PaattMaann

Great discussion on a message board LOL

We are better by a mile at the only position it matters, Josh Allen. Falcons have the 1st best pass defense as far as yards per game, guess who #2 is? The Bills. What's that tell you? That isn't a good indicator of pass defense. They have also only played Baker Mayfield as a good QB. Their run defense is not very good at all. Advanced metrics put their overall defense is middle of the pack. They are not a very good redzone team on offense or defense. I think their D is leaps and bounds better than it has been, but I am no where near scared of it. COULD the Falcons win? Yes. of course. But the Bills are favored, on the road, for a reason. We are better.

huh?? why should the falcons win?

best defense in the league according to....? Stats can lie...Falcons have the number 1 pass defense if we go by yards allowed per game, guess who is number 2? The Bills LOL Some better indicators are points per game, and red zone defense...PPG falcons are middle of the back (1 point better than us), Red zone, they are bottom 7 in the league. They are average at best in all rushing against categories. I haven't had time to dive into EPA, or HAVOC yet, but I will post those when I see them. I'm not saying they are a BAD defense, I am just far from saying they are good, let alone "best defense in the league". EDIT: EPA says defenses better than Atlanta so far; Minnesota, Houston, LAC, Denver, Jacksonville, LAR, Lions, Indy. Eagles and Browns are about even.

no practices yet this week. McD said Milano and Ed and Spencer were "trending right" but wouldnt say more than that. Practice tomorrow will tell us more (maybe).

You, as a fan, are intimidated by what other fans are wearing??

They are 100% going into each gameplan with the idea that its OK if they give up yards on the ground. No they arent saying "lets let them gash us in the run" they are saying "if we are going to give up yards, lets let it be on the ground". Without a doubt. Thats why they normally present light boxes and play in nickel. They would LOVE to stop the run, but only if that means stopping the run with 5/6 guys. They will live with it if they cant stop the run with 5/6 guys. In the NFL you cannot stop everything the offense is going to do, so you make choices, we choose to live with rushing yards against. They absolutely plan to get negative plays and create turnovers, that is why they game plan and call the game they do. I don't know how anyone can see how we have played defense and think that is not the case. They absolutely plan on creating negative plays and turnovers, they practice it, they call the game that way, it is true. Yes they want to fix their deficiencies, but that does not mean they will load the box with heavy guys and load up to stop the run. It means they need to fill gaps and have better gap integrity, thats the ideal defensive world they create by their choices, but if that fails, the result is giving up 186 rushing yards to the Saints. Oh well, we won.

Diggs has been lining up in the slot a lot, so we will likely see Taron vs. Diggs for the majority of the game unless the Patriots switch things up and try to get Diggs mismatched on White. Special teams needs to be buttoned up, that portion of this game worries me. Our offense should be able to do what they do, find a way to move the ball and score at least 30 points. Patriots have some playmakers on defense, but our offense is what it is, and is led by Josh Allen.

I will wear my usual game day fit thank you very much

Oh I agree completely, but thats why I said I dont blame him entirely. Teams win and lose, but my point was Josh had the ball at the end, which is what we 100% want in a close end of game drive (rather than having the defense out there to hold a lead).

I think the biggest problem in the post season with the defense has been injuries. KC game is entirely different if Benford doesnt go out with a concussion. We have been missing key defenders at every level in every playoff game. I don't think its due to the style of defense but rather the availability of players. Getting that first round bye is KEY. Also, Josh Allen had the ball in his hands at the end of the game in two of our playoff losses recently (No I am not blaming Josh Allen entirely).

I think some people here have absolute insane expectations for our defense, especially after just 4 weeks where we have seen two of our best defenders missing multiple games (ed and Milano), our 1st round CB not taken a snap, and two major offseason additions suspended for the first 6 games and not playing. LOL. Oh and we have a top 10 pass defense. FACTS: McD defenses have ALWAYS been soft on the run, BY DESIGN! We want you to run the ball. Please, run the ball all you want. We would rather have you run than have explosive pass plays. That. Is. What. We. Want! You will never see this defense have big space eating DTs who are dominant against the run, thats not who we draft, thats not who we sign. Our defense thrives on negative plays and takeaways. We are OK giving up yards because we are hunting for a negative play that puts the opponents behind the sticks at some point and the drive stalls out. We are looking for turnovers, and ALWAYS get them. McD defenses have been causing turnovers regularly since his arrival in Buffalo (and before that). It isn't an accident, it isn't a fluke. It is preached and practiced. It is successful. You know what stat is the most predictive when it comes to wins in the NFL, TURNOVERS! The defense this year has not been as bad as many think. For some reason many have whack expectations. We just held a team to under 20 points and under 300 total yards, under 150 passing yards. You do that and your going to win every game. It does not matter who the opponent was, its a week to week league and every team is going to give us their A+ effort. Against the Patriots We will do what it takes to win the game. Will they run on us? Sure, see above. Will we get a turnover, and likely a timely one, Sure, see above. It doesn't have to look pretty, it just has to get the job done.

except no one is going to trade for Samuel. Get used to him being around. Makes zero financial sense to cut him, so they wont.

You mean the defense that held the opponent to under 20 points, under 300 total yards (only 126 passing) and held them to 5-15 on 3/4th downs? Or the defense that has shown for 8 years now that they continuously take the ball away?

Didn't say it was going to be easy. I said bills win by 10.