear offensively until 7.5 minutes left in the game. The defense which was decent but not very good most of the game should have been able to close out the game or at least force a field goal on the final drives lets up a TD for the loss.

Shakir's snap count slowly is going up because he is a really reliable receiver who has improved his blocking. Shakir's snap count against the Pats was 24 up 1 from the previous week and up massively from the 7 snaps he took in week 1. He hauled in 4 for 4 for 35 yards against the Pats and before then had 4 catches that were for a TD or key first downs. Shakir can be a genuinely good slot WR this season. I have liked what I have seen from him all season he just needs more opportunity and if he can get over 25+ snaps a game and 3-5 targets he can produce at a consistent level. It really helped the offense to have more of those "easy" chain-moving catches or catches that set up 2nd and short or 3rd and short situations. I think the offense has enough talent around Josh the coaching just needs to use it properly. I would still look to add more pop at WR, Mooney from Chicago would be a solid realistic target that would add speed and versatility to the WR group. But if everyone on offense is healthy as is the talent is there around Josh. Diggs is a stud WR1, Kincaid and Shakir are good reliable short to mid-range WR's, Knox is a good blocker and a nice supplemental target, Gabe Davis adds a downfield presence and is a good blocker, Hardy is a speedy WR who adds gadget ability and Cook and the RB's are getting it done both on the ground and can add to the passing attack. The offensive line is a lot better this season with McGovern and Torrence plus Brown is less of a liability (although he is still the "weak link"). While I wouldn't mind adding one more weapon I really think this is on the coaching and the players to get it done.

Bench Knox at times for more Shakir snaps and give Shakir some of Davis snaps. All year Shakir has made key catches in his limited snaps. Keep expanding his role he is a really solid WR between him and Kincaid Josh has some solid slot weapons to work with.

To be add more context the INT put the defense right back out on the field after the first offensive play. The defense holds the Pats to a field goal on the first drive, a not great but far from tragic start only to get put back out on the field having to defend a short field caused by an INT. The defense should have been able to close the game out but the offense and special teams put them on short fields in the first half

The offense and special teams did put the defense on short fields in the first half. The Bills just needed one or two more big plays to end the game and they couldn’t come up with it. Just a really frustrating loss as neither the defense or offense set a tone consistently

There is definitely some component of coaching esp the last two weeks where time zones in London were not a factor. The Bills need to get off to better starts. Even if you aren’t blowing out a team by half you shouldn’t be down 10 points to an anemic Pats team. The coaching really needs to install a sense of urgency to the team right out the gate and have a good game plan. If they can get to 5-3 with a “mini bye” and add some help at DT and maybe one other position at the trade deadline I think they will be fine. I did enjoy seeing Kincaid looking good and Shakir soaking in all 4 targets

This board overreacts to every game. This loss was bad esp after overcoming a bad 10-0 start and a sluggish first half to take the lead by 3 with less than 2 minutes left to lose to a long TD drive is really going to leave a bad taste in the fans mouths. This team needs a sharpe performance on Thursday. Some positives about this game were Kincaid and Shakir getting going. Hopefully they can get Oliver back for Thursday and slow the bleeding a bit. I am not writing the season off just a really sour loss. Especially after you make this great comeback to give it all up on a long TD drive with less than 2 minutes is just anger inducing

I wouldn’t say so, he has to work himself back into shape coming off a serious injury. Give it another month and I think we will have a better picture of what’s going on with Von. Groot, Floyd and AJE have to get it going.

A loss on Thursday and I would say the season is on the brink of unraveling. A solid win on Thursday the Bills sit at 5-3 with a “mini-bye and the chance to bring in some help at the trade deadline. Concern should set in, panic? Not yet.

Just insanely frustrating that the Bills let this be a game and then when they got the big turnover and cashed it in for a TD to take the lead they give up a TD on a rather easy TD drive. They spotted the Pats 10 points and then by the time they recovered the Pats had the ball and made the big plays to take the lead late. Not all bad news this game. No injuries from what I saw and Kincaid really got going and Shakir produced well with more snaps and targets. The defense let up late and the offense got off to a slow start. The Special teams unit also didn’t have its best game with Bass missing a key kick and a sizable punt return contributed to a loss. The season isn’t over but Thursday could be the difference in the season.

Von will be worked up to play at least 50% of the defensive snaps and the only reason he won't play 60% like he did last season is due to Floyd, Groot and AJE playing well (and Shaq Lawson for that matter). But if Von in 35-40% of snaps shows to be getting better he will take on more snaps. Can't take too many chances in this league.